During the last few years, I have been using a LessLoss distributor with all connections made with C-MARC “Entropic Process” cables. Both signal and loudspeaker cables in my stereo system are also with C-MARC “Entropic Process”. I have been greatly enjoying listening to music with such a set-up. I recently purchased a BlackGround 10x Power Base, and upgraded the connection to the wall socket of the distributor with a C-MARC Stellar power cable. I also used a Stellar power cable to connect the BlackGround Power Base to the distributor. In few days, the reproduction of sound has acquired an astonishing transparency that personally I had never experienced before. It is what I imagined being the exclusivity of stereo systems much more expensive than mine. It is now much easier to follow the playing of several instruments and to appreciate sound that before appeared as being only in the background and behind a veil. I can now detect much more easily the differences between several versions of the album that previously appeared just as nuances. For instance, last year I borrowed the UHQR vinyl of “Kind of Blue” and after listening to it, I concluded that it sounded just “a bit” better, but it was not worth the price. With the new set-up, I listened to that vinyl again and, thanks to the so much improved transparency, I realized that it sounds so good and I decided to keep the UHQR vinyl. Encouraged by the successful experience with Stellar cables, I decided to finally replace the original quality power cords of the two PSUs of my DAC, also with 2 Stellar cables. This last investment was also worthwhile. The sound of the DAC is now by far more comparable to that of an analogue source: I now discover details that tell more about the very music and all this is effortless, no more need to “focus” especially on what I was listening to

I ordered this "box" with trepidation. Over the years, I have spent a lot of time and energy trying to get the right power cables to my devices. After reading the reviews I had rather high expectations and was afraid of being disappointed. But the very first second blew away all my doubts. I didn't have to look for the difference as it slaps me in the my face immediately. However, I also read that it is worth the wait, because the effect would mature over time. I've been using it for over a week now and I think it was one of the best investments I made. Not only one tiny detail of the sound picture has improved. Everything has become much more precise, tighter, but at the same time the music has not lost its sensuality, it has also brought out its emotion and passion. The presence of a stage has become more noticeable and deeper. The experience is more immersive than ever. Yesterday I sat listening to music for hours with a grin on my face, without getting tired. I think I have arrived. I've wanted to come here for years. Congratulations and thank you.

I have been a supporter and believer of LessLoss product since 2023. I am currently using BlackGround 10x Power Base, BlackGround 8x Speaker Base, Firewall 640x and also 5 Stellar power cords…. I took the opportunity of the upgrade program to upgrade 5 pcs of Entropic Classic power cords to Stellar. My setup is streaming based and I was using the Entropic Classic to connect to LessLoss power distributor, streamer, usb regenerator, network switch and 10x Power Base. When I initially switched from my old power cords to Entropic Classic, the experience was a revelation..the feeling of “live” performance..the background is so quiet yet lively at the same time..the other improvement were increase in depth and width of music..and big reduction in digititis…please note that I am only streaming music through tidal and I am already getting this much of satisfaction. Now, upgrading from Entropic Classic to Stellar power cord, what I experienced is a definite improvement over Entropic Classic..the improvement I experience in Entropic Classic applies here and are further amplified.. I also experienced increase in dynamics and increase in bass quality and bass output..the increase in bass feels like I have upgraded my amplifier or speaker. What really impress me is on vocal..vocal is much much improved over Entropic Classic..to the point there is really no listening fatigue. The glare that I normally experience in digital setup is gone. Previously there are certain artist which I find it hard to listen to, such as Celine Dion Immortality..i had to lower the volume when the songs reaches chorus/climaxes as its too piercing to my ear.. but with Stellar, I no longer need to lower the volume..in fact, I can increase the volume now and hear even more details than before. All in all, the upgrade to Stellar was a worthwhile one and I greatly recommend this product.

The BlackGround 10x Power Base is in the system for maybe 45 Minutes. The last 10 Minutes I had goosebumps straight. This is absolutely ridiculous. A single piano tone just moved me to tears. Thank you. I am absolutely speechless. Claudius

The BlackGround 6x has been in my system for nearly 2 months now and, despite all other LessLoss products in my system, the 6x has brought about the most enjoyable upgrade. What I mean by that is that the system sounds more real and the vocals display more emotion – therefore I feel more emotional whilst listening. My (50+ years) enjoyment of music centres around vocals (and the lyrics). My DIY ‘speaker design is 2-way active with everything above 200Hz coming from a single-point source (the Manger driver) to maximise the illusion of the vocals. Everything below 200Hz comes from twin 12” Acoustic Elegance dipole drivers - open-baffle, actively driven, therefore no passive crossover components nor ‘speaker boxes to destroy the illusion. The previous best addition to my system were the Firewalls for Loudspeakers, but the 6x surpasses even that. I’m getting close to the point where my LessLoss components cost as much as my systems ‘normal’ components! And that leads me to the one serious problem with having purchased the 6x, against my better judgement of the post-Brexit 20% surcharge – IT IS ADDICTIVE – I NEED MORE!! Now considering: 1. A better mains cable for the 6x 2. Adding the 8x for ‘speakers. I was concerned that having the Firewalls for Speakers and Svens’ purpose-made-for-me special edition of his Comdevs with internal resonators to compensate for my ‘speakers not being his design, that the 8x might be overkill. However, reading Dawyd Grzyb’s review reminded me that he too uses both the Firewalls and the Comdevs and that is with Sven’s ‘speakers. Many thanks again for such a brilliant product and elevating my nightly listening sessions to a new level of enjoyment. Best regards, Colin Gray

I am very happy with this unit and would like to offer two tips. Yes AC cord quality counts quite a bit. On the level of a better power cord to your amp. However the biggest SQ improvement is realized by DE-STATTING the unit. Although it is humid here now and I de-stat my electronics weekly, the gain in musical detail and flow from de stating the Power Base is enormous.Had not done it in a couple of months and WOW! Went from listening to recordings to attending a performance! No exaggeration. Must do.

We'll, I must admit I wasn't prepared for how much the Blackground 8x Dual Channel Speaker Base would contribute to the already spectacular 10x Power Base. From the moment I heard the first track, I knew I was in for treat. It's as if you're able to reach out and hold each note & vocal in your hands. Never has the listening experience felt so tactile. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to pick up my jaw from off the floor!

My impressions of the Blackground 10x Power Base... Yes I am enjoying the LLBG10x very much. Most notably it's much easier to imagine the room in which the recording was made. This may be attributed to more precise layering of instruments & vocals and that lends itself to a deepening of the soundstage. Enhanced reverb adds to decay lingering longer. PB also creates a more revealing stereo presentation. I'm now able to hear details in my favorite tracks that I never heard before. Finally, and perhaps the first thing I noticed, bass from the REL became dominant and had to be backed down, however, the subwoofer sounded more nuanced and musical. In short, these changes were not subtle at all and improved SQ beyond my expectations. I'm not exaggerating when I say I'm gobsmacked! Mac F.

When I first installed the BlackGround 10x Power Base in my system, my first thought was: surely, I'm hallucinating! The enhanced detail revelation, the positive timbral changes and the expansion of the soundstage in three dimensions, all added up to a surreal representation of music I had heard many times. Surreal on FEB 23rd, the new normal on APR 11th. I intended to remove the product and wait two days to confirm my impressions, but I cannot do it. Sorry! I've read all of the reviews for this product, both professional and user. They all ring true, not one seems like hyperbole. Richard Stanton Boston, MA USA

To summarize my impression of the BlackGround 10x Power Base: 1. Great elimination of background noise, not dead but lively. Like a thick veil (not realized before) removed. 2. Transparency greatly improved 3. As a result of 1 and 2, microdynamics hugely improved. Subtle and far away instruments never that clearly heard. Nuances in recording venue not noticed before. 4. Whole range much faster. 5. Deeper and wider sound stage. No limit. 6. Vocal just more presence and intimate, in your room feeling. Thanks and regards, YW

I just ordered a second BlackGround 10x Power Base. Honestly, I wasn't expecting the BlackGround to make a big difference in my system. Boy, was I wrong! Background instruments are much easier to hear with more realism. Super clean sounding. It removed a treble glare I didn't realize I had and depth is much improved. It's made my system more engaging to listen to.

Plenty more details in another space ... what a show!! Right after the LessLoss announcement of the new Blackground devices, I just had to have them. Not really understanding all the technical information, but I already had very positive experience with radiation treatment, like the Blackbody devices from LessLoss and other solutions before. The LessLoss solutions had the most natural results and I trust Louis and his team’s hearing and development abilities. I changed my order of 10 single modules into the Blackground 10x Power Base, which is a great choice in terms of order around the system and setup is very easily. Within the very first connection to my system, I immediately knew, that this had to stay. Such expanded stage in all directions, the speakers seemed to be gone, a mass of never before heard details, fantastic separation of all the instruments and also the voices. And all of this in a very natural presentation with ease of listening. It was probably the best upgrade for my system compared to all components, even the ones from LessLoss .... I have purchased almost all of their offerings over time. Following are more details and examples of the improvements. Enhanced details include: Better revelation of lyrics. I am not good at that, but now, I can follow many !! Appreciate overdubbed voices and instruments, that were not listenable before Low level played instruments, that were never perceived Identify whose echos or reverberations are played Nuances of timbres, e.g. changes with percussion from the leading edge (transients) to the end More powerful and detailed bass All of these and more in a fantastic natural smoothness, transients are powerful without aggression Space and stage improvements: Never heard presence so strong and believable, very palpable. Can brush the singers’ teeth :) Astonishing separation of instruments, voices and whatever else sounds. Would not call it holographic, which I consider a technical precise positioning, which is not what we perceive in real acoustic setup (my opinion) Stability and consistency of the space, sound sources stay, where they were, unless recording / mixing changes Sounds are standing free in the room, pop out of the black nothing
 ... that’s why the speakers seem useless now :) Overall “authority” of the scenery which allows to focus on other things ... like lyrics :) The overall space goes way beyond the real walls ... at least in my average room size. All of these changes result in a much more believable and natural overall performance. And now, we need to talk about the “burn in” time. It is not just a burn-in of electronics as we usually expect. I don’t really know, what is happening with these weeks of changes and adaptions, could be a change of the radiation environments. But anyway, be prepared for this and stay patient. My experience was around 4 - 6 weeks with some nasty changes for some days. Many of the changes contain exaggerating hissing and sibilance, room falls back with less 3D, boomy bass and other resonances. But the final result is worth it !!! Just as I finished the review, my next toys arrived: Blackgrounds for speakers and for Blackbodies. First listening ... wow, will stay!!! Thank you, Louis and team, for your great developments and support. I love it!!

"A BlackGround 24X experience" I had Felix and René, a couple of LessLoss fans over for "lunch & listening" yesterday. They both brought their BlackGround 10X units and - not unimportantly - a stack of good beer :) So, after a hearty lunch with a somewhat modest intake of beer to ensure that our golden ears' capabilities were intact, we sat down to listen to some music. Just to set the scene BlackGround-wise, I will mention that my system already has 4X BlackGrounds built directly into my power distributor, where they are connected directly to the solid copper bars and the star ground. The whole system is grounded to a true earth connection on my mains. Additionally, there is a Blackbody on top of each loudspeaker. Each Blackbody is grounded via a BlackGround connected to the same true earth. Since the BlackGrounds serving the Blackbodies are not connected to the power line in any way, I normally consider my system to be a BlackGround 4X system. We started out listening to a number of music tracks of large variety to ensure everyone was familiar with the sound of the system at its current BlackGround level. Music was streamed via Qobuz and from the storage drive of my Innuos Zen mk 3 streamer. We actually went through quite a lot of different music before one of my guests (not mentioning names here 😉) became very impatient and fidgety and wanted to have one of the BlackGround 10X units installed. We then went on to install one of the BlackGround 10X units, which had until then been stored in a lead-insulated case (it felt that way 😄) at a safe distance from the system. The other BlackGround 10X was still in the hallway to minimise pre-influence! The first 10X was connected to the empty socket on my double Furutech gold-on-copper power outlet. The power distributor is connected to the other socket of this outlet via an Entropic power cable. Thus, the BlackGround level was raised from 4X to 14X! We then went on to play some of the same tracks that we had listened to previously ...... ...... or were they really the same tracks? Well, of course they were - but they sounded differently! Not in the sense that the inherent sound of the individual track or the system in itself had changed, but all the "fine stuff", the stuff that promotes the sense of authentic/natural sound had improved - and not in a subtle manner! Here I need to interject that the same thing happened when I first introduced BlackGrounds in my system. The difference from then and to introducing the 10X is in the magnitude of the improvement 🙂 I would say that the improvements the BlackGrounds bring about are mainly in the areas of reverb/decay and clarity, which has the effect that what I call "room description and ambience" becomes much more precise, augmenting the reality of the recordings where this has been captured really well - but even on recordings where this does not happen, the intentions of the people behind the mixing console became much clearer. Also, the decay of sounds of instruments like the piano became much more natural, and the "leading edge overshoot" (for lack of a better word), e.g. when striking a piano key forcibly, was seriously minimised. And then we went to BlackGround level 24X!!! We inserted the second 10X unit into an empty outlet on my power distributor. While listening to Bill Evans 'Peace Piece' performed by Igor Levit, our "piano man" (Felix) exclaimed: "now the piano sounds real!". Perhaps I should mention that this particular track has been on my radar since I heard it on the Danish Radio's classical channel a month or so back. First of all, I like the interpretation, the nerve in it somehow got to me. Secondly, after listening to it on my big system (I first heard it on my home office system), I realised that the recording was really good. As a result, I tend to use this track, among many other tracks, when assessing other systems - and when I make changes to my own system. At the 24X level, we listened to a lot of other tracks - including some we had listened to previously - and the improvements, even compared to the 14X level, were obvious. Perhaps, and I am saying this because I am not entirely sure about this, the improvements from the 14X level to the 24X level were not of quite the same magnitude as the improvements from the 4X level to the 14X level - although they were definitely there. But the improvements were the same, just building on the improvements of the previous level, and what we ended up with was a system that was so much more natural-sounding than before, which is somehow horrifying, because how are we ever going to be able to afford this BlackGround level? And even more horrifying - will an even higher BlackGround level be needed, bringing financial ruin to us all? 😂 I am not going to delve into discussions about how much influence on/interaction with the BlackGround improvements the other LessLoss stuff I have gives (Entropic Power Cords (x3), Firewall 640X, Firewall 64X (x2), Hookup Wire Small (from amps to treble/midrange drives), Blackbody (x2) connected to BlackGround (x2) - but it's definitely there! However, I do believe that the Blackground is the single most efficient item in the LessLoss arsenal for removing unwanted noise/artefact from our systems ... If we take a few steps back and look at what happened here yesterday, it becomes very clear that even systems based on relatively modestly priced components (compared to what is otherwise called high-end and sold at prices 10x to 100x higher than what it cost to build my system) can be taken to a very high performance when all the crap that they get infested with from outside sources gets removed ... ... and then music happens! Musical greetings Jens P.S. Felix and René - please feel free to add comments if I missed something or you disagree with my long rant 😊 ------------ Nothing to correct, we both agree to all the above. For us living daily with the wonders of the 10x Power Base the most interesting part of the session was, one, to combine the two 10x Bases with the four BlackGround units already present, and two, to hear them at large as life volume which is impossible for us living in apartment buildings.

1. There was not the slightest notion of The Law of Diminishing Returns when going from "only" one 10x to adding the second. This is probably the only thing the two of us heard differently than Jens. The first few bass notes on the grand piano demonstrated a similar improvement in the ease with which the system played back the now even more life like size of the Steinway. Compare it to the ease of the giant Gulliver lifting some of people of Lilliput and you get an idea.
2. Both of us have for the past month enjoyed the incredible ability given by each our own 10x Power Base to play dynamically satisfying, even explosive, at very low volume presenting all forms of music interestingly whether it be chamber music or Jimi Hendrix’ Voodoo Chile. To hear these qualities amplified to levels where ears would normally beg to lower volume now with no audible sign of distortion and still being able to hear subtle information in the far away background during the most incredible heft in the foreground was nothing short of divine. I think that pointing out our listening session lasted for a full nine hours without any fatigue says it all.

Honestly, you have no idea what your setup is capable of until you introduce some BlackGrounds. No matter what kind of music you love you’ll gain a friend for life with your own 10x BlackGround Power Base. Hats off to LessLoss once more! Felix and René

Adding the Blackground 10x Power Base to the system has been one of the most interesting experiences yet. Upon considering the addition of the Blackground 10x, I was initially skeptical as usual that the sound could become any more transparent, phase coherent, involving, or any other superlative. Given that the system was already star grounded, and already incorporated an abundance of LessLoss Technologies, how much better could it get? That happens to be what I thought before each and every LossLoss addition in the past.

1. Entropic Power Cables to all source components, and C-MARC PCs to both amplifiers.
2. Firewall For Loudspeakers X 3 stereo pairs (6 pairs total), one for each speaker driver, and 1 ENTROPIC custom made discrete driver distribution junction box cable.
3. BlackBody (3 units)

Each LessLoss component progressively elevating the sound to higher levels of enjoyment. (See previous review) Date Added: 07/18/2021 by Joshua J. Wright On initial installation there was a very disconcerting exaggeration of leading transient edges along with a wholesale sort of sonic suck-out that I had also initially experienced with the other LessLoss devices. (Each device which ultimately remained in the system). Particularly interestingly was that the music encoded with MQA became peaky and a bit shrill, making those recordings difficult to listen to. Typically on my system music which is MQA encoded plays pleasantly with more clearly delineated transients which normally translates to more inner detail and musical information. As time passed and days turned into weeks, ALL of these anomalies gradually dissipated. After week 5 the sound had once again morphed into a yet another unheard of level of musical involvement. For me the break in transition was longer than for any of the other LossLoss devices I have incorporated in the past. Rather than use the usual list of audiophile superlatives to describe the changes, let me just say that since installing the BlackGround 10x Power Base I have experienced an irresistible desire to sit down and listen to more music, as well as more types of music. This increased attraction I can only attribute to the level of musical satisfaction and involvement that consistently sucks me into each performance. Being transported into the event in a way that connects me to the emotive aspect of the performance is the essence of what the BlackGround 10x has injected on a level previously not experienced. I can only measure this experience relative to the degree that the system previously affected me before the Background. It is true that certain aspects of the presentation have been modified from before, but in my estimation the changes are for the better since the music now saturates me with a joyous satisfaction that was not present to this degree in the past. I just can’t seem to find any limit to my desire to sit and listen, and then listen some more. While listening I am not finding myself concerned or distracted by the typical audiophile neurotic types of concerns; because I am too busy getting lost in the music. This to me is the ultimate litmus test of what defines a system that performs up to its best potential. Listening to tracks randomly served up by the Tidal/Roon algorithm is now like getting Christmas gifts, each with new sonic delights to be explored. I would also add that the assessments offered by the professional reviews that have already been published mirror my experience in terms of the positive attributes afforded by the Background 10x Power Base. I can also say that in the context of my system I have not noticed any detrimental sonic effects. Kudos to Louis and his team once again. I can’t wait to hear what’s next. Updated Associated Equipment: The entire system has evolved over the last 19 years. The only original components that still remain are the speakers and upgraded version of Audiopax Model 88s which were upgraded to MkII status in 2009. Every component listed below including the cabling, electrical conditioning, vibration control, and room treatments were all selected after careful auditioning and confirmation of their sonic synergy with the overall system. Consequently, each addition has advanced the sound in a desirable direction. Many components have come and gone to arrive at its current state. Avantgarde: Trios with stereo Bass horns. Audiopax: Model 88 MK II Monoblock Amplifiers. Roon: Nucleus music server. Lumin: U1 music streamer. AQVOX: Blaze CAT 7 ethernet cable on all internet connections. AQVOX: Ethernet Switch (between internet router and Lumin streamer). AQVOX: USB Detoxer QL2 - USB Terminator Type A (Applied to empty USB ports on the back of Lumin, Router, and Oppo) AQVOX: Detoxer Fuse - Audio Tuning Fuse (Applied to Berkeley DAC, and Lumin music streamer’s power supply) AQVOX: LAN-Detoxer RJ45 Caps, LAN Caps, Network Decontamination (Applied to unused open LAN ports on router) Netgear: Nighthawk 6-Stream AX5400 WiFi 6 Router (RAX50) S-Booster: MKII Power Supply (Used to power Roon Nucleus) Berkeley: Alpha DAC Reference II with MQA. PS Audio: Signature BHK Preamp. PS Audio: Stellar M1200 mono amplifiers. PS Audio: Stellar Power Plant 3 (Used to isolate and power the fiberoptic internet converter, internet router, and the Roon server) Video: Oppo UDP-205: Universal DISC player. High Fidelity Cable: Ultimate Reference Double Helix Signature Power cord. (Used to discretely power the PS Audio: Stellar Power Plant 3, which powers fiber optic internet converter, Internet router, and Roon Server) High Fidelity Cable: Ultimate Reference Double Helix Signature RCA and XLR Interconnects on line level analog and digital components. High Fidelity Cable: Professional Series power distributor. (Used as a Component Power conditioner and star grounding block) High Fidelity Cables MC-1 Pro Double Helix Plus Signature Power Conditioner (Used as a Wall socket line conditioner) High Fidelity Cables MC-0.5 Power Conditioner X 3 (Used as a Wall socket line conditioners) LessLoss: ENTROPIC C-MARC Reference Power Cables to all source components, C-MARC Reference PCs to amplifiers. LessLoss: Custom made ENTROPIC junction box jumper speaker cable allowing for discrete connections to the bass, midrange, and tweeter, drivers on the Trios, as well as the basshorn subwoofer driver connections. LessLoss: Firewall For Loudspeakers (6 pairs, one for each driver on the Trios) LessLoss: Blackbodies (3 units) LessLoss: BackGround 10x Power Base Room treatments: ACS: Two 20 inch diameter stereo Super tube traps in front corners. Corner ceiling traps X 8. Grand Prix: Monaco Equipment Stands with Apex footers and ceramic ball bearings. Grand Prix: stand legs filled with ferrous steel shot. (Per recommendation by Louis Motek) Previously filled with lead shot Grand Prix: Equipment stand shelves upgraded to custom made 3/4 inch ferrous green glass. (Per recommendation by Louis Motek) Previously acrylic Herbie’s Audio Lab: equipment footers, shelf spacers, and tube dampers.