Perfect Path Technologies - "Stop It" AC Duplex passive line conditioners


I've been using some of PPT's latest passive line conditioning devices for a few months now. Grouped under the "Stop It!" monicker, the current range consists of AC Duplex plugs and RCA plugs. This will soon be expanded to include UK AC and Schuko (international AC) varieties. I'm very favourably impressed with the improvements in my system, and with the value for money they offer.

My first Stop It AC Duplex samples arrived unexpectedly 3 or 4 months ago, together with a bundle of PPT products I purchased. It's not unusual for pleasant surprises to happen spontaneously when you invest in a PPT bundle! I unwrapped and examined the offering - a pack containing 10 small plastic AC infant safety stoppers, with some very unusual visual characteristics. They are treated with a silvery gray hybrid mixture, which appears to contain pearly particles of some kind. I have no idea what's in the mixture, but it looks pretty. Although the pack was an early production run and came without instructions, it didn't take me long to figure out how to use them. The two protruding prongs really gave the game away, so I fired up the sound system and plugged just one Stop It Duplex into the wall. I have to admit that the small size of the plug and the relatively thin coating had me expecting a very minor effect, compared to a PPT mat for example. But not really - the effect was...

BIG and obvious from the first track. Not the same as a mat, which lifts the entire soundstage, the Duplex plug exposed top end detail and enhanced specific imaging, which I found immediately exhilarating and exciting. I should never have doubted Tim to come up with something special and surprising. So in went the 9 remaining plugs, into all remaining empty AC wall outlets in the room, and into the empty outlets on the back of my SR PowerCell 12 UEF. This magnified the effect as you would expect, and I began to notice the same kind of lift you get with the PPT mats, as well as further enhanced top end sparkle, and a laser-like exposure of inner detail which contributed to enhanced image specificity. All the plugs were used in my listening room, and I was very happy with the result.

After a quick email to Tim to thank him for the bonus gift and to offer my unqualified approval and praise, the reply came back indicating that further improvements could be expected by treating every unused AC wall outlet, with Stop It Duplex plugs. So I placed an order (at full price) for 20 more Stop It plugs to treat the entire house. By this time I knew they were going to work. But how great an effect, when the outlets to be treated are nowhere near the sound system, not even on the same floor?

It has taken me a while to come to a conclusion about this. In my experience, I found that in general, the closer the plug is located to the sound system, the more instantaneous the positive effect. However, the plugs placed in remote locations around the house, over a period of a few weeks, eventually intensify to contribute a similar additional AC cleansing power. It's initially more subtle and it takes longer to activate, but it's definitely worth treating every unused outlet in the house.

Dirty AC power is obviously a problem, we all know that. So should you "Stop It" with PPT duplex plugs? It's a great product that works as advertised, it's reasonably priced and can be purchased individually as the budget permits. If your results match mine, you'll hear a worthwhile improvement with each treated outlet, regardless of its location in the house. So I say Go For It!

whostolethebatmobile

Showing 11 responses by oregonpapa

whostolethebatmobile ...

Thank you for the excellent and well-written review of PPT’s new "Stop Its." Your assessment is spot on.

I have 25 "Stop Its" throughout the house now. Every open receptacle is covered. As soon as I installed them, it was like The Gate took a huge jump in performance.

I talked with Tim Mrock about it, and he told me that the "Stop Its" remove the distortion that exists in the receptacle itself, and the screws and wires connecting it. So, they really do complete the job The Gate is already doing.

Considering the price/performance ratio, they are a no-brainer.

Oh, and by the way, I had already pasted the receptacles, and inside the receptacle covers that connects the system to the electronics with TC ... and there was still a profound improvement after the "Stop Its" were installed.

https://perfectpathtechnologies.com/

Frank
david_ten ...

Overall cost will depend upon how many PPT products you use. For example, if you use one Omega E Mat in your system, say in the circuit breaker box, you would be paying for only one E-Mat, and you would get a nice improvement. I have two in my circuit breaker box, and I believe that two is ideal. The Omega E Mats should be put under electronic components as well. So, one Mat under each component will improve things nicely. Start stacking them up under those components and the SQ becomes shockingly good.

Only one "The Gate" is needed. Full retail on that is $5000. Expensive, yes ... but "The Gate" makes the most significant improvement overall. It is an amazing device.

The same for the "Total Contact" paste. One tube is enough to treat the basic connections on two large systems. If you want to get carried away (like I did), you can find numerous ways to use it. For example, I pasted all of the usual terminal connections like the speaker binding posts, RCA male ends of power cords and ICs. Also, I pasted the speaker crossovers, the tube pins, the glass on the signal tubes, the inside of my power conditioner and the CD player, and the wires in the circuit breaker box. So, that took several tubes. The power conditioner took an entire tube all by itself.

The "Stop It" RCA plugs cost $10 each, so the total cost would depend upon how many you need. Without checking, I think I used twelve of them.

The new receptacle "Stop Its," which I referred to as cost-effective, retails for $20 each. Again, the overall cost will depend upon your needs. I have 25 of them throughout the house for maximum effect. Just a few in the sound room will be audible. The TV picture is improved as well. Put them throughout the house as I did and you’ll be saying ... "What? This is nutz!"

All of these items in combination have a cumulative effect that profoundly improves the SQ.

So, to answer your question, the cost can be reasonable ... or it can be really expensive. But like the wise man once said ... "Ya pays yer money and ya gets what ya gets."

By the way, I have a fairly modest system considering what’s out there in the "high end" these days. For example, I’ve been using a pair of Legacy Signature IIIs for the past 15 years or so. They retailed for $5000 when new. I bought them used in mint condition for $2100. plus shipping. With the above-mentioned products installed, I’ve heard very few speakers, even ultra-high-end speakers, do what these are doing. And that’s with the experience of working weekends selling audio equipment for a high-end dealer, attending many audio shows, and also working rooms for said dealer for years at the Las Vegas CES. Now granted, some of those systems played louder, bigger and with deeper bass than what I’m getting, but when it comes to clarity in the midrange, and overall realism, I honestly have heard nothing to compare.

Here’s the website where you can see the products and prices:

www.perfectpathtechnologies.com 

Keep in mind that the manufacturer is overly generous in the warranty. There's a 90-day money-back guarantee on everything except the Total Contact paste.

Take care ...

Frank



^^^
And the sun will perpetually shine, there will be everlasting peace on earth ... and equipment flippers will no longer feel the need to flip. :-)

Frank
david_ten ...

  • "I’m trying to get a read on the return in performance vs your total investment. Thanks."
At full retail:

The Gate = $5000.
Stop Its = $600. That includes the 10 RCA caps.
Omega E Mats = $2400.
Total contact (four tubes) $1200.

That is a total of $9200 at full retail investing in one item at a time. However, PP offers bundles at generous discounts.

www.perfectpathtechnologies.com

If I opted for investing in only one item, it would be "The Gate" for sure.

Finally, I wouldn’t even think about upgrading to newer, and/or more expensive equipment like speakers, cables or electronics until I had completely tweaked the present system with PPT products.

If I were to make an upgrade in equipment at this point, it would be upgrading my ARC REF-3 to an ARC REF-6. Retail = $14,000. But at this point, there is no need. None, whatsoever.

Frank

^^^
aniwolfe


Now THAT is interesting. First I've heard of it.

Besides myself, I have three local A'goners who have had nothing but success with the mats in the circuit breaker box. I wonder why they weren't successful for you?

"Brighter and fatiguing?" Just more clarity and better dynamics in my system. 

Not doubting you at all ... just wondering why.

Frank
aniwolfe...

I was going to ask you if you tried the mats under components and what the results were. Thanks ...

Still wondering why the negative results in the circuit breaker box though. I know a lot of the tweaks (from all sources) can be system dependent ... but circuit dependent too? I guess so. :-)

Frank
^^^ You’re welcome David.

aniwolf ...

I’ve had a LOT of Omega E Mats in my system all at one time. It was amazing. Ozzy alluded to that in one of his above posts.

I asked Tim to send them to me so that I could have various audiophile friends here on the West Coast try them out completely risk-free without having to send any money for the trial. Tim agreed. Tim trusts me, and I trust my friends.

Each person got six mats to try. Of all the mats I let my friends use, one returned them all, and said that he didn’t hear any difference. I suspect he never got around to trying them at all. Then another friend kept one for his circuit breaker box and returned the other five. Everyone else kept the mats and sent a check to PPT. They also have used the TC paste, and a couple have purchased The Gate.

I suspect that in some ways, the mats may not be compatible with other tweaks. I believe that it is not the fault of the mats, because of all of the positive feedback received.

But then ... there’s that 90-day risk free trial period, right?

Frank
^^^ 
tuffy72561
...


Clever experiment, tuffy. I think I'll do the same trial run for my TV system. 

I've been getting some positive feedback via PMs from A'gon members who are using the "Stop It" duplex plugs. Good stuff, for sure. 

As a side note, I texted Krissy today and she said that a truck will be delivering a load of untreated duplex plugs designed for the European and Asian markets as soon as tomorrow. So now, very soon, our audiophile friends overseas will be able to enjoy the benefits of this inexpensive "tweak." 

Frank
fleschler ...

I'm looking forward to visiting you and to a listening session in your new dedicated room. Robert raved about it ... and as you know, that's saying a lot. 

Frank
"Stop-Its" compatible with the U.K. duplexes and other European countries coming soon. Stay tuned.

Frank