Stereophile: The Hallographic Dead (bad pun)

One of the highlights of RMAF 2007 was encountering Lou Hinkley's Daedalus Audio Ulysses loudspeakers ($8800/pair) in the ART Audio room. Here, paired with Gill Audio Designs Alana preamp ($5000) and Elise DAC ($6000), an Ensemble transport, Clayton M-200 power amps ($9500/pair), and relatively inexpensive Empirical Design cabling, the system was arresting in its transparency and three-dimensionality.

Equal credit, I feel, should go to Ben Piazza's amazing Shakti Hallographic Soundfield Optimizers and Shakti Stones, which respectively tamed the room and conquered EMI. (John Atkinson may be skeptical, but I use the Hallographs at home, and they work wonders, especially how they help clarify the midrange in very large, minimally treated listening area). On the first track of Marta Gomez's superbly recorded Chesky CD, Entre Cada Palabra, the clarity of percussion and woodwinds, and the soft beauty of the singing, were exemplary.

As I was leaving Jack Bybee had brought in a pair of his latest Quantum Noise Purifiers, which further highlighted detail and did wonders on the highs—Ben Piazza (left) Lou Hinkley of Daedalus (right), and Jack Bybee feel their products work extremely well together!

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Reader Comments

Posted Wed Jan 9, 2008, 1:45 PM — By Mark De Biasse

Thanks for confirming what others are saying about Lou Hinkley's new flagship, the Ulysses. Daedalus Audio speakers are some of the most musically satisfying speakers out there and the new models represent substantial gains over his previous (excellent) work. I am troubled, however, by one observation in your post, namely that "Equal credit, I feel, should go to Ben Piazza's amazing Shakti Hallographic Soundfield Optimizers and Shakti Stones." When reviewers start giving "equal" credit for great sound to peripheral tweaks they open us all up to the condescension and ridicule. The beautiful sounds you heard in the Daedalus Room were the result of years of acquired expertise and hours of hard labor on the part of Lou (and those whose products preceded the Ulysses in the signal chain). To ascribe "equal" credit to room tuning devises and other paraphernalia is really an insult to the component manufacturers in the room and to the hobby as a whole.

Posted Fri Jan11, 2008, 10:30 PM — By Jason Victor Serinus

Instead of bashing me for praising more than just Lou's speakers, Mark, I suggest you try the Hallographs sometime. They perform near-miracles in my large listening area, clarifying midrange detail and focusing the image (among other things). I have no question that the Hallographs helped bring out the considerable best that Lou's speakers have to offer. That, to me, makes them far more than a "peripheral tweak." jason

Posted Sat Jan12, 2008, 6:15 PM — By Mark De Biasse

Sorry--not my intention to "bash" anyone. Just as I'm sure it wasn't your intention to put the Hallographs on "equal" footing with the stereo equipment actually making the sound in the room. Words are funny that way. As for trying them myself, I think I'll save my hard earned dollars and get one of those clocks instead....

Posted Sat Jan12, 2008, 6:31 PM — By Lou Hinkley

This was my first experience with the Shakti stones and Hallograph and I very pleased with the results. Ben was the first to say that the Hallograph helped to take the room out of the equation and let the speakers sound the way they really do. I don't know how they work in all rooms but in this one and I suspect in many rooms they help considerably. From my conversations in the past with Mark I think he has a very good room and i respect his opinion and very much appreciate Mark's support! As far as how much credit goes where, I feel that every piece in that room was important and all worked beautifully together.

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