The Grid Protector, the EMI Protector and The Allocator By Schnerzinger-In My System and I’m Blown Away

[Zeotrope]

from now on everything faces the listener , even my multi guard master and yes you have the antenna correctly

I must say it sounds, and looks (video projection) better! Now, it’s been a week since I’ve been home and I didn’t do an A-B comparison; but who cares? It’s clearer and more detailed and noise floor is lower.

What about the Multi satellites - those have to have the antennas pointing upwards, so you can’t orient them to face a specific way, correct?

 

[Steve Williams]

The Reflector is a night and day A/B experience. it is so startling that you just sit there scratching you rwhen you have the correct positions on your master and satellite that you just sit there scratching your head asking what what the "F*** did I just hear

I have gone back and forth on one between 0,1 and 1,1 . presently I am pretty much decided on 1,1

I found the 2 position literally slowed everything thin down and made the sound muddied.

I hate to quote the proverbial cliches but truly it was like 100 layers of the onion peeled away. What you are left with is pure , clean sound that is so real and so natural . Everything is perfect.

I dont know if this is a cumulative experience with my GRID, and EMI and Multiguards or whether this is all Reflector impressions but the effect is so startling that you truly wonder, "is this really my system that I am listening to" All of my antennas are aimed forward an pointing toward my sitting position

It is truly that good

I have 4 in my room and that is sufficient....in fact I would say to al that if you can swing it go with 4 rather than 2 ...the effect will prove me rightt

I have 2 Reflectors along the front wall each just inside my Grid and EMI Protector and 2 along my rear wall ...all turned slightly and aimed towards my sitting position, My Muktiguard master is among my right wall with its antenna pointed forward and also aimed to my sitting position

Finally I have all 7 devices mounted 40" off the floor

I will be interested another users thoughts and findings

Also all 4 are used as standalone after they have been synced for 20 minutes with the master. The wall was after that for the master is only used once a year

even at 0,0 you will hear a definite improvement but in my room it has settled at 1,1

 

[Steve Williams]

I must say it sounds, and looks (video projection) better! Now, it’s been a week since I’ve been home and I didn’t do an A-B comparison; but who cares? It’s clearer and more detailed and noise floor is lower.

What about the Multi satellites - those have to have the antennas pointing upwards, so you can’t orient them to face a specific way, correct?

you cannot orient the antennas on either the multi guards or the Allocator so dont worry....the manual says only the PROTECTORS but I did align my Multiguard Master as well

 

[luca.pelliccioli]

Are you saying that also Grid and EMI protectors should be toed in - like speakers? Having read all the posts above I’m going to follow your advice with my antennas and boxes. Thanks.

 

[Zeotrope]

you cannot orient the antennas on either the multi guards or the Allocator so dont worry....the manual says only the PROTECTORS but I did align my Multiguard Master as well

I did the same. I can’t see how the antenna orientation can make a difference since it’s just a wire in a tube. But happy to do it and it certainly sounds great.

Now for the Multi satellites, I have them plugged into a 90 degree outlet multiplier so the body of the satellite is parallel to the wall. Maybe I should try it plugged straight into the outlet, so the satellite is coming straight out into the room.

 

[57Uli]

I dont know if this is a cumulative experience with my GRID, and EMI and Multiguards or whether this is all Reflector impressions but the effect is so startling that you truly wonder, "is this really my system that I am listening to"

It is definitely a cumulative effect, as you have already experienced with GRID, Multiguards, and EMI. The new Reflector System is obviously a particularly significant step…

 

[Steve Williams]

I did the same. I can’t see how the antenna orientation can make a difference since it’s just a wire in a tube. But happy to do it and it certainly sounds great.

Now for the Multi satellites, I have them plugged into a 90 degree outlet multiplier so the body of the satellite is parallel to the wall. Maybe I should try it plugged straight into the outlet, so the satellite is coming straight out into the room.

I''m betting the Multiguard Master' antenna direction doesnt matter but my OCD nature I reoriented mine pointing towards the chair however my multi guard satellites are all pointing into the room rather than parallel with the wall

 

[Jazzjunkie]

the antennas are cylindrical

I can’t see how the antenna orientation can make a difference since it’s just a wire in a tube.

Correct (I think even the Reflector's antenna internally is, inspite of it's asymetrical housing), but some internet research (this is not from Schnerzinger) reveals, that the hinge (and therefore asymetry in an antenna design) means some directionality anyway (not bent).

 

[Jazzjunkie]

I hate to quote the proverbial cliches but truly it was like 100 layers of the onion peeled away. What you are left with is pure , clean sound that is so real and so natural . Everything is perfect.

After experiencing this stuff (cabling and protectors) it's impossible to listen without. Whatever expensive equipment never reaches the extent of realism in 3D soundscape, prat, resolution and control without it. This realism is usually the goal of every equipment journey. I'd always rather spend half of the overall budget there, than trying to reach it with better amps, sources or speakers...not possible. So many people with the most expensive gear (even on the professional reviewer side) have no clue about this basic option to enable this essential step. Many much cheaper setups fittet with this are so much superior to the big buck chains.

 

[Steve Williams]

After experiencing this stuff (cabling and protectors) it's impossible to listen without. Whatever expensive equipment never reaches the extent of realism in 3D soundscape, prat, resolution and control without it. This realism is usually the goal of every equipment journey. I'd always rather spend half of the overall budget there, than trying to reach it with better amps, sources or speakers...not possible. So many people with the most expensive gear (even on the professional reviewer side) have no clue about this basic option to enable this essential step. Many much cheaper setups fittet with this are so much superior to the big buck chains.

Their wire is my last frontier however my entire system is dual mono dual power supplies and the MSRP to redo the wire was in the ozone....I could buy a new house with the cost....As an example I have 18 power cords .....so I might have to sit that one out unless I can stage it but it would take me years to complete. I know that would be the last hurrah.

I am using presently a full loom of MasterBuilt Ultra which was also a king's ransom. It took me 4 years to complete the loom

 

[Jazzjunkie]

Their wire is my last frontier however my entire system is dual mono dual power supplies and the MSRP to redo the wire was in the ozone....I could buy a new house with the cost....As an example I have 18 power cords .....so I might have to sit that one out unless I can stage it but it would take me years to complete. I know that would be the last hurrah.

I am using presently a full loom of MasterBuilt Ultra which was also a king's ransom. It took me 4 years to complete the loom

I understand! If you’re late in the game and already heavily invested, it’s always hard. And with your extreme number of cables even harder.

The Schnerzinger cabling can easily have the proverbial component status in terms of pricing, but even more in sound quality contribution due to a surprising effect of sounding “right” and delivering on various unusual levels simultaneously. Contrary to common belief, one comes to the conclusion that it is not the cables that are the final tuning of the setup, but rather that these cables are the component that will always form the basis of the chain on which everything is built, as they unlock capabilities that one would not have previously attributed to one's high end components. But you certainly don’t suffer with what you have today!

I hope you can find a deal that makes it work..

 

[thedudeabides]

Many much cheaper setups fittet with this are so much superior to the big buck chains.

Hi. So these devices attenuate the impact of RFI and EMI on the system?. Appears to be vodoo but obviously not. If you don't mind disclosing, cost of various pieces?

 

[Steve Williams]

I understand! If you’re late in the game and already heavily invested, it’s always hard. And with your extreme number of cables even harder.

The Schnerzinger cabling can easily have the proverbial component status in terms of pricing, but even more in sound quality contribution due to a surprising effect of sounding “right” and delivering on various unusual levels simultaneously. Contrary to common belief, one comes to the conclusion that it is not the cables that are the final tuning of the setup, but rather that these cables are the component that will always form the basis of the chain on which everything is built, as they unlock capabilities that one would not have previously attributed to one's high end components. But you certainly don’t suffer with what you have today!

I hope you can find a deal that makes it work..

My main interconnects from preamp to amps is a 12 meter run. I dont even want to tell you the MSRP for that one alone as it could pay for an entire new system

Having said that I am mesmerized by these Schnerzinger boxes . What they have done to my system has been truly a journey into amazement

 

[Jazzjunkie]

Hi. So these devices attenuate the impact of RFI and EMI on the system?. Appears to be vodoo but obviously not. If you don't mind disclosing, cost of various pieces?

The devices discussed here lower radiation patterns up to the GHz range around focus points, in the equipment and in the room. This seems to be essential for - among others - three dimensional imaging, an airy soundstage, filled with ambient information from the reverberation of the instruments, which represents the decisive step from very good hi-fi to realistic illusion.

It is neither unknown nor voodoo that EMI/RFI damages sound quality, nor is the practice of reducing this influence. This just seems to be the only way to do so in a targeted and comprehensive manner, rather than across the board, without taking into account the actual radiation present. It’s quite high tech compared to other approaches.

For prices I think you should check their website for distributors or dealers in your country and ask them.

 

[Jazzjunkie]

Are you saying that also Grid and EMI protectors should be toed in - like speakers?

This is something to try out for the two.

Some of you might know, that with the piccolo protectors you can design the soundstage. Very wide and back at the wall or more three-dimensional front to back with different degrees of focus.
With two of those devices on the top back of my speakers, I found out (for me), that the soundstage is better shaped and more transparent, when they point straight to the wall behind the listener, than toed in with the speakers.

 

[Jazzjunkie]

My main interconnects from preamp to amps is a 12 meter run. I dont even want to tell you the MSRP for that one alone as it could pay for an entire new system

Oh my, I see. While I guess the calculation of Schnerzinger is possibly hotter than usual, due to the atomic structure treatments, I’m not sure if huge lengths have the same impact on price as with other brands. But this is just guesswork, you will probably have already kind of concluded your negotiations for the moment. In any case, it's fair to say that cable equipment worth the price of a house isn't sold every day and is of considerable importance to both parties.

 

[Steve Williams]

So Is my marriage

 

[Jazzjunkie]

So Is my marriage

Amen.

 

[Zeotrope]

Correct (I think even the Reflector's antenna internally is, inspite of it's asymetrical housing), but some internet research (this is not from Schnerzinger) reveals, that the hinge (and therefore asymetry in an antenna design) means some directionality anyway (not bent).

View attachment 159746

That's very interesting, thanks!
Now what does that say, if anything, about the Multi Satellites: if they are plugged straight into an outlet, the bend in the antenna is facing the wall (if the antenna is upright, which it should be). If the Satellite is plugged in at 90-degrees to the wall, the bend in the antenna can be facing the listening position, or at least in the direction of the listening position!
I will try this tonight.

 

[Zeotrope]

The Reflector eagle has landed!

First of all, this is probably the nicest packaging I have ever seen, surpassing even Nagra's and Hachidori's. Well done, Schnerzinger!

But we are not here for the packaging. I experimented for several hours with 0 Reflectors, 2, and 4. With 4 Reflectors, I tried 6 different location arrangements.

The only drawback with Schnzeringer is you have a myriad of variables to test, and there is no substitute for taking the time to do so. What I found if you are not careful with the Reflectors (and the other products as well) is you can hurt sound quality. Reflectors are VERY sensitive to placement in the room. I was able to completely destroy the imaging and create an unnaturally large soundstage, with for example solo volcalists that sounded 10 feet tall, just by moving the Reflectors around the room.

So be careful and take your time! All but one of the 4 device locations were not great, mostly because the soundstage and imaging was not realistic. It still sounded clear, with more low end, but imaging was unnatural.

Ultimately, the best placement in my room was with only 1 Reflector in the front, positioned high (~2m off the floor) and centered, facing towards the listening position. The other 3 were placed behind the listening position. One high and center, about at the same height as the front unit, and the other 2 on the sides of the room, facing straight towards the front wall.

This created an incredibly realistic soundstage - with a solo vocalist being of natural size and a wonderful soundstage in width and depth. I've never heard such a precisely defined depth before -- absolutely amazing! When you get it right, it's a real "wow" -- but when it's not optimized, it's still nice but not amazing. The clarity, detail, low end, localization of voices and instruments, noise floor, and soundstage (especially depth) all improved. Very, very impressive! There is more 'energy' overall and I am pretty sure I was listening at lower volumes that I was without the Reflectors.

Two Reflectors sounded very good - I would say about 75-80% of the effect of having 4. With 4 you have more clarity, more detail, and lower noise. I assume the effect is cumulative with the GRID, EMI, and MULTI that I already have in place, but the change from the Reflectors was greater than I remember vs the other products.

Overall, it's an amazing product and certainly a must buy for me. I actually haven't bought them yet, and I was very happy with my system before this. So if anything, I wanted a reason to not love this product so that I can save the rather substantial cost! But after hearing it, it's a no brainer if you can budget it. Just be very careful with placement - as you can do take 1 step forward and 2 back if you for example mess up your soundstage.