Reviews/ Comments

Chris VenHaus, VH Audio

"This is a remarkably effective tweak to use on analog interconnect RCA plugs, as these cables are VERY microphonic. Works well on digital and component video also."

Eric J. Whitacre, Sound of the Wood

"I use and recommend Herbie’s dampers on all my tubes and tonearms. Incredible what such a small device can due to improve the quality of sound. Highly recommended!"

Rabin Paul, Malaysia

"To be honest I was expecting to hear little or no difference but was surprised at how much of an improvement they have made. Imaging and musical details are sharper and clearer. It's like everything is in focus now previously being slightly out of focus speaking in camera terms. Great stuff."

Tom Carter, Sunnyvale, California

"The interconnect dampers are quite remarkable and have brought my system more clarity and dynamics -- very cool."

Robert Bethune, Rancho Palos Verdes, California

"The HAL-O Jrs. on my Ittok has turned it into a 'new arm. The somewhat splashy quality of the Ittok is totally gone and has been replaced with a subtlety and refinement that was previously missing. Details that were lost are now found and the music benefits."

Kevin Rowley, United Kingdom

"I have received my HALO-JRs and the first word that springs to mind is amazing I did not expect them to work as well. They have made the soundstage deeper and wider, the bass is more defined and instruments are more focused. All in system I thought was as good as it gets, I will be ordering some tube dampers very soon. Thanks for great product and excellent service."

Bryan Luftglass, New Jersey

"I just got two Hal-O Jr. Titanium dampeners from Herbie's Audio Lab and placed them on the tonearm. One went right behind the headshell and the other just about at the mid-point. I noticed (cerebrally) an immediate increase in dynamics and (emotionally) a gut-level engrossment in the music. $14 for the two and amazing (to me). I know the Tech 1200 arm is resonant and I had already wrapped it with cloth medical tape."

Boris S. Parta, AudioTweaks.com

Boris' review of the HAL-O JR. Damping Instrument appears online at AudioTweaks. Here is the conclusion of that review:

"I have to admit my expectation for this tweak was only average but I was pleasantly surprised, its performance proved to be actually above average. Overall the HAL-O Jr. Interconnect Damping Instruments presented a more realistic, involving and ultimately more enjoyable musical experience. Subtle yes, but these interconnect dampers are definite keepers. With their low price, 90-day trial period and lifetime warranty they are sure worth a try. You be the judge. Recommended."

To see the complete, comprehensive review of the HAL-O JR. Damping Instrument, please go to: http://www.audiotweaks.com/reviews/haloidi/page01.htm

Marc Andes, Howard Beach, New York

"The white teflon Halo Jr. are the best fit on Naim DIN plugs. Damping the interconnect from the CD to the preamp definitely increases the clarity of the system. Very audible."

Jay Carlberg, Modesto, California

"Putting the IC halos on the headphone connections really helped clear things up. You had said that the music would be more involving when the system is tweaked/set up properly. That sure happened after putting on the GB2 and IC dampers. Thanks for great products at a reasonable price (for us that don't earn a fortune)."

Dr. Ásvány Zsolt, Pécs, Hungary

"The Hal-O RCA dampers are my favorite. I put them on my Marigo digital cable and the effect is quite unbelievable. The music becomes alive. Thanks for a great product!"

Cyrus Won, Hawaii

"The nickel HALO Jrs. work great on my tonearm. Because they're smaller overall than the Teflon Jrs., I was able to place it right next to the headshell with greater effect.

Robert Fox, Carbondale, Illinois

"Even though putting the dampers on my phono cables at the preamp made a bit of a difference, putting two mini dampers on the tonearm of my turntable made a fantastic difference, by far the biggest improvement of any tweak I've tried. I played record after record and (leaving surface noise aside) they sounded better to me than cds. There was just more 'there' there. One example: on Nick Drake's lp Pink Moon, the title track has a piano that comes in briefly on the left channel. Before applying the dampers it was located a bit behind the left speaker, but after putting the dampers on, not only did the piano increase in clarity, it moved further back and farther to the left, revealing a terrific increase in the soundstage. I was able to discern pretty clearly the flaws in mastering and even in recording of some favorite rock albums, and, despite wear and tear, how good some old mono lps I treasure sound. (Keep in mind that all of this was very obvious despite the fact that my turntable is 20 years old, as are my speakers, which also need to have their surrounds replaced. Despite the imperfection and the antiquity of these components, I am now hearing better sound than I've heard before and am seriously thinking of not replacing my speakers as I was intending but rather having them repaired and saving some $$$ in the process.) I rarely write letters like this but I was impressed and very pleased and thanks are due."

Greg Stewart, Minneapolis, Minnesota

"I hadn't tried cable dampers before. The effect seemed subtle... until tonight, when I was listening to albums without them on the cables to my phono stage. I put them back on and the PRAT came back -- things sounded 'confused' before without sounding bad. I wasn't unhappy without them, but am happier with them!

"I dropped a Herbie's damper around my volume control knob, a substantial piece of aluminum. Darned if instrument textures didn't seem clearer and more delineated. Took it off, put it back on a few times -- of course it was subtle and I may be hallucinating, but I'm keeping it on."

Dave Clark, Positive Feedback Online

"I have had the opportunity to audition the Hal-O RCA dampers on several cables from different companies. Unfortunaltey the results appear to be more dependant upon the type of the RCA used than anything else going on—at least as far as I can tell! Using the Hal-Os on any metal RCA of reasonable quality and heft, the results will far exceed those as heard on the RCAs found on my reference Audio Magic Clairvoyants—modified Eichman Bullet plugs. That is, one can expect—though not in terms of being a musical or sonic revelation, but they do make a difference—a cleaner more articulate sound with less smear and blur. Using the Hal-Os on either the DH Lab Revelations (locking RCAs reminiscent of Vampire) or the JPS Superconductor 2s allows one to hear more music with less "visual" artifacts. Musical images simply appear to be more stable and defined. On the Eichmans it is more of a "Do I hear the same, or am I just thinking I hear more of the same?" as the light plastic casing appears to be less susceptible to vibrations and such than those based on an audio jewelry origin. At the price, these are one of the final touches any true tweaker must have in the their system. But like I said the differences are not one that will turn heads. I use them and find their look and application a real tweaker's delight!"

Lloyd Smith, Nova Scotia, Canada

"I received my 4 sets of ic dampers last week and immediatedly put them on my cd ic and power/pre ic. I noticed right away a difference in the space between things and gave them about 3 hrs before listening again. Focus, and imaging and bass definition and general sense of ease of presentation are all enhanced. The sound seemed to settle in over the next few days. Everthing had more space or air around it. Even vinyl was improved. I do believe the Acoustic Zen Matrix Reference benefited more than the Ixos Ixotica connectors. The end result is they work for me in my system as much as a cable upgrade. This makes a lot more sense than changing cables.

"I will mention these to my friends. The paradox is that while sense of ease has increased, so has the ability of my system to swing and shift gears. It's as if phasing has improved with coherance. A good example is how brush strokes now show the indivual striking of the brushes across the cymbal. Wood on drum and low piano notes are so obviously real. It is simply Fundamentaly Better. What great fun for so low a cost."

Joe Mendez, Sammamish, Washington

"Those RCA dampers I ordered recently worked better than I could have expected. Frankly, I wasn't expecting much, but even dynamics improved significantly. It seems I'm quite sold on your products. First the tube damper, then the RCA dampers. Soon the Ball-Cup footers. And maybe the TT mat after that. Good stuff. Good prices. Makes us audiophools happy as clams."

Larry Henry, Lawndale, California

"I ordered a pair of Herbie's Interconnect Dampers and stuck them on my JMW Memorial tonearm. I put one on each side of the pivot point and carefully adjusted them so that the 'open' part of the Herbie Dampers faced down so that they were balanced.

"You know what?  NO MORE HUM ... ALL GONE! even when I turn the volume way up. Not only did it kick the hummmm in the ass, but the sound has improved as well---a more defined sound and the bass is cleaner sounding.

"They will probably not work on every tone arm due to all the different designs, but for arm tubes like mine I recommend these, especially since they only cost around twelve bucks for a pair."

Chan Lok Hee, Hong Kong

"I heard better bass with better definition when using the Jr on male banana connectors (speakers' side)."

Billy Florentino, Singapore

"Your Junior works better on capacitors than anywhere else. I used mine with my input/output caps. Halo-9 I use with my PS filter caps. Benefits: Quite Background -- Sound smoother and louder.

"And this is the best combination in my pre-amp: 9X on filter caps, Junior on input/output caps, and ebony dampers on  the tubes. It's PERFECT.

Sean Royal, Sacramento, California

"I bought the IC dampers, the small feet and the CD mat. To my surprise, my favorite are the IC dampers -- which make a wonderful improvement in focus, clarity, relaxation and separation of images. This effect was immediately noticeable to me and was not expected as my Mapleshade Ribbons use locking RCAs. I tried them on the digital cables also -- where the effect was much more subtle, but still worthwhile -- adding a bit more air and openness."

Lon Armstrong, Austin, Texas

"Very nice. Brings an amplification of the effect that the tube dampers bring. Things are mellow---piano has real resonance and long decay. Bass is very quick---may seem to lose a little bass but that is because I think it has quickened and become more accurate."

David Aiken, Parkinson, Australia

"I put the interconnect dampers on and noticed a small improvement. I've done a fair bit to control vibration in my system and wondered about whether I would get anything from them but the improvement, though small, is worthwhile. The sound tightened up slightly and gained a little more firmness and definition.

Added:

"Having already  heard what they did on the interconnect between my CDP and integrated amp, I thought I knew what to expect when I placed them on the amp end of the interconnect from my rarely used tuner, and also on the speaker banana plugs at the amp end. Well, I did get what I expected but maybe a bit more of it than I expected and a significant improvement in the overal lsound as the extreme bottom end cleaned up and gained focus and definition. The rest of the range gained too, so I've been playing discs for the last three days listening to tonal qualities on instruments that are clearer and more varied than previously in a much more open and deeper soundstage. Very very nice."

Ed Quintens, Koksijde, Belgium

"Mini Jr. Damping Instruments give surprising results with the Audio Aero Capitole CD player."

Tom Berry, Burlington, Vermont

"The Square Footing and Interconnect Dampers work great too! They give further improvement similiar to the tube dampers. Just go ahead and Herbieize your entire system like I did."

Tony Leung, Singapore

"Improvement is subtle."

David Newlin, Columbia, Maryland

"I just put Halo dampers on my interconnects and digital cables, and the difference is very obvious."

James Owens, Lynchburg, Virginia

"At first, CD's seemed to play 'louder.' What I think though is that there seems to be more focus. Subtle, but present."

Cyrus Won, Honolulu, Hawaii

"I was surprised at how the sound has been cleaned up. I used both the cable dampers and the Isomats, so I don't know which had the most effect, but I enjoy the full result."

Krzysztof Jozefowicz, Digital Audio System 

"This HAL-O JRs WORKS great! The difference is huge -- astonishing product."

B. Ravi, Lower Hutt, New Zealand

"The Halo Jr, put on my RB300 tone arm contributed to enhanced inforetrieval from LP's. I was further amazed at the improvements brought about when I put the Iso-cups with Macassar balls under the turntable."

Jay Carlberg, Modesto, California

"Got my IC dampers today and just finished listening with them installed. Noticed more detail and more quiet, like there was noise I hadn't recognized. You've probably heard that before I'm sure."

Gilles Lacroix, Gatineau, Canada

"I bought SuperSonic HAL-O 7 Nickel to put on my XLR connections of my 'Balanced' Interconnects. I tried them with the SuperSonic option but, as you suggested me, the original plain version is better for this purpose. The improvement was smaller for this but they will stay in place. The dynamic is a little better with them."

Chris Sideris, Chester Hill, Australia

"I felt I heard less distortion up top with more precision and focus and cleaner sound. Slight but noticeable."

Michael Anda, North Dakota

"Very much more articulated vocals, overall resolution increase. It's a subtle improvement, incrementally, adding up amazingly by the time all fourteen of my RCA's were damped. The biggest improvement was the final pair placed on the DAC outputs. I'm very happy with the Teflon JRs."

John Schaefer, North Carolina

"The mini halo jr. makes a real difference on the humble Jelco tonearm."

(Some comments have been edited slightly for grammar corrections and reading clarity; most are direct copy/paste.)

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