Ultra-pure, micron-sized silver flake suspended in a carefully- selected organic...

I heard of this one Stateside and just had to throw it over to you guys.

Do your worst.

Walker Audio's Super Silver Treatment

 

I'm saying nothing.

I heard one of Walker's phono stages at Titian's place and was deeply impressed. It completely trashed a Tom Evans Groove. But this looks a bit daft.

-- Ian

 

that's me sold!

Bravo!

 

Yes, I must admit to being quite impressed with some of the advice given on this web site, particularly re. T/Ts.

 

Who's going to try some then?

 

Chemist's comment:

:ffrc: :ffrc: :ffrc: :ffrc: :ffrc: :ffrc: :ffrc: :ffrc: :ffrc:

May I please have a smiley that blows loud raspberries?

 

Silver paint. Electrolube have sold the stuff for donkeys years:

+44[0]118 940 3084

Thats the phone number on the bottle. I didn't find it very sticky or strong as I was trying to attach wires to a Lithium battery with it. Don't know what it sounds like though.

 

There was also a thread on Audioasylum

 

how much are those walker phono stages?
they look interesting.

 

Quote from that review:

"Its a contact enhancer made from controlled size silver particles suspended in a thick liquid with the consistency of pudding. Silver is the best conductor. Makes sense."

I'd adjust to "makes no sense whatsoever". Silver is indeed the best conductor (but only slightly better than copper). Moreover, this is made up of silver particles in a thick liquid. Now this means that each particle will therefore be surrounded by a thick liquid, which will by definition conduct less well than silver, and which indeed may not conduct at all. Even when the stuff dries, there will still be a residual layer of the dried liquid between the particles. So, at best, you have this great mass of solidified liquid/silver interfaces. Now, considering the fuss made about the grain boundaries in wire conductors and how the number should be minimised for better sound, to put more such boundaries in (and not metal-metal ones either) sounds totally bizarre.

Perhaps I'm not understanding something here; if so, would someone please explain it to me. I don't deny the gentleman in question the right to hear a vast improvement - he heard what he heard, for whatever reason. However, I strongly suspect that what he heard didn't exist in reality. But then, you'd have been disappointed if I'd thought otherwise, wouldn't you?

 

surely the best connection is what my step father did in the 70's. (He was into hifi back then).


Basically, he soldered the interconnect lead directly to the wires on the inside... NO RCA plug, NO RCA socket. just two wires soldered together with silver solder.


If you dont move your kit around (at all, ever) surely the best solution?....


Chris

 

Lots.

-- Ian

 

hiya ian,

just found out the answer to that one myself..

at www.needledoctor.com

http://shopping.netsuite.com/s.nl/c...=ac112b781f438180534f2c624f5e9895943321e158b9

ouch!

some other interesting phono stages there too, including a valve project phono stage, and bluenote phono stages. Havent seen any of these in the UK mags yet - anyone else?

 

It's interesting that, on the AA thread, those 'against' had used products that they described as similar, those 'for' had used the Walkers SST. Of course having splashed their cash ...

Tones makes a very good point. It is possible however that the liquid surrounding the silver is conductive in itself - perhaps more conductive than the air surrounding many of our connections. Perhaps the liquid itself evaporates over time.

My view is that the stuff should be tried. We've heard the arguments for - "people who have tried it, like it" and against - "it's based on nonsensical theory so it can't work". I would like to get a ZG perspective.

Incidentally, for some more pornographic piccies of the stuff, I've found this. Is this like your silver paint, Graham?

 

"Ultra-pure, micron-sized silver flake suspended in a carefully- selected organic fluid.


As the SST breaks in, the molecular structure of the silver aligns with the current flow smoothing out the power transfer and enhancing the contact between component connectors."

Steve, organic liquids are generally among the world's less conducting substances, but it depends on the nature of the liquid, and there are organic substances that do (expensively) conduct electricity.

However, the second paragraph quoted above is the most staggering claptrap. The silver is particulate, solid, for goodness' sake, so the atomic lattice (not "molecular") structure is set. It won't go anywhere unless you put so much oomph through it that it melts.

 

Tones, I'm sure that you are absolutely correct on this. However, I have heard other tweaks that have no apparent scientific basis yet still make an improvement to my ears. There's been enough positive comment from people who have tried this stuff to pique my interest and the company that's selling it has a good name in other areas.

I'd still be interested in the opinions of the ZG jury before I reject this stuff out of hand.

 

I may disagree with the science, Steve, but I never criticise anyone's religious beliefs, no matter how bizarre they appear to me!

 

It's nonsense, bordering on insane. Bear in mind that I'm a chemist too though so I might just be siding with tones because that's what they teach us You can argue that "well, if x people have heard a difference it must be worth trying" but personally I find myself disinclined to bother when the "explanation" offered is so clearly rubbish.

 

Leaving aside the scientific credibility of the claims made about the stuff, I'd be reluctant to try it because of the fact it is possible to short the outputs of components if one is a heavy handed/over zealous when applying.

For the ultimate connection, I recommend soldering your cables in place. With silver solder, naturally

 

Nope, that looks like my blusher..

Electrolube sells conductive silver paint - and tells you it's resistivity, and how to get it lower by hair-drying it.

I suppose the difference is it makes a permanent join [or it would if it was strong enough] compared to a non drying kak. Note there is not much diff in price. My bottle is only 3 grammes I think.