Ninja Notes

Time to soup-up those diminutive power houses!

The ELT525 line was a winner right out of the gate. High quality cabinetry, quality drive units and even quality crossover networks. In fact, for the price paid for the speaker, they are some of the best we've seen.

The all-important network design is top-notch too. You might ask what is there left for us to do then? It's really the other way around. What CAN'T we do? When you have a strong foundation to work with, you can extract some amazing results. Bravo to Danny Richie for the network design and another bravo to the driver vendor for building such competent components.

Now here comes the good stuff... With the Ninja Master upgrade and NoRez the speaker gets ridiculously good (for the total price). Even with the Ninja Elite upgrade, the changes are obvious and worth every penny. In addition to more detail (or rather exposing the detail in the recording that was previously masked by the components in the path), expect transparency to increase, as well as better focus (the speakers will match each other better due to minimized component variation), textures become more 'live' or palpable, soundstage expansion and overall musicality - these speakers really blossom.

Computer users should be using those ELT525M's with an Elite or Master upgrade for their desktops. They are small enough and nearfield they sound great. NoRez helps a lot here too as it will increase the 'taughtness' of the bass and clarity of midrange. This is very helpful in a smaller speaker that has to work a little harder due to its size.

Ninja Master versus Ninja Elite

Ninja Master	Ninja Elite
Pure point to point connections	Re-use your existing PCB
Ultra-High purity copper foil inductors	Re-use your existing inductors
Cardas Quad Eutectic Solder	Vampire Silver Solder
Ninja SSC wiring	Re-use existing wiring
Sonicap matched capacitors	Sonicap matched capacitors
Mills non-inductive wire wound resistors	Mills non-inductive wire wound resistors
Option: Fully Ninja built or DIY	Option: Ninja upgraded or DIY

Network Type
The Skiing Ninja™ network is based on the original ELT525C crossover network.  We have not changed any part values. 

What has changed?
Superior substrate
Superior parts quality
Superior layout
Superior connections

Now that you know what has physically changed, lets talk about what you will hear as a result...

Crossover Benefits
Overall you will notice a higher level of detail, texture, focus, superior sound stage, dynamics, musicality, and transparency.  What does that mean?  We use as few components in our networks as possible.  This allows the cleanest signal to be passed to your speakers.  Rest assured this does not change the frequency response of the speaker or the overall character. 

Texture – all of the ‘inner’ details of each instrument comes across clearly.  The ‘live’ feel comes across so well because the subtleties that are normally lost are finally present.  The more revealing the overall presentation is, the more convincing it is. 

Focus – We tightly match our components.  While most components are 5 or even 10% tolerance, we use only 5% or less tolerance components and then we hand match them so that each pair of networks is 500 to 1000% better than the stock crossover. 

Sound stage – moves the sound stage from being within the confines of the speaker and moves it out, up, and behind the speaker.  This helps recreate the sense of space and volume of the original performance.

Dynamics – Our networks use high quality Mills resistors and Alpha-Core copper foil inductors.  This means no masking of top end detail, no muddled midrange and more convincing slam on the low end.   There is a lot of techno mumbo jumbo about the why’s of this and it would be too much to detail here.  Contact Us if you want more info.

 

Transparency – The ability for the speakers to remove themselves from the performance.  Our networks enhance this ability due to their magnetically correct layout, point to point build and superior quality components.

Musicality – The best part and why we are all here.  Everything your speakers used to do they will do better with Ninja Master networks and upgrades.

Layout

The component layout of a Ninja Master network is carefully chosen to provide the shortest signal path possible while also ensuring magnetic field contamination is keep to a minimum or non-existent.  For more information on why this is important, visit our layout information page.

Features and Components

Ninja Master networks utilize the very best components available. If you want more in-depth information on these components, visit our components section.

	Fully custom build Each network is meticulously designed from the ground up.  We can even tailor the sound to fit your room or personal requirements (i.e. reduce brightness etc.)
	Pure point to point connections No PCB and no wiring between components.  Whenever possible, we mechanically connect components to each other for a superior connection and durability.
	Sonicap Capacitors These have become known as one of the best caps available with a sonic signature that you won't hear. We match all our Sonicaps for superior focus.
	Copper Foil Inductors No dynamic compression...no more will your inductors "hum along" with the music. When a bass note goes through a copper foil inductor, you get all the power and realism of the live performance.
	Mills Resistors Mills resistors offer superior sonic performance in all passive crossover circuits. Most resistors have a higher resistance to loud sounds than they do to quiet sounds. The result is an uneven mess. Bring the top to bottom presentation into sharp focus with Mills Resistors.
	Cardas Quad Eutectic Solder George Cardas created this ultra pure, quad eutectic solder for perfect joints; the best reliability with the lowest noise and contact resistance. Ultra pure, tin/lead/silver/copper.
	Ninja IT-001 Wiring Your networks can be built with your choice of: Full Onix IT-001 12ga OFC wire Full Onix IT-001 12ga OFC wire with copper connectors Full Onix IT-001 12ga OFC wire with wire nuts
	Copper Connectors and Wire Nuts Optional - When installing your new networks, we understand that there are situations where you just don't want (or can't) solder a wire-wire connection. We offer pure copper connectors to allow you to crimp those connections. We even throw in some color-coded pre-cut heat shrink tubing to make it professional.  Alternatively, we also offer wire nuts for the easiest install possible.
	Substrate All Skiing Ninja™ Networks use point-to-point construction techniques over painted MDF. No Printed Circuit Boards. No thin traces to contaminate the signal. Just pure, crystalline music...
	Spax Screws Spax screws are specially designed to make it easy to install your new crossover networks. Traditional wood screws only really work well if you drill a pilot hole or can apply copious pressure. Inside a speaker cabinet, neither is practical. Spax screws have patented serrations that drill their own pilot hole. Imported from Germany.
	Stand-offs The last thing you want after installing your killer new networks is a spurious vibrational sound that wasn't there before the upgrade. That's why we include specially made 60 durometer (a measure of hardness) board stand-offs. These stand-offs isolate your new network from the cabinet and keep it quiet!
	Cabinet Dampening Materials Optional - We use proprietary dampening materials developed by GR Research exclusively. NoRez and Black Hole 5 are available on speakers and subwoofers where appropriate. Click the image for more info on these amazing products.

Additional Upgrades
We don't stop with crossover network upgrades.  A speaker's final sound quality is very much a sum of its parts.  The crossover network design, the crossover network parts quality, the cabinet, internal wiring, drive units and binding posts.  All of these items contribute to the end product - of which the goal is to simulate a live event with perfect accuracy.  Click the options info tab above for more information!

DIY Build	Ninja Built

1. (Ninja recommended) Full wiring replacement with IT-001 Ninja wire. We include extra Cardas quad eutectic solder to attach the wires to the drivers and binding posts.

2. Wires long enough to tie into the existing wires coming from the drivers and binding posts and copper connectors with color coded shrink tubing. Simply crimp the copper connectors over the wires and heat the shrink tubing for a professional finish.

What's in the box

• Your new networks
• Swanky Skiing Ninja™ upgrade labels for the back of the speakers
• Cardas Quad Eutectic solder (or wire nuts/copper connectors) 
• Any optional items you have selected

  Speaker Upgrade Video Install Guide