Infinite Imagination - Tweaking the battery of Setchi Groundboxes

[CKKeung]

The Taiko Audio Setchi groundboxes are not expensive and have very good performance/cost ratios.
I am using several of them in my audio system and have posted reports on WBF :
https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/yet-another-groundbox-but-this-setchi-is-quite-special.24081/
https://www.whatsbestforum.com/thre...x-has-got-a-big-brother-d3.25351/#post-507998

The Setchi groundboxes all contain a 9V battery. Taiko Audio recommends to renew it every 2 years :


However a friend of mine told me that despite his Setchi D3 was bought and used for 1 year only, there was a significant performance improvement when he renewed its battery last month.

Therefore I and another friend decided to do an experiment.
We bought several diff 9V batteries to try on a Setchi D2.
Please make a guess : which battery gave the best sonic performance?



The answer was : Energizer > Duracell >> GP.


We didn't use equipment to test/measure them.
The judgement was by our ears only.
We don't intend to give any scientific explanation.

WBF members who are Setchi users please buy some other brands/industrial versions of 9V batteries and repeat the experiment.
It's fun!

 

[CKKeung]

BTW some crossovers of speakers such as JBL Project K2 Series contain a battery.
They are for actively biasing the capacitors in the crossovers.

Some other brands such as Gryphon Audio Pantheon also have similar crossovers :


Any WBF members who own JBL or Gryphon speakers have done such an experiment/tweak too?
Please share with us.

 

[Taiko Audio]

The answer was : Energizer > Duracell >> GP.

That is interesting, we did test a few batteries but not the Energizer.

Is it possible to describe what sort of differences you are getting?

 

[spiritofmusic]

That Energiser bunny who keeps drumming just sounds better.

 

[microstrip]

That Energiser bunny who keeps drumming just sounds better.

If bunnies decide, perhaps we have again a case of country dependence - US and Canada users should get Energizer, all other countries should get Duracell!

 

[spiritofmusic]

Hey, as a drummer myself, no contest.

FWIW, I know of a very dedicated audiophile who uses crystals on his gear and cables, some battery-powered, and he takes these discussions very seriously.

 

[Speedskater]

I love the thread title.

 

[Kingsrule]

I wonder how Lithium batteries sound?

 

[spiritofmusic]

Solar panels? Wind-up handle? Hamsters in a wheel?

 

[CKKeung]

My friend is buying some 9V Lithium batteries to test but I can't wait anymore.
Just bought 3 Energizers for the 3 Setchi in my home (one D3 & two D2).



The effect is instantaneous : resolution/ microdynamics/3D image/ continuousness all improve.
Even though the overall improvement may be just 4 or 5%, what more can I ask for for the USD6 spent?
Haha. Very happy!

 

[CKKeung]

Eventually my frd and I got the Energizer lithium 9V battery!



How does it compare to Energizer alkaline 9V battery on Setchi?

I guess I may be talking too much on WBF for such a cheap tweak.
The Energizer lithium 9V battery is only usd8 per piece.
Pls buy one and try it yourselves.
You will be very happy!

 

[Kingsrule]

Yes Ive been using Lithium batteries for awhile

 

[Taiko Audio]

Eventually my frd and I got the Energizer lithium 9V battery!

How does it compare to Energizer alkaline 9V battery on Setchi?

I guess I may be talking too much on WBF for such a cheap tweak.
The Energizer lithium 9V battery is only usd8 per piece.
Pls buy one and try it yourselves.
You will be very happy!

Thank you for reporting, very interesting.

 

[Rocoa]

Hello,

I recieve one more Daiza two weeks ago plus a Setchi D-3.
At first I tried the Setchi with my Jeff Rowland Aeris DAC. I plugged it in a BNC connector.
The sound becomes a bit dead and after five days it opened a bit.



After some days I retired the Setchi and replaced it by a Telos Gold BNC cap. Well, I like the DAC soun more in this way.
With the Setchi the extreme frecuencies where a bit dead. I imagine that Rowland has done his work correctly with the Aeris (I'm refering about noise rejection).


My surprise went when I pluged the Setchi in a BNC connector in my Aqua transport. This device is not grounded and I've made a Cardas litz cable soldered to a RCA cap to plug it in the Exactpower balanced transformer.
Well, adding the Setchi to the Aqua was a revelation. The sound becomes more extended, dynamic and dimensional.


It comes with Duracell battery and I've not tested the Energizer Lithium yet but I've already ordered one

 

[CKKeung]

Hello,

I recieve one more Daiza two weeks ago plus a Setchi D-3.
At first I tried the Setchi with my Jeff Rowland Aeris DAC. I plugged it in a BNC connector.
The sound becomes a bit dead and after five days it opened a bit.

View attachment 55567

After some days I retired the Setchi and replaced it by a Telos Gold BNC cap. Well, I like the DAC soun more in this way.
With the Setchi the extreme frecuencies where a bit dead. I imagine that Rowland has done his work correctly with the Aeris (I'm refering about noise rejection).

View attachment 55568
My surprise went when I pluged the Setchi in a BNC connector in my Aqua transport. This device is not grounded and I've made a Cardas litz cable soldered to a RCA cap to plug it in the Exactpower balanced transformer.
Well, adding the Setchi to the Aqua was a revelation. The sound becomes more extended, dynamic and dimensional.

It comes with Duracell battery and I've not tested the Energizer Lithium yet but I've already ordered one

iMHO the sound of D3 is tamed whereas D2 is vibrant.
Not the more expensive D3 always better.
Need to match with the component they are connected to.

 

[Taiko Audio]

At first I tried the Setchi with my Jeff Rowland Aeris DAC. I plugged it in a BNC connector.
The sound becomes a bit dead and after five days it opened a bit.

Well, adding the Setchi to the Aqua was a revelation. The sound becomes more extended, dynamic and dimensional.

Thank you for sharing. It is ultimately an energy conversion device. It's main mode of action is fueled by vibrational energy. Your description sounds like it's lacking a "power source" (vibrations). The aeris is very compact and rigidly build, machined out of a solid block of aluminium by the looks of it. It is quite possible it may actually still work on that position if you have room to place it on your shelf rather then on top of the aeris. Although on top would be the preferred placement normally, on your Aqua it will certainly work best there.

 

[Rocoa]

Thanks Emile.

I undertand. I've placed the Seitchi at first in the Daiza platform and the result is the same, more or less.
I think that its place is in the Aqua transport
Cheers

 

[Kingsrule]

Thank you for sharing. It is ultimately an energy conversion device. It's main mode of action is fueled by vibrational energy. Your description sounds like it's lacking a "power source" (vibrations). The aeris is very compact and rigidly build, machined out of a solid block of aluminium by the looks of it. It is quite possible it may actually still work on that position if you have room to place it on your shelf rather then on top of the aeris. Although on top would be the preferred placement normally, on your Aqua it will certainly work best there.

Emile

If the seitchi's are fueled by vibrations what I don't understand is most of my Seitchi's have batteries that are lose and rattling inside the units. Shouldn't they be secure inside?

 

[Taiko Audio]

Emile

If the seitchi's are fueled by vibrations what I don't understand is most of my Seitchi's have batteries that are lose and rattling inside the units. Shouldn't they be secure inside?

That is actually strange, they are a pretty tight fit, did you replace the batteries with a different type?

 

[spiritofmusic]

Is this a spoof thread? No disrespect guys, I've had the $hit ripped out of me when I revealed that I replaced 9 stock fuses in my preamp alone w SRs, and believe in directionality, and have installed a specialist pwr cord on my tt motor psu.

I'm just wondering about this one. Otoh, I know someone who has dozens of crystals in his system, incl on cbls, and is a firm believer in crystal directionality...and yes, battery power to some of these crystals.