Lloyd Walkers latest crystal tweak

[rollo]

Crystals tend to enhance the performance of whatever they are near. So carrying them in your pocket Rich leads to ....

Hmmmmm!

   Glad you said Hmmmm instead of Hummmmmmm :


charles

[rollo]

  Bob have you tried mounting the crystal or crystals on the head shell as recommended by Walker ? Walker prefers two crystals on front of head shell.
   

charles

[BobM]

I tried putting my big crystal on top of the headshell. It wasn't as effective as the little crystal on the front of the cartridge. May have something to do with the proximity of the crystal to the magnets - I dunno.

I am going to try Kaplan's suggestion and add one more to each side of the cartridge and see what I hear.

[richidoo]

I tried putting my big crystal on top of the headshell

Bob, you just need a bigger crystal!~

[BobM]

Is that a crystal in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?

[BobM]

I did a bit more experimenting last night and this morning. Tried a few things, adding additional small crystals on the sides, putting them on top, using just one large crystal on the front and on top.

You are going to call me crazy, but here's what I hear (I won;t post this elsewhere for fear of being labelled nuts, but you all are already nuts so I feel comfortable here).

- Crystals add a bit more clarity and detail to the sound
- sometimes too much clarity and detail ends up sounding a bit hard on loud passages
- crystals with sharp edges tend to sound "edgier" than rounded tumbled crystals (no, I'm not making this up)
- the effect of the crystal is more muted on the top of the headshell than on the very front of the cartridge
- more crystal is not always better, it's a balance between added detail and clarity and your comfort level having more detail that is important (see my point about some hardness creeping in)

Right now I have ended up with a small tumbled crystal on the top of my headshell.

[tmazz]

....I won;t post this elsewhere for fear of being labelled nuts, but you all are already nuts so I feel comfortable here

Hey watch it,

[rollo]

  Bob interesting findings so far. Did you try the rounded crystal on the face of the headshell ? Still waiting for the Synergystic PHT to try. Wonder if both are used what the outcome would be. We will find out together.


charles

[richidoo]

Try some different gems, like tourmaline, carborundum, lepidolite, moldavite, etc.

Acoustic Revive uses some of these in their power conditioning boxes, the NC dealer told me it was amazing. Japs put tourmaline in literally everything, clothes, appliances, bedsheets.

GETCHOO SUM O DAT TOURMALINE BOI!

Soon you will start to think there is more to this crystal energy than just EM effects, then you will enjoy learning about the metaphysical properties of gemstones. http://heavenandearthjewelry.com   Imagine zany new age retail mysticism combined with wacko audiophile tweak obsession! All in one person - at least until the schizophrenia kicks in! Zowee

[BobM]

I have some tourmaline. I didn't try it here. I have used it elsewhere and I found that it sucked out dynamics. Quartz didn't have that problem.

But when I get a chance next week I'll give it a go.

[richidoo]

I have used it elsewhere and I found that it sucked out dynamics.

Ewww yik!

[jimbones]

I can't help it but that tweak reminds me of this South Park episode