Home
AudioAsylum Trader
Digital Drive: REVIEW: Symposium Acoustics Symposium Svelte Shelf and Rollerblocks Series 2+ Accessory by JLivermore

Upsamplers, DACs, jitter, shakes and analogue withdrawals, this is it.

For Sale Ads

FAQ / News / Events

 

REVIEW: Symposium Acoustics Symposium Svelte Shelf and Rollerblocks Series 2+ Accessory

66.108.105.208


[ Follow Ups ] Thread:  [ Display   All   Email ] [ Digital Drive ]
[ Alert Moderator ]

Model: Symposium Svelte Shelf and Rollerblocks Series 2+
Category: Accessory
Suggested Retail Price: combination
Description: Svelte Shelf and Rollerbock 2+ used together as a system.
Manufacturer URL: Symposium Acoustics
Manufacturer URL: Symposium Acoustics

Review by JLivermore ( A ) on December 16, 2004 at 12:55:07
IP Address: 66.108.105.208
Add Your Review
for the Symposium Svelte Shelf and Rollerblocks Series 2+


I have the Apogee BigBen digital clock. A piece of pro audio gear that was passed along by a recommendation of a good friend who keeps me in the loop. And tonight I’m taking some notes of how the Symposium Svelte Shelf and Rollerblocks Series 2+ has improved the sound of the system by adding these products to the BigBen.

Starting with the Svelte Shelf, after putting the Svelte Shelf under the BigBen, the notes are unlocked from a previously very shallow and linear soundstage. Putting the BigBen on top of the Svelte Shelf, the soundstage opens up adding noticeably more depth. The music is released from a flat soundstage and has more energy and life. Instruments have more resolution and take up a space within the very deep soundstage. There is more dynamic snap to the guitar and other instruments for that matter. Notes take on a more dynamic life, giving you a sense of more dynamic sound, better attack and decay. Timbre is further cleansed giving instruments more clarity and far more color and texture that are specific to each instrument.

The Rollerblocks are added to the BigBen with the ball on the bottom resting on top of the Svelt Shelf and the Rollerblock support inverted supporting the clock. In this configuration, the Rollerblocks adds yet another magnitude of what I just described for the Svelte Shelf above, and for lack of a better analogy; the “Leica” lens has just now locked into crystal clear focus. Subtle textures now are a part of every note released which previously, was painted over by excess noise from vibrations. For me, the emotional content is presented by the musician as it was meant to be.

The two products are really a compliment of one another, and for me, I consider to be a system that works together to bring out the very best in the component being used.

Absolutely stunning, once you start, you cannot go back. As you continue down your component path as I have, you start to understand the types of distortions each component can produce. These are reference class tweaks. I have tried other types of tweaks such as a CD-mat, and rubber feet, but I found those to be more of an ‘additive’ type of fix. What I mean here is that those types of tweaks really added a sound of their own; specifically rolling off the high end to cure that harsh ‘digitalitas’ rather than brining out the best of a digital component. The Symposium gear (to my ears) never inhibits a component, but rather brings out the best that component is capable of.

In this review I talk about how the Svelte Shelf along with Rollerblocks Series 2+ brings out the best sound in my external digital clock; the Apogee BigBen. If you try these 2 components (I view these items as components rather than tweaks because the benefit is that substantial) on a BigBen, don’t stop there, my tube preamp, tube amp, and speakers all benefit from the Symposium line as well. Peter Bizlewicz is a very knowledgeable person and is a joy to talk to. I can highly recommend his products if you want to get the most from your system.


Product Weakness: In my opinion, they should be viewed as a component rather than accessory, the difference is sound is that substantial.
Product Strengths: Both produts unlock a component's potential with out adding any sonic signature - they are subtractive in nature rather than additive.


Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier: David Berning ZH-270
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Emotive Audio Poeta
Sources (CDP/Turntable): 47 Labs Flatfish -> Apogee BigBen -> Zanden 5000 mk3
Speakers: Living Voice OBX-R2
Cables/Interconnects: Siltech Reference Forbes Lakes G6, Golden Ridge G6, Bogdan Silver Spirit speaker wire
Music Used (Genre/Selections): most everything except Rap
Room Size (LxWxH): 22 x 12 x 9
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): Harmonix Studio Master Wattgate
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner




This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:
  Amplified Parts  



Topic - REVIEW: Symposium Acoustics Symposium Svelte Shelf and Rollerblocks Series 2+ Accessory - JLivermore 12:55:07 12/16/04 ( 5)