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PolyCrystal is a
composite made up of multiple inert
materials, crushed to the sizes
of their crystalline structures
and embedded in a matrix. The result
is a very high-density substance
with extremely irregular boundaries
between the interlaced crystals,
which dissipates energy into heat.
It is very dense and very heavy,
and very effective at dissipating
energy and resonance.
PolyCrystal is not MDF (medium-density
fiberboard); in fact, it possesses
over twice the density and stiffness
of MDF, the most common material
used to manufacture speaker enclosures,
racks, amp stands and the like.
And, PolyCrystal is not Corian®
or related plastic/resin compound.
It is non-resonant in nature and
therefore doesn't ring like a bell,
as metal does, and doesn't possess
the resonance of granite and marble.
This extraordinary material was
developed over three and a half
years, during which the material's
inventor, Bruce Bodlak, tried all
kinds of materials such as various
plastics, epoxy and resin composites
of crushed pecan and walnut shells,
coal slag and more. He discovered
that even resins had different acoustic
damping properties. His findings
led to the optimum formulation that
is the essence of PolyCrystal.
Further development led to two types
of PolyCrystal:
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High
Density (HD), which is the
result of a single cycle of
crushing the component materials,
suspending them in resin and
curing the mix, and; |
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Ultra
High Density (UHD), which
is a hybrid formula of the
HD PolyCrystal material, and
results from two crush cycles
prior to the suspension and
curing stages. |
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PolyCrystal's non-resonant properties
enable it to dampen resonance very
effectively. As such, it also acts
as an isolator because of its ability
to dissipate resonant energy (vibration).
These characteristics suit this
unique material for multiple, complimentary
applications:
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It
is an effective resonance
dampener when used as the
direct means of support for
sensitive electronic components.
Examples of this would include
the shelves in our equipment
racks, our amplifier platforms
and our component isolators. |
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It
is an equally effective vibration
decoupler when used as the
fundamental support element,
as with the PolyCrystal-coated
spikes which under gird our
rack units, amplifier platforms
and speaker stands. |
As effective testimony to PolyCrystal's
ability to tame resonant energy
and vibration, the Diablo Acoustics
line of loudspeakers uses enclosures
cast entirely out of PolyCrystal
UHD resin material. Their designer,
Steve Patzkowski,
describes the benefits of the PolyCrystal
enclosures this way:
"The PolyCrystal enclosure
exhibits excellent resonance control
due to its dense panels and overall
mass. It also provides a tremendous
ability to absorb energy. Back pressure
from the bass driver is effectively
absorbed and eliminated. No vibration
is allowed to transfer to the exterior
of the cabinet walls, or to the
drivers mounted to the speaker's
front baffle. This results in a
completely vibration-free loudspeaker
system."
Of all PolyCrystal components, the
rack units perhaps best exemplify
its non-resonant properties. In
his review of the racks in the November
2000 issue of Stereophile, Jonathan
Scull concluded:
"While I can't claim that just
popping in a set of PolyCrystal
Racks or Cable Towers will
turn a dog of a system into the
Second Coming, it will, as part
of an overall strategy of resonance
control, raise your system's level
of performance and help it to sound
its very best. Highly recommended."
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