QSA - Lanedri and the Audiophile Version of the Philosophers’ Stone

[Tuckers]

Hi

Hi Iain,
It was something I bought from a reagents catalog 20+ years ago in Germany. My point was that thoroughly cleaning contacts with an ultra-low residue solvent has major benefits. The problem is, certain solvents, while very very effective, are also neuro-toxic in that their vapours attack the myelin sheaths around nerves and can do brain damage. A manufacturer, with the appropriate fume hoods and precautions would have no problem using such solvents to strip any oils and contamination from connectors prior to treating with some sort of conductivity enhancement, which may be ’cured’ to make it permanent. Curing can be done at fairly low temperatures so fits with treating pre-assembled products.

This Stuff? Kontak Cleaner

It is an excellent cleaner! Really enhances the sound, and has a slight citrus smell.

 

[highstream]

My order just shipped from Hong Kong. Since Anas is in Europe, that makes me wonder if the cables are being assembled there, then shipped off to HK for treatment.

 

[kennyb123]

My order just shipped from Hong Kong. Since Anas is in Europe, that makes me wonder if the cables are being assembled there, then shipped off to HK for treatment.

It’s my understanding that the Gamma and Spectra cables are assembled at the respective manufacturer. UThey are then sent to HK for treatment. Anas has travelled to HK on several occasions to handle the logistics. Not sure about the Ultimatum line.

 

[Republicoftexas69]

More efficient flow of electrons? The medical equivalent of treating an enlarged prostate?

Now that is funny but it makes sense.

 

[taipan254]

I decided to ask Google Bard the same questions I asked earlier to ChatGPT regarding the QSA process. Looks like Bard produced more accurate results (this time with mostly working links to real papers!).

Can electric pulses alter the copper's crystal structure?​

Yes, electric pulses can alter the copper's crystal structure. This process is known as electropulsing. Electropulsing involves applying a high-voltage, short-duration electric pulse to the copper. This can cause dislocations in the crystal structure to move, which can lead to grain refinement and other microstructural changes.

Electropulsing has been shown to have a number of beneficial effects on copper, including:

• Increased electrical conductivity
• Increased strength and hardness
• Improved ductility
• Reduced wear and tear
• Enhanced corrosion resistance

Electropulsing is a relatively new technology, but it has the potential to revolutionize the way that copper is used in a wide range of applications. For example, electropulsing could be used to produce copper with superior electrical conductivity for use in electrical wiring and components. It could also be used to produce copper with improved strength and hardness for use in aerospace and automotive applications.

Electropulsing is a promising technology for improving the properties of copper. However, more research is needed to develop this technology and bring it to commercialization.

Here are some examples of how electropulsing is being used to alter the crystal structure of copper:

• Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley have used electropulsing to produce copper nanowires with very high electrical conductivity.
• A company called Elliptika Technologies has developed a commercial electropulsing process for producing copper with improved strength and ductility.
• Researchers at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory are using electropulsing to produce copper with enhanced corrosion resistance.

Electropulsing is a versatile technology that can be used to alter the crystal structure of copper in a variety of ways. As research in this area continues, we can expect to see new and innovative applications for electropulsing in the future.

Can you please provide links to 10 articles and academic papers discussing electropulsing and improving the electrical conductivity of copper?​

Sure, here are links to 10 articles and academic papers discussing electropulsing and improving the electrical conductivity of copper:
Articles:

• Electropulsing: A Novel Approach to Improving the Properties of Copper: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11665-020-04642-y
• Electropulsing Treatment of Copper Wires: A Review: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785418310664
• Electropulsing for the Improvement of Electrical Conductivity and Mechanical Properties of Copper: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11661-020-05818-w
• Effect of Electropulsing on the Microstructure and Properties of Copper: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11665-020-04642-y
• Electropulsing Treatment of Copper for Enhanced Electrical Conductivity and Corrosion Resistance: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0257897220310951

Academic papers:

• Improving the Electrical Conductivity of Copper Using Electropulsing: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/309718007_Improving_the_electrical_conductivity_of_copper
• Effect of Electropulsing on the Microstructure and Electrical Conductivity of Copper: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11665-020-04642-y
• Investigation of the Effect of Electropulsing on the Electrical Conductivity and Mechanical Properties of Copper: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s42461-021-00401-2
• Electropulsing Treatment of Copper for Enhanced Electrical Conductivity and Corrosion Resistance: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0257897220310951
• Electropulsing Treatment of Copper Wires for Improved Electrical Conductivity and Mechanical Properties: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11661-020-05818-w

These articles and papers discuss the different ways in which electropulsing can be used to improve the electrical conductivity of copper. They also discuss the mechanisms by which electropulsing works and the potential applications of electropulsing in the real world.
I hope this information is helpful. Please let me know if you have any other questions.

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Please discuss the methods used in the above papers to improve the electrical conductivity of copper from electropulsing​

The methods used in the above papers to improve the electrical conductivity of copper from electropulsing can be broadly divided into two categories:

1. Electropulsing of copper wires: This method involves applying a high-voltage, short-duration electric pulse to copper wires. This causes dislocations in the crystal structure to move, which can lead to grain refinement and other microstructural changes. The resulting microstructure has fewer defects and a more uniform grain size, which leads to improved electrical conductivity.
2. Electropulsing of copper powder: This method involves applying a high-voltage, short-duration electric pulse to copper powder. This causes the copper particles to sinter together and form a more dense and uniform material. The resulting material has fewer defects and a more uniform microstructure, which leads to improved electrical conductivity.

The specific methods used in the above papers vary depending on the specific goals of the research. For example, some papers studied the effect of different electropulsing parameters on the electrical conductivity of copper, while others studied the effect of electropulsing on other properties of copper, such as strength and ductility.
Here are some specific examples of the methods used in the above papers:

• In the paper "Improving the Electrical Conductivity of Copper Using Electropulsing," the researchers used electropulsing to produce copper nanowires with very high electrical conductivity. The nanowires were produced by electropulsing copper powder in the presence of a surfactant. The surfactant helped to disperse the copper particles and prevent them from agglomerating. The resulting nanowires had a very uniform grain size and few defects, which led to very high electrical conductivity.
• In the paper "Electropulsing Treatment of Copper Wires for Improved Electrical Conductivity and Mechanical Properties," the researchers used electropulsing to improve the electrical conductivity and mechanical properties of copper wires. The wires were electropulsed at different voltages and pulse durations. The researchers found that the optimal electropulsing parameters for improving electrical conductivity were 10 kV and 100 µs.
• In the paper "Electropulsing Treatment of Copper for Enhanced Electrical Conductivity and Corrosion Resistance," the researchers used electropulsing to improve the electrical conductivity and corrosion resistance of copper. The copper was electropulsed at different voltages and pulse durations. The researchers found that the optimal electropulsing parameters for improving electrical conductivity and corrosion resistance were 15 kV and 100 µs.

The research on electropulsing of copper is still in its early stages, but the results have been very promising. Electropulsing has been shown to be an effective way to improve the electrical conductivity of copper by refining the grain size and reducing the number of defects in the crystal structure. Electropulsing also has the potential to improve other properties of copper, such as strength, ductility, and corrosion resistance.
As research in this area continues, we can expect to see new and innovative applications for electropulsing in the future. For example, electropulsing could be used to produce copper with superior electrical conductivity for use in electrical wiring and components. It could also be used to produce copper with improved strength and ductility for use in aerospace and automotive applications.

 

[ssfas]

I guess most are familiar with the fable of the Philosophers Stone…..essentially the tale of the ancient Alchemists’ search for a stone (ingredient) that would turn base metals into Gold. Well apparently QSA-Lanedri have found the audiophile equivalent, which I believe is worthy of some discussion.

I have been an audiophile for over 50 years, with the last 4 spent developing a dedicated digital streaming system. Up to 4 years ago my experience with digital was that it consistently proved inferior to analog, but thanks to the inputs from 3 fellow audiophiles (DIY gurus) and 2 hi-fi designers that has now changed. Having implemented a number of their suggestions I came to very much rely on their inputs and advice, so when 2 of them began messaging and posting about QSA fuses and later about QSA-Lanedri cables, I immediately became interested. Both these guys have lucrative careers while hi-fi is their passion, so my belief in their findings is 100%. Neither has any financial or business relationships with QSA-Lanedri and get no financial reward for promoting their products. My conclusion is that QSA-Lanedri really have discovered something remarkable with the potential to revolutionise the hi-fi industry. This thread is intended to provide a place to discuss actual experiences with the products, to discuss your take on their perceived value and to ‘speculate/hypothesise’ on what the process may be that brings such spectacular results in terms of improved sound quality. It is based on the assumption that the products do what they claim and seeks to come up with possible ways of how they achieve this.

Let me provide a few observations to get things started

1. The ‘treatment’ is applied to fully confected cables and plugs, so must be fully compatible with all the soft plastics used in plug and cable manufacture
2. The treatment is not patented, so either it’s extremely unlikely to be discovered and therefore not worth the patent costs (which are considerable) or the treatment itself isn‘t patentable ie. Isn’t non-obvious or novel
3. The treatment can be applied to any cable or plug so isn’t product dependent
4. There appears to be no outward signs of any modifications to any treated products
5. There’s a scale of products, so it seems the process can be either tuned, adjusted or dosed to modify/enhance the effect on the treated cable
6. Listeners have observed that the effect of the treatment is greater on less pure metals i.e metals with greater level of impurities
7. Listeners have observed that the closer the treated product is to the ‘end point’ the greater the effect i.e downstream untreated conductors reverses some of the benefit
8. Its claimed that over 22 years of R&D went into the process but my own key-word searches revealed no related or relevant publications, so its likely the R&D was performed either in a private or commercial capacity rather than as part of a research institution e.g university that depends on publishing results to justify its funding.
9. Humans have studied the structures and behaviours of metals and their related molecules and atoms for well over a century, but not as they apply to their ‘sonic qualities and attributes’ .
10. QSA- Lanedri claims that the treatment occurs at the ‘molecular or atomic level‘ and is ‘quantum‘ in nature
11. QSA-Lanedri list the following technologies as key attributes:
- Metal Molecular Activation Technology
- Musical Metal Molecule Alignment Technology
- Skin Deep Compensation Technology
12. The cables themselves start out life as complete $50 - $100 Blue Jeans and Iconocast cables that following treatment sell for $2,500 - $6,000. Power cables are based on Sablon Prince ($3,250) and Sablon King ($3,950) which following treatment sell for $6,000 - $9,000 and $8,000 - $12, 000 respectively.
13. Iconoclast and /Blue Jeans cables are themselves made from bulk off the reel Belden and Canare cable
14. Listeners have observed that the greater the metal content of the cables and plugs, the greater the effect of the treatment

Being relatively new to this forum I didn't appreciate that paid-for threads are holy ground. I got told off. Sorry!

Just a few more things:

1. Steven Tsang's Linkedin page led me to his university paper - which was on digital processing - in 1997. So no evidence of any academic credentials in metallurgy, but he's obviously a clever chap.

https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/48534487.pdf

2. Steven Tsang has operated Lieder International since about 2004 (I forget). It is an audio dealer and distributor. Brands it has dealt with are Akiko from 2015 - who do audiophile fuses - make your own mind up what that resulted in.

Akiko Audio 音

New Dealer in Hong Kong: LIEDER INTERNATIONAL COMPANY Room1311b, 13/F, BLK,. Kai Tak FTY BLDG. 99-101 King Fuk ST., San Po Kong, KLN,.HK TEL: (852) 2717-0774 FAX: (852) 3012-1271

www.facebook.com

3. The QSA YouTube channel is here:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCksARmEuEr1Y0n3aUeFCOGw/videos

4. Go into "Shorts" and you will see the QSA process in action via a little white box and some egg timers.

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

5. If you look at the timestamps of some of the "before" and "after" videos of certain devices, the process was only a matter of a few minutes.

6. Anas' role is clearly marketing and distribution, he seems to have a good way with that. He's got the spin down 100%. He's a MiFid11 specialist. No science background listed.

7. Look at the small print. It is states that there is no option to return the Sablon based cables (Spectra).

Presumably because Sablon won't refund QSA-L.
This is contrary to EU and UK law, that gives the consumer a 14-day cooling off period to return a product, no questions asked.

Guarantees, cancelling and returning your purchases - Your Europe

How to claim the 2-year guarantee for EU purchases, get a repair, replacement or refund, how to cancel orders made outside shops (online, by phone, mail order).

europa.eu

QSA-L cannot argue the exceptions rule as they refer to stock items. They could argue the exceptions rule is you ordered a non-standard length.

8. The Belden cables are standard Belden cables with Belden connections. This is a good thing as Belden make the point that the connection is critical. Belden confirmed to me that they do not make special cables for anyone. They do OEM connections and labelling like others.

9. Belden ethernet cables come with individual fluke tests. They either pass or fail. The test meter costs about $4,000. Galen Gareis tells me many audiophile ethernet cables fail, but still work because the test threshold far exceeds the needs of audio. As far as he was concerned nothing can be done afterward to make it better.

I buy from Belden. Got 3 ethernet and a pair of RCAs this week, order to delivery from Seattle to the UK in 3 days. $125 delivered.

I don't suppose what QSA-L do is uncommon in commerce. If they have discovered the Philospoher's Stone, then my suggestion would be to patent it and license it to other manufacturers. Vastly more money in doing that instead of flogging one-off cables. If they have not, it may not last long.

 

[Anyoldears]

Another way to look at the use of BJ and Iconoclast cables is that they help allow QSA get a lower price point for the Gamma line. For a higher line they use the more expensive Sablon. For the top of the line, they aren’t talking yet. Of course, if they’re using already built cables, that likely means they aren’t being taken apart.

I think I saw here that they have at least looked at Hemingway cables but not sure if the Ultimate is a modded Hemingway like the Spectra is a modded Sablon https://stereotimes.com/post/qsa-lanedri-infinity-series-ultimatum-speaker-cables/

 

[ssfas]

I think I saw here that they have at least looked at Hemingway cables but not sure if the Ultimate is a modded Hemingway like the Spectra is a modded Sablon https://stereotimes.com/post/qsa-lanedri-infinity-series-ultimatum-speaker-cables/

The QSA Ultimatum connector has QSA moulded in it, so it must be home brew. It reminds me of a mega-cable Dave at MCRU did years ago, that was very unwieldy and a real pain. Being home brew they can afford to do refunds, implying it doesn't cost much to make relative to the price.

I see he's now teamed up with Puritan and putting posh connectors and fuses on Ultimate cables. I have three of the Ultimates, don't see the need for posh plugs. Mike Lester's plugs are butch enough for me. Dave and Mike are two of the good guys.

 

[ssfas]

12. The cables themselves start out life as complete $50 - $100 Blue Jeans and Iconocast cables that following treatment sell for $2,500 - $6,000.

As posted elsewhere, I bought some Belden 5T00UP speaker cables, that turn out to be the Gamma Infinity cable (Belden price $104, QSA price $6,000). QSA supply with the standard and very good Belden locking pin connectors, which they sell for $9 per pair. The alternate spade connectors are nice and chunky.

I have a lot of Belden cabling (mains, ethernet, RCA, now speakers) and a search shows that a site called Audioholics are in love with Belden 5T00UP. I've not heard of Audioholics, but I do like Belden no nonsense cables because they are made to a specification and are zero-foo.

My reasoning was simply that my prior cables have soft silver Z-connectors and every time I move my amplifier at least one of them falls out. So I need to send them back to Denmark to have spades fitted, which will take a few weeks, and I don't have another pair of cables long enough.

After a couple of days the Belden 5T00UP seem to leave nothing behind.

As the Belden 5T00UP are very thick 10 AWG (they also come in 12 AWG), they have very low resistance. So besides a 5m pair I also bought a singe 2m cable for the speaker nearest the hifi. Unmatched lengths is not exactly a problem because signals travel down speaker cables in fractions of a nanoseconds.