I've been following the history of TC with some interest and after hanging back for a while purchased a set and applied it to my interconnects, super-tweeter connections, and select power cords. I've been leery to post my findings in large part put off by the toxic atmosphere this thread has generated.
Overall while I think TC in general has a positive impact it, at least to this user, in his system, is not a particularly impactful tweak. Think of it more as the difference between a good first pressing and a re-press then the equivalent of a major component upgrade.
The pressing comparison is well chosen because for me the impact of TC was to assist in making the system sound more organic, less hi-fi. So it tempers the common experience of frequency highlighting ("wow isn't that bass good", "love those cymbals") and instead helps you hear the holistic performance, putting more of the performers in the room together. I found exactly the same thing this morning comparing the Cooking Vinyl and original Tara pressings of Davy Spillanes "Atlantic Bridge" -- the former is all (very impressive) bass and bombast while the latter at first seems subdued but is in fact much better integrated.
To some extent this sort of impact is like that obtained from use of FoQ material - its not like a fuse change which is more black/white and direct in impact. Of course it doesn't help that for 24 hours after application the sound is awful, chesty and congested. This clears up quickly (and it's elapsed time not play time). I've personally not noticed big improvements with time but I do make all manner of changes in my system on an ongoing basis anyway.
I do find TC to be a pain to use however and I'm leery to try it on digital connections (of which I have a lot) given past experience with other tweaks really messing them up (the FoQ for example).
So overall for me its a B+ type product, worth having and for me and worth the $$ but by no means a must have. As it's tricky to use and hard to do A/B I'd only recommend it to those that are already happy with their systems, and also to those who are looking for a more yin oriented, holistic presentation than a yan/analytical.
Overall while I think TC in general has a positive impact it, at least to this user, in his system, is not a particularly impactful tweak. Think of it more as the difference between a good first pressing and a re-press then the equivalent of a major component upgrade.
The pressing comparison is well chosen because for me the impact of TC was to assist in making the system sound more organic, less hi-fi. So it tempers the common experience of frequency highlighting ("wow isn't that bass good", "love those cymbals") and instead helps you hear the holistic performance, putting more of the performers in the room together. I found exactly the same thing this morning comparing the Cooking Vinyl and original Tara pressings of Davy Spillanes "Atlantic Bridge" -- the former is all (very impressive) bass and bombast while the latter at first seems subdued but is in fact much better integrated.
To some extent this sort of impact is like that obtained from use of FoQ material - its not like a fuse change which is more black/white and direct in impact. Of course it doesn't help that for 24 hours after application the sound is awful, chesty and congested. This clears up quickly (and it's elapsed time not play time). I've personally not noticed big improvements with time but I do make all manner of changes in my system on an ongoing basis anyway.
I do find TC to be a pain to use however and I'm leery to try it on digital connections (of which I have a lot) given past experience with other tweaks really messing them up (the FoQ for example).
So overall for me its a B+ type product, worth having and for me and worth the $$ but by no means a must have. As it's tricky to use and hard to do A/B I'd only recommend it to those that are already happy with their systems, and also to those who are looking for a more yin oriented, holistic presentation than a yan/analytical.