The DMT X1: Versatile & So Powerful

I'll start with the punchline. After 10 years in development, and 3 more years of optimizing form factor, I can confidently say the DMT X1 deserves to be in your listening room or breaker box. My goal is to make it easy for that to happen, which with my in-home audition program it is.

DMT started out as Sonic Tonic, which was a tiny mixture of the material in a little glass bottle. It was effective, but the bottles could break. I then suspended the materials in epoxy molds which did not break, but did not look that great, and with further research, I found the epoxy hampered the effectiveness and sound negatively.

The original Sonic Tonic

DMT X1 is much more effective, and much more attractive. Batteries and power cords are no longer needed for them to work. In fact, the X1 is more powerful than any other Sonic Tonic or DMT product. It is at least twice as powerful as the DMT mandala, at about 1/4 the size and 1/3 the cost.

DMT Dots

Where the X1 Works Best

As a room treatment: The "Tardis Effect"

My room is fairly large, at 15 to 18 feet wide, 27 feet long with 10' ceilings. It was two rooms at one time, one a roughly 15' x 14' media room, and an 18' x 13' game room. I have my system in the 15' x 14' space and the seating is actually in the 18' x 13' space. Smaller rooms will not need nearly the treatment I have. So with that in mind, below is what I have placed in my room:

• I have 4 X1's and 4 Bybee V2's placed in the for corners of my room at the ceiling. You can use just the X1, or just the V2, but I found the combination very synergistic.
• I also have the X1's running along the side walls at ceiling height, spaced about 8 feet apart.
• I have three X1's running down the center of the room. The first is behind the listening position at ceiling height, the second is on the ceiling between the listening position and the speakers, and the last is centered on the wall behind the speakers at about 5 feet off of the ground.

This setup rivals the familiar Synergistic and Stein room treatment systems in terms of holography, soundstage and immersion factor. Where it differs is in terms of naturalness, soundstage density, room depressurization, musical flow and low level phase information. The music just sounds more natural, less electronic. Instruments are not overly thin or full sounding. Wood sounds wooden, brass sounds appropriately brassy.   It's almost as if the pressure in the room is decreased and the sound opens up into a larger space that what is physically there. Call it "the Tardis effect". Music also just seems to have a natural energy flow. There is no artificial/electronic tension, unless it's in the recording. Image density is something to behold, and one has to be careful here to not get too much of a good thing.

Placement of DMT X1's. Not pictured are the three at ceiling height along the wall behind the listening position.

Starting Slowly

One could start with just a single X1 placed in the center front position. This will increase center image density and resolution. 

The next move would be adding 2 more on the side walls. I placed mine at the ceiling, because I like more image height out of my horn loaded speakers. You can place them as low as ear level on the side walls, about 1.5 feet in front of the front plane of the loudspeakers.

Next is a judgement call. Do you need more ambient fill, more soundstage depth, or more image height?

• Ambient fill - Try adding 2 to the rear corners of the room. If that isn't satisfactory, try them on the front corners of the room. This works in some cases.
• Soundstage depth - Add 2 to the front upper corners of the room
• Image height - Add 1 to the ceiling, between listening position and speakers.

On power: 

If you can place an X1 inside your power conditioner, great! I find it works Extremely well there. In fact the latest iteration of the Stealth power conditioner will have 2 OEM X1's inside.

Try them on your sub panel or main breaker box. I place one on the power coming in to the house, just after the meter and before the breaker box.

The X1 tends to lower the noise floor when placed in power conditioners, revealing more ambiant information and low level detail. The other effects apply here as well, with naturalness and flow of the presentation becoming more organic and less electronic, and chewy, dense imaging.

Comparing DMT X1 to Bybee V2 and Quantum Clarifier

The DMT X1 works very well with all Bybee devices. The X1's effectiveness lies somewhere between the Quantum Clarifier, which I consider the most modestly powerful, and the V2 which is the most powerful of all three devices. I highly recommend using the X1's as an "enhancer" to V2's in your room. More is not necessarily better in every application. Each device has it's place within one's system.

Bybee V2 (left) and Quantum Clarifier (right)

Conclusions

The DMT X1 is a versatile and effective product that can be used as a room or power conditioning treatment. If you love the Bybee Quantum Clarifier or Bybee V2 products, you will find the DMT X1 to be very complimentary. As a standalone product, the X1 lies somewhere between the Quantum Clarifier and V2 in intensity of effect. You may find one is better suited to your tastes than another, and some experimentation may be required. Fortunately, we can help you with determining what might be best in your situation with in-home auditions of any of these products. We are excited for what musical joys lie hidden in your system with these products properly implemented.

Contact Tweek Geek for An In-Home Audition of DMT and Bybee Products