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Quantum QRT QX4

Anyone wondering whats inside one of these for the almost $3000 Nordost is asking for them? Well I owned one and took it apart, and let me tell you I was shocked!! I have never seen cheaper parts and crappy little PCB than this. I think a total of about $20 was spent on the electronics, and I am being generous. The case is by far more expensive to make. They spent more effort into making the case heavy and out of billet and extruded aluminum to give it the appearance of high end and so they could somewhat justify the price tag. It is utterly shameful what Nordost has pulled on its consumers. Thats why they have the protective sealing sticker on the chassis so no one opens it up and voids the warranty. I bought mine directly from a dealer when the Nordost rep came for a demo.
The board looked like it was a factory R&D project. Scratches all over it, a cover on the board was removed at one point leaving behind the trace of it in the left over glue. I was fuming after I opened it and witnessed the biggest ripp off in audio history. I had a Symphony Pro years ago and it blew this piece of crap out the rack.
Needless to say, even though it did provide some enhancement, I no longer have it. But before I did get rid of it I happen to make a schematic and take plenty of pictures, even built one with much needed improvements.;)
The very robust case was actually heavily softening the effect and the one inch thick sides were directing some of the energy vertically. Anyway my new version of this guy has been a huge improvement to say the least, it has 6 times the power of the QX4. Thanks Nordost ;)
dcizmok
kennyb
117 posts
 
The QBASE models have the star grounding - not the QX4. If you knew what a star ground does you would know how badly you just discredited yourself. And you are telling me I should read more? You've just proven that you could not possibly have opened a QX4.

From Quantum's description of the QBASE: "The essence of the QBASE concept is a straight-line AC distribution path, combined with a star-earthed topology for connection to a clean ground. By eliminating any form of in-line filtering or active circuitry we maintain the lowest possible AC supply impedance, while a tiny lift in the earth impedance of all but one of the output sockets routes the signal grounds directly to the centre of the star and the clean earth terminal."

You see, it makes perfect sense to have a star ground in a power strip, as it keeps the ground from one component from injecting noise into another. You can't have a star ground when there is only a single outlet, as on the QX4.

So who knows what the heck you opened, if you opened anything at all.

And no, not all these types of products are based on Schumann resonance theory. You just make stuff up, don't you? Amazing. Just when you think you've seen it all.

I'm laughing out loud. Thank you for that. :-)
kennyb
117 posts
 
Apologies to Dcizmok. I went back and read what he wrote. He was talking about the QB4 and not the QX4 when he mentioned the star ground. My mistake.
polk432
1,142 posts
 
It can't be a QB4 @ 3K. They are 1399.00 for the QB8 and 849.00 for the QB4. I was lucky to find a QB4 for 600.00 You plug in the preamp to the Primary Earth and the QB4 box into the wall or dedicated line and the unit works just fine. The QX boxes are the costlier ones.
sabai
2,027 posts
 
I tried my QB4 with components plugged in. The results were nothing more than subtle. I get much better results with it up front near the wall receptacle. But it is not a game-changer by any means.

I have never had more than subtle results from the 4 Schumanns in my system. I am now experimenting by placing them higher off the floor. My 2 Symphonies give anything but subtle results. They site on top of my Pulsars with Steins on top of them.
sabai
2,027 posts
 
Polk432,
I got my QB4 for about $600 right here.
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