Lloyd Walkers latest crystal tweak

[BobM]

Has anyone else seen the discussions at Audiogon about Lloyd Walkers black diamond tweak? Apparently he now sells black colored crystals that you stick to your headshell or phono cartridge. He states that it "reduces the EMI/RFI and static electrical noise at your cartridge and record while it is playing." I don;t think these are actually diamonds, but rather black quartz.

More info here:

https://walkeraudio.com/shop/crystal/

So instead of paying $395 to Walker Audio I found a clear rounded quartz crystal and glued it to the front of my cartridge with a tiny dab of super glue. Of course I re-balanced the arm to account for the added mass.  I've been playing records this way for about a month now.

No overtly obvious change, but things did indeed sound nice. So today I decided to put it to the test. I pulled out 88 Basie Street, an album many of us are intimately familiar with for it's great dynamics, soundstaging, space, extension and great music.

(1) Sounded really nice. spacious, meaty, textured.

(2) I pulled off the crystal and re-balanced the arm. OK, so things definitely seem a bit flatter now. Less nuance. Less space. Absolutely a difference was heard.

(3) Glued the crystal back in place and re-balanced the arm again. Yup, there's that nuance, space and dimensionality.

Conclusion: so I guess this did make a difference to my ears, whether from actual RFI/EMI reduction or from just having added mass at the headshell - I don't know. But I did hear it; subtle but there.

[BobM]

Another shot from the front.

[rollo]

   Still liking the tweak ? Same affect ? Any changes ? Quartz ? Inquiring minds want to know.


charles

[BobM]

You should come over and listen 

Yes, liking the tweak. Yes, it doesn't look so great (but I bet you could use a smaller crystal than I did with the same effect). It was decidedly better on when I A-B'ed it on and off. No question of the increased soundstage and clarity.

[jimbones]

You should come over and listen 

Yes, liking the tweak. Yes, it doesn't look so great (but I bet you could use a smaller crystal than I did with the same effect). It was decidedly better on when I A-B'ed it on and off. No question of the increased soundstage and clarity.

Call me a skeptic: I see it as adding "mass" on the end of the tonearm. Maybe a glob of blutack works just as well

[BobM]

Here's a pic of my new Lyra Kleos with a smaller crystal stuck to the front. Just a small dab of moretite, nothing permanent. I did try the large crystal on top of the headshell, but this little guy on the front works better.

Smooths things out a bit and widens the soundstage. Verified these effects again by adding and removing (and rebalancing at each step)

[BobM]

For those naysayers who read this and say, "what the hell could this possibly do", here's a video showing the electromagnetic field properties of quartz crystals.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuZLO2pRpbs

This is actually a well understood science, not myth, not just mass. And what is a phono cartridge but an electromechanical signal generator that relies heavily on magnetic fields.

[rollo]

   Cool stuff bob. The Synergystic PHT is another winner with two flavors for $199. Purple Haze and Blue Velvet flavor as described.
    The difference is the PHT works on resonance and the crystal magnetic field. Bob Synergystic uses museum putty whatever hat is to mount them.
     It would be interesting to compare the two methods. When Steve finally gets mine we can have some fun comparing. They weigh .0001gr plus putty.


charles
   

[richidoo]

The museum putty is the secret.

The crystals and aluminum parts are just thrown in to justify the cost.

[rollo]

   Back in the day Mortite was the cart tweak of all times. We have come a long way from just adding mass it appears.
    Quartz being a piezoelectric material has its merits with magnetic fields and the PHT addresses resonance.
     The asking price always introduces some sort of issue. Thank goodness for 30 day trials. After the marketing hype at least we can evaluate and return if not pleased with the change.  BTW not a Synergystic dealer.
   

charles

[richidoo]

Just BS'n

[BobM]

Occam (Paul Kaplan) has responded over at AC on this topic. He has done a lot of research with crystals, notably in his power cords but also elsewhere. He also heard an improvement putting these on a cartridge.

However, he says metal bodied cartridges require more than one crystal. I just might try puttying one more on each side to see if there is further improvement.

[rollo]

Just BS'n

   Busting ? Gotta have some fun eh


charles

[rollo]

Occam (Paul Kaplan) has responded over at AC on this topic. He has done a lot of research with crystals, notably in his power cords but also elsewhere. He also heard an improvement putting these on a cartridge.

However, he says metal bodied cartridges require more than one crystal. I just might try puttying one more on each side to see if there is further improvement.

    What is AC ? Traitor.  After TWL success with crystals on the plus series All jump in.  
     Size and weight matter every time Hey Richidoo carries then in his pocket for good reason, they work.


charles

[BobM]

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

Hmmmmm!