GG,
I had just read your post on the ML site and the threads...It is amazing that guys will negatively comment based on anything but first hand experience! This is the fourth iteration of Ron's Marigo mat. I have found each successive generation an improvement, but with this one, Ron had hit the ball out of the park! If a listener hears a dulling of his audio system as a result of using this mat, then there is something wrong with that system as it is not neutral or resolved.
Now that I have been using this mat in both of my systems for several weeks, I have found the tonal signature to be like that of a good moving magnet or moving iron cartridge, as opposed to a moving coil with a hyped up high frequency emphasis. However, the sound staging and imaging is stupendous! I swear that I have another five feet of additional sound stage width on both sides of my listening room with much more resolution and sonic alignment of what is going on within that stage. The sense of the venue of the performance has never been so strong or apparent! (I use Magico Q5's and they perfectly couple to my room - The Q5's bass performance is second to none in its speed and resolution.) I have never experienced digital sounding so pleasurable, detailed, smooth, or accurate.
Until recently I was ready to upgrade my digital system. I am not in such a hurry now. I can easily live with what I have for several years to come and patiently wait for the state of the digital art to advance before I take another plunge.
I think that we are similar in that we are experienced audiophiles and that the panacea is not necessarily in changing our equipment, but rather tuning and refining what we already own and enjoy. I know that I have invested a lot of time, experience, and money into my main system. It was carefully thought out - from the listening room, to the speakers in that room, to the isolated electric delivery to that room, to the components themselves, to the cabling that connects the components, and to the control of vibration. Everything in that system has a purpose and was chosen to work in perfect harmony with everything else. I am loth to change for the sake of change.
The addition of the new Evolution Signature mat only served to confirm the positive and synergistic choices that I had made. Our hobby is about having some fun and enjoying music.
This little mat has taken that enjoyment to a whole new level.
Thank you for taking the time to comment. I my only wish is that some audiophiles will read what we had written and try this new mat, particularly when they have resolving systems. Perhaps they will be as enthusiastic as you and I as to its efficacy. Please have a Happy New Year as well!
With all my best,
Coopersark |
Believe me, if I put may name behind something, it is not a shill. My name and reputation are much more important than any manufacturer's product. This is, in fact, simply one of the most shocking revelations that I have had in over thirty five years experiencing an audiophile! I mis posted the first one and that is why two posts. See if you can borrow or try one of these mats for yourself. I think that you will be amazed. |
Thanks Shakey. I do not want nor need a future career in webzine reviewing. All I wanted to do was share my unbridled enthusiasm for a game changing and low cost accessory, that in the context of my main audio system elevated it to a whole new level of enjoyment. I have been an audiophile for over 35 years. In that time, I have not experienced a product that has delivered so much of a startling and major sonic improvement for so little expenditure. I simply want to share that enthusiasm with other people in the hobby. Assuming that you have a resolving system, this is a no brainier "must try" accessory. As far as I am concerned, the sonic improvements are so great, that for me, this new Marigo Evolution mat now an essential component! I am simply awestruck by this one!!!
For what it is worth, my wife joined me in a listening session in our sound room the other evening. She had no knowledge of the CD mat change that I had made. When I had started to talk as music was playing, and she "shushed" me immediately. She then proceeded to listen for a much longer time than she usually does. Basically,she did not want to leave the room! When we had finally called it a night, she then commented "Your audio system has never sounded better - ever". Coming from my non audiophile wife, that is about as strong of an endorsement as I will get. |
This mat is designed to go over the CD when it loads into a player. As I understand it it does two things:
1.) Allows the laser a more accurate read of the pits in the CD.
2.) Reduced vibration at a microscopic level.
This new mat has to be properly oriented relative to the label printing on a CD as it is even dampening out micro vibrations that are caused by the printing on the CD label.
This mat is not thicker than a couple of sheets of paper, is the size and shape of a CD, DVD, or Blue-Ray. It is green on the top side and a flaked gold and green on the bottom side. Look it up on Music Direct's website and you will see a photo of it.
Here is the link:
http://www.musicdirect.com/p-61584-marigo-evolution-signature-cd-tuning-mat.aspx
I have done some burning on my computer using this mat both on original CD that I burned into my computer's music library, as well as using the mat on a recordable CD that was burned from the computer. The overall results are stunning with the copy sounding clearly better than the original, especially with that relaxed ease and sense of spaciousness around the performers. Again, for just $200 bucks this is a no brainer! |
I have said all that I am going to say on the subject. You have myself using a Mark Levinson Reference transport, Spectron using a new Esoteric Transport, and Jonathanhorwitz who is using the mat in his disc mastering all hearing similar improvements. These are in the context of three different systems.
I have mentioned my secondary system where I am hearing improvements as well. The Marigo Mat is a low cost item that I am sure is returnable. We are not talking about a high risk proposition here, try one for yourself and decide. I have a couple of these and am awestruck with the results, as far as what you do or don't do about trying one of these Marigo mats is really none of my concern. |
Spectron,
As you must know "your mileage may vary..." Some of the posters claim not to hear anything, and based on their experience, they may be right! The simple fact is they have not heard the new Evolution Signature mat, which is a SIGNIFICANT improvement over Ron's previous designs. The other fact is that not everyone' systems are that high in their resolution.
I have two audio systems. One in a dedicated purpose built and professionally acoustically treated listening room with a dedicated separate electric feed that houses an ultra high end system that has been carefully matched and assembled over the years. It's total price is in the stratosphere - well into the six digits. I will admit that in the context of this laboratory grade playback system the improvements are exactly as I had described them above.
The other system is in my basement workshop. That system is basically Audio Research electronics throughput with Magnepan loudspeakers, Shunyata Triton and King Cobra CX power feeding the system on dedicated lines, with Transparent Audio cabling. This is the much more down to earth system that is closer to what most guys will be using. There are improvements to this system, but nowhere near on the level as those on my reference system in my sound room. Even in the context of this more modest system, there are the gains in both the detail and image focus that you mention and is well worth the $200.00, but again in the context of my reference system the gains are MUCH more apparent, as I think the "sonic microscope" is set to a higher power of resolution in that room.
For fun try burning a couple of your best disks into your computer using the mat and them burning copies from the computer again using the mat. I think that you will be astounded with what you hear. Yes, the copy sounds better than the original, especially with image, sense of venue and space, as well as an analogue sense of ease. As you know, the new disk is not much thicker than two sheets of paper, so it will easily load into any player or computer without any problems. It would be instructive for others if your reported your finding of this on this thread! Have fun!!! |
Yes it is amazing. The higher the level of one's audio system the higher level the improvement. I know that sounds incredulous, but based on my experience I have found it to be that way. |
Jfz, While I would like to do that, please respect my privacy. Price or price range is just a context...What I am trying to say is that the higher the level the system, the more balanced the system, and the more resolving the system, the more marked the improvement that this mat makes. |
It is obvious that you have not seen it. It is even more obvious that you have not heard it. |
Simon --
I absolutely agree with you. I know that this may sound arrogant, but most guys in our hobby have never heard a truly resolving balanced audio reproduction system. Where are they going to do so? Not at an audio show, as the electric delivery is garbage and show condition room acoustics are terrible at best. Not at a dealer's showroom, ditto for electric and acoustics (unless the room has dedicated and distributed power and nothing else is in the room other than the system itself and a seat with no other electronics or speakers in the room - a combination that I have never experienced at a dealer anywhere). Not at most guy's homes either.
It is unfortunate that most audiophiles do not have a dedicated properly treated listening room with proper electrical distribution. Just the amount of real estate that is necessary to do this and the annual property taxes on that real estate make doing so prohibitive for most, let alone the additional construction cost of designing and building a proper listening room.
It is also unfortunate that most guys are chasing the "preamp of the month" as a salvation to audio nirvana, rather than treating their system (after all the magazines are about selling new product - the audio manufacturers are their major source of revenue through their advertising), its placement, loudspeaker size relative to the room, having the right type of amplifier to drive those loudspeakers with impedance matched components, vibration control (Marigo mat is part of that vibration control) and electric distribution to holistically achieve the desired sonic result. AND... you have to know the sonic result that you desire before you even start to assemble that system! What type of music do you enjoy? What volume levels? As reviewer Jonathan Valin describes...is one a "Fidelity to the master tape" listener, and "Absolute sound" listener, or a "Beauty of sound" listener. I know that I have achieved the "Fidelity to master tape" sound as the goal that I had set for my main system. I simply want to hear what was recorded, how it was recorded, and where it was recorded. I want to hear that recording "warts 'n all".
I only wish that I could have assembled a system like I enjoy for $100K. That doesn't even cover the real estate, design, and construction cost of my listening room. So when a product comes along that is priced no more than a meal with my wife at a fine restaurant, a product that elevates the enjoyment and immersion of my passion, music, to an unheard of level of refinement, I had to share my discovery with others. If they can't hear the difference, or worse, are too skeptical to try it, and judge the result for themselves, that is their loss. It is also a shame. It is unfortunate that there are so many music lovers and audio hobbyists that will never be able to hear what is capable in the art of sound reproduction. |
Thank you for taking the time to tell me how you feel. I'm sorry that you feel that way. I am not trying to brag, rather avoid bragging by not going into the equipment and other details of my system. Yes, it is ultra high end. I am just stating that for the context of what I am hearing. I am no kid and have been involved in our hobby for almost forty years. Over those years, I have done countless hours of listening and have refined my hearing and taste to a very high level. I have also been fortunate financially to possess the audio system that I have and to have experienced what I have had in the past. The God's honest truth is that this is a low cost item that has proven itself in the context of my highly evolved and refined system to be absolutely mind blowing in its benefits. I am not in the audio industry, and have NOTHING to gain by "shilling". What I have to say was done as a favor to other audiophiles, based on my long experience. I am THAT awestruck by this little device. Simple as that! |
Maril555,
Thank you for taking my side! I just wanted to do the audio community a favor in sharing my unbridled enthusiasm for a new product, one that is WAY better than anything else that I have heard before. If someone want to be skeptical it is their right and privilege to do so. If they want to be enlightened then they can take off the plate that I have passed to them.
With appreciation,
Coopersark |
GG,
Isn't it ironic that everyone who had posted that they have USED & EXPERIENCED this new Marigo Evolution Signature mat, all heard similar improvements and those who have not have made the choice not to do so have done nothing but harp negativity? I find those respondent's comments totally inane and baseless, as they are speaking from unsubstantiated opinion and not from first hand experience. I had started this thread as I was so overwhelmed by the sonic improvements wrought by using this disc. Those who have not tried or experienced it have had nothing but negative things to say. Absolutely incredulous!
If someone does not want to try this mat, that is up to them. It is their choice - no more and no less than that. Those of closed and/or negatively opinionated mind will never change and should simply be ignored.
Those that want to be enlightened will take what the first hand users of this mat have had to say, based on substantiated experience and not unsubstantiated opinion and try it first hand for themselves.
Kind regards,
Coopersark |
