Tweakers' Asylum

Tweaks for systems, rooms and Do It Yourself (DIY) help. FAQ.

Return to Tweakers' Asylum

Message Sort: Post Order or Asylum Reverse Threaded

ERS paper in my system: it works. But not to be overdone.

129.33.19.254
Posted on June 26, 2012 at 11:22:38
carcass93
Audiophile

Posts: 5429
Location: NJ
Joined: September 20, 2006
 Bought 4 pieces, and just started exterimenting, without opening the boxes. First impressions:

- one piece on top of each of CD player, autoformer-based pre, line conditioner that feeds CDP, and isolation transformer that sits in front of the power line that feeds CDP - beneficial;

- second piece on top of CDP or pre - detrimental compared to 1 piece;

- piece on top of amplifier - detrimental (not that it belongs there anyway, for the reasons of ventilation);

- piece on top of isolation transformer that sits in front of the power line that feeds amplifier - detrimental.

 

Hide full thread outline!
    ...
Never had any..., posted on June 26, 2012 at 11:47:46
musetap
Audiophile

Posts: 11230
Location: San Francisco
Joined: July 8, 2003
Contributor
  Since: January 28, 2004
 success using it. Either seemed to not make any difference OR "muted" things to an extent that bugged me.
I suppose I couldn't get the balance right.
Ended up taping a piece to the inside of our circuit breaker panel though I'm not sure that made much difference either.
Glad you had success with it in your system.I may try experimenting with it again some day if I can find the patience.

"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination" - Michael McClure



 

I've wanted to try this stuff for awhile..., posted on June 26, 2012 at 11:51:36
SF tech
Industry Professional

Posts: 8595
Location: San Francisco
Joined: March 24, 2005
 Guess it's well down on my list of priorities at the moment, but I always thought that using strips of this material cut to the same dimension as the interior height of a component's case and arranging the strip to "shield" the power supply from the audio circuitry might be an interesting experiment.

Do you have any plans to use ERS paper on the inside of a component?

SF



 

Absolutely, the idea is to use it inside., posted on June 26, 2012 at 12:03:00
carcass93
Audiophile

Posts: 5429
Location: NJ
Joined: September 20, 2006
 Will get to that over the weekend.

I'll probably sacrifice 1 piece for cuts, and compare using a piece simply taped inside to the top cover, versus "shielding" the power supply.

 

My response to your picture will be..., posted on June 26, 2012 at 12:18:27
carcass93
Audiophile

Posts: 5429
Location: NJ
Joined: September 20, 2006
 ... my picture.




 

I could never tolerate more than a couple of inches, posted on June 26, 2012 at 14:28:13
Jon L
Reviewer

Posts: 5409
Joined: April 6, 2000
 of ERS inside components. Especially with digital gear, even a couple of inch long piece may need to be moved back and forth to find the right balance. The stuff definitely does *something*, but overdone, it emulates what happens when you wrap your interconnect with way too much shielding.

 

Some people love ERS. I had to get it out of my house. nt, posted on June 26, 2012 at 18:21:44
Norm
Reviewer

Posts: 30933
Joined: September 6, 2000
 a

 

RE: ERS paper, posted on June 27, 2012 at 13:37:53
unclestu
Dealer

Posts: 2958
Joined: April 13, 2010
 like any tweak, a basic understanding of what it actually does is critical in understanding its application.

ERS absorbs $RFI. Specs for its absorption are available on the Stillpoints website. Where one would expect the greatest improvement in application, digital gear, one must be certain to understand the nature of many modern digital designs. Many current designs, particularly those which are typically warm sounding stock, employ a roll off circuit built into the the output stages. Regas are a good example of this, although I have seem simlar circuits in even the $10K Esoteric CD players and even the older Conrad Johnson designs. If you apply ERS to these designs, while the lower frequency range will improve in clarity, the top end will appear to be rolled off. The key is to lift one end of the the roll off circuit which is typically a simple capacitor and resister in series across the positive output to ground.

Also one must carefully analyze the circuit physical layout and apply the ERS to areas which are known RFI generators. Like any tweak indiscriminate application can be detrimental.


Stu

 

All the way 'out of the house'? Kinda drastic ....nt., posted on June 27, 2012 at 14:29:54
Dynobot
Audiophile

Posts: 2700
Location: USA
Joined: December 8, 2011
 .
Dynobots Audio
Music is the Bridge between Heaven and Earth - 音楽は天国と地球のかけ橋

 

I had to burn mine. Do you think that was too drastic? Nt, posted on June 27, 2012 at 14:51:36
geoffkait
Manufacturer

Posts: 6254
Location: northern Virginia
Joined: August 23, 2000
 Nt

 

It is. I had to keep inside my car until I sold it., posted on June 27, 2012 at 15:33:03
Norm
Reviewer

Posts: 30933
Joined: September 6, 2000
 a

 

Glad I didn't buy any as we are down to..., posted on June 27, 2012 at 17:16:04
DeKay
Audiophile

Posts: 2968
Location: So. CA
Joined: November 22, 2002
 to one car now.

 

blew up, posted on June 29, 2012 at 16:29:31
Patrick82
Manufacturer

Posts: 171
Location: Stockholm
Joined: June 1, 2005

I jammed the paper everywhere I could fit, my system blew up...twice!

 

RE: blew up, posted on July 2, 2012 at 14:23:36
unclestu
Dealer

Posts: 2958
Joined: April 13, 2010
 ERS employs a carbon fiber mesh layer layered into the paper. Carbon fiber is conductive. The website specifically warns about not allowing the egdes to contact live uninsulated surfaces.

Looking at your photo, I am not surprised your components blew up.
You could have simply applied a layer of tape over the edges as an insulator and avoided such issues.

Stu

 

Second the comments. Just not a smart way to use the paper. nt, posted on July 2, 2012 at 20:58:29
Elizabeth
Audiophile

Posts: 10070
Location: Great Lakes Region
Joined: December 20, 2000
 .

 

I have used antistatic foam, i should try some ERS paper. nt, posted on July 2, 2012 at 21:00:09
Elizabeth
Audiophile

Posts: 10070
Location: Great Lakes Region
Joined: December 20, 2000
 .

 

An actual video of "The Bonehead Guide to Using ERS Paper"! ... , posted on July 3, 2012 at 21:29:17
musetap
Audiophile

Posts: 11230
Location: San Francisco
Joined: July 8, 2003
Contributor
  Since: January 28, 2004
 and once wasn't enough, you did it TWICE!

Congratulations!

"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination" - Michael McClure



 

RE: ERS paper in my system: it works. But not to be overdone., posted on July 8, 2012 at 11:11:52
4krow
Audiophile

Posts: 6
Location: N. Wyoming
Joined: January 20, 2012
 I have also tried ERS cloth, but used it in specific places INSIDE of the components. For example, between the power supply circuitry and the rest of the audio circuitry. It did the most good there, since that is one of the most likely spots for RFI/EMI to be radiated. Using it just above a circuit board was not the same. Don't know why, but the sound was noticeably brither, but not in a good way. Be careful when using this product, as it is semi-conductive, and could cause trouble if it comes in contact with circuits. This product will do little good sitting atop a component, since the metal cover of the component already is a shield all by itself. It would possibly be useful over the vents of components, but of course, that cannot be recommended due to ventilation issues. In that case, I have placed the cloth inside of the ventilation slots, but with a space between the cloth and the slot to aid in the ventilation process. The cloth also absorbs RFI/EMI as well as reflecting it.
CONSIDER THE SOURCE

 

Geez, patrick, you need to get outside a bit more..., posted on July 28, 2012 at 14:26:59
rlw
Audiophile

Posts: 1917
Location: Near West Palm Bch, FL
Joined: August 29, 2006
 You are clearly OCD on this subject. And why did you continue down the same path after you "blew up" your system???

Get a clue, dude...

-RW-
-RW-

 

Page processed in 0.027 seconds.

[ Top Top of Page ] [ Contact Us ] [ Support/Wish List ] [ Copyright © 2013, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ] [ Take5 ]
[ General ] [ Speakers ] [ Tubes ] [ Vinyl ] [ Digital ] [ Hi-Rez ] [ Video Asylum ] [ Cables ] [ Tweaks/DIY ] [ Music ] [ Films ]