Proper Grounding a system

[mekong56]

I see a lot of debate on technically how or why these units should or shouldn't work, so I just thought I would share my experience as a believer in the product, based purely on how it sounds in my system.

 

I demoed the Qkore 1 from my dealer last week. I had no idea of it's existence as a product yet until I walked in the store. I stopped in for other reasons. My standard question "what's new around here" led to a conversation about the Qkore units they had just recently gotten in. The salesman I was talking to has never steered me wrong and knows his stuff. I have demoed things in the past from him against his recommendation, and I always came back saying "you were right about that." He doesn't recommend spending money where he doesn't feel the return on investment is there (in my system). He was very enthusiastic about the Qkore units and was surprised how well the units actually worked when Nordost came in and demoed them in the store. I figured I had nothing to lose other than a weekend (which turned into a week) long home demo, and I never feel pressured into buying something I demo from them. I already am a fan of the Nordost power products. I already had a QB8, QX4, Qk1,QV2, and Sort Kone isolation devices. They are expensive, but I feel the performance is there. I am an all digital guy, no turntable in the system. 

 

Let me be clear - my expectations were nil, just plug it in and try it. I plugged the QKore1 into the grounding connection on my QB8. This how I would describe the effects after dropping it into my system:

 

1. System in general seems much quieter, i.e. less noise. As a result note decays and are longer, more harmonic detail and richness, slightly more detailed. Better image separation between instruments

2. Soundstage is more dimensional into the room (less flat)

3. A slight veil is lifted

4. Greater transparency with no loss in body. I had very good transparency before, but struggled with things getting too thin or threadbare sounding. Not so with the Qkore1 in place.

5. More natural sounding, especially in the highs. Cymbals are remarkably more detailed and delicate sounding. I am a drummer so I am often focused on this, but they just sound more like real cymbals.

6. Slightly more forward presentation

7. More natural sound across the board

 

It doesn't really change anything about the system, just makes it better across the board. I think all of the above is basically a function of less noise. I am not qualified to speak technically on what the unit is doing or how it is doing it, nor am I really going to worry about that. Don't care to debate the technicals. However, I knew within a day of listening that it's affect was substantial IN MY SYSTEM, and there was no way I was moving forward without one! I would suspect it will be system dependent upon each home's power and wiring infrastructure and grounding setup. I will say that it  was a much more substantial effect than when I dropped a QX4 into my system.

 

I REALLY DIDN'T WANT TO LIKE IT, because I was not planning on dropping the dough at this time, but dammit they got me...I purchased one. Do NOT want to listen without one :). Very happy with the results. In my opinion, it's a component that helps you get the best out of your system no matter what other component changes you make. Would love to try the Qkore6 but $5K ain't happening at this time.

[mekong56]

2 hours ago, michaelD said:

Mekong56

 

Thanks for sharing a very good in depth personal review exactly what I started this thread about!   I wanted actual personal reviews of various grounding products but particularly Nordost or Entreq.  

 

Somehow part of this thread was hijacked by people who had all kinds of negative opinions on how they thought it did or did not work yet they personally tested NOTHING.    Mekong56 you sound like my kind of person all digital.   Would you care to share your system with us? Glad you at least tried it out.  Also I have had the same experience as you to try a Nordost product and then liked it so much purchased it.  

 

 

Sure, the rest of my system is as follows: Aesthetix Romulus DAC/CD player, Aesthetix Calypso preamp, Aesthetix Atlas amp. Aurender N100H transport, Joseph Audio Pulsar stand mounted speakers on Sound Anchors Stands, JL Audio e112 sub. Nordost Heimdall 1 interconnects and speaker cabling. Heimdall 2 and Audience "e" power cables, and the aforementioned Nordost power and vibration isolation products. I got in and out of analog about 8 years ago and have been toying with the idea of getting a turntable again, but I just can't convince myself to jump back into that world .