Walker audio

[Anthony K]

This is by far the most eye opening tweak for me :stalks: The Walker audio Talisman.
I was shocked by the added weight,depth and improvements to timbre.
Anyone else using one?

[PaulStewart]

Sorry Anthony, but that is beyond foo, it's even beyond BS there is no way this device can do as claimed, if it works the way they claim. Unless of course it exists in a paralleluniverse where our laws of physics don't occur. You could possibly earth static, but you could not degauss a magnetic field without an alternating field and this would require either AC or DC and some kind of oscillator. I understand the expectation element when apiece of foo costs £200.00 but this seems very Peter Belt top me :lol: :lol: On the other hand, I could sell you some snake oil to rub into your speaker cables if you really want to improve the sound :laugh:

[walpurgis]

I found waving a bacon sandwich over my records enhanced things tremendously. :)

[rubber duck]

Sorry Anthony, but that is beyond foo, it's even beyond BS there is no way this device can do as claimed, if it works the way they claim.

I think scepticism is both healthy and necessary. But have you tried this? If not is it fair to dismiss it out of hand? I can't comment personally but here's an interesting quote on the Walker website (aside from the usual hi-fi reviewer endorsements):

“Absolutely spectacular… A mind-bogglingly accurate representation of the music as it sounded when it was recorded.” Keith Jarrett, world-renown musician

[Anthony K]

I say do not judge till you try
It wasn't that long ago people we're saying the same about interconnects and mains cable
I have my system plugged into a Isotek orion, the sound improved
Added a vertex jaya, the sound improved , placed a carbon fibre precision mat on top of cd , again large improvement , sort cones under components , more but the combo of walker audio ultravivid and talisman was the largest jump. Quite frankly I don't care how it works......it works well

[PaulStewart]

I tried blind testing a number of these things back in the day and they were all cobblers! I tried the belt tweaks and all the rest, just nonsense. Don't get me wrong things like the Densen DeMag CD do work in my system and I have seen others detect the result in proper blind tests. i have demonstrated that the Blue Horizon burn in box (and one I made myself) work. But this has no power source (unless it's magically linked to Hilbert space or something) so how does it generate an effect?

[Anthony K]

Thanks for the input Jeff. I see your in London, if you wanna try it just say

[Anthony K]

sir I see you have a healthy replay system, so I do not doubt your thoughts or opinions
When I purchased it I had serious doubts it would work at all but I was pleasantly surprised

[PaulStewart]

Ok Anthony you're in SW London I'm in Chiswick in West London, bring it over to the studio, we can set up a system with a range of kit and have a listen and measure the results. i'm game if you are.

[awkwardbydesign]

Do it Anthony, but afterwards make up your own mind. It doesn't matter if no-one else hears it as long as you are happy.

[Anthony K]

Richard you are absolutely right and Paul sir PM me with phone details........let's do this

[Ali Tait]

:popcorn:

[awkwardbydesign]

I would be very interested in hearing the impressions of everyone involved in this afterwards. (That looks like a very unwieldy sentence!)
I am one of those who finds measurements important, but only as support for the listening experience. That is to say, science is a good servant but a lousy master. In the final analysis, I want to enjoy what I hear, even if the measurements tell me I shouldn't. Unless safety is involved, of course.

[Macca]

I That is to say, science is a good servant but a lousy master. .

Very profound.

This will definately be an interesting one to follow. Don't Bogart that popcorn, Ali!

[awkwardbydesign]

I think the original is- "Money makes a good servant but a bad master." I just adapt it to suit.

[Beobloke]

This should be interesting. Is anyone going to take it apart and see what's inside it?

[Barry]

I think scepticism is both healthy and necessary. But have you tried this? If not is it fair to dismiss it out of hand? I can't comment personally but here's an interesting quote on the Walker website (aside from the usual hi-fi reviewer endorsements):

“Absolutely spectacular… A mind-bogglingly accurate representation of the music as it sounded when it was recorded.” Keith Jarrett, world-renown musician

Did Jarrett hear the results, before and after, the application of this device?

[PaulStewart]

Did Jarrett hear the results, before and after, the application of this device?

Jarrett is of course a Christian Scientist and believes in the power of prayer over matter, even to the point of repairing broken legs :) If that isn't a massive case of expectation bias, I don't know what is :lol:

If as claimed this thing de gausses cartridges and speakers, surely that would not improve them but stop them from working...... Just sayin'. Still waiting for the call. :lol:

[Mr Kipling]

This should be interesting. Is anyone going to take it apart and see what's inside it?

Wouldn't be surprised to find a very small cheese scone inside. Eating a cheese scone always improves the sound of my system.

[PaulStewart]

This should be interesting. Is anyone going to take it apart and see what's inside it?

I have a hammer and a power hacksaw available in the edit suite. :lol:


Wouldn't be surprised to find a very small cheese scone inside. Eating a cheese scone always improves the sound of my system.

Mmmmm! Cheese scones :drool: I like a a glass of Calvados, and a double esspresso, makes any thing sound better! Still waiting for a call :whistle:

[Primalsea]

I thought inside was a switch connected to a wire wrapped around a potato. If you flip the switch you get transported to another dimension.......

[Macca]

If you flip the switch you get transported to another dimension.......

A dimension not only of sight and sound - but of mind....

[awkwardbydesign]

I have a hammer and a power hacksaw available in the edit suite. :lol:



Mmmmm! Cheese scones :drool: I like a a glass of Calvados, and a double esspresso, makes any thing sound better! Still waiting for a call :whistle:
If you kept taking the piss out of me, I probably wouldn't call either. Just saying, like. Talk about expectation bias!

[PaulStewart]

I thought inside was a switch connected to a wire wrapped around a potato. If you flip the switch you get transported to another dimension.......

What you need to power it is a Brownian motion generator, like a really hot cup of tea :) Says the man who got a mint double album of Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy for .50p in a charity shop on Saturday :dance:

Richard it's just banter, I'm interested to see if this works as much as the next man. I can see a scientific rationale for things like mains cables, burn in etc., but this eludes me and I would like to find out more.

[awkwardbydesign]

It's banter to us, but I was a newbie once, and it takes time to understand the personalities involved. It may be a useless item ( I have no idea, I haven't even looked at the website), but I, for one, would cut some slack for a new member. And if you look at the Wigwam, there are some ferocious bullies there, sadly most of them are extremely intelligent, MAs and PhDs all round.
As for expectation bias, it certainly exists, but it works both ways. The scientific approach is great if it opens minds, but not if it closes them; it then becomes just another religion. This may be a Peter Belt type item, but even there as I haven't tried any of his stuff I won't categorically say it doesn't work. I doubt it, but can't speak from experience.
I have experienced enough so-called nonsense ideas*, I am loth to dismiss things untried. And I have enough "big" things to do before I would try any of them. Like finishing the damned speakers! :rolleyes:
Equipment stands under CD players, cables, capacitor burn in (Blackgates anyone?), absolute phase (bass transients; yes I know they aren't transients in the bass frequencies), and so on.
I've become quite exercised for someone who doesn't really care about the item, haven't I? :doh:

[Macca]

It's banter to us, but I was a newbie once, and it takes time to understand the personalities involved. It may be a useless item ( I have no idea, I haven't even looked at the website), but I, for one, would cut some slack for a new member. And if you look at the Wigwam, there are some ferocious bullies there, sadly most of them are extremely intelligent, MAs and PhDs all round.
As for expectation bias, it certainly exists, but it works both ways. The scientific approach is great if it opens minds, but not if it closes them; it then becomes just another religion. This may be a Peter Belt type item, but even there as I haven't tried any of his stuff I won't categorically say it doesn't work. I doubt it, but can't speak from experience.
I have experienced enough so-called nonsense ideas*, I am loth to dismiss things untried. And I have enough "big" things to do before I would try any of them. Like finishing the damned speakers! :rolleyes:
Equipment stands under CD players, cables, capacitor burn in (Blackgates anyone?), absolute phase (bass transients; yes I know they aren't transients in the bass frequencies), and so on.
I've become quite exercised for someone who doesn't really care about the item, haven't I? :doh:

Good points, well made. There are some very smart people out there in the world of hi-fi but being smart does not automatically equate to having high self-esteem. Consequently you get the riducule and bullying occasionally seen elsewhere. We all know that in this case this was just banter but that does not mean that it will not put off a new member.

[Anthony K]

Hi all, I realise this is just banter and I am big enough not to take things to heart.
Getting back to the said topic I am willing to travel with my faithful pack of Ultra Vivid and Talisman to the darkest depths of Chiswick in return all I request is an open mind from Paul and after experimenting with his chosen musical references all I ask is an honest opinion on whether he hears a difference (hopefully improvement)
Quite frankly I don't give 2 violent shakes of an Elks pouch how the Talisman works, all I knows is it does what Lloyd walker claims
To add, there will be no dismantling, hitting with various tools regarding the said item and no verbal or physical abuse between the said participants
If in agreement I will phone you tomorrow Sir Paul to arrange a meeting ;)

[PaulStewart]

To add, there will be no dismantling, hitting with various tools regarding the said item and no verbal or physical abuse between the said participants

No worries Anthony, I'll even lock the hammer in a cupboard :) I approach any review or investigation with an open mind, no matter how implausible I may think the proposition may be. I propose we use a basic system as first reference say a Cambridge Audio CDP and Amp and their are various speakers in the place at the moment. We can then move it up a notch to on of the the edit suite systems which are Tannoy/Yamaha. If the thing does improve matters it will be interesting to copy a file from a CD untreated, treat it copy the file and see if the changes copy over.

I know that a few years ago in the US there was an anti static device that contained polonium. It worked but was banned for safety reasons....... Now where did I put the Geiger counter :lol:

Speak to you soon

[awkwardbydesign]

Game on then! It's a pity Plymouth is on another planet.

[Barry]

:popcorn:

[KevinF]

The even handedness of this thread and the consideration shown for a newbie reminds me that I should spend more time here. It is gentler than The Other Place.

[rubber duck]

And more sensible too!

[Mr Kipling]

Hi all, I realise this is just banter and I am big enough not to take things to heart.
Getting back to the said topic I am willing to travel with my faithful pack of Ultra Vivid and Talisman to the darkest depths of Chiswick in return all I request is an open mind from Paul and after experimenting with his chosen musical references all I ask is an honest opinion on whether he hears a difference (hopefully improvement)
Quite frankly I don't give 2 violent shakes of an Elks pouch how the Talisman works, all I knows is it does what Lloyd walker claims
To add, there will be no dismantling, hitting with various tools regarding the said item and no verbal or physical abuse between the said participants
If in agreement I will phone you tomorrow Sir Paul to arrange a meeting ;)

You'll have to blame Adam. It was his thought at what might be inside that sparked the surreal image in my mind. What could be more surreal than opening it up and finding a (very small) cheese scone? Don't take it personally.

[awkwardbydesign]

And more sensible too!
What? That's me out then!

[PaulStewart]

Anthony phoned today, just as a client arrived to view an edit :doh: so only had a brief chat, he's going to call back and it looks like we'll get together at the end of next week :)

[awkwardbydesign]

Remember the open mind. Both of you!

[walpurgis]

Well I'm a terminal cynic and view all items that have a whiff of 'snake oil' about them with great suspicion. So I only have "an open mind" to stuff that makes logical sense. My view is that if you have something that works, tell us how! One can explain principles without exposing 'trade secrets' surely?

[YNWaN]

Walker audio are a very odd company. The turntable and arm are obviously the work of an engineer and not a designer (as such) - bits added on as and when they occurred leading to a very disjointed aesthetic (though no doubt that will appeal to some). Engineers are usually the first to be anti 'foo', but WA also sell some very 'non-engineering' items - and not just the magnetic thing that is the subject of this thread - most odd.

[awkwardbydesign]

Well I'm a terminal cynic and view all items that have a whiff of 'snake oil' about them with great suspicion. So I only have "an open mind" to stuff that makes logical sense. My view is that if you have something that works, tell us how! One can explain principles without exposing 'trade secrets' surely?
:doh: That's not what I call open minded. More prejudged, or expectation bias! I agree about the snake oil products, but I'm equally sceptical about "engineered" products. Most engineers are deaf, doncha know? Unless you're going Sergeing!

[PaulStewart]

Well I'm a terminal cynic

Why are you cynical about terminals alone, with so much foo in the world? :laugh: Sorry could not resist that one.


WA also sell some very 'non-engineering' items - and not just the magnetic thing that is the subject of this thread - most odd.

The meet is on for next Thursday, however Anthony mentioned that the discs were all treated with either WA's Vivid or RA's Reveal as well. Now these optical treatments do work, not in the way claimed but by filling micro holes in the surface of the disc, so there are more variables to look at now. I'm looking forward to it :)

[rubber duck]

The meet is on for next Thursday

And...?

[struth]

bizzare ..... but so are many things...if it works for Anthony and obviously others then good for them.....I'll keep the 200 sods.

[PaulStewart]

Sorry guys, this has been delayed, One reason being communicartion problems plus work schedules. The other is that Anthony told me that the CDs are not just treated with the magic bean thingy, he has treated them with a fluid from Walker Audio as well. This puts a whole new aspect on the test as it introduced something that I think is an optical filler and that may well make a difference, many of them do. Needs a bit more research I think.