The Grid Protector, the EMI Protector and The Allocator By Schnerzinger-In My System and I’m Blown Away

[luca.pelliccioli]

Mmm… I’m liking what I’m hearing…

Thanks Vinyl_Mike and Steve.

 

[Jazzjunkie]

The owner manual recommends to keep it plugged into the same circuit as the system

Thanks, I see. This basic recommendation for the main plug changed for the latest devices.

 

[Frankie67]

Hi guys. For those who know Stein, are the Schnerzinger products similar to the Stein Harmonizers (https://steinmusic.com/roomacoustic/h2)?

Thanks.
Franco

 

[pk_LA]

Hi guys. For those who know Stein, are the Schnerzinger products similar to the Stein Harmonizers (https://steinmusic.com/roomacoustic/h2)?

Thanks.
Franco

Fascinating! Thank you! Finally, we can cut through the dark arts and sciences voodoo.

 

[Jazzjunkie]

are the Schnerzinger products similar to the Stein Harmonizers?

To my knowledge, no. They mentioned elsewhere why they don’t use (but know about or previously experimented with) informed material, resonance frequency generation, quantum physics and some other approaches meanwhile used by several, in favor of their own approaches with reportedly less disadvantages or limitations and stronger effect. In my understanding all those approaches can have part of their effects in common, but the Schnerzinger one seems to be … maximized and, above all, precisely focused measures without the side effects the others have in their eyes.

I can’t judge this, but the practical experience I have, that would support this is, that in whatever environment you place a Schnerz thing, it has more or less positive effect. Whatever piece of power conditioner, power plant, cable, distributor (you name it), you place into an otherwise complete schnerz‘ed chain, usually very clearly limits the result, no matter how positively it contributed before. That’s why I even assume, those with a PowerZone will exchange it, even if just in a very final step when it’s maybe the last weaker link in a more complete Schnerzinger environment. Will be interesting to observe here, if or when this happens. In my perception their approaches are meanwhile far ahead technologically, of what started to be more present (but still here and there considered kind of voodoo by folks) during the last years, especially regarding the whole informed material, quantum physics topics and measures influencing auditory perception and the environment in which we listen. I think Schnerzinger is leading since many years in this kind of field of measures and approaches, of which some got more common and offered by some manufacturers meanwhile. Some of us are using since many years, what starts to approach the forums since not too long ago.There are some topics like this that usually get you bashed by know-it-alls or ignoramuses on forums, and can't be talked about until a broader base is ready for it. Nice that this starts to change…

 

[aangen]

Data point: I bought a stand for my Grid Protector that raises its base plate 40 inches above the floor. It is centered between my equipment racks, just behind a plane or the back of both racks. In my opinion this has made a large improvement on the effect of the Grid Protector on my system. If you have yours on the floor, you should maybe try this.

The stand I purchased comes in pairs, so I am ready for the EMI Protector. Hopefully I will not be violating rules if I post a link to the stands.
Sadly, they are inexpensive.

Amazon.com

 

[Audio Addict]

I may have missed this earlier in the thread but I came across this today.

Schnerzinger Grid Protector and EMI Protector Review. – M & S | Ultimate High-Fidelity

www.monoandstereo.com

 

[Steve Williams]

Data point: I bought a stand for my Grid Protector that raises its base plate 40 inches above the floor. It is centered between my equipment racks, just behind a plane or the back of both racks. In my opinion this has made a large improvement on the effect of the Grid Protector on my system. If you have yours on the floor, you should maybe try this.

The stand I purchased comes in pairs, so I am ready for the EMI Protector. Hopefully I will not be violating rules if I post a link to the stands.
Sadly, they are inexpensive.

Amazon.com

I have been using these stands since Vinyl Mike recommended them few weeks ago. I think Luca also uses them. They definitely improve the EMI and Grid in my room

 

[Steve Williams]

The Grid Protector, the EMI Protector and The Allocator By Schnerzinger-In My System and I’m Blown Away

Someone needs to do a head to head compare between the POWERZONE and the Allocator. I’m planning to use them together, having already got how GP + PZ can be a marriage made in heaven! Read my previous post on this thread.

whatsbestforum.com

 

[Steve Williams]

I may have missed this earlier in the thread but I came across this today.

Schnerzinger Grid Protector and EMI Protector Review. – M & S | Ultimate High-Fidelity

www.monoandstereo.com

very good review. seems that all who have heard these in their systems articulate the same findings

 

[Zeotrope]

Many years ago as I started my audiophile pursuits, I was basically a digital guy and only got into analogue (turntable and reel to reel) over the past 10 years.
View attachment 135531View attachment 135532

Hi Steve, once again you come to the rescue! I was just wondering what to do to achieve zero background noise at the listening position, and this just may be the solution… still reading through the thread but it sounds very promising.

I have high sensitivity (~105dB) horns - even at peak output I use less than 1W of power. With the DarTZeel 18NS and 108 amps and 50ohm Zeel connection I had too much background noise at the listening position. DarTZeel’s -9dB Dynamic Shifters made a big difference in the right direction, and the 12dB version would probably have done the trick; but Herve has not delivered this version. After 3 years of waiting, and with whatever is happening at DarTZeel now unknown, I decided to upgrade to the new Nagra Reference Monoblocks and Pre-Amp (already having the HD Phono, Ref Ann TT, and HD DAC X in my system).

They are still breaking in and I’m waiting for a better XLR interconnect, but the improvement is stunning. There’s nothing really to call out specifically, it’s night and day. (The DarTZeel is still fantastic, don’t get me wrong, it’s half the price, and that makes sense. The 18NS and 108 are a great value, especially pre-owned.) How the Nagra REF sounds is for another post/day.

Now, the Nagra Ref Amps did reduce background noise; but it’s not completely gone. I have noticed that it varies with the day. On Christmas Day at night, it was almost completely inaudible. This leads me to believe the noise is caused by EMI/RFI, with the XLR cables (currently using Mogami 2534 quad while I await the Luna Noir) and/or AC line noise. For the latter, I am using Shunyata Denali/Typhon/Altaira throughout with the new Shunyata Sigma AC cords for the amps. So it’s probably EMI/RFI.

The room is below grade, concrete floor, spray foam insulation… so not sure how EMI/RFI can get in, but I’m in a large city. House is ~10 years old, so wiring is quite new.

This is where, I hope, Schnerzinger will come in!

 

[Steve Williams]

Hi Steve, once again you come to the rescue! I was just wondering what to do to achieve zero background noise at the listening position, and this just may be the solution… still reading through the thread but it sounds very promising.

I have high sensitivity (~105dB) horns - even at peak output I use less than 1W of power. With the DarTZeel 18NS and 108 amps and 50ohm Zeel connection I had too much background noise at the listening position. DarTZeel’s -9dB Dynamic Shifters made a big difference in the right direction, and the 12dB version would probably have done the trick; but Herve has not delivered this version. After 3 years of waiting, and with whatever is happening at DarTZeel now unknown, I decided to upgrade to the new Nagra Reference Monoblocks and Pre-Amp (already having the HD Phono, Ref Ann TT, and HD DAC X in my system).

They are still breaking in and I’m waiting for a better XLR interconnect, but the improvement is stunning. There’s nothing really to call out specifically, it’s night and day. (The DarTZeel is still fantastic, don’t get me wrong, it’s half the price, and that makes sense. The 18NS and 108 are a great value, especially pre-owned.) How the Nagra REF sounds is for another post/day.

Now, the Nagra Ref Amps did reduce background noise; but it’s not completely gone. I have noticed that it varies with the day. On Christmas Day at night, it was almost completely inaudible. This leads me to believe the noise is caused by EMI/RFI, with the XLR cables (currently using Mogami 2534 quad while I await the Luna Noir) and/or AC line noise. For the latter, I am using Shunyata Denali/Typhon/Altaira throughout with the new Shunyata Sigma AC cords for the amps. So it’s probably EMI/RFI.

The room is below grade, concrete floor, spray foam insulation… so not sure how EMI/RFI can get in, but I’m in a large city. House is ~10 years old, so wiring is quite new.

This is where, I hope, Schnerzinger will come in!

I'm not the expert here but my thought is that The Allocator might resolve these issues you have

 

[Zeotrope]

Thanks. I don’t see The Allocator on their website?
EDIT: I see The Allocator is an AC “power bar”…
I’m not going to replace the Shunyata Denali/Typhon/Altaira as that works very well (I have measured it with an EMI/RFI meter). This stack is also sitting on Seismion isolation bases (this is probably the biggest “must-have” in my system).

I think the noise is from the XLR cables picking up airborne noise. When I move the cables, the noise subsides slightly, but then returns. This is all very very low noise, mind you. With less sensitive speakers, I’m sure it would be inaudible.

 

[vinyl_mike]

Gideon Schwartz dropped by to hear the system and perform a final Schnerzinger tweaking. He added two additional Multi Guards. They're designed to work together with the Grid Protectors to form a complete power grid barrier. With Gideon’s addition, all four walls of the listening room are protected. There are three Multi Guards in the balanced power outlets near the equipment and two Multi Guards in the standard outlets off to the sides and back. If I remember correctly, Gideon said that they help clean up the grounds.

Whatever they do, the result is a significant increase in the vocal density, mid-range clarity and bloom. Male vocals are now presented with even greater 3D focus. Louis Armstrong, Dean Martin, Greg Brown, and Isaac Hayes are now popping into the room vividly with extraordinary clarity. The result is even a greater emotional immersion. Wow…

 

[Zeotrope]

My final revelation was the best of all. Ever since I’ve owned the Lamm ML3 amplifier which has 6 very large transformers on each channel and in both home that this gear has resided I’ve had a transformer buzz that I have heretofore been unable to tame by whatever means tried. I’ve learned to accept it as my amplifiers sit between both speakers. This plus the modification that Wilson audio does to the magnet in the tweeter has made this buzz impossible to ameliorate. The buzz would always become audible when i unmuted each channel of my preamp. Today when i unmuted both channels it was suddenly another WTF moment as there was dead silence. I put my ear up to the tweeter and midrange drivers and could just barely hear what previously was quite noticeable. Turn the 3 EMI switches off and the buzz was again easily audible. That to me was the defining moment. There was for my ears nothing more to test

This sounds like what I have… I guess I have to try the EMI at least.

 

[Zeotrope]

I totally agree and I previously asked the same question.

In my opinion, as a consumer, my right to know if a device does inject/transmit something in my room is legitimate by health safe. I’m not interested in secret proprietary technologies, rather in my health. I suppose these products must respect US and EU certifications by law.

I removed also WiFi in my room, both for sonic and health reasons.

I’ve never seen an amp or a diffuser with an antenna.

Don’t want to be rude, Steve but: What is it about the word health that you don’t understand?

This thread pushed me to contact the importer and ask him a demo, that we are scheduling but he wasn’t able himself to answer my question above. I was only hoping that WTB founders, as journalists or respected experts, who have direct access to the manufacturer and are describing how good this product sounds, can help us consumers to enlighten some aspects without technical or patent problematic revelations.

If you read the FAQs on their site you will see there are no ill health effects (at least self proclaimed) and may get some hints on what’s inside the box…

 

[Steve Williams]

If you read the FAQs on their site you will see there are no ill health effects (at least self proclaimed) and may get some hints on what’s inside the box…

Luca is a believer now as he owns the Grid and EMI protectors and IIRC has the upgraded version of the Allocator on order

 

[luca.pelliccioli]

Thanks Steve, you are right…



I also received to test the Cable Protector add on and 4 Multi Guards.

It seems that my holidays will be busy!

 

[Steve Williams]

Thanks Steve, you are right…

View attachment 142313

I also received to test the Cable Protector add on and 4 Multi Guards.

It seems that my holidays will be busy!

Looking at that photo the European version seems a little different as each AC outlet has a flip top

 

[Zeotrope]

Thats very interesting. I will try that. Thank you

Actually, per the manual, the height off the floor is recommended to be 1.2-1.7m high.
Also, if you elect to connect the AC power to the EMI for example, it should be a different circuit than what you use for the components. That won’t be possible in most systems, as it means a dedicated circuit, or one not shared with any of the A/V components in the room…
And it should be “ideally connected to a different power phase” - not sure what that means, at least in N America 120VAC is single phase.