User Reviews

Published LessLoss Reviews Now Number Over 727

Show all
Because of the sheer number of reviews, you can sort them above to quickly find LessLoss products of interest.

C-MARC RCA unbalanced signal cable, stereo pair

Date Added: 05/03/2017 by Finn Mölmen
With kind support from Louis Motek, I made an Early bird-acquisition of two pairs of C-Marc RCA interconnects, one meter long. I already have several Lessloss DFPC's and an Anchorwave connecting my tubed pre- and power amplifiers (Belles, Rogue). Signals come from vinyl (Gyro, DV XX-2, Verto, Chinook) and an Aurender streaming through an MX-DAC supplied with diy power (AMB σ11) with an integrated Firewall module. Heavily tweaked ProAc speakers and two ML subs. My listening room is acoustically treated.

My setup yields extreme resolution and good 3D, yet the sound has seemed a bit compressed, making it a bit harsh or aggressive when approaching realistic sound levels. Tube rolling has expanded and alleviated, but not sufficiently.

For some years I have used van den Hul The First Ultimate carbon IC's to feed my Belles preamp. Brief visits from other IC's (e.g., Audience Au24) did demonstrate a potential for improvements, but a hifi enthusiast with limited fundings needs to make sure his investments are sound, especially when the existing cables already are fairly good. Several brands were under consideration. All the more welcome was the announcement of a new LessLoss line of products.

The two pairs of C-Marc interconnects have been in my setup now for a week. Right «out of the box» they gave more mature timbre than the carbon cables, the sound stage became broader and more holographic. After two days I put them in my Hagerman FryKleaner for 48 hours. The development was striking, enabling my setup to render full symphonic orchestras in three dimensions while maintaining control with peak instruments such as flutes and high pitched violins. And suddenly Cecilia Bartoly's voice was rid of metallic harshness, and instead came through with her expert modulations in timbre and expression.

Well known benchmark tracks appear as new, and are reproduced with more realistic timbre, better tone balance and control, and with ample yet inconspicuous dynamics. The transients are effortless and transparent. All in all the C-Marc RCA interconnects provide increased holography and insight into the auditive texture, making the music more intelligible and engaging. I will need more time to fully appreciate these interconnects, also in friends' setups, but am already confident my investment is a success!

Physically the cables are supple and very easy to handle. The RCA connectors softly snaps on to the sockets making stable and secure connections. These cables have scarcely any bling factor at all – they just provide excellent sound. My hifi setup has undergone a major improvement. The experience certainly makes me consider investing in a pair of C-Marc loudspeaker cables. Thank you, Louis and all at LessLoss! Well done!
CloseRead the reviewProduct details

C-MARC Classic loudspeaker cable, stereo pair

Date Added: 04/28/2017 by Stephen Braude
My new C-MARC speaker cables replace LessLoss Anchorwave cables, in a system filled with LessLoss products: DFPC Reference power cables throughout, Homage to Time ICs, and 6 Firewall modules distributed judiciously. Make no mistake, the AW cables are great, and they replaced (and outperformed) some highly respected Shunyata cables. But with the new C-MARCs, I've had one surprise after another as previously unheard details on familiar recordings caught my attention.

Here's a particularly dramatic example. Probably like most audiophiles, I have certain recordings I use as benchmarks to determine the effects of changes to my setup. When I played one disc I've been using for at least 7 years, I heard for the first time a glitch toward the end of my test track--sounding either like a bad splice or a faint dropout. In order to make sure nothing had happened to my test CD, I bought a 2nd copy, and sure enough, the glitch was there as well. I could hardly believe that I'd never heard this before, in the many hundreds of times I've listened to that track. Now, for the first time, the glitch stood out all too clearly.

To me, this illustrates nicely how the new C-MARCs uncover levels of detail which other cables (including first-rate cables) obscure. And of course, when they're not revealing previously unheard defects, the new C-MARC cables simply render more lifelike and solid the sound of instruments and voices. I also hear more ambience from the recording venue, and instruments and vocalists occupy a more discernible location in space (not just left-to-right but also front-to-back). For example, on track 2 ("Once in Love with Amy") from "Mel Torme Swings Schubert Alley" there is some finger snapping and hand clapping which I believe severely tests a system's resolution. With the new C-MARC speaker cables, those sounds were strikingly more lifelike and more clearly positioned in space than they had been before.

To say I'm happy about this acquisition would be understatement. I know this is an audio cliche, but I have to say that the new C-MARC cables noticeably took my system to a higher level.
CloseRead the reviewProduct details

Firewall Module

Date Added: 01/20/2017 by Tony_Oz
5X Firewall Modules

I would like to share my experience with fully burned-in 5X Firewall Modules in my system, which already includes LessLoss Signature power cables, Homage To Time IC, the Echo's End DAC and 1X Firewall modules. Like all my cables, they were burned in on an AudioDharma Cable Cooker for a full 7 days which, with daily testing, I have found to be necessary to achieve optimal performance. I must repeat again that I'm no tech expert but merely a music lover of long standing.

Starting with just a single 5X Firewall Module, I found the greatest improvement when installed on my amp rather than the source (CD-player) as suggested by Louis. Once again, the sonic improvement was clearly incremental to the already significant gains from the LessLoss components already installed. I decided then to have 5X Firewall modules for every main component (CD-player, DAC and amp) and the end-result was certainly worthwhile.

It is difficult to describe the improvements to a system that I'm already very happy with but it would be best summed up by the word "Refinement", added to descriptions like "black" background with no noise, deep and wide soundstage, realism and great dynamics, natural refined bass and superb definition and clarity etc. Poorer recordings, particularly old definitive ones like Otto Klemperer's Beethoven symphonies and others, have been given a new lease of life. Bass quality, in particular, has been greatly enhanced; Rebecca Pidgeon's "Spanish Harlem" (a highly recommended audiophile recording) demonstrates this superbly, coming through sounding so natural and with great definition, yet not boomy or distorted.

My journey to achieve better sound with LessLoss components (a company with whom I have no ties) began with power cables and progressed to include the other components referred to above and it has certainly been a very satisfying one. As a music lover first and foremost and an audiophile for over 40 years, I am now enjoying my music more than ever.
CloseRead the reviewProduct details

Firewall Module

Date Added: 11/25/2016 by JEFF
Digital Audiophile "Match of the Day” : LessLoss USB Firewall Key vs. IFi iSilencer 3.0

Bought the latter as I anyway need two USB cleaning tools, one for my reference audio system, one for my "tweaked for audio" desktop computer used for ripping CDs.

I expected the two items to sound different, but I was not prepared for a match lasting only a few minutes in a comparative listening session...

The LessLoss USB Firewall Key won by an awe inspiring total knock-out at first round!

IFi iSilencer 3.0 is a good product, cheap and honest, cleaning a little bit your USB audio highway, while the LessLoss USB Firewall Key is something else completely, light years ahead in sound quality reached when using it, as if you suddenly leave "digital sound" for something almost real and more natural....

If one product is like a nicely remastered CD, then the other one leaves you feeling the master tape is running in your listening room!

Retail prices are quite different, yes, but listening pleasure is, too, trust me.

Anyone using a high quality DAC over $1000 without the LessLoss USB Firewall key is DEFINITELY NOT hearing it at even close to 80% of its abilities... You have now been warned.

So do yourself a favor: order from Louis your USB Firewall Key now :)
CloseRead the reviewProduct details

Bindbreaker Vibration Control Equipment Foot

Date Added: 10/24/2016 by Saffier Brull, The Netherlands
See the attached pictures of the Bindbreakers under my turntable. The perfect match!

The turntable is my own work in progress since the last 10 years. Completed with a top platter (black on top) and record clamp of Acoustical Systems. The tonearm is the Terminator arm from Transfi Audio. Cartridge is ZYX R1000 Airy II Cosmos silver base, and cabling is Audio Note pure silver. Battery supply for the motor and air supply for the arm. Very natural sounding analog front end. Belt is Kapton, endless tape.

Base, support table and arm base are made out of granite. Platter base is 40kg, total weight is approx 175kg. Burglar proof!

You're happily invited to visit and listen, whenever you are in The Netherlands. I have to thank you for the innovative Bindbreaker. It took me more than three years to get the right footers under this table! Your innovative thinking and explanation made me jump in and buy them, very happy I did!

Very nice results, much better flow. Enjoying great music!

I have to thank you sir!

Best regards,
Saffier Brull
The Netherlands
CloseRead the reviewProduct details

Echo's End

Date Added: 10/13/2016 by Andrew Dove
Happy Birthday!

With my 50th birthday present from my kind wife Jane arriving in early August, but my birthday not being until 26th September, I waited patiently and did not even sneak a peak at the Echo’s End.

The new DAC replaces a Musical Fidelity Tri Vista which has served me well over the years. The source starts with Tidal through an iPhone 6, Wadia 170i with Audiocom level 3 mods and a Teddy Pardo power supply.

I am well aware from owning LessLoss power cords that the sound benefits substantially from a long burn in. However, I had waited long enough.

On first connecting the Echo’s End, I could immediately hear greater breadth, detail, separation and rhythm although with an evident harshness to the sound. Within an hour of listening the harshness had largely disappeared. With a further week of 24/7 burn in the sound can only be described as being incredibly musical. Particular highlights for me have been the dramatic reduction in sibilance, the musicality at every level and the way in which it draws listeners in. Everything becomes more distinct. Instruments and voices are separated from each other. The layers in the music are unravelled.

Also worthy of mention is that the wood case is aesthetically very pleasing. I now have a box of electronics to visually match my Sonus Faber Electa Amator speakers. Finally, it may come as a surprise to some, but lower quality source material such as BBC iplayer radio is now pleasing to listen to. OK, I am not getting the full experience described above with the iplayer, but the Echo’s End makes a huge difference in quality, removing most of the harshness.

The bottom line is that there has been a steep change in our musical enjoyment since the Echo’s End arrived. Jane even called me at work one day to ask me how to turn the HiFi on!

Thank you Jane and thank you Louis.
CloseRead the reviewProduct details

Firewall Module

Date Added: 09/27/2016 by Jeff
Dear fellow music lovers,

I hope Louis will allow me to add something important to my previous review.

Last Sunday, I took advantage of being alone at home to have a nice listening session, and something very interesting happened. Remember, I dislike long reviews that don't get straight to the point :) ; so here it goes:

My LAVARDIN IT amplifier was already warmed up, as my Echo's End DAC and AUDIOCOM/OPPO Signature player also were at the front end. I won't bother you with cables, having dozens available for listening/review purposes.

Got my USB "music magic key" where I had ripped with the USB Firewall Key some superb jazz files from a Japan import cd, and pressed PLAY on the remote....

My face went pale... I immediately sensed something was REALLY wrong, the system sounded flat, somehow sterile, underpowered and washed out. I stood up, thinking "Oh my... some item in my system has likely developed a fault, repairman soon to be called...

To the fact: I had simply forgotten to put back the USB Firewall Key on the Oppo player, before my music key!

Need I say more? I don't think so.

This item is a Must Buy.
CloseRead the reviewProduct details

Bindbreaker Vibration Control Equipment Foot

Date Added: 09/25/2016 by Joerg S. Dortmund/Germany
The Bindbreakers arrived and since Friday I compared them to the footers that ​I have used before. These are the Symposium Rollerblock Jr. and the Synergistic Research MIG 2. Both are reasonably priced and make a nice improvement to the sound reception.

But they are not on par with the Bindbreakers. Placed under the turntable I didn’t expect to much, as the turntable rests also on a thick Symposium shelf. Wow, how could I be so mistaken? The improvement was not subtle, but, well… that could be settled somewhere between big and huge.

It seemed as if the Bindbreakers ​do such a good job, that it feels as if all the information from the vinyl is sucked out and transported to your ears. And again it is not the often heard technical improvements that come with gear or tweaks of other competitors, but the same as is the case with the DFPC power cords, the Bindbeakers come with pure musicality and naturalness of tone. You can sit back relaxed and listen in awe of what you’ve missed before. It would be interesting if there is a customer who can compare the Bindbreakers with footers like Stillpoints or Finite Elemente that come with sometimes insane prices.

Two days before receiving the Bindbreakers my CD drive gave up the ghost and has to be repaired. So I had to install my old Ariston CD player as a drive and connect it with the Echo's End. This showed the superiority of the Bindbreakers that took their place below the Echo's End. The combination of my old player with the Echo's End and connected with an old RCA digital cable from Zu outperformed the much better CD drive that was connected with a shorter, more classy AES/EBU cable to the Echo's End. The CD drive was placed on a Sicomin base, the Ariston player sits on a cheap, sort of Sorbothane foot. How much better will this get when my CD drive is back from repair?

Also the Bindbreaker looks much different than similar tweaks of other manufacturers, I really like the design, and form follows function here, and not vice versa as is the case with some sofas that look nice, cost a fortune but gets your back in pain after resting half an hour.

I'm very very pleased with the performance of the Bindbreakers and they will definitely stay here. LessLoss came up with another reasonably priced item that gets the highest scoring. Thank you.
CloseRead the reviewProduct details

Firewall Module

Date Added: 09/25/2016 by Jeff
The LESSLOSS USB Firewall Key is an excellent tweak for your digital system.

I ripped several CDs onto a top class USB key, with and without it, then listened to the files, rather than listening to the CD with or without it.

Fact is the sound gets way better with it, and the ripped files can prove to anyone not owning an USB Firewall Key that it works, and how well!

I'm not into poetic like or long reviews, but I noticed that a haze is gone, and more air is noticed to let music flow. Things get more natural, easy to enjoy.

Would rate it as a pro quality tool that can change your system like you had a new, better digital files reader/streamer, and it will improve even the best one you could find!

I have not tried the Audioquest or iFi USB noise filters, so if anyone has compared them to the LESSLOSS unit, I would be happy to read more.

No fears, I am sure the latter is the leader, results wise.... :)
CloseRead the reviewProduct details

Bindbreaker Vibration Control Equipment Foot

Date Added: 09/15/2016 by Michael R.
Just got my Bindbreakers yesterday. Once again LessLoss has done it! I have a very thick maple board and points from Mapleshade under my Meridian C-D player. Very fine improvement with these several years ago. But taking out the points and replacing them with Bindbreakers over the maple board showed a small but absolutely clear improvement in clarity and presence in my C-Ds. I've been listening these past two days to several C-Ds thatI I know well. It is a joy to hear them again! That much more real, clean and present. I've never been disappointed with a LessLoss product. Still true!
CloseRead the reviewProduct details

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

Read feedback