Last summer, I went camping. I took a trip in a solo kayak, on a very quiet, small lake. Surrounded by beautiful forest, trees, ducks, sunlight, water.... In other words, I was bored out of my skull. 😞
My only saving grace, was that I thought to bring my cell phone with me. To listen to music. But I had already listened to all the music on it. So that was boring. 😴 In the middle of God's own backyard, and my mind turned to experimenting. Asking the question.... "Sure, the music's alright, but... is there a way to make it sound better?".
More importantly... "And is it even possible??". After all, I had long since read that your 'environment' ends at your front door. Belt-type tweaks don't work beyond that. Or perhaps I read that wrong, but... I was definitely not anywhere near my front door. The only objects that belong to me in this environment, was the cell phone, the earphones, and my clothes. Turns out... that's not a limitation.
Then again... it's not like I brought any of the P.W.B. foils with me, or anything like that. All I had to use as a tool to improve my sound was... nature. But remember... I'm in the middle of a lake here, in a kayak! I'm kind of limited, as to what I can use, for possible sound improvement tools. Well... I suppose I could always tie a reef knot at the end of the earphone cable. But no. It's way too short for that.
So I looked around, and what did I see?.... Ducks. Ducks, and more ducks. As far as I could tell, they were having a business meeting. But in any case, I can't use a duck to improve my sound. I'm pretty sure. Well, they wouldn't like it, even if I could.
Also, I've already tried using duck feathers for a sonic lift in the past. It was never a welcome change. So at this point, I am literally scouring the water, for floating debris. Scooping up wet leaves, floating on the surface. Snapping off 'water twigs', that are rooted in the bottom of the rather shallow lake. And also, oyster shells.
It's not that far-fetched an idea. Well, it wouldn't be the first time I experimented with using wood and leaves, to improve my sound. But well.. there were no miracles to be had, there. The twigs and leaves weren't doing anything good for me. Come to think of it, I've not had much success in the past with dry twigs and leaves, in a "controlled environment".
So then I started taking a closer look at the only other tool I had at my disposal. My kayak paddle. And by 'look', I mean I scoped out its 'energy signature'. It was interesting. So that became my 'treatment device' and my cell phone became the 'object to be treated'.
I started with the phone, in its case, standing upright. The kayak paddle has a 'ball' in the centre (where the two halves join). The paddle was placed on top of the phone edge, to where the ball, located in the middle of the paddle, was touching the top edge of the phone. (To be more specific, in a hole in the casing, located near the middle of that top edge).
I determine this by feel, but I'd say the contact of the treatment device (paddle) with the treatable object (phone) was for about... five long seconds. n.b. I observed that the longer you apply contact, the wider and deeper the soundstage becomes. Unless you overdo it, and then it becomes worse...
Next, the paddle was brought downward, so that this time, the bottom of the phone edge, would touch the middle of the paddle. But not where the 'ball' was. Rather, on the opposite side of where the ball was, on the paddle. In other words, the second step, is the opposite of the first. The result was a 'dark-ish' sound, but definitely improved in musical detail. Tight, and overall in my experience, a rather unique sound signature. IOW, I liked it.
By the time I ended my kayaking session, I just had to have that paddle.... Except, it wasn't mine. It was a rental! I couldn't bring it home with me. And it would hardly make any sense to buy a kayak paddle, when I don't own a kayak! And what if it was something special about that paddle?
Turns out... there wasn't anything special about that paddle. In fact, there maybe wasn't anything special about paddles per se. But... I had to take a small detour, to find that out. Specifically, to my broom closet.
Well, it was the closest thing I had to a kayak paddle! I started experimenting with the long wand of my vacuum cleaner. To see if I could try to reproduce what I experienced at the lake. I reproduced the experiment in a similar manner, as with the paddle, using the same cell phone as the object to treat.
The results were promising....
My only saving grace, was that I thought to bring my cell phone with me. To listen to music. But I had already listened to all the music on it. So that was boring. 😴 In the middle of God's own backyard, and my mind turned to experimenting. Asking the question.... "Sure, the music's alright, but... is there a way to make it sound better?".
More importantly... "And is it even possible??". After all, I had long since read that your 'environment' ends at your front door. Belt-type tweaks don't work beyond that. Or perhaps I read that wrong, but... I was definitely not anywhere near my front door. The only objects that belong to me in this environment, was the cell phone, the earphones, and my clothes. Turns out... that's not a limitation.
Then again... it's not like I brought any of the P.W.B. foils with me, or anything like that. All I had to use as a tool to improve my sound was... nature. But remember... I'm in the middle of a lake here, in a kayak! I'm kind of limited, as to what I can use, for possible sound improvement tools. Well... I suppose I could always tie a reef knot at the end of the earphone cable. But no. It's way too short for that.
So I looked around, and what did I see?.... Ducks. Ducks, and more ducks. As far as I could tell, they were having a business meeting. But in any case, I can't use a duck to improve my sound. I'm pretty sure. Well, they wouldn't like it, even if I could.
Also, I've already tried using duck feathers for a sonic lift in the past. It was never a welcome change. So at this point, I am literally scouring the water, for floating debris. Scooping up wet leaves, floating on the surface. Snapping off 'water twigs', that are rooted in the bottom of the rather shallow lake. And also, oyster shells.
It's not that far-fetched an idea. Well, it wouldn't be the first time I experimented with using wood and leaves, to improve my sound. But well.. there were no miracles to be had, there. The twigs and leaves weren't doing anything good for me. Come to think of it, I've not had much success in the past with dry twigs and leaves, in a "controlled environment".
So then I started taking a closer look at the only other tool I had at my disposal. My kayak paddle. And by 'look', I mean I scoped out its 'energy signature'. It was interesting. So that became my 'treatment device' and my cell phone became the 'object to be treated'.
I started with the phone, in its case, standing upright. The kayak paddle has a 'ball' in the centre (where the two halves join). The paddle was placed on top of the phone edge, to where the ball, located in the middle of the paddle, was touching the top edge of the phone. (To be more specific, in a hole in the casing, located near the middle of that top edge).
I determine this by feel, but I'd say the contact of the treatment device (paddle) with the treatable object (phone) was for about... five long seconds. n.b. I observed that the longer you apply contact, the wider and deeper the soundstage becomes. Unless you overdo it, and then it becomes worse...
Next, the paddle was brought downward, so that this time, the bottom of the phone edge, would touch the middle of the paddle. But not where the 'ball' was. Rather, on the opposite side of where the ball was, on the paddle. In other words, the second step, is the opposite of the first. The result was a 'dark-ish' sound, but definitely improved in musical detail. Tight, and overall in my experience, a rather unique sound signature. IOW, I liked it.
By the time I ended my kayaking session, I just had to have that paddle.... Except, it wasn't mine. It was a rental! I couldn't bring it home with me. And it would hardly make any sense to buy a kayak paddle, when I don't own a kayak! And what if it was something special about that paddle?
Turns out... there wasn't anything special about that paddle. In fact, there maybe wasn't anything special about paddles per se. But... I had to take a small detour, to find that out. Specifically, to my broom closet.
Well, it was the closest thing I had to a kayak paddle! I started experimenting with the long wand of my vacuum cleaner. To see if I could try to reproduce what I experienced at the lake. I reproduced the experiment in a similar manner, as with the paddle, using the same cell phone as the object to treat.
The results were promising....
Vacuum Cleaner Wand:
For this initial experiment, I held the metal vacuum cleaner ‘wand’, with the notch in the centre of the wand facing away from me. I held the bottom end of the wand against the top of a plastic bottle of water. Which was standing upright on the floor. I then took the 'charged' water and watered my plants with it! This really did something! Made the sound warmer, and better all around.
Nylon Broom:
For my next trick.... I tried a regular, nylon bristle broom, with hollow metal broomstick. Again, it was the point at or near the centre of the broomstick pole, that was the 'contact point'.
Since there were no visual cues on the pole, I turned it until I determined (by feel), where I would begin. But whatever... As with the paddle, the middle of the stick was placed on the top edge of the phone. The pole was then turned 180 degrees, and then the bottom edge of the phone was placed on that middle location, for a few seconds. (Or rather, the pole was placed on the bottom of the phone). If done right, sound will be darker, but better reproduced. ie. More metallic guitar strings, more and better bass, etc.
Corn Broom - Method I:
Since there were no visual cues on the pole, I turned it until I determined (by feel), where I would begin. But whatever... As with the paddle, the middle of the stick was placed on the top edge of the phone. The pole was then turned 180 degrees, and then the bottom edge of the phone was placed on that middle location, for a few seconds. (Or rather, the pole was placed on the bottom of the phone). If done right, sound will be darker, but better reproduced. ie. More metallic guitar strings, more and better bass, etc.
Corn Broom - Method I:
For the next 'closet experiment', I took out an old-school corn broom, with wooden broomstick. You know, the kind witches like to ride around on... I think its worth mention because... when I surveyed its energy signature to find the right contact point, I expected it to be in the middle of the stick. Like the others. Instead, it was at the very tip of the working end of the broom! IOW, the tip of the corn bristles.
For the object to treat, I used a USB cable, this time, instead of my phone. That meant simply placing the cable on top of the end of the corn bristles, for a few seconds. Then turning the cable over, for a few seconds more. The result was a dark, smooth, and exemplary sound. Yes, exactly. Like a Guiness beer. (Wait, what....? 🤔)
Corn Broom - Method II:
Using the same corn broom, I tried a variation of the above. This time, the object to be treated was my phone, again. (n.b. The phone was on, but the screen was off. But as a rule, electrical/electronic objects to be treated should always be fully turned off. And preferably pulled from electric outlets, if that applies).
The experiment was done in my most East facing room, where the energy is best. This time, the broom was placed upright on the floor, and not horizontally. The working end was on the floor, and facing a particular way (determined by feel, sorry!).
Then, instead of bringing the broom over to the phone, I brought the phone, over to the broom. And instead of placing the phone on the centre of the handle, I placed it on the floor. Right up next to and touching the centre of the corn bristle end of the broom. And rather than using the edge as the contact point, I had the face of the phone up against the bristles.
For Step 2, I moved the phone over to the opposite side of the bristle end (without moving the broom), and again, the face of the phone was placed against that side, at the floor intersection, for another few seconds. Kneeling down, I held the broomstick at its lowest point, not any higher.
After the session, I listened to “Say” by Cat Power. Which I had listened to prior to the experiment, and which sounded good then. Nevertheless, I found the sound had quite changed. The song seemed to make more sense, and I got lost in it. Like as if it was playing much faster, and it was over before you know it. The sound was significantly more 'liquid'. Any emotional connection the music could have, would be increased here, with this type of sound.
For the object to treat, I used a USB cable, this time, instead of my phone. That meant simply placing the cable on top of the end of the corn bristles, for a few seconds. Then turning the cable over, for a few seconds more. The result was a dark, smooth, and exemplary sound. Yes, exactly. Like a Guiness beer. (Wait, what....? 🤔)
Corn Broom - Method II:
Using the same corn broom, I tried a variation of the above. This time, the object to be treated was my phone, again. (n.b. The phone was on, but the screen was off. But as a rule, electrical/electronic objects to be treated should always be fully turned off. And preferably pulled from electric outlets, if that applies).
The experiment was done in my most East facing room, where the energy is best. This time, the broom was placed upright on the floor, and not horizontally. The working end was on the floor, and facing a particular way (determined by feel, sorry!).
Then, instead of bringing the broom over to the phone, I brought the phone, over to the broom. And instead of placing the phone on the centre of the handle, I placed it on the floor. Right up next to and touching the centre of the corn bristle end of the broom. And rather than using the edge as the contact point, I had the face of the phone up against the bristles.
For Step 2, I moved the phone over to the opposite side of the bristle end (without moving the broom), and again, the face of the phone was placed against that side, at the floor intersection, for another few seconds. Kneeling down, I held the broomstick at its lowest point, not any higher.
After the session, I listened to “Say” by Cat Power. Which I had listened to prior to the experiment, and which sounded good then. Nevertheless, I found the sound had quite changed. The song seemed to make more sense, and I got lost in it. Like as if it was playing much faster, and it was over before you know it. The sound was significantly more 'liquid'. Any emotional connection the music could have, would be increased here, with this type of sound.
So far... this was the best of the 'broomstick tweaks'!
Lead Pencil:
Lead Pencil:
The next test in this vein, was not a broomstick, but... a pencil. Your standard HB, unsharpened. I found the pencil had a very neutral energy, to begin with. Therefore, it could be held for a longer time, to the object to be treated. Which in this case, was a computer keyboard. Specifically, the pencil was held to the top and bottom edges of the keyboard, and then repeated in the manner similar to the preceding tests.
n.b. I have no notes as to the resulting sound of this tweak. And it occurred too long enough ago for me to recall the details. But, there is nothing in my notes about a bad result. So, it probably wasn't. But then, if it was great, I'm sure I would have noted that as well!
Garden Shovel:
These experiments were done with not a broom, not a pole, but a garden shovel. (Same concept!). The garden shovel is by far the best ‘sounding’ implement; over the vacuum cleaner wand, or any of the brooms; including the corn broom. This must be due to the weight of it. Which comes largely from the heavy metal spade part, and the thick round wood handle. It appears that weightier objects generally give better energy, all else equal.
The first experiment was to simply hold the shovel at ground (street) level, at the rear of my car. Concave (spade part) facing away from me. Held just a centimetre from the rear bumper, for only a few seconds. This had a tremendously good effect on the car stereo sound.
n.b. I have no notes as to the resulting sound of this tweak. And it occurred too long enough ago for me to recall the details. But, there is nothing in my notes about a bad result. So, it probably wasn't. But then, if it was great, I'm sure I would have noted that as well!
Garden Shovel:
These experiments were done with not a broom, not a pole, but a garden shovel. (Same concept!). The garden shovel is by far the best ‘sounding’ implement; over the vacuum cleaner wand, or any of the brooms; including the corn broom. This must be due to the weight of it. Which comes largely from the heavy metal spade part, and the thick round wood handle. It appears that weightier objects generally give better energy, all else equal.
The first experiment was to simply hold the shovel at ground (street) level, at the rear of my car. Concave (spade part) facing away from me. Held just a centimetre from the rear bumper, for only a few seconds. This had a tremendously good effect on the car stereo sound.
The second experiment was done with same garden shovel, but upstairs in back room ‘office’. This time the object to be charged was an iPhone. The iPhone, like all other objects (ie. car starter, car key fob, etc), has its primary charge point at the top of it, with the front face facing you. Therefore, the point of the shovel must go on top of the phone. Then, possibly, the bottom edge of the phone may go on top of the shovel handle, for the second step.
However, once again, the best sound was to be had with the iPhone on the floor, in between my legs, as I crouched on the ground! (With the front display facing forward). The shovel was held behind my back (and therefore in front of the phone). I held on to the shovel with both hands.
The resulting sound was significantly different! It had a great flow and musicality - a welcoming change. However, what was different was attack and decay was kind of… absent? e.g. The plucking of strings was no longer sharp, as in all experiments before. But there was no mistaking greater engagement with the music, so…. objects between legs… very special location!
Experiment Notes:
- Due to the infamous “Odd/Even Rule”, you may need to treat 2 (different) items at once, with this method. Else, the treatment may have a bright, ‘unappetizing’ sound, that lacks bass, darkness and warmth. A second treatment on a second item, more likely restores that.
- The longer you can apply a charged object to a non-charged object (so long as you are not overdoing it), the wider and deeper the soundstage becomes. In most cases, I only join the objects for a few seconds. (Though there are some rare instances, where if the 'energy' character 'permits', I may hold them for a minute or more).
- A better sound could be had, when the object to be charged, was literally underneath me!
- A longer pole is not necessarily better! I tried shortening the metal pole handle on a retractable Swiffer-type broom, and it gave better energy.
- When the pole/broom tweak is used where the pole is held vertically, then the device to be charged only touches the bottom of the pole. And then, perhaps only the front edge, but maybe the back one as well. Anything else does not seem to work as well. When the pole/broom is used horizontally, as on my lap, then the rules are different.
- Instead of applying the end of a pole to the top/bottom edges of objects… it may also respond well when applied to the middle of the front and back face of objects. Each will yield different results. TBD. (To be determined).
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