Product Description
We have a few pairs of the Akiko MkII Tuning Sticks left as we make room for the new MkIII model. The MkIII are a bit more powerful but the MkII are great and can't be beat at this price. Use the (33% discount code - Stick2) during checkout to apply the discount. These are limited to the remaining units in stock.
Inventory as of 10/6:
Universal - Qty 4
Akiko Universal Tuning Sticks are passive devices (they don't plug into anything, unlike the other types). The most common usage is to strap them to speaker cables at the speaker end, but they're also used on power cables and some are using them on headphone cables. Sold in pairs.
These products from Akiko Audio are 6Moons Blue Moon Award Winners, Positive Feedback did a fantastic review and the Stereo Times writers named the Tuning Sticks a Most Wanted Component of 2013.
Akiko Audio products are all based on one principal, cleaning noise from the ground plane of your system. The cleaner the ground, the clearer your sound. The product is available in five different variations. We recommend starting with either an AC or RCA unit, then adding a pair of the Universal to achieve maximum performance.
The Tuning Stick Mkl was awarded with the 6Moons Blue Moon award in September of 2013. Here's what the reviewers had to say:
"By merely plugging in the 100-odd grams of AC tuning shtick, the virtual soundstage widened, individual instruments moved further apart and Burke pushed his singing chair forward. When we unplugged the darn stick, the stage shrunk back to its initial size between the horns. Did we hear this correctly? Was this stuff really that powerful?"
"Scary? Almost. With the enhanced dimensions of the music we now also noticed tiny ticks and clicks from the vinyl's surface giving away that this was still a reproduction. Before the universal sticks were mounted, these ticks and clicks had been inaudible."
"In all their differences these two sample albums uncovered the new-found possibilities of our system in full. It had been a very good system already but now it sat at an even higher altitude. Three little sticks were all it took to get up there."
"What exactly the workings of these sticks are is unclear. They seem to be related to the Shakti Stones and Acoustic Revive RCG-24 grounding enhancer. The only difference between those and the sticks is that the sticks don't introduce subtle enhancements. They cause a vast enhancement."
Check out the reviews here:
http://6moons.com/audioreviews/akiko/1.html
http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue71/akiko_audio.htm
http://canadahifi.com/akiko-tuning-sticks-review-do-you-believe-in-black-magic/
How to Use the Sticks
- We recommend starting with the AC model (or a pair of Universal on your speaker cables or mains cable). Listen with the AC unit plugged into the wall (next to your power conditioner) and plugged into your power conditioner. We've even had a client who's using one plugged into a different circuit than his system; the stick will clean the ground at the electrical panel where all circuits are connected.
- Use the RCA/XLR unit as an alternative to the AC and like the AC, try it in every possible position. You don't need to try every jack on the on a single component (they all probably connect to the same ground), but certainly try every component that has an open jack, such as your Preamp, Phono Preamp, DAC, etc.
- The AC and RCA/XLR models can also be strapped on top of a power cable, for further experimentation, regardless of whether the connector is plugged in.
- Use the Universal model on your speaker cables, trying the speaker end and the amp end. Also try them on you mains cable into your power conditioner.
