DIY Ground Box Thread

[cdacosta]

I've installed the remaining salt bundles in the 1+.5 gram combo at 7 locations, each of the first 3 added more sense of thereness with more finer details. The last 4 I just installed without listening, at the end the amount of spacial information was more immersive and I'm hearing more details than I ever thought existed in the files. Things cleaned up even more and the tonal balance has gotten slightly warmer. Very happy with it do far, I still have half the house to do once more salt arrives. Rochelle salt is a killer app.

It is the 0.5 grams on the ground that is making the system warmer than without it. This again can be tuned by using less or more than the starting 0.5 I recommend. 1 gram on the Hot side keeps the sonic balance even. 1.5 grams will tilt the system tonal balance more toward neutral.

Even with the expensive custom isolation transformer PLCs I am using, tweaks, mods, removing so much noise from the system through varies approaches, this tweak still works so good. My theory is the AC wiring in our homes are acting as an antenna and picking up and accumulating air borne EMI, and from our home appliances. I cannot think of any other logical explanation. The finer detail, the minute of detail you are hearing but was not audible previously was being masked by the EMI noise. The more of this EMI noise that is being drained at the different points across the AC line, more information that is on the recording is being made available to our systems to decode and reproduce.

I got the idea to use Rochelle salt this way from when I use to prototype and build PLC way back in the day. This particular project is a smashing success, but something tells me can be improved on. I will keep at it to see if further tweaking can improve performance further.

 

[kenincalgary]

Looking forward to any new tweaks!

I must tell a story. Last weekend I visited a friend who's a budding audiophile. He has a modest system with a vintage Marantz receiver (hard wired lamp wire ac cord) and a Japanese direct drive turntable that goes for about $600 and a $150'ish cartridge. He has JBL L100 Classics, garbage cables all around.

He love records and I've helped him improve the system via tweaks like the ball bearing isolation devices.
Just for the hell of it I wrapped 3 grams of salt around the tonearm cables at the receiver. We were astonished and shocked to hear how much grunge got cleaned up. It was like significantly upgrading the arm and cartridge.

Another wrap at the equipment end of the receiver power cable made another great improvement. This stuff's magic.

 

[cdacosta]

Looking forward to any new tweaks!

I must tell a story. Last weekend I visited a friend who's a budding audiophile. He has a modest system with a vintage Marantz receiver (hard wired lamp wire ac cord) and a Japanese direct drive turntable that goes for about $600 and a $150'ish cartridge. He has JBL L100 Classics, garbage cables all around.

He love records and I've helped him improve the system via tweaks like the ball bearing isolation devices.
Just for the hell of it I wrapped 3 grams of salt around the tonearm cables at the receiver. We were astonished and shocked to hear how much grunge got cleaned up. It was like significantly upgrading the arm and cartridge.

Another wrap at the equipment end of the receiver power cable made another great improvement. This stuff's magic.

Cool. But remember when you get a reaction to a location, try backing off and use less to hear what that does? You may be surprised that 1 or 2 grams sound better than the 3 grams. Since it is instantly audible once installed, and so easy to swap and replace... Just sharing a tip

 

[kenincalgary]

Yes, that's my plan tomorrow, to reduce the 3 grams I used at the equipment end of the GBWs. The other benefit is that I can deploy the surplus at an outlet.

 

[cdacosta]

Yes, that's my plan tomorrow, to reduce the 3 grams I used at the equipment end of the GBWs. The other benefit is that I can deploy the surplus at an outlet.

Tell us what the audible difference is if any? Make sure you do one at a time and listen. LOL you will be able to tune the ground cable and what you hear at the same time.

 

[dougms3]

Dammit alright you guys have finally drawn me in.

Ordering the salt...

 

[cdacosta]

Dammit alright you guys have finally drawn me in.

Ordering the salt...

Gateway drug to... ground boxes LMAO!

Seriously, you will be really surprised by how well this tweak works. For its simplicity, low cost and effort, you are in for a real treat. Just follow my DIY instructions exactly and be patient with the tuning. Critically listen while tuning so you dial your system in to exactly like how you want it. This tweak will allow you to do that. I call it a tweak but it is more like a process or way to remove EMI from the homes wiring.

You will understand how much EMI is being picked up through the thousands of feet of home AC wiring. A 1200 square foot apartment uses over 1200 feet of wire according to Google. This AC wiring is acting like an antenna for EMI and other electrical noise. The more EMI that is absorbed from the AC wiring the more resolving your system will get. You will understand/hear that EMI is masking information that is in your recordings. Once you start to install the tweak at junction points in the wiring you can easily access, what I am sharing will be obvious to you. Have fun my friend...

 

[kenincalgary]

Aside from the junction points, in the basement I have access to 7ft of the cable from the panel that feeds the main equipment upstairs. I could try placing salt wraps at intervals or perhaps constructing mini wraps using cling wrap and spiraling a few along it's length

 

[cdacosta]

Aside from the junction points, in the basement I have access to 7ft of the cable from the panel that feeds the main equipment upstairs. I could try placing salt wraps at intervals or perhaps constructing mini wraps using cling wrap and spiraling a few along it's length

Is the cable safe to get close to is my first question? If yes, I would not touch this wiring until you treat all the junction points. Tune and get a good baseline first, otherwise you could mess up the tonal balance and will be harder to correct.

I am listening to my system and want a tad more warmth and lushness. Keep in mind I treated 28 junctions. Yesterday on a light switch in my office I removed a 0.5 gram wrap from the ground because I thought it was just a tad too warm and bass a bit too much and not tight as a want it. By playing with the amount of Rochelle salt used on the the same switch's ground I can hear the changes. I ended up with probably 0.2 grams (from 0.5 originally). I say probably because my scale does not measure in such low increment of weight. This is how sensitive our systems are to EMI. Kind of hard to believe that such a small amount of Rochelle salt can have such an audible effect, and the effect is easily reproducible.

 

[kenincalgary]

The cable is safe, I'm looking forward to completing the junction points first.

I made a small change tonight with a big impact. Originally I placed a rolled baggie of salt next to the breaker and liked the improvement. When I saw your photo showing the baggie covering the breaker I tried that and it's way more effective. I'm going to have to run Dirac again because it's such a big difference.

Never thought I could have so much fun with salt.

 

[cdacosta]

The cable is safe, I'm looking forward to completing the junction points first.

I made a small change tonight with a big impact. Originally I placed a rolled baggie of salt next to the breaker and liked the improvement. When I saw your photo showing the baggie covering the breaker I tried that and it's way more effective. I'm going to have to run Dirac again because it's such a big difference.

Never thought I could have so much fun with salt.

I am looking forward to your reaction/review of the tweak after you have completed treating your home. Glad you are having fun with Rochelle salt LOL

 

[EDhaenens]

Any thoughts on doing this on Belgian wall sockets? All wires L,N,G are on top.

 

[cdacosta]

Any thoughts on doing this on Belgian wall sockets? All wires L,N,G are on top.

Yes, try installing wrap on jacketed wiring. Start with same weight salt and listen.

 

[cdacosta]

Any thoughts on doing this on Belgian wall sockets? All wires L,N,G are on top.

Also keep in mind you likely have to use less salt because you are on the wiring instead of distanced from it. Use Velcro to secure wrap to wiring. Another thing to try is placing foam between the live line (or ground install) and the wrap to give the salt a little distance between the wrap and wire. 5mm to 10mm of piping foam should do it.

 

[EDhaenens]

Also keep in mind you likely have to use less salt because you are on the wiring instead of distanced from it. Use Velcro to secure wrap to wiring. Another thing to try is placing foam between the live line (or ground install) and the wrap to give the salt a little distance between the wrap and wire. 5mm to 10mm of piping foam should do it.

Ok thank you, I bought a precision scale for this. I think I’m going to need it.