Holostages - critical review

[christoph]

Sorry for the late late reply. I have been out of the country and just returned this week. My Steins were list priced at $3,299.00 when I obtained them. I obtained them on a trade deal and I traded equipment worth the $3,299.00. The price also included 4 actuator pieces to place around the room. I live in a dry climate with thinner air as my house sits at about 5,000 feet above sea level. So, the principle I believe they are working on - making molecules active in the listening area so that there is less resistance on the drivers, has less work where I live. I will try out the Holostages and report. I’m excited for anything that elevates my system, especially tweaks that seem to defy logic.

Looking forward to your report/compare.
I really love what the Holos do in my 2 main systems

 

[cykin]

I found out their best position in my setup is under my mono amplifiers, right under the transformer! Second, put it on my Telos Active Ground box.

Also, other 4 at the corner is giving an unbelievable surround sound.

 

[christoph]

Hi guys

One of my Holostages fell from 2 meters onto the stone floor

Does anyone know if that could break my beloved Holo?

I don't want to listen without Holos anymore

 

[MacF]

Hi guys

One of my Holostages fell from 2 meters onto the stone floor

Does anyone know if that could break my beloved Holo?

I don't want to listen without Holos anymore

I doubt it. I believe the contents are securely encased in epoxy.

 

[christoph]

I doubt it. I believe the contents are securely encased in epoxy.

Thanks, I will try if it is still as potent as it was before the crash.

 

[Miller]

Hi guys

One of my Holostages fell from 2 meters onto the stone floor

Does anyone know if that could break my beloved Holo?

I don't want to listen without Holos anymore

Something like that could crack or break the outside, but what’s inside will be okay, and it will still work just fine.

 

[Bloomie]

I read Holostages, and I was like "what the deuce???"

 

[Miller]

I read Holostages, and I was like "what the deuce???"

Save you some time. Several years ago I got some of these things to try. Right away I noticed something frankly unbelievable. I had brought them into the room and put them down somewhere intending to listen first without and then position them in order to compare. Like normal. Only what I was hearing was clearly different just from having them in the room!

From that point on I moved them around trying all kinds of things- front/rear/sides, across the front wall, on speakers, on/under components, etc. They always did something but the effect was a little different/better/worse, depending.
Sometimes the effect was what I would call equally good in a couple different configurations, but not exactly the same. Like, you could have really good effect across the front, or have it be more wrap around enveloping. Some might prefer one or the other, but overall I would say it’s pretty much the same. Since then I’ve learned you can use more and get more of everything. They’re additive, and more just gets better and better.

No matter where or how they’re used the main effects are an impressive improvement in palpable presence and imaging. By palpable presence I don’t mean the presence region of frequencies but rather the palpable feeling of being present, of the performer being right there in the room. By imagining I mean the soundstage takes on a more dimensional level of realism.

I told Krissy these things are so awesome they deserve a name. You can’t just sell black boxes. They need a name. She’s lousy with names so I said well it makes your system like the Holodeck on the Enterprise, so how about you call them Holostages? And it stuck.

 

[Labpro]

Just a quick update. I successfully placed my 4 Holostages and experienced most of what everyone has been writing about. They really were a home run in my room/system.

Krissy also sent me 2 of the "wall warts" to try. I promised her feedback on my expereince.

My room is dedicated but small, and I'm in an attached townhouse with a fair amount of EMI/RFI that I have to contend with.

At first I placed both wall warts in outlets in the music room, not directly connected to any particular component or power conditioner. I did hear a 10%-20% drop in noise floor and the music seemed to "flow" better.......almost like adding another 3 watts to my 10 watt 300B SET amps. Things improved even more over the next 7 days.

Then I plugged 1 wall wart into my main dedicated outlet (2 duplexes) along with my main system power conditioner (Puritain 156), the Puritain Ground Master feeding my 156, and the power conditioner (Torus AVR) that feeds my REL stereo pair sub woofers.

This was a totally different affect. Much lower noise floor overall, REL's kicked into high gear (faster, tighter/cleaner bass) greatly improved dynamics and resolution from my main system. Again, things substantially improved over 7 days.

I believe she just started offering the wall warts for sale. I'd be interested to hear what others think, but in my system they were another home run from Krissy. Can't wait to add some "Total Contact" to the wall warts!

 

[facten]

I believe she just started offering the wall warts for sale

There's nothing on the Heartsound website for these- do you know where these are shown for information/availability?

 

[Labpro]

Yes, there are several interesting devices being offered that have not made it to her Web site yet. Krissy may have to chime in here to provide additional information.

 

[Republicoftexas69]

Yes, there are several interesting devices being offered that have not made it to her Web site yet. Krissy may have to chime in here to provide additional information.

Krissy really needs to learn PM, MM, SM.....

 

[djsina2]

I have two of the AC plugs. Honestly I haven’t done any tinkering with them to know anything yet. They are plugged in at another room which is on the same circuit. I did get the ground box the other day which seems to make an obvious difference with only my two AC step down transformers connected. I need to do some more experimenting there also.

 

[Willgolf]

Krissy is a one-person, very small operation. She would love to update the website, but it is very expensive to do. I would suggest that anyone who has any questions or would like more information to call her.

 

[Republicoftexas69]

Krissy is a one-person, very small operation. She would love to update the website, but it is very expensive to do. I would suggest that anyone who has any questions or would like more information to call her.

Sure, she gets stuff up on USAM. Well none of my business anyway I have tried the HS and would maybe try the other products if I knew what was offered. Post it on USAM, Agon E-Store or classifieds here. Managing a website is not expensive, Go Daddy and others have turnkey sites...I know I did it for years selling high-performance motorcycle parts here in the US for 20 years.

 

[highstream]

Sure, she gets stuff up on USAM.

Under what username?

 

[Republicoftexas69]

Under what usernam

e?

Under what username?

Really? https://www.usaudiomart.com/userprofile.php?user_id=237169

 

[highstream]

Really? https://www.usaudiomart.com/userprofile.php?user_id=237169

Thanks for the link, but what is the rest all about?

 

[Willgolf]

Sure, she gets stuff up on USAM. Well none of my business anyway I have tried the HS and would maybe try the other products if I knew what was offered. Post it on USAM, Agon E-Store or classifieds here. Managing a website is not expensive, Go Daddy and others have turnkey sites...I know I did it for years selling high-performance motorcycle parts here in the US for 20 years.

Just curious, how much is it to use GoDaddy?

 

[Ron Resnick]

Sure, she gets stuff up on USAM. Well none of my business anyway I have tried the HS and would maybe try the other products if I knew what was offered. Post it on USAM, Agon E-Store or classifieds here. Managing a website is not expensive, Go Daddy and others have turnkey sites...I know I did it for years selling high-performance motorcycle parts here in the US for 20 years.

I apologize for the off-topic reply, but my personal experience with GoDaddy for my first Audio Café LLC website was so unpleasant* I recommend avoiding GoDaddy.

* I paid for their slightly custom service and the website was still very clunky and archaic looking and feeling. It is difficult to contact a live telephone representative for help. Once the website is published there is no way to edit anything on the website yourself. You have to sign up for a monthly assistance agreement in order to edit anything on the website, because you have to pay them to change anything. The only time you can get a telephone representative quickly is if you select "add services" on their automated phone menu. Everything was expensive, and I found the service inefficient and poor. I think they use foreign call centers, at least in part, and I always find them to be an exercise in frustration.