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Tweakers' Asylum: REVIEW: Stillpoints ERS Accessory by Jon L

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REVIEW: Stillpoints ERS Accessory

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Model: ERS
Category: Accessory
Suggested Retail Price: $20-30
Description: EMI/RFI absorber/diffusor
Manufacturer URL: Stillpoints
Manufacturer URL: Stillpoints

Review by Jon L ( A ) on September 30, 2004 at 14:53:42
IP Address: 162.119.232.102
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for the ERS


Please refer to Stillpoints website for detailed composition/function of ERS.

Basically, I decided to give ERS sheets a try in my search for good-sounding shielding material after being frustrated with the likes of foil, braid, ferrites, etc.

According to the literature, ERS sheets are carbon fibers coated with nickel, mean to absorba and diffuse EMI/RFI. Warning: the edges are CONDUCTIVE, and so is the sheet if the polyester sheath is punctured.

Since I hate long-winded reviews,

SOUND

ERS sheet does have a significant effect on sound. As with most tweaks and shielding material, it is possible to make your overall sound "worse" if not applied carefully. Using just enough surface area of ERS over strategic areas can be a wonderful thing, however.

For example, using the entire 8x11" sheet inside a CDP, covering most of the circuitry is definitely overkill. Doing so completely took the life and treble sparkle out of my system.

Covering the entire length of a DIY unshielded power cord (Belden 83802 shotgun) also was too much, much in the same way. Too dull and boring.

However, using a strip about 2 inches wide to loosely wrap around a short unshielded (braided) AC wire leading into my Power Conditioner yielded great results. The degree of effect could be adjusted to some degree by varying the size of ERS used, which is a great advantage since adjustments are so much easier to do compared to braid shields, ferrite clamps, etc.

So what kind of sound does ERS give you? If used carefully, ERS takes away grit, glare, "halo" effect from treble. It lessens the exagerated "chromed image" effect from too much edge and contrast, allowing a more relaxed, less irritating sound. Tonal balance shifts downward, as bass becomes more weighty and rich and low-midrange-midrange become less lean. Treble does become subjectively softer, so depending on where your system is coming from and how much ERS is used (abused?), this can be a good or bad thing.

One important thing worth mentioning is that while the overal gestalt of change is similar to things like foil, braid shields, and ferrite clamps, ERS does have some unique sound of its own. Compared to the traditional methods, ERS gives a more feathery, "cloth" nuance to the sound. For analogy, if an AC cord without any shielding is like listening to music from a stiff metal chair, and traditional shielding is like listening to music from a nice wooden chair with thin leather cusion, ERS is like firm cloth couch. This analogy pertains to the overal psychoacoustical "mood" one feels and level of relaxation.

So while I do not feel ERS is intrinsically superior to traditional methods of shielding, it does have advantages b/c of the easy adjustability of degree of change (just use a scissor) and the unique sound signature, which may or may not be preferable in a given system.

I also do feel ERS is best used on unshielded power cords or power conditioning applications in small amounts when bare wire (even if braided) is exposed to EMI/RFI.

Postscript

I even tried ERS on my Etymotic ER4P canalphones' exposed wires, hoping to tame some of that famous Ety treble, but I got extremely minimal to none results. So as usual, YMMV, but for $20, why not..


Product Weakness: see text
Product Strengths: see text


Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier: see inmate system
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): SAA
Sources (CDP/Turntable): SAA
Speakers: SAA
Cables/Interconnects: SAA
Music Used (Genre/Selections): SAA
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner




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Topic - REVIEW: Stillpoints ERS Accessory - Jon L 14:53:42 09/30/04 ( 4)