2. tech-talk
  3. 1390150480

Can a tiny silver bowl affect music reproduction

I am speaking of the Ziplex one half inch wide silver bowls, but the same questions apply to the Synergistic Research ARTs.

About two weeks ago I had four audiophiles in my listening room. We were listening to the impact of the Tripoint Troy Signature. I was standing and noticed that one of the eleven Zilplexes in my room was laying flat on the three silver support rods on the wall. It was the one that is about midway down the left wall and about seven and a half feet off the floor. It is supposed to be at a 45ยบ angle facing the wall. As unobtrusively as possible I stepped on a foot stool that I leave there as this is a common happening and carefully inclined the bowl into a proper condition. I then returned to where I was standing.

Someone asked what did I just do, and I stated the above. They all were in disbelief about how it could have such an effect. I told them that Zilplex had been at CES and at the RMAF about a year or two ago, I repeatedly did their demonstration of removing all eleven Zilplexes. Always those in the audience said exactly what my four friends had said.

Having stumbled onto these a couple of years ago, I said that the inventor and owner really didn't have an explanation for the effect that it was all a trial and error process, which, of course, had taken countless hours. Synergistic Research also has a comparable bowl device, which Ted Denny attributes to his hear Tibetan monks and their bowls. There are of course Tibetan bowls. Syn. Res. ARTs are bigger than the Zilplexes but neither is the size of typical Tibetan bowls.

Tibetan bowls, of course, resonate when struck or rubbed at the rim. SR ARTs ring when knocked together. Zilplex don't ring. I asked Zilplex about this and was told they ring but at a frequency we cannot hear. My question is why would ringing bowls located variously in a room, greatly improve the apparent size of the rooms and the realism of the reproduced music?

All I can say is that they do, and I have heard no real explanation.
tbg
b_limo's avatar
b_limo
2,274 posts
 
I could tell a difference eith the synergistic cups. I was at rmaf 2 years ago and did a/b testing with them. I could tell a difference. Night and day? No, but then again, how many tweaks do we do in order to gain a slight improvement? Quite a few. Quite a few adds up to the difference between good and magic.

I could also tell a difference with that synergistic (i think it was synergistic) equipment stand that doubles as a power conditioner.

It's a shame that the scams out there keep us from the upgrades that are hard to believe, but actually work.

Hopefully Geoff doesn't find this thread, lol.
tbg OP
5,263 posts
 
B_limo, thanks for the considered response. I also heard a SR demonstration perhaps four years ago and bought the ARTs immediately.

My point in this post is that everyone heard not my installation of all eleven Zilplexes but rather just the angle of the bowl on the wall mount. Also, I didn't think they would hear much. I should note that two did ask how much they cost and did ask how to get them. I don't expect that any will buy them, however.

As you say there are scams out there that greatly callus some to reject every innovation. I'm sure Geoff faces this. His are much less effective than the Zilplexes, as I have bought many of them and have Brilliant Pebbles in a closet here. However, I'm appalled that many totally reject any tweak. I will typically try a tweak but on doing most will conclude that their effect doesn't justify their price.
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
You forgot to mention the Frank Tchang Acoustic Resonators that were the first tiny bowl resonators, the Tchang bowls notable due to their use of pure exotic metals such as silver, gold and platinum. If I recall correctly the geometry of these tiny bowls is associated not only with an audio frequency wavelength but also with a very high electromagnetic wavelength in the microwave. Wasn't it Tchand who recommended placing an acoustic resonators in other rooms or even inside the refrigerator?
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Tbg, brilliant pebbles can still affect the sound when placed in a closet anywhere in the house. Better send them back to me. Lol.

For a second there I thought you were talking about my 1" tiny ceramic bowls.
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Tbg, sorry you haven't had any luck with crystals. These things happen. Of course, it should be pointed out a great many people have. Alan Mayer products, Acoustic Revive products, even the new Walker Black Diamond Crystal, not to mention the pebbles. Like Mpingo discs, it takes some patience to discover the ideal locations. Surely, the tiny little bowls you refer to are location sensitive, eh?
More to discover