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Walker Audio Extreme SST

I don't believe it... I friggin' well don't believe it... But I hear it. Ann hears it.

Lloyd's new Extreme SST is yet another step better than the original SST (Super Silver Treatment contact enhancer).

This weekend was devoted to system tweaking. A "minor" turntable update that turned out to be HUGE, followed by experimentation with Walker Audio's new Extreme SST.

Some months ago we'd already used the original SST on our interconnects and speaker cables: WOW! The increase in resolution and clarity was palpable. Everything you may have read about how great this stuff is is absolutely true. Now Lloyd comes out with Extreme SST, which he says is "taking SST to a new level of wow!" So, okay, we'll try it. Lloyd's recommendations have a perfect track record in this household for being right on the money: I always start somewhat skeptical, only to be astonished yet again by that wizard of audio. This weekend's venture was to prove to be yet another trip down that path.

So, first a critical listening session with three system challenging music selections we enjoy. Then, all the old SST gets removed (it wipes right off with an isopropyl alcohol soaked Q-tip), then these same connections get treated with Extreme SST. Controlled test here: nothing else changed, no new connections treated, just the original connections for interconnects and speaker cables. Then we play two hours worth of music to let everything break in again before listening.

Now we sit down to play the three music selections we listened to at the outset of the process: the last few minutes of Stravinsky's Firebird (Dorati, Mercury/Classic Records), the very end of Mendelssohn's Symphony 3 (Scottish Symphony) (Maag, Decca/Speakers Corner), and the very beginning of Shostakovich String Quartet No. 8 (Borodin Qt, Decca/Speakers Corner). No talking: write down your impressions separately, compare only after all the music selections are over.

And when we share our written comments the results are virtually identical. Ann: "increased resolution, increased clarity." Rush: "increased clarity, resolution and staging specificity, somewhat cleaner leading edges to transients."

And this is on top of what the ORIGINAL SST delivered!

So what next? What else can you expect: the rest of the Sunday spent treating with Extreme SST every previously untreated connection, which includes phono cartridge pins, power cord connections, fuses, and every tube pin in this entire system (that's a lot of tubes here). Results: after two hours I'm beginning to get a sense of a system that sounds like the windows have been newly washed for dramatically improved clarity. It will take another several hours for the SST on the cartridge pins to fully break in, so even more will come.

Should you get Extreme SST? I dunno if it will be worth the extra cost to you over the original version. BUT YOU OWE IT TO YOURSELF TO USE ONE OR THE OTHER IN YOUR SYSTEM! The improvement SST provides is remarkable and should be part of every audiophiles system set-up procedure.
http://www.walkeraudio.com/sst.htm

For the other skeptics among us, here are links to other people's reviews and thoughts about Walker Audio's original SST:
Positive Feedback's Brutus Award and full review (David Robinson)...
http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue16/brutus04dr.htm
http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue13/walkeraudiosst.htm
6moons.com Blue Moon Award (Srajan Ebaen)...
http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/walker3/SST.html
Stereo Times (Clement Perry)...
http://www.stereotimes.com/acc092704.shtm
Enjoy the Music (Bill Gaw)...
http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/viewpoint/0304/aachapter54.htm
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128x128rushton
raytheprinter's avatar
raytheprinter
1,234 posts
 
hello Rushton,you have convinced me to give SST a try,,
rtn1
535 posts
 
I also applied Extreme SST this weekend. As I plugged the main powercord in and fire came out of the outlet, I knew that this was going to be interesting. (Make sure everything is off when you plug it in!)

I have not tried the originial version, but I'd agree with what you say. It will take several days for my equipment to break-in after unplugging everything. Immediately I noticed an increase in detail. The soundstage became more focused, the background became blacker, the decay of the instruments more apparent, sound of the instrument was richer, and an increase in the ambience of the venue. There was also a little more leanness, but I suspect this will go away once the equipment is on for several days.

I'd say that this is a worthwhile tweak, particularly when factoring the price. I've also been very happy with Walker's Vivid Enhancer, and apply it to all my CDs to a subtle but worthwhile improvement.

Rob
oneprof
147 posts
 
Rushton, I have to agree with you. I had everything coated with the original SST, then about a month ago I replaced it with extreme SST, and yes, it is better, does even more than the original. I sent it to a buddy of mine to try, don't think he's used it yet though.
mprime
92 posts
 
Okay, this is my primary thought:

I'd love to *measure* the psycho-acoustical impact of SST.

I know Rushton to be one of the more responsible posters on the 'gon. I also know these tweaks do make a difference. But when I read:

"...after two hours I'm beginning to get a sense of a system that sounds like the windows have been newly washed for dramatically improved clarity."

I think: I've heard this before....

Then when I attach a catch phrase to a manufacture statement like:

"SST's ultra-pure micro-flaked silver treated with a special deep immersion cryogenic treatment. Amazing!"

I ask: how far a jump is it to attach a stock phrase to a suggested improvement? And even stipulating the fact that SST offers improvement, is it that dramatic? Enough to pay $150?

There is little doubt the topic of psycho-acoustics has been discussed here *many* times. A part of the discussions always swings over to double blind testing, and of course, the problems with such methods. Still, there is ample evidence that we are creatures prone to exaggerate facts, and in this case, such exaggeration costs $150 dollars.

Now, there's no questioning Walker's commitment to audio, and attempting to bring products to the market which increase our pleasure. Yet it is also clear that Walker's products fetch a huge price premium, thus, the attempt to reconcile the value of that cost is warranted (I offer Walker Vivid v. Shinola as an example). Therefore, I feel one is justified in bringing this topic up - on this thread - and the raising of this issue is not trolling or flame-bait or any other destructive activity.

In other words: I'd like to discuss this.

Not trash Rushton, SST, or me :-)

Sincerely,

Lee
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