Ever bought cd's from Mapleshade?

keith allen

Got a lil book from a place called Mapleshade,they are a live music recording studio in Upper Marlboro,MD. Im sure F1nut has heard of them.They have around 100 cd's covering many styles of music,and their priced right,think I'll buy a few>OHH,they also have advice on getting better sound out of your system,things you can do yourself,they sell a few products too...like cable,cleaners,racks,and so on.If ya bought anything from them,drop a line!

dorokusai

They make very nice recordings.

I think the salesmanship he offers for his products, not the recordings, is more akin to a carnival peddler. There are some real "gems" of audio ideas in the catalog....wink wink, nudge nudge eh eh.....

keith allen

So the recordings are good quality,worth every penny...I think thats what your saying...

dorokusai

I think they are worth the low price they are at, yes. Everything is in-house, so that makes for a much simpler issue.

keith allen

Thanx D...think I'll pick out four of them,just scored a used music hall mmf-cd25,need something new to play on it

dorokusai

No problem. They have some real interesting titles, let me know what you pick up. I'll dig up what I ordered and let you know what they are.

F1nut

Yep Keith, I have heard of them, I know where they are at (and glad not to be myself), but I haven't bought any of their stuff. I understand the recordings are top notch, not so sure about the other stuff.

BlueMDPicker

There's quite a little discussion going on at the PS Audio forum regarding one of Mapleshades products:

"First, let me say I love the folks at PSAudio. You have always been the BEST to work with and very supportive of your customer base. I own a number of your products including a Power Port and P-500 Power Plant. I've had both working in my system for over a year. Recently I had a dedicated line installed that the Power Port outlet is wired to and the P500 is running off of one of the sockets.

In the past, I was pleased with the improvement the P500 made in my system from running off of "plain old" wall socket. I've tried every setting (Auto, Tube, Sine, etc.) I finally settled on Sine 67Hz, 120V as the "best" sounding of all the choices.

However, I recently discovered that I was not experiencing everything my system had to offer by running off of the P500. In fact I discovered that I was missing some very significant performance. A short while ago I reluctantly purchased a Double Helix MKII powerstrip from Mapleshade Studios. (http://www.mapleshaderecords.com/tweaks/powerstrip.php)
I've liked the recordings I've purchased from them, and I needed the extra utility the powerstrip would provide...so I thought, "What the heck, I'll give it a try."
Upon receipt of the unit I nearly burst out laughing. It looks like the biggest piece of crap. Reluctantly I installed it into the open socket of my Power Port wall socket. After setting it up correctly and letting it burn-in, I tried running the P500 plugged into the Double Helix Powerstrip (no noticeable improvement). Then I switched my Amp and Universal Disc Player over to run off of the powerstrip (instead of the regenerated ports of the P-500).

Here is my honest reaction:
I stand completely and utterly amazed at how much better it sounds than running my amp and universal disc player off of the PSAudio P-500 regenerated power. I'm quite serious...this is a huge noticeable improvement. I was shaking my head in disbelief song after familiar song at the naturalness of the sound, the slam of incredible dynamics, a wonderful improvement in vocals (removed harsh sibilance) and improved depth and width of the soundstage. All this from a very humble looking powerstrip?! I'm still wondering if it was real or if maybe I was just dreaming. OUCH, I just pinched myself...no I'm awake.

DVDs like "An Evening with the Dixie Chicks" which previously were almost unlistenable due to vocal harshness and sibilance are now gloriously rendered with such an organic and pleasing sound. I actually sold this disc once before because it was so un-listenable. Jamie Cullum's new DVD - "Live at Blenheim" also suffered previously from a slight sibilance in the vocal line and now sounds so completely wonderful I can't even explain it. Dave Matthews - "The Central Park Concert" was good before...but now I'm basically in the park with the mobs of people and experiencing a live event. The strings on the violin are so much more natural sounding. Every instrument occupies its own space without impeding on the others or smearing. Alison Krauss' Union Station Live DVD was a great recording to begin with, and except for some vocal harshness on the higher notes I really enjoyed the disc. Now the vocals and everything else (guitars, bass, violin, drums) all sound so much more organic and analog. I found myself completely engaged with the music like never before. Other products have improved the sound of "bad recordings" marginally, but I've never had a product so dramatically improve the sound of "good recordings".

Again, I didn't want to like this product. I mean, come on this thing costs ~$250 bucks and frankly looks worse than a $10 powerstrip from the hardware store...how could it possibly be better than my $2000 aluminum encased P500? Undeniably it is. I can't believe I'm saying that.

I don't know what I will do in light of this revelation. My video is still running off of the P500 regen power. I don't plan to ever hook my audio on the P500 again. My next thought is to try your new UPC200 as a feed to the Mapleshade Double Helix MKII (will provide needed surge suppression and hopefully benefits beyond).

I'm sad that I have to write this...but it is the undeniable truth. My P500 may soon be on eBAY . I never, ever would have imagined that.

The good news is I'm definitely not done doing business with PSAudio. Hopefully your UPC200 will impress (as long as I can obtain one...your newsletter indicated they are back-ordered). "

dorokusai

Well theres nothing like a alternate opinion. I cannot get over how ghetto some of that Mapleshade gear looks, so it won't be stopping by here anytime soon. The IC's are a joke to look at on the website and in person.

RuSsMaN

Well, of course looks mean everything, right?

**** how it sounds eh.

dorokusai

If the IC looks like it was wrapped in a garbage bag, then yes looks mean something to me....and they are pretty pricey....yea, I'll just fall all over myself to try them out. Read some of those ads and tell me how strong your wallet feels shitbird.

There are way more options than to really care about a Mapleshade product.

jdhdiggs

I want the goo that makes my $99 boom box sound like a $10000 system by lubing the power plug... Yeah... I'd buy that...

Right along with zip cord in ziploc baggies for $120...

Wait, but my favorite is the cables that will give me a half octive more bass... WTH does that mean? I guess my HT SVS will go down to 4Hz at >90db? My SDA's will be running in the mid teens... What an upgrade!!!

hejiraent

I got that Mapleshade catalogue too! I wonder how I got on their mailing list?

I question those tripod thingies that lift my cables 8" off the carpet and make my system sound better!

........anyone want to donate used popsicle sticks to me? I could make my own, save the $11+ each, they would have set me back and perhaps start my own brand.

I can see it now....REAL WOOD. HANDMADE, CUSTOM STAINED or PAINTED to match your decor only $10 each shipping included! .....What kind of wood are popsicle sticks made out of?

RuSsMaN

I'm a skeptic at heart myself, but to outright dismiss anything because it looks odd, or doesn't make immediate sense to you - well, without at least trying it - it's pretty foolish to assume things in the audio realm (imo).

Make some lifts yourself, Mapleshade (on page 28 of your catalog) actually offers some suggestions of household items you can use to do this AND offers a more 'civilized looking' solution on pg 36.

At just over $10 a pop, they are far from robbing anyone. What do you think you can make them for, and still turn a profit on the sale, AND have them look decent? Believe me, there are MUCH MUCH more expensive cable lifts out there.

Cheers,
Russ

hejiraent

Russ, If you supply the popsicle sticks, I could make them for free. If not, the cost of a box "Good Humor" (emphasis on humor) ice cream bars would do the trick.

SPEAKING STRICTLY FOR MYSELF, Very rarely have I seen anything "go from the ridiculous to the sublime." and while I am spouting cliche's: "If it sounds too good to be true it probably is." Pun intended....Comes to mind.

I will pass on elevating cables and stick to quality interconnects, cables, speakers and components.

I would not call you or anyone else foolish for trying them. I am still the man who, once upon a time, bought the hype and then bought a BOSE system.

Peace.

dorokusai

I have to be satisfied in every way shape and form by the results of my hard earned, and eventually spent money. I will not buy something that looks like a 3rd grader made it, sorry, I simply don't have to. I have zero interest in anything that does not engage me visually as well. I like aesthetics as much as performance.

I actually hope it is the best stuff I've never heard, that way the next guy can be very happy.

I'm not against the cable lifts as they're far from the top of Mapleshades "Holy ****" claims IMO. There are quite a few people who use them, even Signal Cable sells the damn things now, so it must be popular enough to market on all levels.

hejiraent

Guys, I had no intention of actually making these things. I was poking fun and saying, in a round about way, that they seemed like a ripoff. Bashing these things has grown tiresome. And everyone, including myself, that is posting on the things dont even own them!

Does anyone that owns cable lifters care to give a report?

keith allen

HEY Hejiraent,I see your in Melbourne,Fla.Im originally from Ft.Pierce,have fond memories of your area,the strawberry house,also use go to Grant for the seafood festival...:)

hejiraent

Hey Keith,

My house is in Melbourne, I actually travel for a living. I only get there for 3 days of each month. I am in NC as I write this. Is the Strawberry House any good? I want to take a date there when I get home.

Where are you now?

Dennis Gardner

The Mikrosmooth cd polish and Ionoclast are awesome products.

I live where static electricity causes more pops on my vinyl than dirt or scratches and the ionoclast takes care of it totally. I even zap the lead wires of my turntable as they build up static that is released in a pop about every 30 seconds.

I think it operates the same as the old Zerostat used years ago.

I haven't tried the ICs and wouldn't until they get rid of the wrapper design, but their disc products can make a difference.