The Upgrade Company

TimePortal Cables Statement Power Cord and HDMI vs AudioQuest & Furutech

I wanted to let some of your other clients about my recent experiences with the original Furutech NanoFlux power cord (MSRP $4399), both before and after I sent it in to The Upgrade Co. for Signature-level upgrading. I was curious to see how the stock Furutech cord would perform in my system before I had it SE upgraded. Not surprisingly, it outclassed the many less expensive aftermarket cables I had used, with much more muscle and finesse. Even so, the TimePortal Statement power cord was a clear step up—at a fraction of the cost! The difference was most pronounced with my SE upgraded Furman Reference 15 power line conditioner, but the TimePortal Statement also outpaced the Furutech with my subwoofer. (Don’t get me wrong, the Furutech was excellent with the sub, but the TimePortal Statement took the bass energy up another notch.)

After I had the stock Furutech for a couple of months, I sent it to The Upgrade Co for Signature-level EMI/RFI riddance. When I replaced the Statement PC with the Signature upgraded Furtuech, I heard an immediately recognizable improvement in fine detail, percussion impact, and sound stage (picture quality got a boost as well).

I’m using the SE upgraded Furman Reference 15 plugged into an SE upgraded Richard Gray Power Company 400 (with all Furutech NCF AC outlets & 20A IEC inlet), which is connected to the wall with a TimePortal Signature power cord. The SE upgraded RGPC with the SE upgraded Furman is an outstanding combination, and the RGPC adds more fullness and impact (as well as enhancing picture quality). I actually have two SE upgraded RGPCs, one before and one after the Furman.

While I’m at it, I’ll also mention that having my AudioQuest Vodka HDMI SE upgraded to Statement level made a huge difference. It sounded much better than the stock more expensive AudioQuest Coffee HDMI. The TimePortal Statement HDMI and SE upgraded AudioQuest are the only HDMI cables I’ve heard that actually sound good/natural/analog enough to use for listening to music.

Seth S.

Number of Signature Upgrades & TimePortal Cables

I hired The Upgrade Company to upgrade my Emotiva XPR-5 big 95lb Reference 5ch amp, my Emotiva XPR-2 95 lb reference 2ch amp, my 4 Emotiva XPA-100 mono’s, my Marantz 7701 A/V Processor, my Marantz 7007 Universal player and in each case the sound became fantastic in every way.  Each time the unit came back it was far more musical and smoother yet more refined more detailed greater bass weight and heft and extension and speed, mids really organic and fleshed out and clear like a real human voiced sounds, piano spot on.  Highs lost all the grain and glare and grit, sparkling and shimmering and airy.  I know some of you think video cannot be improved but you are dead wrong: the Marantz A/V Controller and Marantz 7007 player each exhibited a banishing of grain and washout, looked much clearer with inky deeply saturated but not blooming colors the way they should be I could go on but you get the idea a true Genius that makes other shops I've dealt with in the last 52 years look like amateur's.  Upgrade Co. has true solutions for all brands and a treasure trove of knowledge. I have been obsessed with high end audio and now video too since 1965. Well I can tell you their RFI EMI RIDDANCE technology makes a gigantic improvement in sound and picture. Not just a little bit. The Improvements are astounding. Combined with their exclusive TimePortal RFI EMI RIDDING 9 layer shielded power cords, XLR’s and HDMI cables, the results are State of the Art.  No one else's system or showroom sounds even close.  A single TimePortal power cord doubles or quadruples the sound quality depending on high up in cost you go.  Even the video was further improved by my Timeportal power cords & HDMI cables.  Oh and the Richard Gray 400 Pro once SE upgraded and fitted with Furutech NCF outlets and 20 amp IEC inlet made a real big improvement on both sound & video on my 8' screen. Everything got much better right away and a LOT better as it burned in. Even the bass and black levels were really improved. You won't even BEGIN to get the most out of your gear without their cables and the tips and tricks, they can explain big tips to you if you call them. Most of you I'll bet do not have your stuff setup properly. Hire Upgrade Co for personal setup that'll literally will blow you away and that by it’s itself is worth the price of admission. How many installers or sellers these days will drive four hundred miles to get things right. To show my commitment here is what else I had upgraded:  My Marantz PM11S2 Integrated amp, my Parasound P3,  little bit to my Phase Linear 700 S2 in my other systems so far. --

Yours truly,

Tom Drummond 

Emotiva XPA 5 with Signature Edition Upgrade

Dear David

Just wanted to give you an update on my experience of EMI RFI Riddance.

Phenomenal. Just jaw dropping.

We started out gosh I don't even remember! Somewhere back in March 2015.

I'm going to cut to the chase here ... because to me the listening tells the story in the best way possible. I continue to be gobsmacked and awestruck. Just by the most humble of sources. And if you haven't listened to it through my system just listen to me please. I can play YouTube though my Oppo 103D Special Edition upgraded by Dave through Dave's Time Portal HDMI Cable, to my Marantz AV8002A upgraded model, into a non upgraded Emotiva XPA 5 via upgraded Time Portal XLR balanced cables, out to my PMC Twenty 26's biwired using Dave's Time Portal speaker cables and also out using silver tinned copper 10AWG wires to the rear surround speakers.

Phenomenal. Just jaw dropping.

Dave and I have become friends since we began. Through his amazing advice and experience with EMI RFI, I can sit here in my villa living room in Riyadh Saudi Arabia and listen to the most amazing incredible sounds from my currently super minimalist system of 4.0! Supplied by YouTube. Imagine...

Over the past couple of nights I am astonished how good it sounds. I have this system now in its current form for about six months, some of it more than 1 year. And it is well a truly burned in.

My benchmark source is the Oppo playing either FLAC or BluRay. In either case it is ground breaking. I constantly sit here shaking my head in disbelief.

My goal is a completely closed system by that I mean as much as possible all power, speaker, and interconnect cables and all components will be EMI RFI shielded.

I want to get my next cable set top box upgraded too! Because when I first installed the Time Portal RCA cables between my current box and the Marantz preamp I found a whole new level of audio. I mean it was palpably better everything: sound stage dynamic range everything was better. One humble example only.

To give you some idea of the amount of business Dave and I have done, its a lot! He has been the Prince of direct and honest truth. And I have enjoyed every minute of the journey we are taking together. We are in the process of returning back here, two amps I managed to blow the transformers on, upgrading the current Emotiva with 2 Reference Upgraded units, returning the Furman power supply unit, the digital front end supply an Upgraded Cocktail Audio X40, an upgraded Sub Woofer amp various speakers and cables to complete the home theatre system version 1.0. This is the largest single pallet load, and I trust it will arrive here safely.

Early on in our relationship I explored the EMI RFI domain with a view to understanding what it was all about. I did an internet search and uncovered engineering standards for military and medical applications, loads of specialist suppliers and products and began to understand the depth and expertise that Dave has gained over his work so far in this field. I also realised that very few engineers have much if any exposure to this field. Electrical Engineers or not. They know about speaker cable capacitance that's about the size of their knowledge and scope of their discussion. Its only if they have done especially military work or research work or work for example on large array telescopes where shielding is mission critical (I met a few of these guys here in Saudi Arabia at the one of the Universities and ...surprisingly they didn't get it either, only once they hear the system do go mmmmm...)

There's an engineer in the Bronx...now he gets it....cos he's done work on some serious EMI RFI related projects....I'm guessing military since he was citing that standard.

Today, tonight as I listen to humble YouTube...I remain convinced that I have one of the best combined stereo/audio/video home theatre systems available. And I'm running my minimalist 4.0 system right now.

So come on, sign up. You will never regret it. Dave's work is second to none. I have never met or heard of anyone else in the world doing this work to hi fi equipment like Dave does. Unique, powerful and complete. Results delivered immediately (and get better until burn is achieved). I've looked under the hood. I can only say wow. The amount of careful hand work required to place thousand dollar paints, shielding and other materials is artisinal in its standard.

With Dave's help you should seek your audio and video nirvana. You have the right. And David has the answer.

Dr John Read

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Emotiva XSP-1 Gen 2 and 2 Emotiva XPA-100 Gen 2 Monoblocks Signature Edition Upgrade

I initially sought out Upgrade Co. after reading the info at www.upgradeconpany.com (quite an education!) to have my McIntosh MC 2125 & C 27 upgraded.  After having conversations with David, he convinced me to try Emotiva instead with his SE upgrade.  I then actually made a trip their shop to listen and learn more about what Upgrade Company does.  I was quite impressed.

I ended up purchasing a new Emotiva XSP-1 Gen 2 Truly Balanced preamp and 2 Emotiva XPA-100 Gen 2 Monoblocks all with the SE upgrades & TimePortal Reference level XLR interconnects.  After the break in period, I can honestly say that the Emotiva’s are providing music that I have never heard from my McIntosh. Frankly I've never heard Vandersteen's sound this good.  Nothing ever sounds aggressive or forward now and the shimmering highs and deep bass are a real game changer. 

I'm getting much greater dynamic range at loud & soft volumes levels, & 3D soundstage & great imaging.  I am hearing things on my albums & discs that I have never heard before.  What a joy to listen to. 

The outstanding sound quality remains the same at all listening volumes.  No longer do I need to have my system at an optimum volume to hear everything.  Very easy listening.  Smooth, liquid, quick response, very defined, clear and authoritative on everything that is played.  

I am now totally convinced that David’s SE Upgrade is essential in getting any brand of equipment to sound State of the Art. I haven't heard sound quality like this at dealers. 

I'm purchasing a new Emotiva ERC-3 CD player & outboard Stealth DAC with the SE Upgrades next.  These too are giant killers from what I've heard. 

On a side note, David convinced me to try a new Time Portal Reference Power Cord on my stock Integra AVR/Epson projector home theatre system.  IMMEDIATELY, the power cord had a highly positive effect on the picture quality and audio quality! My wife and I were very surprised.  Picture now has richer color and deeper blacks and less noise, really stands out.  Even my wife noticed the difference.  The audio was also greatly improved.  From just a power cord?!?  

The outstanding success I've witnessed with the unique SE Upgrades & TimePortal  Cables is proof positive that David's RFI EMI RIDDANCE Technology is the real

deal.  

What is very reassuring purchasing at  a Upgrade Co. is the 30 day in-system trial period for every purchase.  They will take back anything, but that is never happening!  

Erick Perry

Emotiva XSP-1 Balanced Preamplifier Signature Edition Upgrade

Well, it's  been several months since I purchased my SE upgraded Emotiva XSP-1 Balanced Preamplifier. I'm ready to give it an enthusiastic two thumbs up!! My CD player is an SE upgraded Emotiva ERC-3 and my amp is a stock Emotiva XPR-5 Gen 2 paired with Klipsch RF-7ll's.  This system sounds great. I'm working on sending my Emotiva XPA5Gen2 in for the SE upgrade to further improve my setup.  I can't wait to hear how it sounds when everything is SE upgraded.  Looking forward to doing business with David and the guys at The Upgrade Company again!

Pete Stumberg

Emotiva ERC-3 CD Signature Edition Upgrade

Emotiva ERC-3 CD player sold new w/ SE Upgrade transformation

After talking with Dave I decided the Emotiva ERC-3 CD player fit my budget. Dave said it would blow my old cd player away, and boy did it! I'm still breaking it in so its not even close to final potential yet. I was thinking I wasted $3,000 dollars on a pair of Klipsch RF-7's, but after replacing my NAD CD player with the upgraded ERC-3 they have come alive! I'm not much for stereo jargon so I'll skip it, but I will say it just sounds GREAT! I'm very glad I took a chance and spent (for me) a good chunk of change, well worth the money. I'm saving for my next Upgrade Company component. Thanks Guys!

Pete Stumberg, New York