I dont have room for three in the rear as the center one would be where my door is
The Grid Protector, the EMI Protector and The Allocator By Schnerzinger-In My System and I’m Blown Away
- Thread starter Steve Williams
- Start date
Well, it was February this year it seems, so I doubt any editor would review the same kind of (quite specific) product of the same brand twice a year (paid or not)
I'd guess record flatteners generally (of different brands, from different sites or mags) are reviewed not more than every 3 years or so.
No, it was years ago not feb this year. This is not the first model that AFI made.Well, it was February this year it seems, so I doubt any editor would review the same kind of (quite specific) product of the same brand twice a year (paid or not)
Hm...the link you answered to "Yes! This was years ago before someone paid him for it!" pointed to the Feb 2025 review.
But you may have another previous review in mind of their normal sized, rigid built product, probably at analogplanet by then, not trackingangle.
What I heard (reliable source) about other magazine reviewers (not him) is, that reviewers partly not only expect a drastically reduced price for reviewed gear in case of interest, but they partly simply don't send it back without comment. What a business. And certainly a strong manufacturers' dependence on reviews and certainly most reviewers' setups usually exceed their assumed real world financial capacity many times over. But better back to the topic!
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Yes, in June '23 I asked him to review the AFI (not this model). He said "if Musical Surroundings decides to import I’ll get one for review.."
AFI was ready to send him one in '23. My point is these reviewers don't do anything without compensation.
Nope! Just a customer. I like Fremer and thought he should review it. I had a dFI Orb and never loved it. The AFI is much better. Thought he should have one.
This is important for both consumers and reviewers. I read a lot of reviews because I'm interested and there just are so few places, at least near me, where you can see and hear equipment. The reviews are interesting and informative concerning features, etc., but I deeply discount the reviewer's subjective opinion if the terms between the reviewer and vendor are undisclosed. I don't condemn whatever arrangement is reached-its free enterprise- but reviews are presumably meant to influence consumers in some way, at least the ones that express objective opinions. So, I think every review should include an honest disclosure of the terms-is it a purchased item, accommodation pricing, short or long term loan, sponsorship, etc. Nothing inherently wrong with any of these arrangements, but in fairness to the consumer, it should be disclosed. Then we can make our own assessment concerning the credibility of the review. I would tend to credit a review that makes such a disclosure because it shows respect for the consumers. The apparent volume of undisclosed conflicts casts a shadow, perhaps unfairly, on the broader community of reviewers, but its easily remedied by sunlight.
I think if you really like him and to avoid something like this blowing up, it might be wise, to delete specific passages. People are very sensitive when discredited, especially in their business context.
Dear friends, a lurker staying in Asia, influenced by this thread, purchased and tested the products one by one serving both hifi and HT rigs. Initially using Allocator Max, LAN Protector, and 4 Reflectors that were received end July. And a second batch of Allocator Max, Resolution 5 XLR and Powercord, and all their cable protectors dropping tomorrow.
Thanks to Steve, recently realised I was not aiming the 2 Reflectors behind the speakers like a sniper scope to my eyes. They were like 20-25 degrees off. After adjusting to the dot, the improvement is not trivial! For the 2 Reflectors behind the listening position I have to aim them straight towards the two behind the speakers, not to the listener. Doing the latter would collapse the sound. I use all 0,0 setting for the Reflectors.
The benefits to hifi, HT and streaming are tremendous. When listening to bluray concerts, the dolby surround is finally sounding like the real deal with the correct placement of the Reflectors. There are some degree of run-in too, some improvements leaving their marks as the days go by. The AWOL 3500 short-throw projector, Lumagen and Ambeo Max soundbar have never performed better via the Allocator Max using other brand of powercords. I felt I had drifted along for most of the past decade and a half and finally getting it right this time. The Schnerzinger items are expensive (I thought I need to sell a kidney!) but at least we don't need to replace our equipments and could drive them to their maximum possible performance. Never felt so alive and excited in my Hifi/HT journey till now. I am now executing plans to shrink down the number of equipments (hence reducing powercords and other cables), expecting I could be mesmerised by my maiden trial on the Resolution 5 cables.
You can say I am on Cloud Nine at the moment and hope to continue staying there
Thanks to Steve, recently realised I was not aiming the 2 Reflectors behind the speakers like a sniper scope to my eyes. They were like 20-25 degrees off. After adjusting to the dot, the improvement is not trivial! For the 2 Reflectors behind the listening position I have to aim them straight towards the two behind the speakers, not to the listener. Doing the latter would collapse the sound. I use all 0,0 setting for the Reflectors.
The benefits to hifi, HT and streaming are tremendous. When listening to bluray concerts, the dolby surround is finally sounding like the real deal with the correct placement of the Reflectors. There are some degree of run-in too, some improvements leaving their marks as the days go by. The AWOL 3500 short-throw projector, Lumagen and Ambeo Max soundbar have never performed better via the Allocator Max using other brand of powercords. I felt I had drifted along for most of the past decade and a half and finally getting it right this time. The Schnerzinger items are expensive (I thought I need to sell a kidney!) but at least we don't need to replace our equipments and could drive them to their maximum possible performance. Never felt so alive and excited in my Hifi/HT journey till now. I am now executing plans to shrink down the number of equipments (hence reducing powercords and other cables), expecting I could be mesmerised by my maiden trial on the Resolution 5 cables.
You can say I am on Cloud Nine at the moment and hope to continue staying there
Wow you’re quite equipped!
And yes exactly, priorities change, much less focus on equipment, as the really essential improvements seem to come from that cabling and HF protection stuff. Something we thought we need better and better equipment for but that was not true. Better equipment improved realism and bass control and several more just marginally compared what the Schnerzinger things enable.
And yes I also experienced that aiming devices directly towards the listener doesn’t always have to be right or the best option. Playing with this (within a narrow margin from „directed to the listener“) is like a toggle for 3D planes, on which the soundstage builds up on or like shrinking and expansion sliders.
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Very interesting. I have to admit all 4 of my Redlrctors are pointing directly at me. Today I’m going to try your findings and point the 2 behind me to the 2 in the front of my room.Dear friends, a lurker staying in Asia, influenced by this thread, purchased and tested the products one by one serving both hifi and HT rigs. Initially using Allocator Max, LAN Protector, and 4 Reflectors that were received end July. And a second batch of Allocator Max, Resolution 5 XLR and Powercord, and all their cable protectors dropping tomorrow.
Thanks to Steve, recently realised I was not aiming the 2 Reflectors behind the speakers like a sniper scope to my eyes. They were like 20-25 degrees off. After adjusting to the dot, the improvement is not trivial! For the 2 Reflectors behind the listening position I have to aim them straight towards the two behind the speakers, not to the listener. Doing the latter would collapse the sound. I use all 0,0 setting for the Reflectors.
The benefits to hifi, HT and streaming are tremendous. When listening to bluray concerts, the dolby surround is finally sounding like the real deal with the correct placement of the Reflectors. There are some degree of run-in too, some improvements leaving their marks as the days go by. The AWOL 3500 short-throw projector, Lumagen and Ambeo Max soundbar have never performed better via the Allocator Max using other brand of powercords. I felt I had drifted along for most of the past decade and a half and finally getting it right this time. The Schnerzinger items are expensive (I thought I need to sell a kidney!) but at least we don't need to replace our equipments and could drive them to their maximum possible performance. Never felt so alive and excited in my Hifi/HT journey till now. I am now executing plans to shrink down the number of equipments (hence reducing powercords and other cables), expecting I could be mesmerised by my maiden trial on the Resolution 5 cables.
You can say I am on Cloud Nine at the moment and hope to continue staying there
Btw I used the laser to point to my ear on each side not my eyes. Perhaps this is why your sound stage seemed compressed and you corrected by refocusing your rear reflectors .
The fascinating thing is, we have a lot of nerdy discussions and high-tech with antennas standing around in the room, but I just have one of those listening sessions, where it’s obvious, that the result of it all is the opposite, it’s pure magical music filling the room everywhere with such control, extension and resolution, that it’s a priceless experience to sink into the music. Real luxury!
The pictures of my room show antennas everywhere but darn you’re spot on. The listening sessions are simply magic I was truly surprised about fine tuning the focus of the Reflectors. and the sound can change for the better
Huh? What part? I am quoting what he said. Valuable post, thanks.
I got the 4 Reflectors back and now keeping them, with 2 more Reflectors incoming. My system was basically unlistenable after returning them! Absolutely insane. Once you hear them setup well, you cannot go back. I realize this will sound downright stupid for most, but when you hear them, you will understand.
Are they worth ~$15k for 2? Absolutely. The biggest improvement came with 2 vs none. With 4 it was better for sure, but if budget doesn’t allow, just go with 2. [BTW check regional pricing as it varies]
That said, I would not have bought them without an audition, which I only managed because a friend had a set. Dealers should be loaning these out - they will sell 10X more if people can try them.
All reviews we see in TAS etc are paid for. You never see Nagra reviews for example, because Nagra refuses to pay for reviews.
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