E-Pads
General Description
Steinmusic E-pads are small self-adhesive elements 8mm by 15mm in size, which have a radical impact on the reproduction of music. E-pads operate at the level of molecular interaction producing profound and measurable changes to both the mechanical and electrical properties of materials. These properties include a material’s spectrum of resonances, torsion force and modulus of elasticity as well as electrical conductivity by reducing electro smog and interference fields. Steinmusic use TÜV certified methods of measurement that clearly prove the performance of E-pads. Their development involved the creative merging of accepted technologies with new and innovative approaches resulting in a new generation component that consistently produces positive and reproducible impact on the sound. In contrast to similar products, the E-pad’s active process is completed and permanently locked in after production. This means exterior influences will not alter their effective properties – even after 20 years we guarantee an efficiency of more than 90% of their original performance. The performance of Steinmusic E-Pads greatly transcends what would be achievable with regular forms of resonance damping. This allows a very broad range of applications since both mechanical and electrical properties are influenced similarly. Wherever they are used music becomes more emotionally engaging with increased clarity and detail providing a clearer window into the musical performance. Being small yet highly effective, E-pads are easy to apply achieving a permanent improvement in sound quality discretely without being a visible distraction in your living environment.
Application
In the following examples we describe proven methods for the use of Steinmusic E-pads. These recommendations should not distract you from your own experiments. The results are always easily audible and you may discover an application that is optimal for your own equipment. Some applications on their own will have a more pronounced impact than others and the inherent excellence of high-end equipment will be extended using a larger amount of E-Pads. For permanent applications, E-pads are simply fixed to the surface of the equipment to be treated. Simply remove the protective foil and bond to the surface with their own self-adhesive backing layer. To experiment first to determine the optimal position of the E-pad’s, do not remove the protective foil, but use a strip of normal double sided tape to temporary fix the E-Pad in place.This method will only result in 30% of the total effect achieved with the E-pad’s own adhesive, but in most cases this will be sufficient to determine the optimal positioning. It is important to keep them away from strong magnetic fields like those from transformers and ensure they operate within a temperature range of -30°C to +80°C. Although their effects are instantly noticeable, Steinmusic E-Pads will reach their full efficiency in the course of a week.
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CD/SACD Players
Adhere the E-Pad onto the loading tray where there recess for placing Mini-CDs is located. Importantly, this keeps the E-Pad on a parallel plane to the disc itself. If you use a top-loading player, please position the E-Pad similarly at an appropriate place with an orientation parallel to the disc. This may be at the bottom of the disc recess or on the top cover.
Amplifiers
An amplifier’s rear panel is suitable for fixing one or more E-Pads. This is exactly the place where all inputs and outputs meet. The first position should be one E-Pad close to the mains input but placing others close to either input or output connectors will also yield benefits.
Turntables
The base of the tone arm is a good position for placing an E-Pad.
Loudspeaker
At a loudspeaker both electrical and mechanical optimisation are employed. One E-pad at the speaker’s Binding Post terminal area is effective with loudspeakers which have their crossover internally mounted there. It has been proven that one E-pad positioned on the front baffle between the individual speaker-chassis in multi-way speakers works well. If you use horn-speakers it is worth trialling one E-pad at each of the mid and high-frequency horns. Further E-pads mounted on the enclosure help to minimize unwanted resonances. Trial and error is the way to find the correct location.
Headphones
One E-Pad fixed at each ear cup at the upper side close to the yoke considerably improves the fidelity of reproduction.
Electrical current
Steinmusic E-Pads provide demonstrably and measurably effective results in a wide variety of applications. To describe Steinmusic E-Pad’s mode of operation just in terms of their suppression of radio-interference alone does not fully describe the obtainable results.
Electric meter / electric distribution
One or two E-pads affixed to the external surface of the electrical mains panel is very effective. Further applications are directly at the electric meter, the ground-fault circuit breakers and fuses. Of course, a good place is directly at the power supply socket that is feeding the whole variety of audio equipment, or at the mains plug board where the power supply cable is fed in. With components like CD-players and amplifiers the area where the electrical mains is supplied is a good position for the application of E-pads.
Windows and Glass-doors
Windows do create extremely undesirable reflections which distract from the pleasure of listening to music. One E-pad placed unobtrusively at a corner of the window glass will assist greatly. The same is valid for glassy picture frames, table-tops and mirrors.
Screens
Computer screens are to be treated the same way as other areas made of glass concerning their acoustic properties. The positive effects on the acoustics are obvious. Furthermore, one E-pad placed into one corner often causes a quieter more stable picture with higher colour intensity. This is also valid for computer monitors as well as for TV displays of all kinds so experimentation is encouraged. Very obvious improvements in sharpness and intensity of colour can be reached with just one E-pad at the plug of the video-recorder or the HDMI-cable at the monitor or projector.
Steinmusic Harmonizer
There is also a reproducible improvement if you affix one E-pad to the rear panel of the Harmonizer.
Floor heating
Floor heating may produce disturbances that become easily noticeable which can be dealt with by placing E-pad’s at both the inlet and outlet.
Automotive
Within automobiles placing an E-pad at one corner of the back window has proven optimal whereas the placement at the front window sometimes frees too much energy in the sound. These application recommendations are based on the experiences of different users. We would be glad to receive your feedback with any suggestions that assist in maximising the effect of the Steinmusic E-pads in our goal to improve the listener’s experience.
FAQ
What may I expect using the E-Pads in my system? Is it a big difference, or just subtle? I would not pronounce the change as subtle. However it not so easy to describe in terms normally used in the HiFi field as they do not change the parameters that you normally work on here. The E-Pads help the music to perform with something like more intensity, and the wife of one of our clients described it that way that it is if you “glue some feeling ” on it. So for me they do something essential to the musical performance. This will add up in a very positive way when you use more of the E-Pads at different locations. To get a clearer idea of what they do please get familiar with the actual state and then try to remove them. Normally you will clearly prefer to have them in use.
e-Pad MAtrix Gold
The E-Pad Matrix-Gold impresses less with its powerful effects, but rather with its sonic finesse. The Matrix E-Pads deliver crystal-clear, fully recognizable detail and undistorted, unfiltered overtones and nuances in a previously unimaginable presence. In particular, they can be used with musical instruments such as guitars, violins, cellos and grand pianos.
Bob Levi on Positive Feedback online about the E-Pads Matrix:
“The increased beauty in all aspects of the reproduction of your audiophile equipment with these top-class optimizations makes a whole order of magnitude. Easy to use and reuse, you will experience more of what you really like and less of what you don’t.
Brilliantly! Pleasurable! Reproducible! Reliable!
…the new Stein Music E-Pads receive my very highest recommendation.”
REVIEW – POsitive Feedback
E-Pads in Action
Here you see Elena Denisova, solo violinist at the New Year concert in Shanghai.
She plays an old excellent sounding Italian violin.
With one of our E-Pads on the footbridge, which significantly further improves the qualities of this excellent instrument. Another impressive application is the use of an E-Pad Matrix Gold on the soundboard of a concert piano. Pianos treated like this have been the choice from some of the top pianists like Daniel Barenboim or Martha Argerich at their concerts in Germany. Meanwhile hundreds of musicians from all over the world are using E-Pads on their instruments to improve their sound.
