Akiko Audio Loudspeaker Improvers

Hi folks, I’m the newest music lover turned audiophile on the masthead. Since meeting Clement Perry (my neighbor and friend), I was offered the opportunity to test the Akiko Loudspeaker Improvers. He insisted I spend more time checking out tweaks with a good track record rather than replacing my loudspeakers or electronics. I did my due diligence and looked up Akiko Audio and found this Netherlands-based brand has been reviewed on these pages by our esteemed publisher and has been chosen for Most Wanted Component, too!

Their website specifies that the pair of Improvers are built inside an anodized aluminum housing equipped with 4mm Hirschmann gold-plated banana sockets. The housings are double insulated, and the connection cables are exclusively connected to the negative terminals of the speakers; thus, they are safe. The product contains no internal active power filtering or electronic components. Each pair has two connection cables featuring silver-plated copper conductors with P.T.F.E. insulation (the connection cables can be customized with a 6/8mm gold-plated spade or equipped with 4mm gold-plated banana connectors as desired). The length of the connection cables is 0.5 meters as standard (up to a maximum of 1.5 meters per request). Weight: 1 kilogram each. Dimensions: 135x90x63mm (LxWxH), including banana socket, including feet.

When I initially received the Improvers, I couldn’t figure out what they were. Are they active or passive devices? They’re passive devices that plug into the negative leads of your loudspeakers. How they do what they do remains a mystery, but even with my neophyte ears, I can tell they work. The Improvers are well built and are some hefty products for their size. I refrained from reading any other reviews about Akiko’s products before trying out this one; the only information I had to go off of was the product description on Akiko’s website.

After getting a good location to place my newly purchased Tekton Lore Reference loudspeakers (which lasted for months), I finally decided to listen to the Improvers – where things get interesting. The Improvers somehow worked like a prism, taking the song and separating each instrument. It also sounded like it metaphorically turned up the volume, focusing more on the nuances. Little aspects of songs that were lurking in the back were soon revealed. The Improvers also sounded like they put some insulation around the sound; this had me concerned. Was I going to be sacrificing some qualities of my system to gain minimal improvements? I contacted CP, who suggested letting the Akikos burn in a little.

So I turned on my Apple Music Radio course through my Stein Music integrated and let the system cook for another 72 hours. I would return every few hours to see if I could notice any difference (I didn’t). After letting the music play for a few days, I heard something had changed. Once, what felt restricted or insulated around the instruments was gone. My soundstage had significantly increased in height and width. The noise floor had improved also. I picked up some of the lowest bass notes that once veiled, and the highest of the highs (the delicate touch of cymbals) came in clearer—one thing I picked up on was the broader soundstage. Previously, the music on the left/right was getting stuck at the drivers, taking me out of the immersive experience I had hoped for. I played around with the toe-in of my speakers and corrected it with some micro-adjustments.

After a week of having the Akiko Improvers plugged into my system, I am beginning to understand how these tweaks improve my system. As stated on Akiko Audio’s website, “The Loudspeaker Improver maintains a neutral sound balance, but by cleaning up the signal, it enhances the familiar sound of your speakers, making it appear slightly fuller while improving coherence between the high, mid, and low-frequency drivers. Additionally, bass tones are perceived more accurately, and the speaker will effortlessly fill the listening space with music“. My biggest takeaway is that the Akiko Loudspeaker Improvers enhances the familiar sound of my beloved Tekton Lores. When I initially plugged the Improvers in, I anticipated a drastic change to my system. However, I was met with a pleasant, nuanced improvement. The Improvers somehow improved on what was already there.

I was perplexed about what these Improvers were doing to my speakers. I had to dive deeper and explore some music across different genres to hear what was going on. I took the next few weeks to listen intently to understand and describe the improvements I’ve heard in my system to the best of my ability. One of the best parts of our hobby is revisiting old favorites and exploring new soon-to-be favorites. Live recordings are a great test because they give me a sense of space and dimension and transport me to the environment where the music was being recorded. Whether it’s a quiet jazz bar with clinking glasses and dinner plates in the background, a large music hall, or an outdoor venue, some songs that helped demonstrate the Akiko Loudspeaker Improvers’ ability to enhance my soundstage and space were “Diana Krall Live in Paris,” Fly Me To The Moon, f “Allison Krauss & Union Station Live;”  The Lucky One, and One from “Warren Haynes’ Live at Bonnaroo.”

The bass and treble quality were another improvement I noticed with the Akiko Loudspeaker Improvers. The bass sounded faster, tighter, and possessed better focus. Bass notes and the overall impression of someone plucking the bass sounded more realistic. On the opposite end, the Akiko Loudspeaker Improvers enhanced the treble. Higher notes were revealed, whether it was the ting of a high hat, the shimmering of a synth, or the slapping of a guitar string hitting the fretboard. The little details were brought into focus, creating a fuller experience. Finally, for this test, I listened to hear how the Akiko Loudspeaker Improvers improved the quality of the vocals. When I listen to a singer, I want it to feel like the singer is standing in the same room. I listen for the realism and clarity of the voice. The Akiko Loudspeaker Improvers enhanced the realism and clarity of the human voice. The vocals sound more focused, authentic, and transparent.

Overall, my impression of the Akiko Loudspeaker Improvers is that these little things make a big difference. If you expect a drastic system-altering change, these will not do that. But if you want to enhance and build on the quality of your system, these are an excellent addition. These have brought out the additional quality and beauty that was always hiding in my system; they offered the extra help to bring it out and reveal it to me. I am impressed with their ability to bring more clarity and realism to my sound and expand the soundstage of my system. I have a more immersive experience listening to my music now; the sound fills my room, and the music stretches beyond my loudspeakers. The Akiko Loudspeaker Improvers are a relatively affordable tweak for $995 a pair. I encourage you to try them, and you, too, will be pleased with the improvements that the Akiko Loudspeaker Improvers offer.

Specifications:
price: $995 pair

Akiko Audio
Churchilllaan 69
6226CT Maastricht
The Netherlands
Tel: +31(0)43-8515561

Website: www.akikoaudio.com