The Reference 100 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. Dialoge clarity could use a boost too. The stock speaker is +/- 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 100 Ninja Master boasts is an all new circuit design by Danny Richie. Danny also designed the crossover networks for the Reference models: 0.5, 1, 1.5, 1.8, 2, and 3. This all new circuit along with our build and component quality make for a compelling combination.
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™ Ninja Master network, your speakers will be equipped with higher quality component parts, pure point to point internetwork connections, and correct board layout (see: magnetic field orientation). ...Elevating the Very 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.
Today is the day of a hand made engineering masterpiece of musicality. With a Skiing Ninja™ Ninja Master network, your speakers will be equipped with higher quality component parts, pure point to point internetwork connections, and correct board layout (see: magnetic field orientation).
...Elevating the Very 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
Before and After For comparison, here we have the stock crossover network and the Ninja Master Network: (The Ninja Master is shown without the included Sonicap G2 bypass capacitors)
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 ComponentsNinja Master networks utilize the very best components available. If you want more in-depth information on these components, visit our components section.
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
Customizations 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, binding posts and more. All of these items contribute to the end product - of which the goal is to simulate a live event with as close to perfect accuracy as possible.
Special Customizations We offer an array of customization services from tweaking your outboard networks to tailoring your new networks to fit you and your room. For example, if your room has a lot of glass and is sparsely furnished, you may find your speakers to be ' bright ' - we can alter the response to compensate for this. Any custom sonic changes are easily removed or updated if your environment changes. Simply contact us for more information on any of our customization options.
A basic list of tools needed for DIY kits are: Soldering iron (solder is included with your kit), heat gun, needle nose pliers, screw driver, hot glue gun & glue or Liquid Nails™, and wire cutters. If you are not sure, let us build it for you!
Expect a cleaner overall sound with this upgrade.
Binding Post Plates A Binding Post Plate adds some serious bling to your speakers as well as enabling speakers with 'binding post cups' to accept the Vampire post upgrade. Binding Post Plates are available in single (correct option for most speakers), bi-amp and tri-amp configurations. For bi and tri amp plates, we include custom jumpers so you can run single connections if so desired .
A note regarding speakers with separate posts : Not all speakers utilize the same hole spacing and thus some drilling or adjustment by us may be required. If you are unsure about your own speakers, you can order this item and we will contact you if any adjustment is needed. If so and you do not wish to perform the adjustment, we will credit your card and cancel this portion of your order. Alternatively, simply contact us for more information. All configurations are available in all colors shown...
Additional Thoughts on bypass capacitors... If you are running your system with a mid-fi or lower receiver, you may want to try the VitaminQ's as that can tame the sometimes strident sound some receivers produce. Sonicap Platinums are Teflon based whereas VitaminQ's are paper in oil. PIO is considered less accurate but many people love the sound. Diffraction Be Gone Sound waveforms from your tweeters are shorter in length than the width of your speaker cabinets. These waveforms are being randomly reflected by your speaker baffles and edges to your listening position slightly out of time with the original event. Not a good thing! These waveforms carry the first arrival and higher harmonics of your midrange along with all things high frequency. Diffraction Be Gone removes this almost as if you had taken the boxes away. We had custom cut high density real wool felt (accept no substitute) tweeter surrounds or fascias made for these speakers that absorb and quiet this interaction. What you will get when this is removed is a clearer view into your stage and recordings. What the microphone captured is revealed in your room without the distortion to time (body) and phase (space) caused by early reflection. Space opens up, deepens. Vocals and instruments appear more truthfully in that space, rounder and more physically right. The tweeter surrounds attach with Velcro tabs (included) and also eliminate the issues caused by grills - yes you can now run your grills installed! Internal Wiring We offer several options to fit your skill/comfort level. Highest performance: Mid-level performance: Solderless option: Solderless option: Ninja SSC Full internal wire replacement The cabling is 15 guage high purity oxygen free solid core copper with a polyethylene jacket. This polyethylene (PE) jacket is superior to polyvinyl chloride (PVC - which is what you will find in 99% of speakers sold) by way of its dialectric constant (2.2-2.4 for PE versus 3.4 for PVC) and preserving qualities. We include Cardas Quad Eutectic solder for all connections. Ninja SSC with pigtails, Cardas Solder and Heat Shrink Your networks will be wired with 10" leads so you can tie into the existing wires coming from the drivers and binding posts. Simply solder the two wires together using the supplied silver solder and heat the shrink tubing (included) for a professional finish. Ninja SSC with pigtails and copper connectors Your networks will be wired with 10" leads so you can tie into the existing wires coming from the drivers and binding posts. Simply crimp the copper connectors over the wires and heat the shrink tubing (included) for a professional finish. Ninja SSC with pigtails and wire nuts Our easiest solution - your networks will be wired with 10" leads so you can tie into the existing wires coming from the drivers and binding posts. Screw the wire nut over the connection and you are done. Difference between Copper Connectors and Wire Nuts: Is there a sonic difference between the two? Technically yes however is it audible? Not likely. Our recommendations are listed left to right with full wire replacement being our #1 recommendation. If you can't solder, our solderless options are a very good alternative. Fun Stuff We've got a bunch of fun stuff for you to pimp out your music or theater room. T-Shirts, Limited Edition Pint Glasses and Limited Edition Posters. Click to go to our Skiing Ninja Fun Stuff section for more information (link opens in a new window).
Mid-level performance:
Solderless option:
Network Specifications
What's in the box
Big Brain Required?Ninja Built Kits - The install procedure is straight forward and our "How to: Install a crossover upgrade in a small speaker " video will help greatly.DIY Kits - The ability to read a simple schematic is helpful but not required. Generally, looking at the photos on our site versus the schematic can get you by. There are no step-by-step instructions for building the network but if you have done anything even remotely like this in the past, you can do this.
