I used various materials to create a balance on all connectors or near some piece of gear or on them , but only shungite on routers, and electrical panels...
I use shungite ( i call that my "golden plate" because one face is covered with copper tape as indicated in my virtual system page i never bought tweaks i prefer to create mine) and quartz...
Also some other minerals...
Shungite may had a negative compressive effect on the soundfield but quartz had a decompressive effect that can make some unbalanced audio system even harsh ...Among other qualities negative as positive one these two minerals balance and complement one another ...
The art is discovering the right place and location and the balance between their two opposite effect...
For example to experiment , put a big piece of shungite on an amplifier , the effect could be very compressing and negative ... Put now only a big quartz, few hundred grams, on the same amplifier , the effect will be decompressive or harsh it depend of the amplifier own balance in the system ...
Location is very important ...
I discovered all this with fun experiment to increase the timbre perception and even imaging or soundstage by other means than my acoustic control devices as Helmholtz resonators or Schuman generators etc
location is key and balance betwween the chosen minerals..
For example fluorite was bad near the power transforme5r of my Sansui but better if put more far from the transformer field...But on my new tubes preamplifier serving my active speakers it work surprizngly good and fluorite is not as Quartz or shungite so useful for me normally ...
Then all is about experiments ...
These minerals act as some shield(shungite) or as some filters too , i dont understand how and apart from the shielding scientifically studied properties of shungite i discovered all the rest by trials and errors...
now suppose i am as some here very proud of their 50,000 bucks system or their 100,000 bucks one , will i put some rocks in my gear or near it to improve the sound qualities ?
No not at all , and i will call those who do that "tin foil hat" , if not i will think that they are credulous idiots...
Now think about someone as me having a mere 1000 bucks budget for my 2 headphones of Choice : the AKG hybrid K340 and the AKG K240 sextet ( the two owning an internal unique acoustic system of passive resonators) and for my low cost active small speakers...
What did i must do to create top audiophile experience in the design gear limit of this system for sure... I dont compare to Mike Lavigne system here...but how to compare and surpass the average audiophile in sound qualities ?
By using ways of optimizing electrical, mechanical and acoustical working dimensions of the system... ( a dedicated acoustic room for example matter even in near listening by the way, the opposite of what many says about near listening erroneously😁 )
Then unorthodox experiments with Helmholtz resonators, Schumann generators, and ionization etc ... Even minerals shielding and in some way filtering ... Dont ask me how ? i dont know how minerals can affect soundfield through cables or gear design ..
I modified also to optimize them my 2 headphones and even my speakers design ...
A 150 bucks small set of active speakers CANNOT be impressive without modifications ... I know it firsthand...But if the right modifications can be done the caterpillar can become a butterfly ... Acoustics knowledge is key ... All speakers are Hemlholtz resonators, then modified the cross ratio of the neck and volume of the original porthole and you can redefine his pecs for the better ...Add a better wave guide to his tweeter ... and it is job done ..
Now i enjoy a low cost system beating anything not only in his price range but for some acoustic factors as imaging and timbre many other more costlier system ... ( i am limited to 50 hertz in bass with my 4 inches woofer but because of my modification very clear and balanced bass and deeper )So much happy i am not very interested by most upgrades choices at all ...
The only upgrade necessary is the BACCH system by Dr. Choueiri, this is an acoustic revolution FOR ALL AUDIOPHILES ...
Thanks To Dr. Gorike of AKG the genius behind the two greatest AKG headphones , i enjoy with the K340 not only a very natural timbre but an "out of the head" speaker like effect , which is inexistant with the 9 headphones i now dont use at all ...
I can wait to buy when i could afford his cost the BACCH system for my actual system especially my K340...
As a last tip: the most important factor of S.Q. in audio is by far acoustics treatment but more than that active mechanical control of the room by Helmhotlz resonators, and also other devices i will not detail here , and the last but the more important in this dedicated acoustic room well done will be the purchase of the BACCH filters system ...
Then minerals are only some cherries on a cake , not the cake itself ..
Acoustics concepts and experiments are the cake ...
Costlier high end gear are not enough by the way to acieve satisfaction a minimal acoustic satisfaction as mine or a maximal satisfaction ...They must be installed and embedded in a way to control vibrations and resonance, and in a way to decrease the noise floor level of the system/room/house and least a dedicated under controls acoustic room ...
@mahgister how do you treat your cables? Open to share?