New Product Test: Ground Box Booster from Heartsound Audio

[tommylion]

Disclaimer: This post is about a new product I am testing for a friend, who is the maker, and I am getting it in exchange for testing it.

It’s called Ground Box Booster. It is made made by Heartsound Audio, owned by Krissy Tetrault. It is a small black box with a single 5-way binding post. It is not powered, and does not plug into an AC outlet. It is simply wired into a port on any grounding box, such as those from Synergistic Research, Nordost, Entreq et al. I am using it with my Puritan Audio Labs RouteMaster and GroundMaster City. A cable is not included, so the user needs to supply one, premade or DIY. I used wire from an old set of TARA Labs ICs I had hanging around.

Krissy gave me two units. I hooked up the first one, and heard a substantial difference/improvement. I then added the second one, which took things even further. I heard an increase in clarity, sense of ease, natural detail, and dynamics. Voices and instruments were simply more “real” and emotionally engaging. After 4 days of breaking/settling in, these qualities took a rather startling leap to another level, and have remained there since. I have to say that the improvement may be the largest I have yet heard in my system. Needless to say, I am very pleased with this product, and it will be staying in my system. I believe that the area of grounding is still a wide open frontier in the world of high end audio.

What's inside the box, and how does it work? You’ll have to ask Krissy that. If you’re intrigued, and want to know more, do a search for Heartsound Audio. Ground Box Booster is not currently on the website, but you can contact Krissy from there for more info.

 

[agisthos]

mmm those 4 screws look fairly easy to take off and have a peep inside...

 

[Mikeg1]

I have two of the Ground Box Boosters on each of my monoblocks and one Ground Box Booster plugged in my Synergistic Research Active Grounding Block SX that treats my Router/Modem, DAC, and Preamp. The results in my system echo what tommyloin experienced. I’d never pull them out.

 

[tommylion]

agisthos,

I actually have looked inside, and all I can say is…good luck trying to figure anything out.

 

[nortberg]

Contacted Krissy today enquiring about when the Ground Box will be available and after exchanging a few friendly emails she suggested that she send me some of her goodies to try. Hopefully by next week I should have a set of Holostages and a Ground Box Booster to play with. Will report back.

 

[tommylion]

After living with the Ground Box Boosters for a bit, one of the things that really stands out is the improvement in the bass. When Krissy heard my system after putting them in, she said “Sounds like you added a subwoofer.” I agree.

 

[nortberg]

Have lived with the Ground Box Booster and Holostages in my headphone system for three weeks now and can only echo the previous comments made. The noise floor has dropped away revealing facets of the music that wasn't previously hinted at, that very fine detail that makes up the whole picture. Sounds tail off in all directions of the huge soundstage and bass has taken on a far more layered and subterranean quality that is addictive.
Have got the GBB connected to a Puritan PSM 156 and after initially having the Holostages sited at the four corners of the room, I now have them situated on top or near to components which to my ears improves dynamics but maybe the soundstage decreases in size.

Much more experimenting to do but all in all an excellent system upgrade at a very reasonable cost.

 

[Jeff4598]

Cannot find their web page- Heartsounds googles me to , well sounds of heart beats.

 

[nortberg]

Here you go: https://heartsoundaudio.com/

 

[tommylion]

nortberg,

Glad you’re enjoying the GBB & Holostages. The Holostages are great, I have one pair on my speakers and another on the rack with my front end components. I just put another pair on the output transformers of my 2A3 SET amp, and am really liking the results so far.

Do you also have a speaker system? If so, you should talk to Krissy, I’ve been testing another product designed to hook up to speakers

 

[Jackl3y]

Grounding boxes greatly interest me as I live in a 60+ year old building with questionable wiring. Problem is many cost more than the things I’d have plugged into them. I don’t begrudge anyone selling items but it’d be nice to have an entry level model to try and see if it works.

 

[tommylion]

Jackl3y,

Synergistic Research makes a basic model that may be what you’re looking for:

Grounding Block

www.synergisticresearch.com

Of course they recommend using their wires, at additional cost, but you can DIY your own.

 

[nortberg]

nortberg,

Glad you’re enjoying the GBB & Holostages. The Holostages are great, I have one pair on my speakers and another on the rack with my front end components. I just put another pair on the output transformers of my 2A3 SET amp, and am really liking the results so far.

Do you also have a speaker system? If so, you should talk to Krissy, I’ve been testing another product designed to hook up to speakers

I have a headphone system with a 300b amp so I won't get to experience the dedicated speaker GBB. Will definitely be purchasing another GBB in the near future and quite possibly more after that. They really are impressive and along with the Swiss Digital Fuse Boxes I have recently purchased they have made listening sessions quite wondrous and at times breath taking. These kinds of additions to a system in my opinion are a must, they unlock the magic.

 

[sbnx]

Grounding boxes greatly interest me as I live in a 60+ year old building with questionable wiring. Problem is many cost more than the things I’d have plugged into them. I don’t begrudge anyone selling items but it’d be nice to have an entry level model to try and see if it works.

Hello Jackl3y, what components do you have in your system? On the digital side, which is where a lot of the noise is coming form, many components ahve empty USB or RJ45 slots. You could try one of the USB Ground Dongles from either CAD or Chord Company. I find these to be highly effective and they are not 1000's of dollars.

 

[Jeff4598]

Jackl3y,

Synergistic Research makes a basic model that may be what you’re looking for:

Grounding Block

www.synergisticresearch.com

Of course they recommend using their wires, at additional cost, but you can DIY your own.

I don't have SR but I have found that ground wire is equally important as ground device.

 

[sbnx]

I don't have SR but I have found that ground wire is equally important as ground device.

Agree with that. It still baffles my mind why the wire makes such a difference.

 

[MacF]

Holy Holostages!!​

---

Heartsound Audio Holostages​

---

Full disclosure, I'm a tweaker. I've tried many different products that claim to improve the sound quality of your setup or tame the acoustics in your room. They have been carefully selected, all have a generous return policy. For example, LessLoss products have excellent price to performance numbers.

Their Power Base & Speaker Base will blow your mind & their Firewalls for Loudspeakers move the needle considerably toward achieving an immersive, natural & relaxed stereo image. Synergistic Research's FEQ Carbon + 3 Carbon ATM's achieves a similar sonic effect by taking a different electronic approach.

This brings me to HeartSound Audio's Holostages. Have you ever wondered what it feels like to go swimming in your music? Well, that's exactly what Holostages do for your listening environment by eliminating even the most stubborn acoustic anomalies in your room. You are now in the middle of the performance that wraps around you entirely as it draws you closer & closer resulting in a dreamy sounding. How can these inconspicuous passive little black boxes have such a profound effect you ask? I don't have that answer except to say, they do!

Since Holos are so portable, it's easy to tune the room more to your liking. If you find the soundstage is too wide, tall or immersive & you prefer a more intimate club setting, the placement of another Holo or 2 closer to speakers or components can alter the image more to your liking. I have 1 on top of each Floorstander also. There is 1 Holo on top of both rear surround speakers. 1 set of 4 Holos will be plenty. As for the 2nd set of 4 Holos, I am experimenting with optimal locations.


Finally, the fact that I can easily hear the benefits of Holostages over the already effective LessLoss & SR acoustical treatments speaks a lot about what this product is capable of. Holostages are future proof & can enhance the sound of any 2ch stereo system. They really are that good!

These are only my initial impressions of the HoloStages after 36hrs of listening. And to the skeptics, don't knock 'em if you haven't tried 'em. However, I already know how your experience will turn out.

More later on the addition of 2nd set of Holostages.

Mac F

 

[tommylion]

MacF,

Glad you are enjoying the Holostages One suggestion for placement is on or over transformers. Output transformers, if you have a tube amp(s), or power transformers on other components.

 

[MacF]

Thanks for tip! I placed 2 Holo's underneath the shelf that the Gold Note Integrated is on toward rear panel & AC input. Today I plan to listen critically with that location in mind.

Also, will try a Holo underneath the IEC inlet plug of amplifier doubling as a support for LessLoss Stellar PC connector. GN is resting on an SR Carbon Tranquility Base which, like the rest of my gear, is grounded to an SR Active Ground Block.

PS-I'm still shocked at how much more the Holostages add to what I thought was an already terrific sounding room treated with various LessLoss & Synergistic Research acoustical treatments!

 

[nortberg]

Holy Holostages!!​

---

Heartsound Audio Holostages​

---

Full disclosure, I'm a tweaker. I've tried many different products that claim to improve the sound quality of your setup or tame the acoustics in your room. They have been carefully selected, all have a generous return policy. For example, LessLoss products have excellent price to performance numbers.

Their Power Base & Speaker Base will blow your mind & their Firewalls for Loudspeakers move the needle considerably toward achieving an immersive, natural & relaxed stereo image. Synergistic Research's FEQ Carbon + 3 Carbon ATM's achieves a similar sonic effect by taking a different electronic approach.

This brings me to HeartSound Audio's Holostages. Have you ever wondered what it feels like to go swimming in your music? Well, that's exactly what Holostages do for your listening environment by eliminating even the most stubborn acoustic anomalies in your room. You are now in the middle of the performance that wraps around you entirely as it draws you closer & closer resulting in a dreamy sounding. How can these inconspicuous passive little black boxes have such a profound effect you ask? I don't have that answer except to say, they do!

Since Holos are so portable, it's easy to tune the room more to your liking. If you find the soundstage is too wide, tall or immersive & you prefer a more intimate club setting, the placement of another Holo or 2 closer to speakers or components can alter the image more to your liking. I have 1 on top of each Floorstander also. There is 1 Holo on top of both rear surround speakers. 1 set of 4 Holos will be plenty. As for the 2nd set of 4 Holos, I am experimenting with optimal locations.


Finally, the fact that I can easily hear the benefits of Holostages over the already effective LessLoss & SR acoustical treatments speaks a lot about what this product is capable of. Holostages are future proof & can enhance the sound of any 2ch stereo system. They really are that good!

These are only my initial impressions of the HoloStages after 36hrs of listening. And to the skeptics, don't knock 'em if you haven't tried 'em. However, I already know how your experience will turn out.

More later on the addition of 2nd set of Holostages.

Mac F

Think you hit the nail on the head when you said it's like swimming in music, very apt description. Haven't moved my Holostages around as I am just enjoying things as they are.