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Post by MartinT on Oct 6, 2018 0:22:38 GMT
This is without doubt the wackiest product I have ever bought or attempted to review. Forget power cables or fuses or specialist footers. Dismiss stones or crystals or even pyramids. Nothing comes close to a heavy expensive box filled with stuff and exhibiting precisely one connection terminal. I'm unclear as to why I bought one and I'm certainly uncertain of what, if anything, to expect from it. I blame certain persuasive individuals whose ears I trust, and an insatiable curiosity. SGS are a small company based in Scotland who have setup to manufacture these grounding boxes. They certainly seem reasonably priced when compared with the likes of Entreq. However, before we go any further, lets see what SGS themselves say about it... My take? The box is a tiny piece of mother earth providing an ultra-quiet grounding path. That last word bothers me - a path to where? Presumably dissipation of all that unwanted noise into the filler material. It's a nicely finished wooden box filled with a substance that you can hear moving around. There is a single substantial terminal. I bought it with two cables, a spade to spade for my DAC ground terminal and a 4mm plug to crocodile clip for trying it with the Pi or other components. The cables are finished in a green cotton outer shield.  Next I shall describe what I can hear as I try using it in different ways. Second installment coming soon! |
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Post by John on Oct 6, 2018 5:01:36 GMT
Hope it works Martin
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Post by jandl100 on Oct 6, 2018 5:44:07 GMT
Looks like yours could be the 1st review on the internet, Martin! Not totally crazily priced either - a lot of us have happily spent way more than £285 on a set of cables, or even a few fuses!  As a qualified EE, would your qualification be revoked if you can hear any differences?  |
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Post by MikeMusic on Oct 6, 2018 9:22:31 GMT
If anything like the RTZ it will be rather good
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Post by MartinT on Oct 6, 2018 19:07:03 GMT
Part 2
This is no Eureka moment accessory. The effect creeps up on you. Strangely, removing the ground connections is immediately apparent, as in 'where did that fantastic soundstage go'?
From my notes from listening last night and today: on Paul Simon's 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover I heard a reduction in sibilance from his close mic'd voice. I also heard a stringed instrument in the mix that I hadn't noticed before. There was also great clarity in the low level tambourine. In Tanita Tikaram's I Might be Crying, a superb song, I noticed a new string sound in the opening. In Chris Isaak's Graduation Day, there was a tremendous feeling of depth to the presentation. Alt-J's Breezeblocks sounded incredibly different.
In fact, of all the music I played, it was Alt'-J's album An Awesome Wave that best showed off the SGS unit. I have a new respect for this album after being laid bare in this analytical but insightful way. It never sounded this good on vinyl!
After trying out all the permutations, I ended up connecting both grounding cables, one to the Pi's DigiOne coax earth and the other to the SEG's grounding terminal.
In summary, the SGS Grounding Box works its magic on the soundstage, improving both its depth and air/space/presence. My system's weakness was always depth, especially in the old room. It's hard to get big speakers to image as well as small ones. No such issues now, and the SGS has taken it a little further still. For the price of £285 I consider this a great addition to my system, in line with some other low cost bargains of late, like the Black Cat cables and superclock for the SEG.
I'll keep on listening and try removing and adding the box back in to check my findings.
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Post by MikeMusic on Oct 6, 2018 19:50:32 GMT
The amazing thing on the RTZ for me was the improvement connecting to 2 separate sockets on the same box.
Input and output on the Belles Pre
XLR out and digital in on the Rega Isis
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Post by MartinT on Oct 6, 2018 21:50:04 GMT
Mike - could you review the RTZ in a separate thread? I want to know much more about it and exactly what you have connected to it. A photo would be good, too! EDIT: stet, I see that you did and was misremembering  |
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Post by MikeMusic on Oct 7, 2018 9:56:20 GMT
Will add a photo with my old camera as the boss's has been borrowed by no.1 son
For the time being imagine a Beresford DAC with a plain silver front.
Very little to it, but it can take *8* connections
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Post by MartinT on Oct 7, 2018 10:37:02 GMT
Interesting, seems like a different shape from the SGS. What connections do you have, and did they all have a similar effect?
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Post by julesd68 on Oct 7, 2018 10:47:12 GMT
Good to see they do a 14 day trial, so a risk-free purchase ...
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Post by MikeMusic on Oct 7, 2018 11:38:55 GMT
Interesting, seems like a different shape from the SGS. What connections do you have, and did they all have a similar effect? 4 sockets for straight in cables with a spade around each oe to give total of 8 Not heard any difference moving them around. |
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Post by MikeMusic on Oct 7, 2018 11:40:05 GMT
Good to see they do a 14 day trial, so a risk-free purchase ... As does Mr.Tony with his RTZ Problem is you don't want to let it go away |
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Post by John on Oct 7, 2018 12:40:58 GMT
I might treat myself at Christmas to one but need to ease off for awhile on the upgrades and just enjoy the music
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Post by MikeMusic on Oct 7, 2018 13:00:16 GMT
Brand X - Moroccan Roll never sounded better. Peaking at 99db |
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Post by Stratmangler on Oct 7, 2018 14:45:31 GMT
Brand X - Moroccan Roll never sounded better. Peaking at 99db 'kinell, that's loud! I said, that's fricking loud!
You getting yer own back on them neighbours? You need to give 'em some Nuclear Burn at high levels too - that'll frighten 'em half to death 
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Post by Slinger on Oct 7, 2018 14:48:37 GMT
Nah! Play the neighbours Hawkwind's Sonic Attack, the version with Brian Blessed doing the voice over. |
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Post by MikeMusic on Oct 7, 2018 14:54:23 GMT
Brand X - Moroccan Roll never sounded better. Peaking at 99db 'kinell, that's loud! I said, that's fricking loud!
You getting yer own back on them neighbours? You need to give 'em some Nuclear Burn at high levels too - that'll frighten 'em half to death
It was oh so wonderful. Did you guess the boss is out ? Thought it was louder |
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Post by MartinT on Oct 7, 2018 17:13:31 GMT
Blimey, playing Sun in the Night now and don't want to go higher than 90dB on that big bass rumble 2 1/2 mins in.
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Post by Stratmangler on Oct 7, 2018 17:33:22 GMT
Blimey, playing Sun in the Night now and don't want to go higher than 90dB on that big bass rumble 2 1/2 mins in. It's no use talking to Mike, he won't be able to hear you  |
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Post by MikeMusic on Oct 7, 2018 17:54:15 GMT
Wassat ? |
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