Tweakers' Asylum: REVIEW: Walker Audio High Definition Links Other by Frank P

Before discussing this product, let me first dispense with the disclaimers. I am NOT associated in any way with Walker Audio or LLoyd Walker, I did NOT have any biases or pre-conceived notions (other than general skeptisism)regarding this product, and I am not receiving anything for this review. I am NOT a professional reviewer or asscociated with any audio magazine. The following review is based solely on use in my system and simply sets forth my opinion of the product under such conditions and based on my tastes and preferences. WHEW!

Now onto the Walker Audio High Definition Links.

This product is said to "prevent signal distortion due to RFI and very high frequencies." Basically its stated purpose is to eliminate unwanted noise from the signal path while allowing the pure music signal to pass through unaffected. Many of you have probably heard of the Bybee Speaker Filters. I have never auditioned those so I can't comment on them but assume they may have similar objectives. These little rectangular wooden boxes are very small (about the size of a wafer cookie) with 2 sold silver leads terminated in heavy spades protruding from the box -- one marked "POS" and the other "NEG." For those of you who have ever read any of my posts, you'll know I have been skeptical about most of the "tweaks" I have auditioned, expecting to hear very little, if any, improvement in sound. Well these were no exception, particularly when I unwrapped them and thought to myself "$600 for these little things, boy did I get taken" (I should note, however, that there is a 30 day moneyback guaranty).

These little wooden boxes didn't look big enough to have anything in them at all let alone be able to improve my system. Now I was really skeptical. Oh well, here I go, I thougt what do I have to lose? I was lucky enough to get a couple of demo sets (I needed 2 sets since I bi-wire)as they suggest a break-in of up to 100 hours. So with little or no expectations, I connected them in about 3-4 minutes and sat down to expect to strain to hear anything. I simply was NOT ready for what happened over the next two days. I will cut to the chase and then go back and discuss the detail. Simply stated, this was the best $500-600 I have EVER spent on my system! The literature claims that the HDLs will make the music more natural sounding, with clearer harmonics, faste and sharper dynamics and eliminate the "electronic glare" from the music and open up the soundstage. Quite a claim for these 2 meager looking wooden boxes! All I can tell you is that for the last two days (I have been home sick with strep throat so I got to listen to alot of music) each and every CD or LP I played was better, some by such a large margin, it was frightening. I had to call my friend over to comfirm what I was hearing to make sure my brain wasn't playing tricks on me. On two particular CDs the soundstage grew SO much, I thought I had surround sound. There were instruments coming from places I had never heard anything before. I was also hearing MANY new things for the first time on CDs I've played THOUSANDS of times!! The instruments were better focused, the soundstage was so big it was wierd, the electronic edge was GONE. My friend confirmed all of my findings (before I discussed my conclusions with him). EVERTHING just sounded better. I felt I could not only reach out and touch the performers but also that I could distinguish each and every instrument or voice and follow it. If you have seen a description of my system on this site, you'll know that I have a fairly high-end system that is very revealing. But these little wooden boxes took my system up a couple of notches for a FRACTION of the price of my system.

All I can say is that I call it like I (and my friend) hear it. These incredible devices are a no brainer to me and won't leave my system for quite a while. The music sounds much more "right there" and does it by lowering the noise floor and making the music more detailed yet less fatiguing. My digital playback is now closer to analog than it has ever been. At this price, these things are a steal. This was a quantum leap forward in my system!

REVIEW: Walker Audio High Definition Links Other Review by Frank P at Audio Asylum