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BlackGround Speaker Base

Date Added: 10/13/2023 by Joshua J. Wright
BlackGround 10x Speaker Base - Single Channel version

What do you do when you have reached the point that your system seems perfect, and you think there is NO WAY there could have any more transparency, depth, decay, texture, grip, extension, tonal purity, liquidity, bass, micro/macro dynamics, or emotional impact?

After adding the BlackGround 10x Speaker Base - Single Channel version I found the answer. Some changes are just incremental, while others are transformational, or revelatory. The change that I experienced could only be described as TELEPORTATIONAL. All of the existing system attributes were magnified in such a way as to induce an altered state of total whole mind/body involvement. The sound has a new level of dimensionality which is absolutely mesmerizing. The Blackground for Speakers simply allows the entire system to breathe without restraint. Hearing such an expansive breadth in nuance and dynamic impact makes each song sound as though it was never completely appreciated before, while at the same time allowing for complete immersion not just in the sound; but in the music itself. My initial impression was that every component in the system had received a major upgrade. I am still in the infatuation stage, but make no mistake, this is a serious wholesale sonic upgrade. What more could be asked for? Oh yeah, there is always the Stellar power cord upgrade. How could it still get any better?

See review dated 2/23/23 By Joshua J. Wright for context.

New 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 by Eduardo De Lima. 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.

Berkeley: Alpha DAC Reference II with MQA.

Kuzma: Stabi - S - With AC Motor Controller

Kuzma: 4 point 9 Tonearm

Hana: Umami Blue cartridge

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 switch & router)

Netgear: Nighthawk 6-Stream AX5400 WiFi 6 Router (RAX50)

S-Booster: MKII Power Supply (Used to power Roon Nucleus)

PS Audio: Signature BHK Preamp.

PS Audio Stellar Phono Preamplifier.

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: ENTROPIC C-MARC XLR Interconnect Cables to Pre-amp

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

LessLoss: BlackGround 10x Speaker Base - Single Channel version

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.
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C-MARC bulk wire and cable

Date Added: 10/07/2023 by Jens
Part 1:

All the LessLoss large hookup wire pieces I ordered have now been implemented. Live, Neutral, and Ground wires were installed as planned in all instances ?

For this high voltage application, both the power-carrying wires had additional insulation added in the form of white and clear heat shrink (see photo below).

I started out with implementing the large hookup wires in my Ediscreation Silent Switch, which was pretty straightforward; from IeGo copper/gold IEC at one end, using the solder ends supplied by IeGo, to screw terminals on the main board for Live and Neutral and Ground attached to a chassis screw.

Here is the transition:




After "surgery", the Ediscreation switch was reassembled, put back into the system and turned on. I left it to warm up (it has an OCXO clock) for half an hour before any serious listening - but I could hear something going on right from scratch.

Then I sat down and listened for some time. There was a clear difference with the LessLoss hookup wire feeding the Ediscreated electronics. Sound was notably fuller and more lush. This was not at the expense of detail, quite the contrary, because details came out even better. This was not in the sense that they come out louder - they were just clearer. After further listening, I realised that clarity in general had reached a new level, most likely because the LessLoss hookup wire has lowered the noise level from the AC line. Sound was simply more clean, benefitting the musical experience!

My Ediscreation switch is unfortunately not being fed by a LessLoss Entropic power cord. It definitely should be. And I am trying to get there ...

Replacing the standard wire in the Ediscreation Silent Switch was well worth the effort - definitely exceeded my expectations and raised my system to yet another level. Thank you for providing the annoyingly short lengths of wire!

Part 2:

My Innuos Zen Mk3 streamer was up next to have its internal AC wiring replaced by LessLoss large hookup wire. Again, when using this wire for 230/240V AC, the cotton part of the wire needs additional insulation, and as recommended by Louis Motek, I used white and clear heat shrink for this purpose. Since I ordered the pieces of wire with end prepping (highly recommended), the ends already had white heat shrink, but to be able to distinguish between Live and Neutral, I chose white for Live and clear for Neutral. Same as I did for the Ediscreation switch upgrade described in part 1.

The Innuos Zen Mk3 streamer has a separate on/off switch. Unfortunately, this switch causes sound deterioration, which I discovered previously when I altered the wiring to bypass the switch and go directly from the Furutech IEC inlet/fuse holder combo instead. As can be seen in the photo, the original wiring for the on/off switch is no longer connected:




As can also be seen, the wiring from the Furutech combo ends in a PCB connector on the voltage selector PCB, and I decided to remove this connector in order to solder the LessLoss hookup wire directly into the PCB.

A word of warning here: the male part of the connector is press-fitted into the PCB as well as soldered in place, so it is extremely difficult to get it out! However, I succeeded in doing it, and after fitting and soldering short lengths of solid core copper wire onto the pre-soldered ends of the Live and Neutral hookup wires and subsequently soldering the solid core wires into the PCB in the connector's place, the connection to the voltage selector board was re-established.

After fitting and shrinking the additional heat shrink on both wires, the other ends were then soldered to the solder lugs of the Furutech IEC combo. The ground wire was also soldered onto the appropriate solder lug and connected to the original star ground. The end result can be seen in the photo:




The Innuos streamer upgrade was considerably more difficult to perform than the Ediscreation Silent Switch upgrade described in part 1, mainly due to my decision to remove the male part of the PCB connector from the PCB. I have later performed a similar upgrade to an identical Innuos streamer belonging to a friend without removing the connector - much easier.

So, a lot of work! Was it worth the effort?

Yes, absolutely! But - initially I was somewhat disappointed with the Innuos upgrade. There were indeed improvements - and along the same lines as with the Ediscreation switch, but the magnitude was much smaller. However, it turned out that - for some reason - the new wiring in the Innuos needed a little time to bed in, and the effects are now much greater than at the first listen.

All in all, the combined LessLoss large hookup wire upgrades on the AC wiring in my digital chain have proven very worthwhile. The short lengths of wire needed did not cost a lot, even with the end prepping, and my system has moved a significant step further towards naturalness and musicality - sheer bliss!

Jens
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C-MARC loudspeaker cable, stereo pair

Date Added: 09/06/2023 by David
The C-Marc Entropic speaker cables have done wonders for my system,which consists of Accuphase electronics, Magico S7 speakers and products from Clearaudio,MY Sonic Lab and Synergistic Research.
Since about 2019 I had been using the top-of-the-line Synergistic Research Galileo SX speaker cables that were purchased for over 15k and I though I had finally achieved a level of reproduction that would satisfy me for the foreseeable future. I was wrong. I've come to realize that just throwing money at a problem is not the solution to better reproduction... it just makes you poorer.
The C-Marc Entropic speaker cables for a third of the cost of the Synergistic Research have elevated my listening experiences and allowed me to make a stronger and more satisfying emotional bond with my music. I wish I had known about LessLoss years ago.. I could have saved not only money but what seemed like a never ending frustration with constantly trying to achieve the best reproduction from my gear. With these cables I think my search is finally over. Now I can relax and just enjoy the music like never before.
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Echo's End; Firewall Module; Bindbreaker; C-MARC Classic Power Cable; Power Distributor

Date Added: 08/28/2023 by Julian
I thought I would give you feedback on the products I have and the sound of my system.

Products purchased so far.

C-MARC Classic power cord 2 metre Entropic
5 of Firewall 640x (2 of which are C-MARC)
2 sets of Bindbreaker Equipment feet
Power Distributor

and the star of the show Echo’s End Reference DAC.

These products have all contributed to making the sound of my system enjoyable to listen to. I now want to listen to my hifi system again, and looking to play CDs which I have not played for a long time (This is testament to how well things are).

When I had the Echos' End Reference on loan it was touch and go whether I kept it. Basically (to my ears) there was too much attack / power to leading edge of strings (guitar) when they came in on the tracks I was using for the evaluation. In one sense a small thing, but when investing that much money I felt things had to be right. I then had an idea, a set of supports I had put in I never gauged the difference they made or not. This pretty much corrected the issue, and along with talking to Elite Audio (UK) I felt mentally more positive (state of mind does have an effect too). After further listening I was then completely happy with the sound.

The change involved removing the supports I had put under, not the CD transport, but the external linear power supply. Hifi to me is not always a science, but behaves more like an art form.

I was really concerned about bass from the Reference seeing other peoples review, but this has not been an issue. What it is is open and balanced (i.e. covers top end and bottom end equally). On a recent listening it is almost like you can hear the other side of the notes. Beautiful sounds which waft over, and work with my ears (a big thing for me).

Will be looking to add more. Following your advice, more power cables and Bindbreakers. Eventually looking to BackGround 10x Power Base, and your last Newsletter reminded me of a couple of the Blackbodies conditioners.

Many thanks for your company's products and design philosophy.
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BlackGround Power Base

Date Added: 08/12/2023 by Jeff
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.
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BlackGround Speaker Base

Date Added: 07/10/2023 
After my initial experience with the BlackGround Power Base 10x in February and March, I had my doubts that another one of these beautiful wooden boxes would help. In fact, did I need any help? The answer turned out to be yes - indeed.

The areas the 8x Speaker Base has improved are darker background, focus and imaging. With the Speaker Base, I can now fully enjoy choral works. Individual voices are laid out in the soundstage. - plus - all of the reverberations are better heard. It sounds quite amazing!

In addition, when unpacking and installing, I enlisted the help of my wife, who commented: "wow that is a nice looking piece. It sure looks better than a black piece of metal."

Richard Stanton
Boston, Massachusetts USA
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Firewall Module

Date Added: 06/05/2023 
I wanted to express my gratitude to you.
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BlackGround Speaker Base

Date Added: 06/02/2023 by DAMIEN ANCIANO
Congratulations on the Speaker Base!! I feel it’s your most impactful product thus far! It’s uncanny!

This is the first 'tweak' that diminishes that subtle 'edge' and grain (that I thought was implicit in streaming/digital). While that sounds small, it is the first time I can hear the sweetness and tonal color of a violin and massed strings; also the noise floor has dropped (equivalent to QSA Silver levels - big!), allowing me to hear things I never heard before, and the subtle timing cues that communicate emotional intent. Last, space - the soundstage has expanded, and instruments are just 'there' (hearing the hall sound more explicitly - indeed the decays are magnificent!). Small sonic changes but huge musical gains. I hear NONE of the softness that 6 Moons heard from the mains Blackground (indeed, I don't hear that with mine) - to my ears, 'PRAT' and emotional involvement have improved! I get however that some might hear less 'edgy' transients - but to me, that is more natural and realistic.
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BlackGround Power Base; BlackGround 8x/10x Speaker Base

Date Added: 05/10/2023 by Mac Finney, Baltimore, Maryland
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!
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C-MARC loudspeaker cable, stereo pair

Date Added: 05/02/2023 by Aleksandar from Serbia
After buying the Entropic RCA Interconnect cable, I decided to buy the Entropic speaker cables as well. For the first time in my life I hear music exactly as it is intended to be heard: absolutely no artificial coloration or any unnatural flavour is added. State of the art high end products without any doubt.

As for Lessloss as a company, rest assured that they will always go out of their way to do whatever is need to keep the customer's satisfaction at the highest possible level.
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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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