QSA : My take on their expensive products

Willgolf

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After 5 hours the component went off again. It immediately turns back on. Time to take it in for diagnosis and repair.
 

Willgolf

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CKKeung

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CK
Have you tried this fuse?

1pcs Aucharm HiFi fever grade single crystal sterling silver nano fuse gold-plated cap audio fuse 5x20mm 6x25mm​

There is someone on Audiogon claiming it is better than SR Orange and QSA yellow in his system and it is only $20 US. Andy did reach out to me but failed to answer all of my questions so I am probably going to move on from Brimar.
Sorry, no experience in this Aucharm brand.
There are tens of thousands of hifi products & gadgets in taobao.com or Alliexpress.
The problem is that most of the manufacturers are unknown to us.
And aftersale/repair service is near-zero for buyers outside Mainland China (even HK audiophiles).
I only dare buying low-price products there.
 

highstream

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Hasn't it been found that there are a lot of counterfeit products on Aliexpress?
 

CKKeung

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Counterfeits : some but not as many as we thought.

Copycats : a lot! :rolleyes:
 

Willgolf

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I'm told it makes a bigger impact than the fuses. I have not tried one myself. It is additive to the fuse in terms of sound or video quality.

if you already have a really good Power conditioner, why do you need this?
 

Kingrex

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I feel Tweek Fatigue. Isn't it shocking that a simple cap or diode or resistor or magnet or whatever it is that is buried in the case isn't used in every audio component if its that great.

You know whatever it is, every manufacturer of power conditioners has tested it. Maybe some use it. Maybe they found its not a good design or doesn't work well.

I do admit its a bit odd very few manufacturer use a fuse better than glass. Some tweeks just start burning you out on the , really, another magic this or that.
 

Cellcbern

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I feel Tweek Fatigue. Isn't it shocking that a simple cap or diode or resistor or magnet or whatever it is that is buried in the case isn't used in every audio component if its that great.

You know whatever it is, every manufacturer of power conditioners has tested it. Maybe some use it. Maybe they found its not a good design or doesn't work well.

I do admit its a bit odd very few manufacturer use a fuse better than glass. Some tweeks just start burning you out on the , really, another magic this or that.
I don't find it shocking, and while you may speculate you have no way of knowing what their trade secrets might be, or whether or not "every manufacturer of power conditioners has tested" what they are using. If QSA is profiting from technology that everyone else has tried and rejected then they are more saavy business people than the rest if nothing else, given how many people including on this forum, swear by their products. "Tweek fatigue" or not, if you haven't listened to QSA products (have you?) what basis do you have for throwing shade at them? People do occasionally create or stumble on new things that others haven't tried or capitalized on. I have not listened to the range of QSA products and therefore won't speculate about their design or performance - a sensible policy I think.
 
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highstream

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I didn't read Kingrex's comment as "throwing shade" on QSA, especially given that -- checking back -- he uses their fuses and has gone up the levels a bit, as I recall.

By coincidence, I was feeling some tweak fatigue myself this afternoon, after replacing an SR Purple I had been reburning in for the past four days with the previously used AM Ultimate Premier in my TRP dac. I had expected a certain differences in sound favoring the AM -- probably deriving from different frequency curves -- but instead there was a lot more similarity than I expected, except that the AM sounded edgy and not quite as bass forward (it is upper midrange forward). Perhaps it too needed a little renewal time. When swapping takes some time and crawling around, followed by patience, and then things seem closer than one anticipated and not as expected, meaning more swapping, well, it can be fatiguing...
 
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Cellcbern

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I didn't read Kingrex's comment as "throwing shade" on QSA, given that -- checking back -- he uses their fuses and has gone up the levels a bit, as I recall.

By coincidence, I was feeling the same fatigue this afternoon, after replacing an SR Purple I had been reburning in for the past four days with the previously used AM Ultimate Premier in my TRP dac. I had expected a certain difference in sound favoring the AM to return -- probably deriving from different frequency curves -- but instead there was a lot more similarity than I expected, except that the AM sounded edgy and not quite as bass forward (it is upper midrange forward). Perhaps it too needed a little renewal time. When swapping takes some time and some crawling around, followed by patience, and then things seem closer than one anticipated and not quite as expected, meaning more swapping, well, it can be fatiguing...
I read the comments as speculative (not the first time) and dismissive. I understand perfectly from experience the fatigue that comes from testing tweaks, and periodically have to take a break from it. I am also fatigued by speculative posts absent direct knowledge or experience.
 
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Cellcbern

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Counterfeits : some but not as many as we thought.

Copycats : a lot! :rolleyes:
USA dealer Tweek Geek is also offering QSA "Gemstones" (which are apparently attached to the top tier QSA outlets and Red/Black fuses) and "Stones" (which feature the same material that is painted on the outlets) . Tweek Geek links are below. Wondering if you've had any experience with the Gemstones or Stones or heard any feedback from colleagues who have tried them?


 
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highstream

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I tried the SR version of the similar and found they did definitely change the sound in different ways depending on which version and the component where placed, but on balance for worse. That is, in some cases where there was an improvement in one way, there would also be a degradation in another way or two. Returned.
 
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Kingrex

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I am not saying what they have done, does not work. Over the years people have showed me all sorts of small this or that can make a positive contribution. Footers was one of the first I was introduced to, after power cords.

I don't know if their cord ends are an expensive power conditioner or inexpensive. People have used magnets for years with positive affects at times. They have use a simple cap at times to great affect. In a general sense, it seems if a magnet or cap or whatever works, why are they not inside the case of all the components we have. If it makes that big a difference, wouldn't most manufacturer inclued it in their cost no object offerings. Then again, some use a glass fuse. So who knows.

I call if fatigue as where does it stop. Where do you step aside and say enough. Think about all that is out there. It's a very extensive list. Maybe someone should compare the cord end to an Isotek Syncro or Shunyata NR cable. Same price. Same concept.
 
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Cellcbern

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I am not saying what they have done, does not work. Over the years people have showed me all sorts of small this or that can make a positive contribution. Footers was one of the first I was introduced to, after power cords.

I don't know if their cord ends are an expensive power conditioner or inexpensive. People have used magnets for years with positive affects at times. They have use a simple cap at times to great affect. In a general sense, it seems if a magnet or cap or whatever works, why are they not inside the case of all the components we have. If it makes that big a difference, wouldn't most manufacturer inclued it in their cost no object offerings. Then again, some use a glass fuse. So who knows.

I call if fatigue as where does it stop. Where do you step aside and say enough. Think about all that is out there. It's a very extensive list. Maybe someone should compare the cord end to an Isotek Syncro or Shunyata NR cable. Same price. Same concept.
I am not saying what they have done, does not work. Over the years people have showed me all sorts of small this or that can make a positive contribution. Footers was one of the first I was introduced to, after power cords.

I don't know if their cord ends are an expensive power conditioner or inexpensive. People have used magnets for years with positive affects at times. They have use a simple cap at times to great affect. In a general sense, it seems if a magnet or cap or whatever works, why are they not inside the case of all the components we have. If it makes that big a difference, wouldn't most manufacturer inclued it in their cost no object offerings. Then again, some use a glass fuse. So who knows.

I call if fatigue as where does it stop. Where do you step aside and say enough. Think about all that is out there. It's a very extensive list. Maybe someone should compare the cord end to an Isotek Syncro or Shunyata NR cable. Same price. Same concept.
The differences that footers and power cables make are not always small. In my system where I've thoroughly addressed everything - power purity, mechanical isolation/resonance tuning, noise filtering, room acoustics, and overall component quality, two different power cables (both with unique noise cancelling geometry/features) - Hemingway Z-Core Beta, and Lessloss CMARC Entropic with Firewall 640X in line (on sacd player only) have made significant reductions in noise/improvements in sound quality. Same thing with the Dalby Audio Lignum Vitae footers. The particular brand/model has made all of the difference. Some tweaks/upgrades I've tried have done nothing audible in my system, some have done a little, and a few have done a lot. The brands/models that have made significant improvements in my system (e.g., Bybee, Dalby, DHDI, Hemingway, Lessloss) all feature technology that is unique to them. The surprising thing to me has been how many different tweaks/upgrades it has taken to get to a level where I hear no electronic signature or noise polluting the signal. In addition to dedicated line and breaker box, high end wall outlet and power conditioner, internal amplifier, source, and speaker crossover cap, diode, resistor, wiring, driver, and other parts upgrades and tweaks (e.g., Bybee Music Rails in amp and source, Audio Magic PulseGen ZX in source, Bybee Quantum Clarifiers on each driver magnet) it has also taken ten different brands/models of add-on/plug-in noise filtration and line/signal conditioning devices to get my system to its current level. The improvements from each were incremental, and at least half were added with me thinking that I'd already done so much that there was little if any noise left to banish. While I'm currently pleased enough with the sound that if I added/changed nothing else going forward I would be satisfied with the system for the rest of my life, I don't doubt that additional tweaks would yield further refinement, or that something else will come to my attention that I will just have to try.
 
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wil

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In a general sense, it seems if a magnet or cap or whatever works, why are they not inside the case of all the components we have. If it makes that big a difference, wouldn't most manufacturer inclued it in their cost no object offerings.

Boenicke offers tweaked out options at premium prices. Great sounding speakers.
 

Cellcbern

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Boenicke offers tweaked out options at premium prices. Great sounding speakers.
Boenicke's cables are versions of the Lessloss CMARC, and the speakers are wired internally with Lessloss wire. Boenicke and Soundkaos also offer the Lessloss Firewall 640X noise filter modules as an internal upgrade in their speakers. These same filter modules are in the Lessloss Firewall 640X and 640X Entropic ( in line with power cable) noise filters. I have one between my power conditioner and its PC to the wall, and one on my sacd player.
 
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