Network Type
Unlike anything you have seen yet for the Reference 1.8, the Reference 1.8 Ninja Master is completely new. The network has been re-engineered from the ground up.
Developed by Danny Richie of GR Research exclusively for Skiing Ninja, the benefits of the Reference 1.8 Ninja Master crossover are:
- Smooooth!
- Balanced amplitude.
- Higher and easier to drive impedance load.
- Control the resonance break-up mode of the woofer.
- Maintain a clean spectral decay (no stored energy).
- Higher degree of phase accuracy.
- Consistent off axis response both vertically and horizontally.
- Installs into all versions of the Reference 1.8.
What has changed?
Everything. The network is completely new.
In addition to the electrical design portion, we've upgraded other areas as well:
Superior substrate
Superior parts quality
Superior layout
Superior connections
Minimized cabinet edge diffraction with Diffraction Be Gone®
Ability to play the speakers with GRILLS ON without degrading sound quality
High pass filter available (for running with a subwoofer)
Features and Components
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.
Diffraction Be Gone Benefits 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 the Reference 1.8's 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!
High Pass Filter Benefits  Are you utilizing a subwoofer with your Reference 1.8's? Then order your new crossover with a built in very high quality high pass filter. This filter is set at 80Hz and has a 1st order slope. A high pass filter removes the lower frequencies so your main speakers (and amplifier!) don't have to work nearly as hard. The result is cleaner bass and midrange as well as the ability to crank your speakers louder. You will be happy to know that there are no elecrolytics in this filter - only high quality Sonicap and Erse Pulse X capacitors are used.
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. Install Guide
Purchasing this upgrade or just want to see what the install procedure is like? Download the Install Guide here:
 AV123 Reference 1.8 Ninja Master Install Guide
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!
Performance Graphs
On Axis Response - 5dB Scale
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Impedance |
Cumulative Spectral Decay |
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