[antr]

Hi Jason..
What is "Magic cube" ?

//Anders

[worldcat]

We will see how magic it is!!

[srb]

Hopefully not a booster module for Clever Little Clock!
 
Steve

[daz_bike]

From Tweek Geek:

The Nuforce Magic Cube for speaker cables reduces two kinds of audio distortion that most ordinary RFI filtering does not. The "Smith Cell" part of the Magic Cube reduces 1/f noise in cable conductors, and the filter section reduces signal reflections that typically occur at the amplifier/speaker interface. Then end result is the Magic Cube makes any system (even if it is non Nuforce) instantly sound better (clearer, less noise, wide and deeper sound stage). Available fall 2009.

Price on Tweek Geek  $249   .... lets hope they come in pairs!

[rustydoglim]

It is base on real science but we are not ready to disclose. Nuforce is a serious technology company  aa
This is not some kind of LRC network or snake oil.

[daz_bike]

Jason,

I would have seriously doubted that it would be just another LRC.  I look forward to giving it a demo through my dealer!

[rustydoglim]

A little more info can be found on the new product page:
http://www.nuforce.com/hi/products/magic-cube/index.php

[rustydoglim]

The product page has been updated with photos and extended technical information.

http://www.nuforce.com/hi/products/magic-cube/index.php
http://www.nuforce.com/hi/products/magic-cube/magic-cube-tech.php

Shipping around 3rd week of November.

[kwl]

How is the Magic Cube similar to/different from Walker HDL's?  They seem to do the same thing.

[Aether Audio]

kwl,

It appears that the Walker HDLs differ significantly from the NuForce Magic Cube in several ways.  First you must remember that the magic Cube is composed of two parts - the Smith Cell base unit and the Filter docking module.

From what I can discern from reading what I can find about the Walkers, it seems they are intended to filter out ultrasonic artifacts that Walker claims is a result of environmental RF noise contamination.  It is claimed that the speaker cables act as antennas and pick up cell phone generated noise and what-have-you.  Whether this fact is true is a matter of debate, but nevertheless it appears they attenuate ultrasonic energy... whatever the source may be.  Without knowing the component part values inside the Walker units one can only guess as to their total frequency range of operation, but by my estimation their size is too small to have much effect in the audible band below 10KHz or so.

Conversely, the Filter section of the Magic Cube is designed such that it affects a broad spectrum in the audible band, from about 1KHz on up to well into the ultrasonic range.  Not only does it attenuate the ultrasonic frequencies as the Walker device claims to do, but also distortion artifacts that are generated due to the amplifier/cable/loudspeaker interface.

Secondary to the above, the Smith Cell section addresses a totally different source of distortion.  It is a type of "phase noise" or distortion generated in conductors and it has been scientifically identified.  You can read about it here:

http://aetheraudio.com/Sub-Debye%20Phase%20Distortion.pdf

Please be advised that this paper is already being revised and is not intended to represent a true scientific model in the purest sense of the word.  The revision will include information sources as well as correct a small error.  Specifically, I referenced a Wikipedia article that stated 1/f noise does not affect AC systems - which is not true and actually follows the hypothesis I presented.  You can read more regarding the issue here:
 
http://books.google.com/books?id=gs9RjFYDS1EC&pg=PA244&lpg=PA244&dq=flicker+noise&source=bl&ots=NHIdjX4vw9&sig=L2sHWA6be1cRwTLGx51hLTQzUZA&hl=en&ei=OEPgSqWlIIXCNaLFrMMI&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8&ved=0CCsQ6AEwBzhG#v=onepage&q=flicker%20noise&f=false

You will find a table showing the 1/f noise levels generated by the different metals I referred to in the paper on page 250 of the link above.  The researchers in the above info even used a test method that is similar in concept but different in practice to what I proposed at the end of the paper.

In summation, the NuForce Magic Cube addresses considerably more in the way of distortion mechanisms than what it appears the Walker HDL seems to provide.  Considering the comparable costs involved it seem to me the Magic Cube represents exceptional value.

Take care,
-Bob

[kwl]

Thanks, Bob, for the detailed response.  The differences are much clearer to me (as a non-engineer).

[kwl]

Has anyone tried these yet?  My system is sensitive enough to readily hear changes in components, cables and tubes, but I have yet to hear significant changes with power-related tweaks (e.g., power cords, Hammond choke, Porter port, batteries on a SB3).  I'm trying to figure out where the Magic Cube falls on the tweak scale.

[Aether Audio]

kwl,
 
The NuForce Magic Cube is functionally identical in every way to the units I originally developed and sold under the Aether Audio name.  Of course, their present "fit & finish" is considerably more professional lookinng than what I was originally able to produce myself.
 
Aether Audio is still offering the same technology under our "Black Box" name, but it is constructed with all very high-end parts, so the cost is at least twice that of the equivalent NuForce Magic Cube.  Unless one has a very refined system composed of the very finest gear and/or demands only "the best," there is little justification for spending such sums when the NuForce Magic Cube embodies essentially all of  the system performance advantages as that of the Black Box in its present form.  In fact, NuForce has gone to great lengths to optimize the device such that when it comes to comparing price/performance ratios, the NuForce Magic Cube simply can't be beat.  Not only that, but as a result of their superior resources they were able to develop it in a way that was superior to what I had previously been able to do.  As such, the Magic Cube can be expected to deliver possibly even better results than those claimed in the earlier reviews listed below.
 
In light of the above, if you are interested in a few early user reviews of the technology (and all but the Magico system units were built without the high-end parts), please refer to the links below.
 
You will need to skim through the following link to find the pertinent user comments, as the thread is 7 pages long and contains a number of posts that are somewhat off-topic: http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=67559.0
 
Finally, the following link contains my comments regarding an experience with a customer that recently purchased 8 Black Boxes for his system.  In that posting I also included a link to an Audiogon review written by a friend of the customer that heard his system both before and after installation of the Black Boxes.  "Teajay" knew that system very well as he had been friends with the customer for quite some time.  In that, one could interpret his review as being both fairly unbiased (not his system) and accurate.  See here: http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=73701.0
 
Seeing that the NuForce Magic Cube is just now in production with the first units being delivered only recently, I doubt you will find any reviews of that speific version yet.  Nevertheless, you can rest assured that it will deliver every bit the performance the earlier Black Box did... and then some.
 
I hope this helps! 
 
-Bob