2. misc-audio
  3. 150390-100071

Miracles in Audio, by luck, by good choices,by design or by tweaking...

I owned a low cost headphone for many years, the Fostex TH7B, first version( a new one close version exist Fostex TH7BK), semi-open headphone...I was never completely satisfied by any headphones I ever owned: Hifiman 400, Stax basic lamda, Stax 5 gold,Akg 340,Akg 701, beyerdynamic 990, and T150... Because in each of them with all their qualities I never listen to at the same times, a confortable headphone with natural timbre and voicing, with a good imaging and a realistic soundstage(not too close to my ears)...


For the last days I tweaked this Fostex, to damp his internal resonance I used sorbothane, I put some shungite stones at the exterior part of the cups and I use some Herkimer diamond in the interior pads( 3 at 120 degree) … Now this low cost headphones crush all my others if I sum all his qualities... For example his mids and voicing cannot beat the AKG 340 but among all my other headphones it is the best that is near that mids and it is more confortable, and with longer cable than the 340...His imaging is better and more realistic than the 340 etc etc...It is the same if I compare with the others...


His most important qualities is natural timbre and clear imaging,very precise pinned point accuracy and natural, so clear it crush for that ALL the others to dust...In the French audio circle the reviews were more than very positive few years ago...Diapason d’or and choc Classica...I am not the only one impressed buy the ratio quality/price... But remember that thesae reviewers dont tweak their headphone...The difference between before and after the tweaks are staggering...


Yes Miracles happens in Audio: cost is under 100 American dollars... Few years ago they cost me 50 bucks new... I never dreamed that I will go back to headphones...


I will enjoy your miracles stories of any kind ….My best to all...
128x128mahgister
whostolethebatmobile
290 posts
 
Cool! after virtually no response for a few days, suddenly 4 Audiogon members have asked for the free CrystalTop sample pack with free postal delivery. That makes 6 sample packs left, for any other interested members. Just request a pack here or by Audiogon private message to me. After that, I will go back to the lab (ie laundry) and make some new recipes. The originals will be collectors items forever.
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
I’m actually against the whole idea of chopping crystals up into little pieces. 😱 Crystals are “living things.” They have a beauty and functionality that is inherent in their original condition and size. Some of the most beautiful and effective crystals I use in Brilliant Pebbles are rough (natural) medium to large size crystals. I use tumbled stones, too. I have three sizes of Brilliant Pebbles, each size intended for a set of applications - each size contains a number of crystal types. As I mentioned somewhere along the line, the use of different crystal types together in the same device extends its effective bandwidth. Thus, if you like two particular crystal types, put them together and they will probably be more effective.

The size of crystals required for certain applications is a function of energy problem. Thus, in room corners, where one encounters extremely high sound pressure levels, small or chopped up crystal bits just won’t cut it, so to speak. The same goes for using crystals on the top of speaker cabinets or the top of tube traps, where large crystals are required. The smaller Mikro and Mini Brilliant Pebbles are great on glass windows and doors, on walls, in proximity to small vacuum tubes, on top of CD players directly over the spinning disc and other applications.
whostolethebatmobile
290 posts
 
The crystals I use died of old age before being crushed. Think of it as a glorious re-birth.
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
More like after birth. 😀
whostolethebatmobile
290 posts
 
Tumbling crystals is cruel. After weeks of slow torture in the "iron drum", the crystal victim suffers an eternity of rolling helplessly around in a deformed, un-natural condition, being laughed at by real crystals. I would never do that to a crystal in my care. I prefer a quick hammer blow to the crystal skull, and it’s all over quickly, with no suffering.
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