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Why Do Schumann Resonators Work?

Schumann Resonators are little boxes you plug into the wall that produce electromagnetic radiation tuned to 7.83 Hz. This is the frequency that the earth/atmosphere system “rings” at when the Earth is struck by lightning. It is also a common frequency your brain “ticks” at.

When employed in the listening room, many people claim it makes their audio sound better. If this is true, then what is the mechanism of action?

-Is it a matter of the resonator producing a more relaxed mental state?
-Does it help block or alter electromagnetic interference?
-Does it add its own electromagnetic interference to your system that just so happens to be pleasing?

I experimented with one recently and what I noticed is that it seemed to remove some of the high frequency nasties or what some might call “digital glare” (although digital glare can also show up in analog systems). When I made this observation, the resonator was placed right next to my power strip that my CD player, preamp and some other devices are plugged into.

My “proof” of the effect is that I could turn the volume up louder than usual without it sounding “too loud.” The sound levels of the system weren’t any quieter, it’s just that the digital glare was reduced so that I could go louder before thinking “this is too loud,” which usually isn’t a sound level thing per se but the point as which some frequency (often the highs) become irritating.

So who here has experience with these devices? Do you like them? Does anyone know why they work?
mkgus
mahgister's avatar
mahgister
13,801 posts
 
Thanks Geoffkait I get the point....

I presume that my cheap inexact S.G. works my "room acoustic" tough, nevermind being accurate, because they enhance the effect of the stones associated or connected to them... I said so because the effect is very audible.... I am no scientist and never pretend to explain something, just describing my experience.... My best to you...


This lowest-frequency (and highest-intensity) mode of the Schumann resonance occurs at a frequency of approximately 4.11 Hz, but this frequency can vary slightly from a variety of factors, such as solar-induced perturbations to the ionosphere, which compresses the upper wall of the closed cavity.[citation needed] The higher resonance modes are spaced at approximately 6.5 Hz intervals,[citation needed] a characteristic attributed to the atmosphere’s spherical geometry. The peaks exhibit a spectral width of approximately 20% on account of the damping of the respective modes in the dissipative cavity.
i think that the incaccuracy of my cheap S.G. are perhaps between these 4 Hz and 8 Hz, and perhaps total accuracy (7.83 Hz) is not the only reason to the room acoustic transformation....
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Good save, mahgister!  🤗
mahgister's avatar
mahgister
13,801 posts
 
Thanks indeed Geoffkait….:)
audiozenology
362 posts
 
The resonance frequency ferries from about 7.65 to over 7.9 Hertz in the course of a day and varies the same way almost everyday but I did some seasonal variation. This is due 2 compression of the ionosphere due the solar winds coupled with where are the Schumann resonance is most excited typically Africa.


There are a fair number I've studies that have measured this. They are relatively easily researched. 7.83 is just an average. It is not an exact frequency and is similar to a broken clock in that it is only right twice a day or so.


A $0.10 or less Crystal resonator on the other hand is probably accurate over a reasonable temperature range two one one hundredth of a percent or better.
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
So what? That’s still more precise than the “precision” of a cheap capacitor. Get real! Besides 7.83 is not the average of the two numbers you gave anyway. It’s very doubtful a cheap Schumann device can produce a signal as precise as 7.7 Hz to 7.9 Hz. Case closed.
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