shatki holographs

Yes, yes, no, better

I have no relationship with Ben or Shakti. I first heard them in a demo at CES. Had I not heard that demo I probably would have also remained in disbelief. My first pair in my room were not enough. I now have two pair and must say I keep experimenting as the effect of the second pair is so different depending on where you place them.

I fully expect that you could somewhat duplicate them DIY, but not very closely. I do not know if the particular wood, the particular shape, the particular length of the two types of wood, or the particular cavity behind the woods affect the sound, but they would be difficult and expensive to duplicate.

Aponter, yes I will try. The effect is not any less significant than the first pair, but the second pair is much more frustrating. With the first pair you put them on the speaker wall in the corners and experiment with toe in. In my case since I had subwoofers in those corners, I had to try three positions before settling on the best. With the second pair Ben recommends the first reflection point on the side wall but also recommend trying them in the back. Basically you have an infinite number of locations. I have repeatedly thought I had found the best point only to do further testing and ending up elsewhere.

Behind you yields a great sense of surround and ambience and can greatly affect how forward the music sounds. On the side walls yields great music attack and can make the speakers vanish. Ben's solution to this is to get a third pair! I have no regrets about getting the second pair but am not likely soon to get the third pair.