C37 (eundf) Englisch wohin?
The human ear as a mechanical system is not free from resonance caused by the material it
consists of. As this material is basically the same for everybody (carbon 37), resonant peaks occur
at the same frequencies, although their amplitude may vary slightly, due to the damping effect of
the surrounding bone.
The ear is only one means through which stimuli are transferred to the central nervous system.
But mechanical resonance distort information picked up by the ear.
To compensate, the brain uses something like a bridge circuit to filter the information it receives.
At the same time the acoustical impedance of the ear is high at the ear's resonance peaks.
This means that to successfully transfer information to the ear, impedance must match.
Otherwise distortion caused by mismatches would be more significant than the small signals
containing coloration and spatial information.
In mechanical systems like a turntables, loudspeakers, or violins, performance will improve
considerably when the spectrum of mechanical resonance is shifted toward that of the human ear.
C37 lacquer was developed for this purpose.
In a high fidelity system resonance causing distortion may be dampened, but never eliminated.
However, the spectrum of those resonance can be tuned to match those of the ear,
thus enhancing small signal information. Distortion equal to that of the ear will be eliminated
by the brain.
For this reason, our intent was to create a special lacquer that shifts the mechanical resonance of the
system towards those of the ear. C37 lacquer works much like the lacquer on a violin.
Composition and Application
General
C37 Lacquer is a concoction of different resins and solvents, all optimized to adjust the sound of a
mechanical system to that of the human ear. This lacquer is almost clear with an amber cast.
Although it dries to the touch in one day, it requires about 10 weeks to harden completely and attain
its maximum effect. During the drying period, performance of the treated components will
vary considerably, with the system sounding good one day and horrible the next.
But this only shows how important it is to tune all the mechanical resonance.
At the end of the drying period, performance of the treated component is incomparable with its
untreated counterpart.
When dry, C37 Lacquer will be extraordinarily stable, with a hard and brilliant surface, but still flexible
enough to resist breakage; waterproof and heat-resistant. In a way, it creates a finish similar to that
found by trial and error by Guanieri or Stradivari.
All components should be lacquered at least twice. The second coat should be applied about a day after
the first coat dries to the touch.
Speakers
ALL speakers in a system must be treated so the sound character remains the same throughout the
entire bandwidth. A paper cone will soak up the first coat of C37. A smooth surface is obtained by
the second or third coat. Full-range speakers such as Lowthers profit the most by this treatment.
Speakers with kevlar, aluminum, polypropylene, or bextrene cones require less lacquer because it does
not penetrate the surface.
Treat midrange and high-frequency drivers twice with 1 : 1 thinned C37 Lacquer. For other purposes a
thinning of 50 % may suffice. Keep the layers thins, better apply more thin coats than less thick coats.
It doesn't matter if the membrans are made out of supronyl, titanium, chitin, fabric, or film.
Diaphragms of horn drivers or film diaphragms as in Magnepans must be treated in the same way.
10 ml are enough for a pair of Lowthers or a small two or three-way system. Larger paper cones require
more lacquer.
Some customers were so satisfied with the results of lacquering their speakers that they lacquered
their enclosures as well and were satisfied with the improvement.
Turntables
Carefully lacquer the pickup at least twice. The same applies to the arm, mat and all cables.
Microphones
A recording engineer at Telarc thinned the lacquer and treated the housings of his Neumann tube
microphones with excellent results.
Electrical Components and Circuit Boards
When current flows through a resistor, electrons are pushed through the resistive material, crash together
within its molecular structure and loose their velocity, thus generating heat. Heat is nothing more than a
result of movement. This internal movement causes the resistor to vibrate, in turn causing displacement
of the molecular structure within the resistor. The resulting distortion in the current flowing through the
resistor mirrors its spectrum of mechanical resonance. The same is true for all electrical components such
as capacitors, inductors, semiconductors, or cable. Ask Allen Wright about cables.
Tubes may not be lacquered, due to excessive heat.
CD's
For an example of what C37 Lacquer can do, apply one coat to the label side of a CD. Do not use it on the
other side! Otherwise, the laser will not be able to read the disk.
CD Players/Transports
All circuit boards must receive two coats on the component side. This "glues" all components to the board
and creates a coherent sound system.
That means all resistors, capacitors, etc. must be coated with C37. It is also useful to lacquer the under
side of the board.
Mechanical parts in the transport also profit from a coat of C37. But do not lacquer open pots, switches or
connectors. Always cover the lens to prevent it from being sprayed.
Amplifiers
Treat them in the same way as CD players.
Matthias Böde from the German hi-fi magazine STEREO wrote in a test of two CD players from the same
manufacturer, one treated with C37, the other stock:
"While the unlacquered (CD player) sounded more like hi-fi, the lacquered one just made more music.
Voices got more atmosphere, the flow of music was better."
C37 Lack Distribution
