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  Reference 2 Ninja Master
  Reference 2 Ninja Master
Reference 2 network
  
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All pricing assumes one pair.  If upgrades for a single speaker are needed, please contact us.

Our Price: $439.00

Availability: Custom Build - ETA will be emailed to you

Build Options...

  
Cabinet Upgrade...

  
Binding Post Upgrade...

  
Binding Post Plate...

  
Bypass Capacitors...

  
Diffraction Removal...

  
Internal Wiring...

  
Fun Stuff...

  

Qty:  
Description Customizations Specs/Guides/Etc
 
Attention!Customize!  Use the options in the blue box above to fully customize your upgrade.  Click the (?) next to each item for a short description.  For detailed information on each item, click the 'Customizations' tab directly above.

Ninja's Notes
Ninja Notes
The Reference 2 is an enjoyable speaker in its stock form however the tipped up response (i.e. Bright) makes them a bit fatiguing and occationally, annoying - depending on the recording of course. 

The stock speakers are +/- 5dB from 200Hz to 20KHz.  With the Ninja Master upgrade, you'll get an outstanding response of +/- 2dB from 200Hz to 20KHz.

There are several other areas we wanted to improve which you can read about below as well as see before and after measurements.

Upgrade Creation
The Reference 2 Ninja Master is an all new design that has allowed us to improve the vertical off-axis, horizontal off-axis and on-axis responses greatly.  The original Reference 2 has a tipped up presentation (a little bright) as well as a big suckout (about -15db) between 1KHz and 5KHz when your ears are 15-20 degrees off axis (i.e. standing).  This means your speakers with the Ninja Master upgrade installed will sound far more natural and still sound great when you are standing (meaning your ears are above the tweeter).

The horizontal off-axis is largely unchanged however the tipped up response has been eliminated for a more realistic presentation when not sitting in the 'sweet spot'.

The stock design had a minimum impedance of 3ohms.  The new design has a minimum impedance of 4 ohms and is overall easier to drive due to a higher average impedance.
Gone are the days of crappy mass produced PCBs.  Today is the day of a hand made engineering masterpiece of musicality.  With a Skiing Ninja Master network, your speakers will be equipped with higher quality component parts, pure point to point internetwork connections, correct board layout (see: magnetic field orientation), and more.
...Elevating the Good to Exceptional...

When you have a circuit design and drive components of this caliber, the improvements you can expect shine through to their fullest.  Additionally, your speakers will now track along with any upstream electronics upgrade you make to the system.

If it's so great, you may be asking yourself, why didn't the original manufacturer equip the speakers similarly?  We thought you might ask that.  Here is your answer.

Physical Changes
Superior substrate
Superior parts quality
Superior layout
Superior connections
Superior quality control
Superior durability

Before and After
For comparison, here we have the stock crossover network and the Ninja Master Network:

Stock

Skiing Ninja

x-statik Stock Crossover
Reference 2 Ninja Master Crossover
Now that you know what has physically changed, lets talk about what you will hear as a result...


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 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.  Sit down, close your eyes, and listen... the performance comes alive as your speakers sonically disappear.

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

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.

Reference 2 Ninja Master Fully custom build
Each Ninja Master network is meticulously built by The Ninja's hands from the ground up.  With a copious amount of aesthetic and acoustic customizability, the Reference 2 Ninja Master can be tailored to your wants, wishes, and desires...
Pure Point to Point Connections Pure point to point connections
No PCB and no wiring between components.  Whenever possible, we mechanically connect components to each other for superior connection and durability and then solder.
Sonicap Gen I Capacitors Sonicap Capacitors
These have become known as one of the best caps available with a sonic signature that you won't hear. Super clean and detailed.  We match all our Sonicaps for superior focus. 
Layout 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 even completely non-existent.  For more information on why this is important, visit our layout information section.
Alpha-Core Copper Foil Inductors 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
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!
Cardas Quad Eutectic Solder 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.
Wiring Choice Ninja SSC Wiring
Our wiring is made from high purity (99.98%) 15ga solid core copper with a 30 mil polyethylene insulator.  It won't oxidize nor will the jacket degrade the wire over time.
MDF Substrate Substrate
The Ninja Master network uses point-to-point construction techniques.  No Printed Circuit Boards. No thin traces to contaminate the signal. Just pure, crystalline music...

 
Performance Measurements


Our networks are tailored so you can adjust the amount of 'brightness' with a simple twist of your speaker. 

The graphs below show what happens to the response if you point the speakers straight out as in the left diagram versus if you toe them into towards you as shown in the second diagram.
Frequency Response - 10dB Scale - 0° Frequency Response - 10dB Scale - 0°
Reference 2 Ninja Frequency Response - 10dB scale
Stock
Skiing Ninja
Frequency Response - 5dB Scale - 0° Frequency Response - 5dB Scale - 0°
Reference 2 Stock Frequency Response - 5dB scale Reference 2 Ninja Frequency Response - 5dB scale
Stock
The crossover point from woofer to tweeter is too high!
Skiing Ninja
The crossover point was lowered, top end flattened and the XO point cancelation has been eliminated
Impedance Impedance
Reference 2 Stock Impedance Reference 2 Ninja Impedance
Stock
3ohm minimum impedance
Skiing Ninja
4ohm minimum impedance
Cumulative Spectral Decay Cumulative Spectral Decay
Reference 2 Stock Cumulative Spectral Decay Reference 2 Ninja Cumulative Spectral Decay
Stock
Skiing Ninja
No huge changes here.  The CSD is already good.
Frequency Response - Vertical Off-Axis Frequency Response - Vertical Off-Axis
Reference 2 Stock Vertical Off Axis Response Reference 2 Ninja Vertical Off Axis Response
Stock
Each different color represents another 5 degrees up
Skiing Ninja
15 and 20 degrees off-axis has been improved substantially.
Frequency Response - Horizontal Off-Axis Frequency Response - Horizontal Off-Axis
Reference 2 Stock Horizontal Off Axis Response Reference 2 Ninja Horizontal Off Axis Response
Stock
Skiing Ninja
With the flattened top end, sitting outside the sweet spot still gives you very good presentation.

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