Any comments on Walker High Def Links???


I'VE HAD SOMEONE TELL ME THAT WALKER'S HIGH DEF LINKS WILL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE. I'M RUNNING A CARY SLI80 AMP AND JMLAB MICRO UTOPIA SPEAKERS. THEY HAVE 2 FLAVORS, MARKII AND THE ULTIMATE. ANY RECOMMENDATIONS?
cconraddaef
I've heard only the Mk II. I bought two sets after trying them out. I bi-amp vertically and have the Links on both the upper and lower. The result is quite significant, in the same way a good interconnect or speaker wire is able to remove a layer of haze or noise, the Links will do the same. I have experimented with them while using a number of different speaker cables. No matter how clean the signal is, they always cleaned it even more.
So why clean your signal? The result is less fatiguing, cleared highs. Better leading edge of notes, better imaging and a bit more definition of sound stage. I recommend the High Definition Links strongly, but the cost is an issue. If the over all set-up has any major weaknesses I'd consider addressing them first. The Links are not the final tweak, but they come well after good components and good cabling.
J.D.

I was talking with Oliver at Delve Audio about these and he suggested that the new Orthospectrum speaker network boxes are much more effective. Their white paper says the OS devices prevent the signal from returning back down the line towards the amp. He had high recommendation for the OS devices and talked down the Walker devices. I think he carries both lines. The OS devices are around $550/pr. You might want to talk with him, first, before you buy.
I agree with JD, I have the Mk I version of the HDLs and found it does a slight but noticable improvement in eliminating high frequency hash. The designer of my speakers and I even used a spectrum analyzer of some sort on the tweeter with the same white noise signal, both with and without the HDLs, and the frequency response curve was slightly better with them in the system. The subjective effect to me was with high frequency instruments, such as bells and chimes, the image was a little more focused. Personally, I think that they and likely the OS devices as well are overpriced for what they are and do, at least new, but then again, it didn't stop me from buying them, now did it?
My reaction to the Walker HDL is the same as Jadem6. I have not heard the Orthospectrum speaker network boxes, but I do know that Oliver at Delve Audio is not a dealer for Walker.

I guess he could have purchased or traded for Walkers and made a comparison.

Either way, there will always be competing products that cause each side to say "mine is better."

I am certain of one thing, once the Walker HDL's were applied to my big Soundlabs, they were NOT coming off. Although I have not yet forked over the cash for the Walker Ultimate, it is on my short list of things to try. Walker offers a 100% money back guarantee if you do not agree with the performance gain that is claimed.
I TALKED TO LLOYD WALKER TODAY. HE'S A NICE MAN WHO KNOWS HIS STUFF. HE SAYS HIS CABLING WILL MAKE AN EVEN BIGGER DIFFERENCE THAN SPENDING 3X THE PRICE ON SPEAKERS. I ENJOYED HIS ENTHUSIASM, BUT AT 2K FOR CABLES I DIDN'T SEE THAT MUCH VALUE. I BOUGHT THE HDL MKII AND HIS VIVID CD CLEANER. HE SWEARS BY IT. ANY THOUGHTS ON HIS CABLES?
i purchased a set of hdl's for my avalon arcus' and they didn't work well. i don't know if it was a mismatch with avalon's crossover or what, but they took all the sparkle and life out of them. i loaned them to a friend of mine with acoustats and they worked great. oh well. regards, harry
I am using one pair of the HDL's (first version) on the high inputs of my SF Guarneri's and really love them.
Recently discovered that the Mk2 version have copperfoil shielding. So I have made cages of 0.5 mm copperplate (bent from one piece) around my HDL's. Works great !