We were sufficiently impressed that we persuaded Stereophile's publisher Larry Archibald to splash out and buy one.
MLSSA is an expanded acronym for MLS or "Maximum Length Sequence." The system's…
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Wouldn't you just know it. As soon as I decide on a formal regime of measurements to accompany Stereophile's loudspeaker reviews—see Vol.12 No.10, October 1989, p.166—along comes some hot new technology that changes everything. Robert Harley reported in last month's "Industry Update" column how impressed he and I were with the new MLSSA measurement system from DRA Laboratories.
Lars recently received a device that looks and works like a $25 digital alarm clock and is said to subtly improve the overall sound of one's system. It's the ElectroTec EP-C, from a company called Coherence Industries.
You plug it in and it's supposed to improve the conductivity of your household electrical system—have a "smoothing effect" on the motion of electrons so there is less chaos...less anarchy! More to come as I try to digest all of this. (As you can see, I'm getting into what seems to be Auntie Enid Lumley or Peter W. Belt territory, and over my head. Possibly out of my mind…
Thomas J. Norton commented on the Coherence Clock in October 1990 (Vol.13 No.10):
Time Out—Consumer Alert! Back in the May 1990 issue, Sam Tellig told of a $495 device called the ElectroTec EP-C from Coherence Industries. The EP-C precisely resembles a $25 Micronta alarm clock available at your corner Radio Shack. Employing this "clock" was claimed—by Coherence—to improve the sound of one's system—although it is only plugged into the wall, not directly connected to the system in any fashion (except by its sharing of the house wiring). Sam did note some improvement, although he was not…
Sam Tellig commented on the Coherence & Tice Clocks in January 1991, Vol.14 No.1:
Just when I thought it was safe to open the mail, someone else sends me a tweak. This time, it's TDK. That's right, the tape people—the last company from whom you might expect to receive an audiophile tweak. The world is no longer safe for Len Feldman, Hans Fantel, and Julian Hirsch!
The product is TDK Digital Noise Absorbers and should be in stores by the time you read this—$10/pair. If the product were distributed by one of the wire bandits, perhaps a pair might cost you three to five times as…
Letters about the Tice Clock appeared in March & August 1991 (Vol.14 Nos.3 & 8):
Tice attacked
Editor: There follows a letter I wrote to George Tice:
Dear Mr. Tice:
After trying the model R-4 TPT clock in my system, I have returned the unit for refund. I have done this because the increase in performance did not match the dollar investment made in the clock. More improvement has been gained in my system by making simple tweaks that cost nothing, or were low in cost.
But the thing that upset me the most was instruction #4 on your instruction sheet.…
Thomas J. Norton wrote a review of the Tice Clock in March 1991 (Vol.14 No.3):
When I submitted my piece for the October 1990 "Industry Update" on the digital alarm clock controversy, I was only aware of the $500 Coherence Industries version and the $25 Radio Shack standard model. In case you're just getting back from the moon, I should elaborate a bit. Some people have observed that operating one of these clocks in the listening room actually has an effect (many report a positive one) on the sound of an audio system. Why this should be so has not been explained satisfactorily—certainly…
John Atkinson also wrote about the Tice TPT Clock in March 1991 (Vol.14 No.3):
If it's true that the Tice TPT Clock does have a small but audible effect on the sound of your system, how could this be so? Having read the Tice literature, I think that the official explanation of what is going on is plain wrong. It seems to me that if the Clock does effect an audible change, the reason would fall into two separate categories: a) the Clock has an effect on the system; b) it has an effect on the listener.
Looking at the latter first, what if that the Clock emits negative ions into the…
Jack English commented on the effect of the Tice Clock in February 1993 (Vol.16 No.2):
After hours and hours, the 1.2 upgrade to my Versa Model 1 turntable was completed and the final adjustments made. The most obvious change surprised me considerably: there was simply far less sound coming out of the Versa. Everything was much quieter. To achieve the former volume levels, I had to substantially increase the preamp's gain setting. What was gone was a significant layer of very low level grundge and noise. Backgrounds had less filler; the music was presented in stark relief. The upgrade…
Tice TPT Clock: Manufacturer's Comment
Editor: I am writing this letter in an effort to correct and clarify much of the rumors and misinformation surrounding the Tice TPT Clock. Unfortunately, many audiophiles accept assumptions and misinformation as fact without question. I think it's time to set the record straight.
To understand the TPT Clock it must be broken down into two distinct entities. The first is the technology called TPT (Tice Pulse Technology), and the second is the storage medium, which is the clock. The relationship between TPT (the technology) and the storage…
Sidebar: Tice Specifications
Description: Device to eliminate "electron noise" from the AC line.
Price: $350 (1991). Approximate number of dealers: 100.
Manufacturer: Tice Audio Products Inc., Ronkonkoma, NY 11779 (1991). (2003). Tice Audio Products, 1530 Cypress Drive, Suite C, Jupiter, FL 33469. Tel: (561) 575-7577. Fax: (561) 575-0302. Web: www.ticeaudio.com.