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Impact of Walker Audio Extreme SST

I am ,like many of my audiophile brethren, always looking for a way to improve my system. For several months, I have followed comments here and on audio asylum about the benefits of Walker audio sst and extreme sst contact enhancer. I must say that I was a skeptic, cryogeniclly treated silver particals suspended in some sort of vegtable oil for $150. Well being the fool I am and believing what my fellow audiophile had written, I decided to take the plunge with both feet. The product seems absurdly over priced but the results were well worth $150. The benefits were across the board. In particular the soundstage is better defined, individual instruments and vocals are better defined and more 3 dimensional, bass seems more there and taunt and the highs are more airy but not at all agressive. I was wondering if any members have recently experienced this product. By the way my system is composed of Theta Basic II transport, Camelot Uther IV DAC (direct to amp), Tara Labs Air 1 interconnects and speaker cables, Rogue M-150 amps and Audio Physic Virgo II speakers.
sgunther
tpsonic
1,092 posts
 
I have issues with Lloyd Walkers' instructions for use of his SST/E-SST.First,I believe that any male connector should be viewed as a "finger" and the SST/E-SST should not be applied below the "nail" portion of said "finger",as the substance tends to migrate.Secondly,I believe a small paint brush or nail-poish applicator should be used>>Less is More.Some may not feel the applicators are at fault,but said applicators can over apply and then Boom=sizzle.
I throw the applicators away and provide said brush.And yes,I sell Lloyds' products.
joncourage
185 posts
 
I'm not sure I understand how putting something between 2 contacts could enhance the sound, other than by keeping the surface of the contacts clean over time.

Logically, I look at it this way: the best contact you can get between to surfaces is mating those surfaces directly - it seems to me that putting material in between them could only diminish the contact not add to it, since you can't improve the fundamental transmission qualities out from one and into the other.

I'm no electrical engineer though, so maybe I'm missing some fundamental concept.
rushton's avatar
rushton
2,445 posts
 
Joncourage, I'm not an electrical engineer either, but I hear the sonic improvements. My understanding of the situation is that in any interface of materials (same or not) there will be some resistance that will create some amount of interference in the electrical signal, often a spike of energy in the very high frequency range. The contact enhancers improve the conductivity at those interfaces, reducing the interference and the energy spiking. The Walker Audio Extreme SST is very effective in my system at improving the sound quality and is sonically the best contact enhancer I've tried. I consider it a necessary component here and I encourage you to give it a try. If it doesn't work for you, return the unused portion to Walker Audio within 30 days for a full refund, less shipping.
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zaikesman
3,017 posts
 
I once bought a power conditioner on Audiogon and when I got it, noticed the presence of a whitish pasty substance in and around a few of the outlets, so I knew the seller had used something, and when I asked he said he'd treated his power plugs and outlets with this product. However, I never have heard any differences between the treated and untreated outlets, and he didn't come across as being very convinced either. But I guess you can't go wrong with a satisfaction or your money back guarantee...
henryhk
648 posts
 
some equip & cable companies do warn about using any contact enhancers with any sort of metallic base...is it so for SST? for example, jena labs specifically warns agst this.
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