Opinions on Walker High Definition Links


I think I have become a tweaker. I tried the Walker SST silver cream and was favorably impressed. I am now thinking about the Walker HDL's and would appreciate any observations you might have on this product. Current setup includes Audio Physic Virgo II speakers, Rogue M150 amps, Camelot Uther IV DAC/Preamp, Theta Basic II transport and Tara Labs air 1 interconnects and speaker cable. I have been researching component upgrades but have not found anything exciting that doesn't require a hugh capital outlay therefore I am looking at tweaks to optimize my current system.
Thanks
Steve
sgunther
I've had them on my Silverlines and would never think of taking them off. Most of the responders here have pretty much summed them up when they describe them as opening up a more unforced character to the music ... the sound simply becomes subtly more natural and relaxed but with no negatives attached (at least in my scenario). With the detail your Virgos already render it might be an interesting combo to see how much of it should remain intact yet emerge with an extra dollop of richness... If i'm not mistaken, your Rogue 150 monos are a lot like my VTL MB-125's and also offer a tetrode/triode switch? I find the tetrode setting to be perfect with the HDL's but feel the only sacrifice might be just a bit too much "warmness" when I switch to triode unless I'm really playing a selection that prefers it (or if I'm listening late at night and we're setting an altogether different mood...). But then again, with my speakers this is what I'd expect. I use to own AP Tempo 3's and absolutely loved them for many good reasons (the imaging, the detail, the soundstage, ) all the things AP is known for ("No loss of fine detail"). The HDL's might work well for you therefore with the Virgos, in both amp modes. For the potential improvement they are not an expensive tweak and I'd almost go so far as to say that for many owners of them (at least for myself) if forced to step - back or downgrade something for some reason, we would rather swap out an I/C here or a P/C there than to relinquish that last sense of naturalness our systems seems to acquire with the HDL's in place. Just my 2 cents... Good luck and happy lissnin.
I would just reitterate in light of lissner's reponse that IME the HDLs are a bout cleaner which translates to every part of the spectrum including bass, such that although the highs being more sweetly transparant can leave the sound "warmer", at least in my system and theothers I've heard them in the bass was significantly cleaned up leavingit more textured, not made warmer.
Yeah these tweaks are expensive, but you probably will only buy one for life...
In short: major improvement for my Kharma 3.2s. (About as significant a change as a major cable upgrade). Removes just about all brittleness; much more natural vocals (no more buzziness). Tighter, clearer, bass, too (although not any deeper or more pronounced).
Overall, for lack of a better term, deWilsonizes the sound.
Has anyone compared the Mark III HDLs with the Reference HDLs? And had anyone compared HDLs with any of Jack Bybee's devices?