So, I received my dual set of Bob's Aether Audio Black Boxes last week, the day or two before Teajay got his (we were kidding Bob about who would be next; I guess cuz I'm such a huge SP Tech customer and fan I got mine first? Just kidding...I ordered first I think). Anyway, I have them placed between my SP tech Revelation Mundorf crossover boxes and my Revelation speaker terminals.
Note: keep in mind that my impressions are really as much about the Smith Cell technology as the rest of the BB, cuz I had Bob's prototype r/c network hanging off my speaker terminals for the past few months and reported that they really smoothed out the overall FR, and provided even more dynamics than before (like I needed more).
So, I let the BB's settle in for a couple days...but I must first say that dead cold, from the USP truck, the differences, the improvements, were noticeable on literally the first note (Cowboy Junkies Whites Off Earth Now). The overall noise floor has dropped, the gain seems to have increased, and the whole soundstage got about 30% wider and deeper. Huge dynamics (more, give me more) made it feel like my speakers had grown in model size (which is tough cuz Bob hasn't made a model bigger than the Revs yet). In fact, I told Bob and Teajay that my very first impressions were scary...that maybe my speakers are now too big for my room (which is not true, see below, but it's my first impression)!
Well, after the BB's settled in, warmed up, and I got some sleep (listened that night for quite awhile) I realize that the effects I'm hearing are simply more "there" there. As Teajay so eloquently puts it, the image density has increased...images once floating in space are now fleshed out and securely occupying their rightful area, three dimensionally. Ambient cues, microdetail, are no longer just little "foley effects" in the music, but a clear effect of some musical cause.....this is goofy to say, but more music now sounds more correct..I now "get it" with some recordings that were earlier less cohesive.. in that the echoes, the ambient spaces, the air..all interact with more sense...they come together better and portrays a real recording venue...especially on those wonderful minimally mic'd recordings.
Bob has hit a home run here, and anyone who feels that their amp/speaker relationship is good now..just wait until the BB's create a sense as if there is no cable present at all...just amp fused to the back of the speaker.
Pretty impressive for $500/pair? WOW!!
Note: keep in mind that my impressions are really as much about the Smith Cell technology as the rest of the BB, cuz I had Bob's prototype r/c network hanging off my speaker terminals for the past few months and reported that they really smoothed out the overall FR, and provided even more dynamics than before (like I needed more).
So, I let the BB's settle in for a couple days...but I must first say that dead cold, from the USP truck, the differences, the improvements, were noticeable on literally the first note (Cowboy Junkies Whites Off Earth Now). The overall noise floor has dropped, the gain seems to have increased, and the whole soundstage got about 30% wider and deeper. Huge dynamics (more, give me more) made it feel like my speakers had grown in model size (which is tough cuz Bob hasn't made a model bigger than the Revs yet). In fact, I told Bob and Teajay that my very first impressions were scary...that maybe my speakers are now too big for my room (which is not true, see below, but it's my first impression)!
Well, after the BB's settled in, warmed up, and I got some sleep (listened that night for quite awhile) I realize that the effects I'm hearing are simply more "there" there. As Teajay so eloquently puts it, the image density has increased...images once floating in space are now fleshed out and securely occupying their rightful area, three dimensionally. Ambient cues, microdetail, are no longer just little "foley effects" in the music, but a clear effect of some musical cause.....this is goofy to say, but more music now sounds more correct..I now "get it" with some recordings that were earlier less cohesive.. in that the echoes, the ambient spaces, the air..all interact with more sense...they come together better and portrays a real recording venue...especially on those wonderful minimally mic'd recordings.
Bob has hit a home run here, and anyone who feels that their amp/speaker relationship is good now..just wait until the BB's create a sense as if there is no cable present at all...just amp fused to the back of the speaker.
Pretty impressive for $500/pair? WOW!!