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 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.
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Ninja Notes
You may think we are a little bonkers releasing an upgrade that costs nearly as much as the speakers themselves (or even more depending on the options). We're not; the MSRP of a speaker is rarely indicative of the performance or performance potential. The x-statik's have that special something and they are worth investing in.
The x-statik's are wonderfully open loudspeakers. Their seductive sound can keep you glued to your seat for hours. With speakers like this, our minds were racing with the possibilities of taking them even further...
Our most ambitious creation to date, the Ninja Master QXX is here. Featuring a fully custom built external network, the QXX makes a profound improvement in the presentation of the x-statik. It is the same speaker you know and love and so much more.
By taking the proven Ninja Master design philosophy and applying that to an externally located network, we've been able to extract even more performance from the x-statik than we thought possible.
The network rests on 4 small ball bearings. This aids in isolating the network from the deleterious effects of microphonics. Microphonics describes the phenomenon where certain components in electronic devices (such as capacitors in a crossover) transform mechanical vibrations (ringing) into an undesired electrical signal (noise). Removing a substantial portion of these vibrations results in a huge leap in clarity and transparency. Especially wonderful is the far more precise attack and decay of notes. The combined effect of these enhancements bring your x-statik's to world class status and for the total price paid, an incredible bargain. |
Upgrade Creation
The Ninja Master QXX is based on the original x-statik circuit design. The excellent design means we have not changed any part values.
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 QXX network, your speakers will be equipped with higher quality component parts, pure point to point internetwork connections, correct board layout (see: magnetic field orientation), external mounting, and all of this without us having to change the already excellent circuit design by Danny Richie of GR Research.
...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.
A little more about the reason for QXX...
The Ninja Master QXX exists simply because moving the crossover network outside of the speaker results in substantial sonic improvement. DIY speaker builders have been locating their networks outside of the cabinet for years. Traditionally they are either left completely exposed and sitting behind the speaker (or even on top of the speaker in some cases we have seen!) or in a separate enclosure.
In 2007, AV123 exhibited their x-statik loudspeakers at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest and featured the prototype x-statik crossover network mounted on the back of the speaker. Customers asked us to take this idea and run with it as the basis for an outboard upgrade for the x-statik's. The QXX is the result.
Not content with simply bolting a Ninja Master network onto the back of the speaker, we wanted to produce something that would greatly enhance the performance of the loudspeaker and give it a unique look.
The mounting system had to be special because if the network was hard-connected to the cabinet, we would not get the level of improvement we were after. The final answer was ball bearings. With the network resting on four ball bearings, the total contact area for all four units is just 0.314". Excellent!
Next was to keep the network from sliding off the back of the speaker...
To solve this issue, we went with a combo of 1/4" copper tube and steel threaded rod. The steel threaded rod is what holds everything together. The copper tubes are for aesthetics. The entire network assembly is bolted down onto the cabinet however the network board itself can slide up and down the tubes. By sitting on these bearings, the network is well isolated from the deleterious effects of microphonics. Microphonics describes the phenomenon where certain components in electronic devices (such as capacitors in a crossover) transform mechanical vibrations (ringing) into an undesired electrical signal (noise). Removing a substantial portion of these vibrations results in a huge leap in clarity and transparency. Especially wonderful is the far more precise attack and decay of notes.
Interested in more detailed information regarding the microphonics phenomenon?
Capacitors typically exhibit a piezoelectric effect when placed under electric field. The piezoelectric effect results in a physical distortion with amplitude related to the intensity of the electric field.
If the electric field is an AC field with frequency in the audible range (ca. 20 Hz to 20 KHz), the distortions due to the piezoelectric effect may result in sound emission. If the capacitor is soldered directly to a circuit board, the sound emission increases analogous to a speaker.
Additionally, it is not atypical for several capacitors on a circuit board to combine to further amplify the sound emission to the point that it is noticeable, if not annoying (i.e., ‘singing capacitors‘). The inverse of this effect is that the capacitor may also act as a microphone when subjected to shock or vibration, thereby adding noise to electronic signals in a circuit, for example in the case of a high vibration application.
In these situations, it is prudent to reduce the extent of mechanical coupling of the capacitor and the circuit board.
This information is used with permission by Mark R. Laps, Electrical Test Engineer, Kemet Corporation.
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We hope you have enjoyed this glimpse into the making of the QXX. The combined effect of these enhancements bring your x-statik's to world class status and for the total price paid, an incredible bargain.
Physical Changes
Superior substrate
Superior parts quality
Superior layout
Superior connections
Superior QC
Superior durability
Superior component dampening
Before and After
For comparison, here we have the stock crossover network and the Ninja Master QXX Network:
(The QXX is shown with optional Sprague VitaminQ 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 Components
Ninja Master QXX networks utilize the very best components available. If you want more in-depth information on these components, visit our components section.
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Fully custom build
Each QXX network is meticulously built by The Ninja's hands from the ground up. With a copious amount of aesthetic and acoustic customizability, the QXX can be tailored to your wants, wishes, and desires... |
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Ball bearing mounting system
The QXX rests on 4 ball bearings. These are the main contact points between the network and the speaker. The support tubes are not hard-linked to the network or the cabinet; rather the network slides up and down on the tubes. This system greatly reduces the vibrations that can reach the network resulting in a much cleaner presentation. |
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Clear Optix top plate
To keep kids and cats and whatever wildlife you have roaming your home out of your new networks, they are topped with a crystal clear 1/4" acrylic top plate. The edges are polished for a slick, professional look. |
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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. |
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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. For capacitor values above 30uF, we use Erse PulseX capacitors. |
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Layout
The component layout of a Ninja Master QXX 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. |
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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. |
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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! |
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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. |
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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. |
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Tech Flex
All externally visible wiring is covered with black tech flex. This is a braided material that allows those brightly colored wires to dissapear giving the back of the x-statik a much more elegant look over stock. |
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Substrate
The QXX uses point-to-point construction techniques just as the Ninja Master. However with the QXX, you can choose an array of colors or even go clear with an acrylic substrate. No Printed Circuit Boards. No thin traces to contaminate the signal. Just pure, crystalline music... |
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Support Tube Customization
One of the visually distinctive features of the QXX are its flared support tubes. Made from pure copper, these can be left bare and allowed to oxidize producing a wonderful changing effect over time, we can seal them to retain that bright, new copper shine or paint them to a color that you designate! |
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 and binding posts. 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.
Build Options
Due to the custom design of this upgrade, DIY kits are not offered on a normal basis. If you wish to attempt a DIY build, contact The Ninja for more information and pricing.
Upgrade your Cabinet
Your speaker cabinet should never 'talk' along with the music. NoRez will quiet down your cabinet to wonderful effect. Tighter bass, cleaner mid-bass and midrange.
All of our cabinet upgrade kits come pre-cut with instructions. Simply place each numbered piece into the cabinet as per the diagram and you are set. Price listed is for one pair of speakers (unless it is a center channel speaker).
Read all about the benefits of upgrading your speaker cabinet with NoRez as well as find out why your cabinet needs to shut its trap!
Metal Grill Dampening The metal grills included with the x-statik tend to resonate or vibrate along with the music - especially at spirited volume levels.
With our simple grill dampening kit, you can reduce those vibrations by a huge amount thus cleaning up the overall presentation of the speaker. This simple and inexpensive tweak is high recommended!
Each kit comes with enough grill dampers to
upgrade all grills on one pair of speakers.
Substrate and Support Tube Color Choose a color or colors to compliment the rest of the system, find something that will please your partner, or go custom.
You can choose any color combo for the substrate and support tubes. The same colors are available for both (except pure copper and oxidized copper).
 Colors shown are for reference only. Actual color may vary from what you see on your monitor, due to varied monitor calibrations. Also, when one color is placed next to another (such as on the screen here), both colors will look different than if they were against white, black, or another color. Keep this in mind when selecting a color. For assistance with selecting a color, contact Mrs Ninja to tap into her copious interior designing skills.
Colors available for both the substrate and support tubes:
Binding Posts Ditch those brass binding posts! Vampire #BP-1.5 binding posts are made from one piece of hard brass, including the top nut. They are then copper plated, silver plated, and finally gold plated. This 1/4” post includes all mounting hardware and is priced per set. If you want a bi-amp or tri-amp option, be sure to order 2 sets for bi-amp and 3 sets for tri-amp.
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...
Bypass Capacitors
Why use a 'by-pass cap'? Think of a capacitor as an energy storage device. Capacitors will store and release energy and are often used for that very reason. In loudspeaker applications we use them for the capacitive effects and not their energy storage capabilities. The larger the cap the more energy it can store. Also larger caps take longer to charge and to discharge this stored energy. Different types of caps store and release energy at different rates too. For a wealth of information on the usage of bypass capacitors in loudspeakers, click here. Our networks typically come with the Sonicap Gen II bypass as standard (check the options above to confirm as this is on a per-network basis). We also offer additional types of bypass caps to suit your taste and budget:
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Sonicap Gen II:
The Gen II has a nice midrange bloom that produces a wonderful combination when bypassing larger values of Gen I with smaller values of Gen II.
This excellent capacitor is standard on most networks. |
Genuine Sprague VitaminQ P96:
Slightly more expensive than the Sonicap Gen II, the Vitamin Q's provide a very lush sound, one that allows you to get lost in the music.
If you're looking for the last bits of detail, you're better off sticking with the Sonicap Gen2 or looking at the Sonicap Platinum.
Pairs excellently when powered by mid-fi receivers. |
Sonicap Platinum:
The Platinum posses the best combination of sonic characteristics available in a capacitor today. It is very fast, but full and rich. The presentation is ultra smooth without loss of detail, focus, or dynamics.
The Platinum is the best bypass cap we offer and is ideal for high resolution systems. |
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. For the x-statik, when Vitamin Q or Platinum bypass caps are chosen, the woofer section will still receive Sonicap Gen2's as those drivers see 200Hz and down only.
Inductor - Keep or No Keep?
The x-statik utilizes a rather large inductor in the woofer circuit. The inductor supplied with the stock x-statik network is perfectly suited and little to no performance increase can be achieved by replacing it. Therefore we have three options to fit your comfort level and budget. These are arranged from least expensive/greatest labor for you (#1) down to most expensive/least labor for you (#3).
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Stock Inductor |
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Replacement Inductor |
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Option 1: We ship you the networks fully built except for that one inductor. We supply a photo guide to aid in the removal of the inductor from the stock network and adding it to the new network. It requires a little soldering but it pretty straight forward. Review the QXX guide by clicking the Specs/Guides/Etc tab above.
Option 2: You remove the inductors from your networks (two screws and two solder joints are all that you need to deal with) and send them to us. We will install during the build process. Naturally with this option, you are without your speakers for a bit longer than with the other options.
Option 3: Order new all new inductors for convenience. We install while building your upgrade. Nothing extra for you to do. This is the most expensive option but is the easiest. Note that this replacement inductor is red in color and not the copper color of the stock inductor. Keep this in mind if you are trying to match a particular decor.
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 with Open Baffle Wire Sleeves
QXX has one wiring option available - full replacement. Solderless options are not available with QXX.
Along with the full wire upgrade comes black tech flex to cover all exposed wiring to give your x-statik's a professional, clean look.
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Highest performance: |
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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 dielectric constant (2.2-2.4 for PE versus 3.4 for PVC) and preserving qualities. We include Cardas Quad Eutectic solder for all connections. |
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).
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.
Network Specifications
Weight of Network: 6lbs (each)
Network Size: 12.25" x 7" x .25" (each)
Wire Length: 72' (22M) per pair
Frequency response and impedance of the speaker is not effected by this upgrade.
What's in the box
- Your new networks
- Swanky Skiing Ninja™ upgrade labels for the back of the speakers
- Cardas Quad Eutectic solder
- Any optional items you have selected
 Speaker Upgrade Video Install Guide
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