Friends,
This is Bob from Aether Audio. Below are some links you may find useful. The first is a PDF price list for the Black Boxes
http://aetheraudio.com/100109%20BB%20Price%20List.pdf
Then this next one is a white paper I recently wrote that suggests WHY different metals in conductors may sound different.
http://aetheraudio.com/Sub-Debye%20Phase%20Distortion%20rev1%20.pdf
The above paper was the result of my deeper research into the Black Box. To be quite honest, I had done some preliminary research into the possible science behind how different metals might sound different. Without digging much deeper, I sort of "jumped" to a conclusion (more of a guess than anything) as to what was going on, and then thought about what may be a way to reduce the undesirable effects. In all honesty, the white paper above was written AFTER I discovered that the Smith Cell actually worked. Before I or NuForce really started marketing them I HAD to understand just what was really going on. Talk about an education in Solid-State physics! Besides looking like a snake-oil salesman if I couldn't explain how they work, we also intended to apply for a patent as well, and you HAVE to have a solid science foundation in order to get one of those.
OK... so I built this little thing I called the "Smith Cell" just to see what it would do. Having come from a very science based engineering background, I was a total skeptic and honestly didn't think the thing would have any effect at all. I knew it couldn't do any harm, but seriously doubted it would make one iota of difference - good or bad.
Well, much to my surprise... the darn thing worked! Talk about serendipity? I was only tinkering around and never really had any intention of developing a product. My main thing has alsways been speakers (before now under the SP Technology name)and I only got involved in it all as a byproduct of my own curiosity.
So then, I built a few and the feedback was remarkable. Before long I figured I'd get swamped with orders and would need to out-source their construction, as one guy (me)could never keep up if they really started taking off. Anyway, I went to my good friends at NuForce to see if they could help. An evaluation pair was sent to them, and the next thing you know they thought they were so good that they wanted to market them under their own name.
That led to the NuForce Magic Cube AND my working for them as well in further product design, marketing, technical writing and high-end product technical support. AND... I still get to market the technology under my own Aether Audio brand... at twice the price though. You see, the agreement is that I can't directly compete with them from a price standpoint.
Therefore, my "Black Box" version incorporates all Mundorf Silver-Gold (about the best I think) wiring and your choice of Cardas binding posts for both inputs and outputs (I can include custom ones from other vendors of your choice too). There is also the option to add a selector switch which allows you to adjust the BBs for optimal performance with your particular amp. The switch engages one of 3 filters, or without the switch they are built with one filter to match your amp and it is permanent such that it cannot be changed to a different one at a later date. Finally, there are several options for locating the switch and/or posts, as well as the option of adding mounting brackets. See below:
http://aetheraudio.com/100109%20BB%20Price%20List.pdf
As far as the NuForce version goes, they offer at least 95% the perforance that the Aether Audio version does, and at 50% the price or less. You can purchase the base "Smith Cell" section alone for $249.00 each, or add the optional filter for another $49.00 each. See here:
http://www.nuforce.com/hi/products/magic-cube/index.php
In my opinion, most folks will get the most value from the NuForce version, as I designed it myself and it meets all of the same basic performance criteria of my Aether Audio version. The only difference between the two is whatever marginal gains the Mundorf wiring and Cardas binding posts may offer, and/or the convenience that the switch and other options offered in the Aether Audio version.
So... that's the story - or at least the beginning anyway. The rest is being told one pair at a time by you folks. Will they improve your system? I'd like to say positively that they will - but... you know how such things go. All I can say is that there's a pretty good chance that they will, considering their track record so far!
Take care, :-)
-Bob
This is Bob from Aether Audio. Below are some links you may find useful. The first is a PDF price list for the Black Boxes
http://aetheraudio.com/100109%20BB%20Price%20List.pdf
Then this next one is a white paper I recently wrote that suggests WHY different metals in conductors may sound different.
http://aetheraudio.com/Sub-Debye%20Phase%20Distortion%20rev1%20.pdf
The above paper was the result of my deeper research into the Black Box. To be quite honest, I had done some preliminary research into the possible science behind how different metals might sound different. Without digging much deeper, I sort of "jumped" to a conclusion (more of a guess than anything) as to what was going on, and then thought about what may be a way to reduce the undesirable effects. In all honesty, the white paper above was written AFTER I discovered that the Smith Cell actually worked. Before I or NuForce really started marketing them I HAD to understand just what was really going on. Talk about an education in Solid-State physics! Besides looking like a snake-oil salesman if I couldn't explain how they work, we also intended to apply for a patent as well, and you HAVE to have a solid science foundation in order to get one of those.
OK... so I built this little thing I called the "Smith Cell" just to see what it would do. Having come from a very science based engineering background, I was a total skeptic and honestly didn't think the thing would have any effect at all. I knew it couldn't do any harm, but seriously doubted it would make one iota of difference - good or bad.
Well, much to my surprise... the darn thing worked! Talk about serendipity? I was only tinkering around and never really had any intention of developing a product. My main thing has alsways been speakers (before now under the SP Technology name)and I only got involved in it all as a byproduct of my own curiosity.
So then, I built a few and the feedback was remarkable. Before long I figured I'd get swamped with orders and would need to out-source their construction, as one guy (me)could never keep up if they really started taking off. Anyway, I went to my good friends at NuForce to see if they could help. An evaluation pair was sent to them, and the next thing you know they thought they were so good that they wanted to market them under their own name.
That led to the NuForce Magic Cube AND my working for them as well in further product design, marketing, technical writing and high-end product technical support. AND... I still get to market the technology under my own Aether Audio brand... at twice the price though. You see, the agreement is that I can't directly compete with them from a price standpoint.
Therefore, my "Black Box" version incorporates all Mundorf Silver-Gold (about the best I think) wiring and your choice of Cardas binding posts for both inputs and outputs (I can include custom ones from other vendors of your choice too). There is also the option to add a selector switch which allows you to adjust the BBs for optimal performance with your particular amp. The switch engages one of 3 filters, or without the switch they are built with one filter to match your amp and it is permanent such that it cannot be changed to a different one at a later date. Finally, there are several options for locating the switch and/or posts, as well as the option of adding mounting brackets. See below:
http://aetheraudio.com/100109%20BB%20Price%20List.pdf
As far as the NuForce version goes, they offer at least 95% the perforance that the Aether Audio version does, and at 50% the price or less. You can purchase the base "Smith Cell" section alone for $249.00 each, or add the optional filter for another $49.00 each. See here:
http://www.nuforce.com/hi/products/magic-cube/index.php
In my opinion, most folks will get the most value from the NuForce version, as I designed it myself and it meets all of the same basic performance criteria of my Aether Audio version. The only difference between the two is whatever marginal gains the Mundorf wiring and Cardas binding posts may offer, and/or the convenience that the switch and other options offered in the Aether Audio version.
So... that's the story - or at least the beginning anyway. The rest is being told one pair at a time by you folks. Will they improve your system? I'd like to say positively that they will - but... you know how such things go. All I can say is that there's a pretty good chance that they will, considering their track record so far!
Take care, :-)
-Bob