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Tweakers' Asylum: REVIEW: Nekken Carbon Diatonic Accessory by mrgil Tweaks for systems, rooms and Do It Yourself (DIY) help. FAQ. |
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4.17.136.6
Model: Carbon Diatonic Category: Accessory Suggested Retail Price: $88 Description: contact enhancer Manufacturer URL: Nekken Manufacturer URL: Nekken
Review by mrgil ( A ) on February 19, 2002 at 11:28:54
IP Address: 4.17.136.6Add Your Review
for the Carbon Diatonic
I had been researching contact cleaners for a couple of months and descriptions of the popular favorites didn't give me a comfortable feeling. For one thing, the need for periodic reapplication suggested that partial solutions were in effect. After forgetting the search for a time, I ran across a mention of "Setten" Pro here:http://www.AudioAsylum.com/audio/cables/messages/30706.html
A few minutes later I read Greg Weaver's Soundstage! review here:
http://www.delveaudio.com/products/accessories/nekken.pdf
(I would post a more "neutral" URL, but I can't find the review elsewhere)Nanometer carbon particles suspended in shark liver oil sounded crazy enough to work. I was also given hope by Greg W.'s assertion that he found no sonic degradation after three months' use.
Having taken every precaution against my premonition that I would knock over the 5 ml bottle, that's the first thing I did. About 1 ml of this expensive black liquid is currently enhancing the electrical contact of a napkin to a trash bag in a landfill.
As recommended, I listened to my untreated system for about an hour to get a good idea of how it was sounding, then applied a very thin coat to the spade lugs at my speakers. The change was very inspiring. Greg Weaver's description is so fitting that I won't take the time to repeat it here. The first improvements I noticed were increased air (so *that's* what air is) and noticeably more correct pitch. That was an unusual surprise once I figured out what I was hearing. Improved microdynamics and detail were recognized soon after.
I could barely sit and listen for a couple of minutes before I wanted to take the whole system apart and treat each point of contact. In the interest of knowing which contacts made the most difference, I managed to restrain myself long enough to paint each set of contacts individually. To my ears, the prongs of the AC cords and IEC pins made the most difference, followed by tube pins, speaker wires, interconnects and rotating switch contacts. The improvements were easily noticeable each time, all of a character similar to the first one.
The end result was luckily not "too much air" or "too much pitch correctness", if such things exist. As ridiculous as $88 for 5 ml of ink justly seems, that's all it cost me for a full month's relief (and counting) from upgradeitis, so I got off easier than in recent months past.
I wish I could get a component for $88 that would make as large a positive difference without drawbacks, and I haven't even used the whole bottle. There's more than 3 ml left to spill, and supposedly I won't have to do that for a long time.
Since I haven't used any other contact cleaners, I can't say that "Setten" Pro is better. It's good enough for me, though, which so far hasn't been easy.
Product Weakness: bottle has a high center of gravity (?) Product Strengths: undoubtable wide-scale improvement, Weird Science and esoterica appeal
Associated Equipment for this Review: Amplifier: Decware Zen Select Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Blue Circle BC3 Despina Sources (CDP/Turntable): Meridian 508.24 Speakers: Silverline Sonatina II Cables/Interconnects: Homegrown Audio Super Silver II interconnects, Alpha-Core Goertz MI2 speaker cables Music Used (Genre/Selections): Techno, New Wave, Indian Classical Room Size (LxWxH): 13 x 14 x 9 Room Comments/Treatments: benign neglect Time Period/Length of Audition: 1 month Other (Power Conditioner etc.): Audio Magic Stealth Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner
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Topic - REVIEW: Nekken Carbon Diatonic Accessory - mrgil 11:28:54 02/19/02 ( 17)
- Nekken Carbon Diatonic Accessory - tyuuki 19:41:56 02/20/02 ( 0)
Same old BS - kingdaddy 08:59:07 02/20/02 ( 7)
- Have you looked in the mirror lately... - BT 09:16:39 02/22/02 ( 1)
- Ufo's anyone - Kingdaddy 11:23:24 02/22/02 ( 0)
Re: Same old BS - mrgil 08:52:05 02/22/02 ( 0)
Have you tried this specific Contact Cleaner? - Paul in Sterling 19:02:08 02/20/02 ( 0)
Re: Same old BS - badman 14:39:00 02/20/02 ( 2)
- Gotta admit, the name of this product sounds impressive (nt) - agram 20:33:10 02/20/02 ( 1)
- so does - chiggy 19:17:39 02/21/02 ( 0)
Nekken Carbon Diatonic Accessory - tvi 08:52:24 02/20/02 ( 1)
- Re: Nekken Carbon Diatonic Accessory - Jim Carlon 00:33:21 02/21/02 ( 0)
Try it on the fuse contact points of your gear... - BT 08:46:52 02/20/02 ( 2)
- another big improvement - mrgil 10:53:54 02/25/02 ( 0)
thanks, I forgot about those! (nt) - mrgil 12:32:08 02/22/02 ( 0)
Contact Enhancers and Oxidation - Todd Krieger 18:46:11 02/19/02 ( 2)
- Re: Contact Enhancers and Oxidation - bpontow 00:30:17 02/20/02 ( 0)
Use ART TR-30 IT IS SAFE !!! nt - libor 21:59:44 02/19/02 ( 0)