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Published LessLoss Reviews Now Number Over 698

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Firewall Module

Date Added: 06/06/2016 
I have just received my USB Firewall Key from the pre-order shipment.
The improvement in sound from such a small device is anything but subtle.
I look forward to adding another USB Firewall Key to my system as I am so impressed with the results achieved so far.
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Homage to Time

Date Added: 05/23/2016 by mdc
I wanted to inform you about my impressions concerning the recent upgrades to my system.

It was eventually impossible and vain trying to 'separate the addition' of these upgrades: the power distributor and the XLR cable were added at a time when the Firewalls had already been burned in for 3 weeks, 24/7 (without listening, both just connected to 2 old cd players).

I would have loved to measure and quantify/qualify each addition, just for the sake of it. But in the end, I connected everything to my system and let it burn in for about 2 weeks without proper listening.

As expected, in my case, with a full tube system, I needed a lot (and I mean a lot) of time, patience and indeed experienced some amount of frustration. I sometimes lost patience but I remembered my previous experiences with the first version of the distributor and the DFPC power cables. In this case, as feared, it was the XLR cable that caused the main frustrations with huge variations in ‘quality of sound’ before it settled.

At this stage, with about 250 hours of burn in for the distributor and the interconnect, I can happily inform you that the system has evolved very nicely.

I guess the burn in of the XLR isn’t finished yet and I am even prepared to face another ‘dip,’ but for the last couple of days the sound has become really, well, beautiful: detailed, powerful, refined, relaxed but dynamic at the same time.

And again, as for my prior purchases (3 DFPC Originals, then upgrading those to 3 DFPC Signatures and the power distributor with the prior art (plastic) version of the Firewall modules), the sound, as a whole, has evolved positively.

The music, as a whole, sounds better, all CD’s sound better. Nothing is unbalanced, everything has evolved positively. Everything is now on (yet) another level.

I could use all the usual clichés ('another veil is lifted’-which is true, by the way-and so on…) and try to explain with more ‘suitable' words what my impressions are but I will simply sum it up with ‘music sounds so much better’.

About the XLR cable, I totally agree with the Russian magazine review posted on your website. Obviously for comparison I tried returning to my Oyaide XLR AR-910 with its 2 years of use and a burn in treatment on a cable burner, and compared its sound to the XLR Homage to Time and indeed, with Homage to Time, nothing is missing, everything is there…and Homage to Time sounds better.

At the end of the day, the burn in process is everything but fun, time consuming and immensely frustrating. I firmly believe that a cable burner of some sort really helps.

I could understand that some customers give up after a few weeks, especially if they also own a tube based system that prolongs the burn-in period because of the need to switch the system off when not in use. I simply can’t let the cable burn in 24/7 for days and days with the tubes fully heated. I sometimes had the impression that each day, the cable needed to pass through the same stages without progressing.

So Louis, what else can I say? I am extremely satisfied with these purchases and upgrades. They really have taken my pleasure to listen to music to yet another level. And also, I am very happy that you keep on designing beautiful products.

As usual, thank you for keeping your promises.


UPDATE 08/02/2016:

The sound of my system has been evolving in an unbelievable way.

I am now at the 500 hours mark and although the burn-in has been an excruciating process, it was well worth the wait…
My initial impressions at around 250/300 hours are nothing next to what I hear today.

My previous « review » seriously needs to be updated.

Nothing has improved the sound of my system as much as the combination of the Firewalls in the distributor you made for me and the 2 Firewall modules with the Oyaide option.

The Homage to Time XLR is the cherry on top of the cake.

The point I want to make is that the sound was absolutely fantastic when I posted my first review but now, it has reached yet another level (which is what I actually wrote a few weeks ago already ;)

The difference is that now, since a few days, I feel that the sound has somehow ‘finished’ to evolve and is now ‘stable’ (at least, I guess so!)…and amazing.

Thank you for bringing me even closer to the music I love!
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Echo's End

Date Added: 05/20/2016 by Tony-Oz
Echo's End DAC: Follow-up Impressions

With well over 300 hours of play, my Echo's End DAC should be close to full burn-in. Here are my humble impressions following my earlier report which I must stress are purely personal. I have deliberately chosen a range of recordings that range from audiophile-grade recordings to those with known deficiencies.

There was very little difference between the Response Audio Tube CD player and an Oppo BDP-95 Blue-Ray player as sources connected to a Response Audio 801A integrated Tube Amp (70W/Ch) using an Aural Harmony gold-alloy coaxial cable. The system uses LessLoss Signature power cables with Firewall Current Conditioners to every component.

The first thing that comes through is the "naturalness" and musicality of the sound, with little or no coloration, a dark silent background, excellent spatial delineation of voices and instruments with greater depth and height. There is no harshness with good recordings whilst older recordings known to be harsh or bright are given a new lease of life. This is indeed a major benefit as it has brought greater enjoyment to many old definitive recordings such as Klemperer's Beethoven Symphonies 3 ,5 and 9, and. Rossini's "Thieving Magpie" overture (the remastered audiophile CD by JVC from the original Decca recording) with Gamba and the LSO, is simply magnificent. Bach's Toccata & Fugue in G-Minor for organ (Peter Hurford/Decca) highlights the character of the bass, which is well rounded but solid and natural without any boominess. I can listen for hours with no listening fatigue.

The female voice is especially enhanced with greater clarity and a natural sibilence - this was quite obvious from certain tracks such as Eva Cassidy's "Over The Rainbow" where the brittleness at the top end when her voice reaches a crescendo now sounds controlled and natural. Diana Krall's voice comes across with even greater detail (try "The Girl In The Other Room - tracks 3 & on 9, the controlled distortion of the electric guitar sounds "live"). Leontyne Price's "Oh Holy Night" is exhiliarating and operatic recordings generally sound more stage-like with excellent spatial separation of voices from the orchestra.

Musical instruments sound much more dynamic and life-like especially the piano, violin, percussion and saxophone, yet remaining natural. Examples are Kyung Wha-Chung's Beethoven & Mendelssohn Violin concertos, Wilhelm Kempff's superlative Beethoven Piano Concerto No 5 (DG 1962 remastered) and Alfred Brendel's rendition of Schubert's "Wanderer Fantasie". Orchestral string music is lush and pleasing to the ear (try Rossini's String Sonatas (Decca). A favourite version of Pachelbel's Canon on a cheap Erato CD by Orchestre De Chambre/Paillard) has been transformed from a bright,harsh piece to a much more enjoyable experience.

However, I have noticed that the output, as judged by the audible volume of the music, appears to be reduced by about 15-20% in my system.

In summary, the Echo's End DAC has indeed transformed my modest audio system immeasurably, resulting in enhanced enjoyment of music and bringing new life to older recordings, which is what it's all about.

Top marks to you, Louis, for creating yet another great audio component. Love it.

Update: 09/12/2016 by Tony-Oz
Echo's End DAC Update & 5X Firewall Module.

The DAC is truly burned-in and has since been further enhanced with the addition of the 5X Firewall module to the integrated amp and a standard Firewall Module to the CD player used as a transport. All components are powered by LessLoss Signature power cables and the IC used is the Homage to Time. Since my last review, the sound volume output appears to have returned to original levels.

The addition of the 5X Firewall module has brought about an unexpectedly large boost in performance - much greater than using just the standard module - separation of instruments and voices is not only startling but the background is really dark. Music sounds fluid and natural while voices have slightly more clarity. Bass is more 'musical' and the high frequencies are relaxed and well-defined. The high registers of the piano sound like crystal - a great example is Liszt's "La Campanella" (Yundi Li _ A portrait). The virtual absence of listening fatigue is greatly appreciated. Some audiophile friends have been similarly impressed when these components were tested on one of their systems.

I have also had the experience of using the LessLoss USB firewall module which has lifted sound from USB sources to a new level.

I have found that upgrading a decent system with super components from LessLoss like power and IC cables, the DAC and firewall modules have brought about greater sonic improvement than rushing out to buy the latest models of system equipment every year or so?.?

Thank you Louis for producing products that live up to their claims of excellence. As they say, the proof is in the pudding.
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Firewall Module

Date Added: 05/08/2016 
Wow, what a product! This is my first purchase from LessLoss, and it's a winner. I was seeking to tame a bit of the flat sterile sound that can happen with the Devialet D200 if not fed with good AC power. I got much more than expected! I am now at 275 hours of burn-in on continued play. The sound is exceptionally natural, dimensional, organic and 3D. Better yet, it is still improving! I am very, very satisfied with the results of this first unit and looking forward to purchasing more Firewalls to install throughout my system.

Thank you Louis for your patient guidance and LessLoss for this exceptional product!

PS: customers who purchase this product should be advised to be patient. My Plug-and-Play module did not begin to open up and shine until after 75 hours of constant use.
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Homage to Time

Date Added: 04/27/2016 by Stephen Braude
I'm astounded at how big a difference your jumper cables have made. I've been breaking them in over the past couple of days and they're still improving. But even from the beginning I heard a lot more detail, and also better dynamics and gradations of loudness. Some initial shrillness or brittleness went away after a steady day of break-in, and detail and sense of space around instruments has continued to increase, considerably. I knew improving jumpers could make a difference; I'd already discovered that when I replaced the crappy clip-ons that came with my speaker with modest upgrades from Mapleshade and AntiCable. But the LessLoss jumpers take matters to a different level entirely. As much as I've benefited from adding 5 Firewall Modules to my system, I doubt that adding more would have made as dramatic an improvement as this modest (and much less expensive) jumper upgrade. Of course, it's really a speaker upgrade, and a significant one at that. If any of your customers still have stock jumpers on their speakers, I'd urge them to make the change IMMEDIATELY. I'm embarrassed that it didn't occur to me to do this much sooner.
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Echo's End

Date Added: 04/23/2016 by Jörg Stanislawski
The case for the Echo’s End DAC is unbelievably sturdy and there will surely be not a single unit delivered damaged.

I placed the DAC on three Roller Block Jr., and it looks fine.

The look of the Echo’s End DAC will not appeal to every possible customer looking for a new DAC.
Well, I love it’s look immensely. Stripped to the bones, a design of total understatement. No shiny display that shows sampling rates, input selector, the time and date or whatever. Just signal in, processing, signal out.

My Echo’s End gets the input signal via AES/EBU from my CD Transport. Signal out via LessLoss RCA cable.

I listened to one or two CDs and the let it play silently for hours every day. Then it came to my attention that I didn’t check the polarity of the power connection, how could I forget that? Damn. And it turned out I had to switch the polarity. My advice to every customer, check it right from the start, as it is important. After several hours of silent burn in, I started listening.

Every comment LessLoss posted about the sound is absolutely right. It seems that the enclosure of the Echo’s End is equivalent to the sound it creates in my listening room. It is pure, natural, analog-like and wonderfully detailed.

As if it were made explicitly for music with acoustical instruments. Jazz Trios sound unbelievably realistic. You can also expect lots of details not heard before. But I can only compare it to the DAC that I used before, and that was not an ultra expensive megabuck item.

With the Echo’s End the sound, room placement of instruments somehow shifted in dimensionality, this is difficult to describe. The instruments are perceived to be at slightly different places, especially in depth. So, the music seems to be reproduced like it was intended by the musicians, producers and recording artists.

Even when this dimensionality / room was created artificially in a sound recording studio for your listening pleasure. Instruments are wonderfully separated and at the same time the music can be sensed as a complete whole. This differentiates this DAC from other DACs, which have a more technical or, haha.. "digital" sound.

I'll compare this to an analog example. Way back when, I purchased a used double LP of Dave Brubeck's Time Out at a record fair. It was an RCA pressing, nothing special. At a later date I got the first audiophile remastered 180gr. pressing. The re-mastered version couldn’t compare to the cheap RCA pressing. The audiophile one had this sort of ping pong stereo effect, a much better separation of instruments, but the music couldn’t be recognized as whole.

I only wanted to mention one CD, the OST of „the house of flying daggers“. This is a recording that gives you a feeling at first listen, that it can’t get any better than this. The third track really gets you drumming, like the Kodo drummer of Japan, you know what I mean. With the Echo’s End, this track gets an unbelievable complete new quality. The drums sound so real, that you sit there in awe and simply can’t believe it. The drummers are in your room, it feels as if you can smell the sweat pouring down their skin. Really absolutely outstanding.

Yet again, LessLoss has created a wonderful product.

Thank You.

Jörg Stanislawski
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DFPC Series [Reference]

Date Added: 03/08/2016 by Private Hell Recording
Another DFPC Reference, this time feeding a Synergistic Research QLS-6 and ATC SCM25A Pro studio monitors. This replaces a JPS Labs Aluminata. Most interesting results were:

1. Better transient definition,especially in the bass.
2. I was able to actually angle my monitors out to get a wider field without sacrificing center image.
3. Natural frequency response.

- Private Hell Recording
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Echo's End

Date Added: 03/07/2016 by Tony-in-Oz
FIRST IMPRESSIONS.
After an impatient wait of 3 months, I have finally got the Echo's End DAC in my hands.I believe I'm one of the first to receive it.
Right out of the super space-age case the sound was compressed and heavy as would be expected but after only a few hours of play, it started to open up. Louis has indicated to me that it would take a good 3 to 4 weeks of continuous play for the DAC to be fully burnrd-in. Now, after only about 32 hours of play over a few days, I am already impressed with the uncluttered, clean, balanced and natural sound with little hint of colouring or noise. What I find most impressive is the marked reduction of excessive sibilance from certain "bright" recordings, the relaxed yet natural character of the bass , deep and wide sound field with a dark silent background despite the early days. However,there is still a detectable but minor degree of "heaviness" and a little brittleness in the the top end which, I am confident, will be resolved when fully burned-in. There is still a long way to go before the full potential is realised and I anticipate much more significant improvement in the weeks to come, like the other LessLoss products already in use in my system. Experience with products like the use of V-Caps in audio components suggests a full burn-in period of 400-600 hours is on the cards.

I was already very happy with my system before I had the LessLoss Firewall Modules and LessLoss DFPC Signature Power Cables installed on every component in both of my modest systems and was initially surprised how much they had contributed to the significant improvement to the sound. One of my audiophile friends was so impressed by them when we tested them on his system that he has since purchased them.

I'm no tech expert but fortunate to possess a musical background, having played the violin and piano, listening to classical music since early childhood and having enjoyed the fabulous concerts and operas during the many years living in London. This has helped in discerning between "true live natural sound" and "electronic sound". For me the ENJOYMENT and APPRECIATION of good music is the prime objective, not the hype of owning the most expensive audio equipment to brag about.

I could not be more impressed with the professional manner and prompt service in which Louis runs LessLoss - always ready to answer any queries in an honest manner without the air of aloof arrogance we sometimes encounter with some so-called "experts". Thank you Louis.
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Firewall Module

Date Added: 03/03/2016 by Chris Hong from Malaysia
This is an absolutely wonderful product I ever come across with such price. I ordered four units, received two and the other two on it way. By using one for CD transport and the other on power amp, my system is like giving a new life, it sound totally different. With tight solid bass, sweet vocal, great dimensional sound stage and depth. Amazing, amazing.

Highly recommended.
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Homage to Time

Date Added: 02/18/2016 by Carl Dodds
I am a real fan of LessLoss products. I made a decision three years ago to change the cables in my system as I was converting all signal cables from single ended to balanced. At the time, it would have costed me thousands of dollars to change the cables in my system. An AudigoN member recommended that I do some research on LessLoss products. He said there is no other company that can provide the value to performance ratio like LessLoss. I took a blind leap of faith and started purchasing power cords, speaker cables and balanced signal cables.

I was changing my cabling from Stealth Indra to LessLoss and your cables maintained the same high level of performance but at a fraction of the cost. LessLoss allowed me to get off of the "Cable Merry Go Round" and I never looked back.

Just recently, I reconfigured my system and it allowed me to use shorter speaker cables (2 pairs). I contacted Louis to order new Anchorwave cables; he informed me that the Anchorwaves were no longer being offered. Louis said the Homage to Time series is now being offered in place of Anchorwaves which are less expensive and have solid core conductors versus the Litz conductors. I reluctantly went forward and purchased the speaker cables. The cables were changed dramatically in appearance and construction. Homage to Time to me looked like a scrawny little cable in comparison to the Anchorwaves and I was very skeptical that I would like these new cables. I only installed one set on the right channel expecting the worst case scenario. Wow, I was so wrong about these cables; it was like a veil had been lifted through every frequency. The sound was even more detailed and the clarity was at a level never experienced in my system! Needless to say, it didn't take me long to install the other set on the left channel. I then purchased one of the Homage to Time balanced signal cables; again not expecting any major change. It was like repeating the speaker cable; very detailed with great clarity. I immediately ordered four more Homage to Time balanced signal cables and I am anxiously waiting for delivery. Once again, Louis has provided better performing cables at a lower price. LessLoss customer for life!
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LessLoss History From the Very Beginnings

LessLoss started its business on Audiogon in late 2007. Within the first couple of month, word about LessLoss spread like wildfire among Audiogon members. Here is the feedback received from our clients during our first year of operation. This is from even before we had our own website.

Louis is one of the best in the business, truly professional and very fast production and delivery. I am very satisfied by your superb service. Many thanks.

Positive by Buyer Sebastian (135) on 07-29-2008

Excellent transaction with Lessloss on dynamic filtering power cord. Good communications & fast shipping. A+++++

Positive by Buyer Sennett (45) on 07-03-08

Bought 3 pc's from Liudas in Jan/08. Outstanding product as advertised. Performance is everything and more than I expected. Kudos to Lessloss cable for a great product. Very highly recommended...A+++

Positive by Buyer Phillykid (33) on 06-19-08

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