Selenite - Cheap Tweak on Hi-Fi

While I'm switching between using U4 and Emerson WEA, both has their own merits and I really can't choose to listen more than the other.

However, U4 has the absolute visual advantage when watching TV and YouTube videos. The sound coming from U4 is simply amazing , especially I play Dua Lipa live at Albert Hall with her most popular song Levitating, the thereness is so authentic , the hall effect is fully captured and the percussion is so enthusiastic. The percussionists are absolutely enjoying the music and is dead on the beat with enormous energy and excitment ! Also, lately I discovered a fantastic YouTube Channel called Daryl House, music from the 70s and 80s mostly from Hall and Oates, at 78, Daryl still possesses top professional skills in singing and playing  instrument which ignites my fire to sing again!

Simply cannot believe the music is coming from U4 - E6 - A08pro which costs a mere total of $200USD.

But switching to WEA paints a different world, it gives the calmness and more soothing presentation , more spacious, a bit laidback but more clarity, yet equally satisfying in its own way which I can play music for many hours with no sign of fatigue or digital glare, hardness or coldness.

Back to the main topic, the setup has experienced an upgrade when I experiement using Selenite onto the system.

One Sunday afternoon, I wandered around Sheung Wan Area (voted the most chill neighborhood in the world) and walked into a crytal shop, everything there are selling by the gram and they are sooo friggin expensive! But then I spotted some 6 cm to 8 cm long crytal sticks that costs only $2.5USD/each , out of curiosity I bought 4 sticks home to try. 

Place them under my WEA, I notice some difference immediately, so I decided to leave them in  place to do some prolong listening. Done some study over internet, Selenite seems to be a very soft and soluble crystal and not really suited for making jewellry to wear. However, it is used as purifying other crystals ! Think about all the Michelin Star studded chefs gather around together at hole-in-the-wall eatery for a hearty meal after a long day's work, nothing fancy but simply delicious and approved by all the top chefs~

Before I go into the power of these selenite sticks, I went to the almighty website Pin Duo Duo PDD and find out a bundle of 5 x 10cm sticks costs only $8USD! I ordered 3 bundles immediately and eventually got myself another 2 bundle! I have experiening and placed them everywhere I can think of and I think I'm enjoying the outcome a lot!!

Kwong - Randomly placed them on top of his CD Player immediately improves the clarity of system.

Ray - He has been using them placing loosely underneath his DAC, Amp and Power Conditioner and said the whole background is quieter 

Andy - "It’s now 4 out of 4. The effects  are immediate and apparent.  Enhanced harmonics and reduction of electronic glare in the reproduced music are unmistakable.

I tried both sticks and cubes in 2 systems with 3 turntables and 4 tonearms - all with similar results. Much more effective than the little brass horns in adding more harmonics to music. "

Me - I used them generously and externsively placing them under and above my Douk E6 and U4, Wattson Emerson Analog, Wifi Router, modem, Plixir power supply, Uptone power supply and even to my LCY supertweeter. Implemtation results in quieter background, while it's not black, but bright white in a positive way. Harmonics has improved, details retireval has also improved markedly. The sound of system did not alter by using selenite but seems to bring the best out of your setup without any significant drawback. Except for my Aiyima amp seems to sound too dry after using selenite and ground boxes. 

My take is the signal path benefits most with these selenite sticks, but you should explore it based on what you are using.

Go to Shen, Amazon, Toabao or PinDuoDuo and find them (透石膏原石) cheap. It may be the cheapest hifi tweak for me but with the effects smashing many so called Hi-end wizardry that costs hundreds and thousands of dollars and do tell me what your experience is, good or bad!

Another side benefits is that it can help one to improve sleeping quality . So that is an extra bonus! My wife had some sleeping issues lately and without any expectations, she tried put a few sticks under the pillow and believe or not, she has been sleeping well ever since. Whether it's a coincidence, it works!

Interim Report on Effect of LPS on various part of my system and my food diary

Since the implementation of Uptone LPS onto my WEA, I am very satisfied with the overall performance. Enter the Plixir BDC and Ray Audio LPS used onto my Douk U4, both yield positive outcome. While Ray Audio is mopre forward and exciting, Plixir has the upper hand on being cool, poised , more spearation , deeper soundstage.

LPS on Router?

The last possible instrument that uses normal walwart SMPS is my cheapo ASUS WiFi Router. One day, I took out the 12V/2.5A iFi Power X LPS and replaced the stock SMPS,  there seemed to be some improvement, sound and instrument harmonics has improved but ultimately the sound is a bit unrest/edgy and with with some glare, a signature of SMPS. I then replaced it with Ray Audio's LPS, now things tamed down  but the highend airiness seems to be truncated slightly. After some investigation, I replaced the Gotham power cable to Luna Cable Gris and it seems to improve in overall sound. I cannot use the Plixir on it since the head of the DC power cord is for U4 which is different size from the ASUS Router.

Story does not end here. I still feel missing something with Ray' PS/Luna Cable, the liveliness and involvment was missing. I made a decision  to use the stock Walwart  PS again and to my surpise , things are back to normal, the liveliness, music involvement came back. Puzzled but relieved, but I do think "sometimes too much of good things may not be a good thing", one gotta know when to stop. However that said, the LPS on modem does help improve the overall sound in some devices, so it's just needc some painstaking trial and error. 

Brief summary of experience 

So far I have tried a few dedicated power supplies, here is my opionated/biaised opinion:

**1/2 LPS made by my friend (using old trannies taken from US made security system, it sounds great on my modem and is dirt cheap)

**1/2 to *** PS by Ray Audio (yields exciting and energetic sound from U4)

***  Plixir BDC (more polite, some will say composed and at ease and laid back on my U4 but cannot connect to my Router... I need more time to try, but more I use it the more I like it for its neutral character)

***1/2  approaches ****Uptone LPS1.1 (Superb sound produced when paired with my Wattson Emersion Analog, WEA never sounds so good!)

* iFi Power X (it was good but quickly fell out of rotation compare to the above PSs and I would not recommend it even as a interim upgrade )

I had used some other LPS from TB and the results were meh, so only if you can find a really good LPS, you are better without it sometimes.

Music over Hifi

Man it is hard to try different combinations to find out the best fit but at least for now, I had come out with a setup that I can sit down and listen and  immerse into music. For me, I am very sensitive to musicality, if the system sound is well tuned, I can listen for hours. Otherwise, I will be restless and feel bored and disinterested very quickly despite there may be some gain in HiFi aspects but I rather have the musicality and involvement than HiFi gain.

For me, music comes first, lack of some HiFi attributes can be tolerated as long as I can immerse into the music and feel the spark of music and afterall, the essence of music is to touch and stir up your soul!!

Food Diary

炳勝品味 at Shenzhen, wanna try this for a long time. yummy and authentic Cantonese Cuisine, char Siu made of half fat/meat black hair pig charred on the edges

Steamed garoupa with beef , preserved radish and scallions is perfect match in contrasting textures and tastes. 

Double boiled soup is simply pure flavour and essence of Cantonese Soup

Not cheap for usd 50 for 2 but worth the Michelin status.