Hifistay Stella 80 Triple Swing Spike Shoes

Introduction

Hifistay is a Korean company that takes a novel approach to audio equipment support. The spike shoes on review here are part of the company's flagship "triple swing" line. The "triple swing" description refers to the three levels of ceramic ball bearings used within. No prizes for guessing how the "single swing" and "double swing" products compare.   

Conditioned by years of audiophile training to suppress unnecessary motion in speakers, the Hifistay will challenge your beliefs. A gentle push on your speaker will result in free motion as the cabinets move back and forth. The Stella 80 is highly efficient in converting vibrations to horizontal movement. As the product stood on my study desk, I saw the top spike-cup gently move. I realised that the barely felt vibration was coming from construction work about 50 meters down the road! 

Description

The "Swing" line-up consists of various products ranging from 60 mm to 100 mm diameter spike shoes. The 60mm model is only available as a "double swing", while the 80 mm model is available in both "double swing" and "triple swing". The 100mm model is only available as a "triple swing" model. The choice of shoe would depend on the component, and weight supported. In the case of the 80 Triple Swing, it is described as being suitable for speakers, heavy amplifiers and your equipment rack. Rated load is a maximum of 120 kg/shoe, with a recommended load of 10-60 kg per shoe. The main body of the shoe unscrews from the base to provide height adjustment, which allows precise levelling.

Sound Quality 

I tried the 80 Triple Swing with a Partington Super Dreadnought speaker stand (replacing Isoacoustics Gaia footers), and my Tannoy Kensington GR speakers (replacing the stocks spikes). In both cases, they rested on hardwood parquet flooring. Once installed, the speakers rock gently as they are pushed. Audiophiles being fixated with non-movement will find this disconcerting initially.

In the case of the Partington Super Dreadnought speakers stands (with Elac Uni-Fi Reference UBR62 speakers perched on top), there is a useful cleaning-up, and tightening of the music across the frequency range.

Moving on to the Tannoys is when things really got interesting. The Tannoys have always sounded dynamic and fast in my setup, albeit with a tendency to sound a bit bright and bass light. I attributed this to a lack of power, although the Tannoys are easy to drive on paper at 93db sensitivity / 8 ohms. Nevertheless, I got the best bass using powerful amplifiers like the Apollon 1ET400A (227W) instead of low-powered tube amps.

With the Triple Swing installed, the increase in tight and deep bass was remarkable, almost as if I had upgraded my speakers. A dramatic improvement across the rest of the frequency range resulted in improved detail retrieval and focus. As a result, the soundstaging become pinpoint with very deep and distinct layering. High-frequencies were also improved, with a more defined leading edge and decay. 

Unlike some other ball-bearing products that I have tried, the Triple Swing does not impact musicality nor coherency. It is far from sounding bright, and instead imparts a fluidity to music that is pleasing. There is no spotlighting of specific frequencies, nor aberrations in the tempo of music. Somehow, this product really manages to deliver the best of both worlds - reproducing plenty of details and improving speed, while retaining naturalness and musicality. 

As a forewarning, I anticipate that this product will shift the tonal balance of your system. In particular, the increase in bass power will be a boon to some, and a bane to others. Judicious tweaking and adjustments post-installation will be required to maximise performance. 

Conclusion

This product is expensive, and makes sense only in high-end setups. Nevertheless, the improvements made are worthwhile in my personal opinion. Considering that audiophiles typically spend significant amounts for that last degree of improvement, this is a well-justified investment given the magnitude of improvement - Highly Recommended.

I would like to thank KC from XPS Acoustic for arranging this review.  

Price : S$ 4,800 for a set of 8

Hifistay products are available from :-

XPS Acoustic

271 Bukit Timah Road

#03-01, Balmoral Plaza

Singapore 259708

http://www.xpsaudio.com.sg

    

Yukimu RCA and USB Noise Absorber

Introduction

The Yukimu PNA-RCA01 ("RCA Plug") and PNA-USB01 ("USB Plug") are plug-in noise absorbers designed to absorb high-frequency noise from your audio/video components. These products were designed by Mr. Masahiro Yamazaki, an experienced engineer who worked for Matsushita Electric Industrial, specialising in circuit design for the Technics Brand which is part of Matsushita. 

Carefully selected parts such as British LCR styrene capacitors and Amtrans non-magnetic carbon film resistors (AMRG 2W) are used. The hand-made circuit is hard-wired and soldered using lead-free silver solder.  

A resistor and capacitor circuit is used in conjunction with an electromagnetic wave absorption sheet and metal case of the product to absorb noise. Assuming an output resistance of 220 ohms, Yukimu claims that the RCA Plug attenuates noise at 22 MHz by 18db. R-C circuits are commonly used to reduce noise, so this isn't a snake-oil tweak and is well-grounded in science.

The RCA Plug utilises a brass shell, while the USB Plug uses a A6061 aluminum case.

Description

Both products come in a beautiful wood box, with a certificate confirming that the product was manufactured and evaluated by the named employee which just so happened to be Masahiro-san. 

Yukimu's website explains that the RCA Plug can be used on any RCA analog or digital socket (including output sockets).

In Use

Like any grounding product, some experimentation is required to get the most out of the Yukimu. On a Schitt Freya+ preamp, the effect of the RCA Plug on each socket varied in intensity. The intensity was highest on a spare input, while the output socket was slightly tamer.

Regardless of location, the effect was quite consistent. You get a tightening of the bass, and clearer and more extended high frequencies. While the midrange clarity and texture improved, there is an increase in "presence" that moves vocals forward in the soundstage. While expressiveness of singers improved, sibilance was also more noticeable.  

The preferred intensity will be a matter of taste. I found that the tonality of my system was too forward and bright when used on the input socket, and just right on the output socket. 

The effect of the USB Plug is similar, but I found that the increase in dynamics and bass heft to be more pronounced than the RCA Plug, making the USB Plug sound more balanced. Deployed on the front USB port of my Intel-NUC Roon ROCK server, there was an all-round increase in dynamics, clarity and focus. There was less alteration to the tone of my system and if I had to choose just one, my money would be on the USB Plug. 

The audiophile mind already predicted that using both products at the same time would result in an overly bright and forward presentation. Somehow, both products sounded quite good together, although the tone was still on the bright side of neutral. Who would have guessed?

Conclusion

This is an effective product that is meticulously made. The price tag is reasonable for the performance although some caution should be noted given the resultant shift in tonal balance. Judicious trial and error is required also to get best results -  Highly Recommended.

Yukimu products are available in Singapore from Audio Basic.

Yukimu PNA-RCA01 / PNA-USB01  - S$ 520 each (promotional price)

Audio Basic
1 Coleman Street
#02-12, The Adelphi 
Singapore 179803
http://audiobasic.blogspot.com

  

Kojo Technology Crystal E Ground Box and Crystal EP Plug

Introduction

Kojo Seiko Co. Ltd is a medium-sized company located in Hirakawa City in Aomori, Japan. Established in 1990, they are involved in a variety of electronic-related businesses ranging from power supply design and manufacturing to audio accessories.

Description

The Crystal EP is a virtual earth product that improves the grounding of audio equipment. The device is a barrel-shaped plug with various connectors available :- RCA, 3.5mm mini plug, banana and spades. The barrel contains 100 cm2 of high-purity aluminum foil treated with a special etching process to create cavities that increase the surface area to 11,000 cm2. The rear of the Crystal EP plug unscrews to accept a grounding cable for connection to the optional Crystal E Ground Box. 

The Crystal E Ground Box is a compact metal ground box that houses an eight-layer plate structure that functions as a virtual ground. The plates comprise a combination of stainless steel, brass and copper plates. The plates are stacked, with a 0.5mm air gap between each plate. The box measures 80mm (W) x 35mm (H) and 111mm (D) and weighs 775 grams.

Picture taken from Kojo's website

There are two screw terminals at each end of the box. One terminal is used to connect the grounding cable to the component or Crystal EP plug, while the other end is used to daisy chain a second Crystal E Ground Box. Two ground cables of 1.2m length are thoughtfully provided in the package, one with spades on both ends, and the other with a spade and RCA plug.

You can use the Crystal EP plug alone, or connected to one or more Crystal E Ground boxes. Alternatively you could use the Crystal E Ground connected directly to the component in question. 

The Crystal EP Plug is made out of three pieces. The first piece is the termination plug and is interchangeable. The second piece is the main housing, and the last piece is the screw terminal that accepts the spade-terminated grounding wire that connects to the E Ground Box. This allows you to easily change the termination plug in case your needs change in the future, and also to stack the plugs if required. How you apply this product in your system is limited only by your imagination.

Sound Quality

Kojo is not my foray into grounding products, being a long-time user of Entreq ground boxes. Grounding accessories take a bit of experimentation to get right, with the results being very much system and component-dependent. Kojo products come in at a lower price-point compared to Entreq and are more compact, allowing you to deploy them in tight spaces.

The Crystal EP Plug increased focus and vocal texture, with more bass power. Dynamic contrast increased with instruments and vocals becoming more distinct. The effect was very noticeable with a 3.5mm EP Plug inserted into a Creative Soundblaster X4 DAC/headamp, with similar results pairing an RCA EP Plug with a Schitt Audio Freya+ preamp. Using twin RCA EP Plugs (on an unused input and output socket) increased the effect, but also sounded a bit too forceful and artificial for my taste. 

Linking the EP Plug to a Crystal E Ground Box increased the level of refinement across the board, and added a calm sereneness to the music. It also added midbass weight which balanced out the extra energy on the midrange and treble. This turned out to be my favourite combination in listening tests. 

As counter-intuitive as it sounds, do also try grounding the phono stage in your integrated amplifier (even if you don't play records). Attaching the Crystal E Ground Box to the ground lug of the Marantz 40N gave great sonic dividends, sorting out a vague and diffuse sound stage. 

I tried adding Crystal EP Plugs to the negative terminal of my speakers. While the effect was similar, I found it to be more subtle compared to tweaking the source equipment. As I only had a single Crystal E Ground Box on hand, I was not able to ground both plugs.

Conclusion

The Kojo Crystal EP Plug and Crystal E Ground Box earn an easy Best Buy award from me. Improve your system for a modest outlay! However, as with all grounding products, do try before you buy since tweaks of this nature are highly system-dependent. 

A big thank you goes out to Sky Audio Singapore, local distributor of Kojo products for providing the review samples. I personally purchased the EP Plug and Crystal E Ground Box.

Catch them too at International Sound & Sight Exhibition 2022. The show will be on 2-4 December at Holiday Inn Singapore Orchard City Centre, 11 Cavenagh Road, Singapore 229616.  

Kojo Technology

Crystal E Ground Box - S$ 450 per piece

Crystal EP Plug - S$ 225 per piece (promotional price)    

Sky Audio Singapore

28 Sin Ming Lane,

#05-137 Midview City

Singapore 573972

http://www.skyaudio.net

Telos Macro Q

Introduction

The Macro Q is a new device from Telos Audio Design to treat noise on your computer, NAS or streamer. Plug it in to any USB port and you are good to go. A special mention needs to be devoted to how well made this device is - the finish is absolutely gorgeous !

Looking very much like a small scale replica of it's larger relatives, the Macro Q is actually compact and light enough to be hanging from the USB port of your device of choice without any additional support.

However, a special cable (note the large gauge of the cable) is also provided to allow the Macro Q to be placed in tight situations. Operation is straightforward - plug it into any spare USB port and you are good to go. If all is well, you will be greeted by a light show from the unit. This is not a pass-through device (like the Audioquest Jitterbug), so you do need to have a spare port. 

Deployment is limited only by your imagination. Some users have taken to using the Macro Q on their network routers, AV setups or even in their cars to improve their stereo systems. Other claims of improved torque and BHP are unverified !

Sound Quality

The best description of the Macro Q’s effect is that it is a contrast and focus enhancement tool (to borrow a photography analogy). You get an immediate improvement in clarity across the audio band, with greater impact on the bass, and more extended highs. You can further tune the sound by experimenting with placement and support. Plugged into my Melco NAS, I found the additional clarity and high frequency energy to tip my system balance into brightness. The pig tail added some extra body and smoothness that suited my taste more. I also found that leaving the Macro Q dangling (whether from the pig tail or from the USB port) to impact the sound negatively, added a subtle smear to the sound. Adding a squishy footer to support the body of the Macro Q, or placing it on a wooden block improved things noticeably. With some ingenuity, I’m sure you could fashion some support out of children’s building blocks or the like.

Conclusion

This flexibility in tuning should help the Macro Q fit in a wide variety of systems. The efficacy of the Macro Q surprised me, given that the Melco is an audiophile grade NAS with great attention paid to minimising noise on both it’s network and USB ports. The Macro Q is well worth trying for anyone that is using computer audio as a source. 

I may also try the Macro Q on my Synology NAS, and my SoTM SMS-200 Ultra streamer - do check back for updates. 

The Macro Q is available at Audio Basic, local distributor for Telos Audio products.

Macro Q - S$ 360

Audio Basic
1 Coleman Street
#02-12, The Adelphi
Singapore 179803
Tel : 6338 3245

Finite Elemente Ceraball - The Return of a Classic

Introduction

Great audio accessories are like classic items, they never quite go out of style. Firmly resisting fashion and flavour-of-the-month things, they are able to withstand the test of time.

Finite Elemente has for many years been one of my favourite and go-to brands for footers. They were are Teutonic as you could get - precision engineered with a no-nonsense approach to improving the sound of your audio system. They were not cheap by any stretch of imagination, but good things seldom are. Besides, the sonic rewards were more than commensurate with your financial outlay.

It was with a bit of sadness then when I heard that Finite Elemente went out of business recently. Fret not - they are now back !

Description

The Ceraball sits at the bottom of the footer range, but some important changes have been made. I happened to have both the first and second generation Ceraball on hand, as well as the current third generation model, so here is a family photo.

The Ceraball has steadily gained weight over the years, just like my waistline. The first Ceraball model weighed 24 grams, growing to 55 grams for the second generation model. The current model weighs a whopping 154 grams. Needless to say, the bulk of this comes from a change of material from Aluminium to Stainless Steel (previously reserved only for higher end models). 

While the second and third generation Ceraball footers look similar, the ceramic ball bearing has also gained in size. Both the first and second generation ball bearing measured approximately 6.3 mm in diameter, while the latest ball bearing measures at 9.5 mm.

For those unfamiliar with the Ceraball, it is made out of two pieces. The top piece rests on a ceramic ball bearing that rests in a recess in the lower piece. The pieces fit snugly, with a small o-ring providing some damping. The Ceraball by itself is not height adjustable although you can level them if you have attached them using the threaded bolts supplied (both M6 and M8 bolts are supplied in the box). You can purchase the Ceraball in either a trio or quartet to a box. 

Sound Quality

I personally thought that both the second and third generation Ceraball footers sounded quite similar. Used under my Totaldac d1-six DAC (7 kg), there was a very noticeable clean-up of the sound, with added precision and focus to imaging and staging. High frequencies gained clarity, while bass was tighter and cleaner. Unlike most footers, the Ceraball is relatively neutral and does not alter the tone of your system too much. 

One key difference between the Ceraball and it's predecessor is bass authority. Perhaps it is the additional mass, but the new Ceraball has a heft and slam that is quite noticeable. If you are looking for an injection of dynamics into your system, these footers are well worth trying out. A more subtle difference is a slight increase in resolution and focus, although this is not a day and night difference.

However, I would still say that the Ceraball lacks the fluidity and organic flow of the Stillpoints Ultra SS which I use as my reference. In comparison, the Ceraball has a drier and more analytical sound. Given that the Stillpoints are three times the price of the Ceraball, this criticism is easily overlooked. 

Conclusion

Given the very modest increase in price, I was very pleased at the improvements that the latest Ceraball were able to bring to the table. They redefine the reference point at this price range and are highly recommended. For outstanding value, they are also a Best Buy.

Thanks to the local distributor for Finite Elemente, Qubes Audio for arranging for my review set. Needless to say, I purchased the review set. 

Finite Elemente Ceraball
Price - S$380 for a set of four, S$ 285 for a set of three.

Qubes Audio
http://www.qubesaudio.com

  

Daedalus Audio DiD and LessLoss Bindbreaker Footers

Daedalus Audio DiD


This is my first encounter with a Daedalus Audio product. Daedalus is the father of Icarus in Greek mythology and a skillful craftsman and artist. The story of the wings fashioned by him to enable the escape of both Icarus and himself is most well-known - in particular, the tragic end of Icarus who did not heed his father's advice not to fly too high lest the wax holding the feathers together melt.

Coming back to the present time, Daedalus Audio is most well-known for it's hand-crafted speakers, featuring hand-crafted cabinets and high efficiency designs without the use of horns.

The DiD (Daedalus isolation Devices) are footers that use dissimilar materials to dissipate resonance coupled with bearings to isolate the component from vibration. The DiD is made from highly polished Aluminium, solid Cherry and Brass with steel bearings.

Additional felts pads are supplied to further tune the sound. A smaller pad fits in between the bearings and the wood top, while a larger pad can be used under the base of the DiD. I did not use either of the supplied pads since I needed the return the DiD after evaluation.

The DiD is very nicely made and all parts fitted together with very close tolerances. This is certainly made with pride and it shows !

Sonics wise, the DiD falls somewhere in between a bearing type footer (e.g. the models from Finite Elemente and Stillpoints) and wooden cones, combining precision with warmth and smoothness. It cleaned up the soundstage, improving placement and separation of instruments. It also added a very natural decay to notes. The warmth and smoothness imparted is quite subtle and you never get the feeling that information is being obscured or smoothed over. If you like your music sweet, overtly warm and with a lot of bloom, the DiD will not satisfy. Neither will it tick the boxes if you like your music with a razor sharp edge and pacing with military precision. Instead, the DiD strikes a careful balance between both. Who says you can't have your cake and eat it ? This is an easy one - Highly Recommended.

LessLoss Bindbreaker

Here is an accessory that sounds more like a magic spell. LessLoss should be a familiar name to many of you, with their reputation made on their power cables and conditioners. 

The Bindbreaker is made out of three parts. The small wood hexagon on top is connected to the large midsection via a hard metal bolt, and has a small amount of free play built in. The idea is to transmit vibrations rapidly to the steel plate underneath, and the matrix of attached bolts. The bolts in turn transmit the vibrations to the bottom wood hexagon which damp the vibrations. 

I noticed that in practical use, not all the steel bolt heads would make contact with the bottom wood hexagon. I would guess that the wood would flex slightly under heavy weight, but certainly not under my rather lightweight Totaldac DAC.

Sonically, the Bindbreaker is cooler in tone compared to the DiD. It cleans up the soundstage and improves imaging, but it has a more analytical presentation with drier albeit tighter bass lines. While the Bindbreaker never sounded sharp or sterile, it had less bloom, with tightly focussed images. The sense of air and decay was also less. 

While I preferred the DiD in my setup, the Bindbreaker turned in decent performance and is worthy of further investigation - it really is a matter of taste.

Both the DiD and Bindbreaker can be purchased from Horizon Acoustics. Thanks to KM Poon of Horizon Acoustics for his review samples !


Daedalus Audio DiD

Price : USD 160 each

Lessloss Bindbreaker Footers

Price : USD 160 each

Horizon Acoustics
144 Upper Bukit Timah Road

#03-15 Beauty World Centre
Singapore 588177

Telephone : 91259149

Website : http://www.horizonacoustics.com

LessLoss Firewall Current Conditioning Unit

Introduction

Mains conditioning is often an essential tool in achieving good results from quality equipment, unless you happened to be blessed with good mains power. You have transformer based solutions, such as isolation or balanced power transformers. You also have capacitor based filtering, which tackle a certain frequency range based on the tuning of the circuit. There are also other approaches such as choke filtering and power regeneration. 

Description

The LessLoss Firewall Module uses the company's proprietary skin filtering technology first seen in their power cords. The wire surface is treated to allow the mains frequency to travel through efficiently (50 Hz or 60 Hz as the case maybe), while attenuating high frequency noise. Since no capacitors are used in the process, there is no limiting of current.

The LessLoss Firewall Module (hereinafter referred to as "Firewall") is available in two versions, a module with C13 and C14 connectors, and a module with screw terminals. The former would allow quick hookup between any component and  your existing AC cable, while the latter would be more suited for direct installation inside a component, mains distributor or any other application limited by your imagination. 

C13 / C14 version

Deploying the Firewall definitely made a difference to the sound, although its effectiveness seems to be quite dependent on the component being used. In my office head-fi setup, using a single piece on my Marantz CD 6003 cd player worked best in firming up bass lines, reducing harshness on high frequencies, and improving the preciseness of imaging and staging. However, the system became overly dull and smooth when adding a second unit to my Schitt Lyr headamp. Similarly underwhelming results were obtained when I tried stacking two modules together.

 

I had mixed results on various locations, such as my Gryphon Diablo integrated amplifier and my Zodiac Antelope Platinum DAC. I hit the jackpot when I moved the LessLoss module to my Audio-Gd NFB 10.2 DAC / headamp, with very similar improvements as noted on my Marantz CD 6003.

 

While the Firewall did not work as a fit-and-forget solution, the results under ideal conditions were intriguing enough to warrant further investigation. I promptly bought two units of the DIY version for further experimentation. 

To be continued ...

UpTone Audio USB REGEN

Introduction

USB isn't always what it is cracked up to be. Not too long ago, asynchronous mode USB audio seemed to be the perfect solution for all problems in audiophile life. The problem is that the quality of implementation varied tremendously. Some DACs pulled it off really well, while some were just underwhelming compared to their SPDIF inputs. 

Anyway, you can never keep a good audiophile down, and many resorted to offboard USB to SPDIF convertors to save the day. In fact, you will find numerous threads debating on the sonic differences between the various devices on the market.

Let's throw another device into the fray.

Description

The UpTone Audio USB REGEN is a small nifty device that fits between your computer / streamer and the USB input of your DAC. It combines a USB hub chip with an ultra-low noise regulator and low-jitter clock to regenerate your data signal. 

Instead of drawing on the voltage of your PC / streamer, it takes the power from an external power supply and provides a regulated and cleaner 5V to your DAC. A switch mode power supply brick manufactured by Meanwell is supplied to do the job, although UpTone encourages you to experiment with a nicer linear power supply. 

Also included in the package is a male / male USB A / B adapter, so that you can directly hang the REGEN from your DAC, as well as a 6 inch cable in case you don't have the space to do that.

The REGEN has a LED to indicate operation, and a DC socket to accept a voltage from 6-9V DC. You could even use a 12V DC supply provided you a certain that your USB input draws minimal or no power at all.

Sound Quality

I tried the REGEN with a variety of equipment, both DACs and a USB / SPDIF convertor. Similar to my experience with the Astin Trew Concord Powered USB cable system (review here), the REGEN made an improvement in all situations, even for equipment which did not draw power from the computer over the USB cable. It made an obvious improvement even for the Linnenberg Vivace DAC, which boasts a galvanically isolated USB circuit.  

To be continued ...

Entreq Olympus Ground Box

Introduction

Entreq of Sweden has been busy over the last few years, with the release of a number of new ground boxes, and add-on devices for existing models too. Please have a look at my earlier post on the Entreq Tellus and Eartha silver cables for more information on how these ground boxes work. 

Description

The Olympus is the new top of the range of Entreq's mini ground boxes. It is physically larger than the previous mini box range, and the 9 kg weight is quite substantial. This box is definitely more midi than mini.

The Olympus has a single silver binding post on the rear and is described by Entreq as being designed to ground preamplifiers and DACs, or as a ground for their cables and AC conditioners. The wooden feet appear to be a new design, and are nice oval wood discs compared to the very basic feet on my Tellus.

Sound Quality

I tried the Olympus is a variety of locations. I first  tried it attached to the grounding post of my Gryphon Diablo integrated amplifier (Entreq recommends their larger models for such applications), but the effect seemed to unbalance the coherency of the system.  I ended up doing most of my listening with the Olympus connected to the ground point of my DAC (in my bedroom system) and preamp (in my main system). Like the Entreq ground boxes I currently own, the Olympus needs to "settle down", with the sound stabilizing over a day or two. I used my Eartha Silver cables to make all necessary connections. 

The effect of the Olympus has some similarities to the Tellus, with an improvement in imaging and soundstaging, and enhanced detail retrieval. However, the similarities end there - the Olympus has a more forceful and dynamic sound, compared to the calmer and more laidback presentation of the Tellus. Bass gains authority, while midrange presence moves up a notch or two. This results in a more energetic and intimate performance, as the staging moves forward a few rows.

Leading edge definition is also increased, together with tonal density and dynamic contrast. This results in a sonic picture with more "pop" and dynamics. If your system is lacking in life and vitality, the Olympus could really be the adrenaline boost needed. On the other hand, if your system needs a calming influence, the Tellus is probably a better bet.

According to other user reports, the choice of grounding cable is also critical. I could not experiment there since I only had the Eartha Silver cables on hand.

Conclusion

The effect of the Olympus (or any ground device for that matter) is system dependent. I got the best results in my bedroom system, with a less potent change in my main system (although the changes were along broadly similar lines). A home trial would be mandatory, to find the the model best suited for your system and taste. 

I have been using Entreq ground boxes in my system for a few years now and highly recommend them. 

This review model was arranged by Mr. D.C. Swee of X-Audio Pte Ltd, the local dealer for Entreq. 

Entreq Olympus
Local Promotional Price - S$ 2,800

X Audio Pte Ltd
1 Jalan Anak Bukit
#01-01S Bukit Timah Plaza
Singapore 588996
http://www.xaudio.com.sg

Plixir Elementa Power Cable

Introduction

Sound Affairs recently launched their in-house Plixir Elementa Power Cable. This is almost certainly a sign of things to come - Mr. James Soh, principal of Sound Affairs, hinted that a number of other cables are expected under the Plixir label.

Description

The Elementa is a supple and flexible cable which should minimise routing headaches. James advised that the Elementa is designed for low current applications, e.g. source equipment. It is also available in a variety of lengths and termination options. 

The review samples provided were terminated in Japanese Meikosha AC and Schurter IEC plugs. In use, they provided a firm and reassuring grip.

Sound Quality

The modest price tag is likely to appeal to audiophiles on starter systems, or with tight budget constraints.

In comparison to a stock power cord, bass notes took on a tighter, deeper and more articulate quality. Midrange was a bit laidback with a smooth and warm tone. Some subtle detail was lost there, but as a trade-off, this flattered sibilant and harsh recordings. Treble had a slight uplift, with increased clarity and separation. There was also a noticeable improvement in image definition and soundstage stability.


Conclusion

The Elementa power cable is a sensible and cost-effective upgrade, far exceeding my expectations. 

There are better power cords out in the market, but at much higher price brackets. The Elementa does a lot of things right and given the very reasonable price tag, this is definitely a winner.

Highly recommended.

Pricing

1 m    $89

1.5 m $119
2 m    $149  

Sound Affairs Pte Ltd

100 Beach Road, Shaw Tower
#02-34/35
Singapore 189702
http://mysoundaffairs.com

Sounds Affairs Plixir Balanced DC Power Supply and Balanced AC Power Conditioner

Introduction

Sound Affairs is a relatively new name in the local hi-fi scene, although it's principal, Mr. James Soh is a name familiar to many local audiophiles, especially for his previous work under the banner of Effective Audio Mod. 

Sound Affairs marks his move into a full-time retail business, with both sales and distribution of a complete range of hi-fi equipment, while continuing with modification work.

Sound Affairs offers a number of unique made-to-order products, including a DC power supply, and balanced AC power conditioner, which are the subject of this review.

I took the opportunity to ask James some questions about his approach to design in coming up with these products.

Design and Philosophy

James explained that that the Plixir Balanced DC Power Supply takes a unique approach. The custom wound transformer provides a balanced AC voltage supply (read on further for benefits of balanced AC power). Only two diodes are used for rectification instead of four. James believes that this is beneficial as all diodes create noise and distortion, so the less diodes used, the better. This topology, however requires the transformer to be double in power rating, increasing size and cost. The voltage regulation is done in two stages. The first regulation stage eliminates most of the voltage ripple, leaving an easier job for the second stage to handle. This also allows the heat to be distributed across both regulators, lowering temperature conditions. As a result, you get lower thermal noise and drift, better reliability etc. James mentioned that many single stage DC power supplies boast high attenuation of ripple at lower current, but as load current increases, the ripple increases as well. Only a two stage (or more) design can effectively solve this issue to ensure a low noise power supply to the load at high current.

Other design features include high speed, fast recovery diodes, and used of snubbers across these diodes.

Coming to AC power conditioning, I asked James on his views on balanced AC power versus other methods, e.g. noise filtering using capacitors, chokes or power regeneration. He drew parallels between the use of his balanced transformer to the output transformer of a tube amplifier. A tube amplifier output transformer couples the high impedance of the power tubes to present a low output impedance on the amplifier's output. Similarly, his  balanced transformer is designed to couple the high impedance of the power line to present a low output impedance source of AC power. He mentioned that balanced power is commonly used in professional audio to resolve ground loop and noise issues. The transformer used in his Balanced AC Power Conditioner is also lossy at high frequencies, while being efficient at the 50 Hz mains frequency used locally. This helps to filter out high frequency pollution on the mains line.

In comparison, James felt that mains filtration using capacitors is a hit-and-miss affair, as there is guesswork involved in the effective range of the filters. Further, the choice of capacitor influences the tone of the system. As for inductors, his view was that these limit current and adversely affect impedance by adding resistance, and distort the AC wave form.

James acknowledged that power regeneration has many benefits but had reservations on the transient speed and dynamics. The AC/DC/AC conversion was to him an unnecessarily complicated approach. The "speed" of DC supply was also a question mark, as the chemical conversion to electricity (whether through the discharge of capacitors, or drawing from a battery supply) may not be quick enough to cope with fast fluctuations in current demand. Long term reliability is also impacted by heat and the complexity of the design.

Plixir Balanced DC Power Supply

The Plixir Balanced DC Power Supply is a compact power supply housed in a simple but smartly finished aluminum box. The rear panel contains the IEC inlet, a fuse holder, the power switch, and a socket for the detachable DC lead. The supplied lead is of high quality and comes with a locking collar.

In operation, it runs cool to the touch even when left on permanently. 

I purchased a 15 V DC model to power my Auralic Aries. Prior to that, I was using another well regarded linear power supply, which sounded better than the stock switched mode power supply,  but too dark and lacking in air for my taste. 

The Plixir was noticeably superior in all aspects, sounding more open, faster, while retaining a solid bass foundation and quiet background. Unlike most upgrades that involve some kind of trade-off, this was an all round improvement and easy to recommend. 

Plixir Balanced AC Power Conditioner

Plixir BAC 800

I was provided two different models for purpose of this review, a BAC 150 and BAC 800 (the model number denotes the rating of the conditioner in watts). 

A number of build options are offered, including upgraded AC outlets, UPOCC internal wiring and Bybee Quantum Purifiers. The units I tested were stock models, which were supplied with high quality Meikosha outlets from Japan.

Similar to the DC power supply, both units ran cool (neither were loaded beyond 50 % of their maximum rating throughout my period of review).

A number of combinations were tried in both of my setups.

1. BAC 150 with source equipment in my main listening room

I tried the BAC 150 first with an Audio-Gd NFB-10ES2 headamp / DAC and also my Cary CD-500, which are in my main listetning room. The power quality there is the highest and most of the audio equipment do not share power lines with noisy household appliances and the like.

Bass quality improved with a nice increase in heft and slam. There was also a noticeable reduction in the noise floor, and the enhancement of detail. The midrange took on a smoother and more laidback feel. I felt that this came at the expense of a darker tonality and a slight reduction of "air".

I did not try my amplifiers with the BAC 800 as their current draw exceed the unit's rating.

2. BAC 800 with Antelope Zodiac Platinum and Job 225

My bedroom setup is less fortunate. It sits on the same line with a whole range of things, including a Plasma TV set, a cable set top box, alarm clock and a computer. 

First, I tried the much bigger BAC 800, with both my source and amplifier plugged into the conditioner. 

Interestingly, I did not notice any mellowness, or reduction in "air" here. I would think that most people would be suitably impressed with this combination. 

Bass was tighter, more extended, and dynamic. You could really feel the added extension, drive and energy of bass lines.

Soundstaging also improved in depth, while there was improvement in detail, separation and refinement. This was most noticeable on heavy mixes, where the additional coherence and detail retrieval allowed you to follow the separate instrument lines clearly. 

3. BAC 800 with Antelope Zodiac Platinum

I also tried hooking up just my source to the BAC 800, with the Job 225 plugged directly into the wall.

The reason I tried this was to see whether the conditioner was restricting current to the power amplifier. This did not seem to be the case here.I actually thought that this sounded worse compared to having both my source and the Job 225 plugged into the BAC 800.

4. BAC 150 with Antelope Zodiac Platinum, and BAC 800 with Job 225

James had in fact suggested that I try out using two separate conditioners,and had supplied me with two sets for this purpose. 

While the system tonality was similar to just using the BAC 800 alone, there was significant improvement in soundstaging, high frequency extension, low level resolution, and a modest improvement in all the other audiophile niceties observed earlier.

I happened to be listening to a live recording, and you could really feel the acoustic space of the venue, and the reverb from the vocalist and accompanying instruments. 

In fact, I would rate the step-up in improvement moving from one to two balanced power supplies to be on par with the improvement going from stock to a single balanced power supply. I had no reservations using this combination and it was nice to be able to have your cake and eat it too !

Conclusion

I was very pleased with the performance of both products. The DC Power Supply makes an excellent alternative to the multitude of other power supplies out on the market, and the ability to work with someone locally to provide custom options is a boon.

While the benefits of the Balanced AC Power Conditioner is more dependent on the quality of your mains power supply, I was suitably impressed with the BAC 800, and even more impressed using the BAC 800 in combination with the BAC 150.

The Plixir line impressed me with it's good build quality, reasonable pricing and outstanding performance. Highly recommended.

I would like to thank James Soh of Sound Affairs Pte Ltd for his time in answering my questions and for supplying the review units.

Specifications and Price

Plixir Balanced DC Power Supply

Specifications and dimensions vary with voltage and maximum current.
Price - S$ 449 upwards

Plixir BAC 150 Balanced AC Power Conditioner 

150 watts
Two outlets
Weight - 4 kg
Dimensions - 220 mm x 50 mm x 225 mm
Price - S$ 450


Plixir BAC 800 Balanced AC Power Conditioner

800 watts
Four outlets
Weight - 9 kg
Dimensions - 144 mm x 155 mm x 250 mm

Price - S$ 1,190

Sound Affairs Pte Ltd
100 Beach Road, Shaw Tower
#02-34/35
Singapore 189702
http://mysoundaffairs.com