Country of Origin
This review first appeared in October 2024 on HifiKnights.com. By request of the manufacturer and permission of the author, it is hereby syndicated to reach a broader audience. All images contained in this piece are the property of HifiKnights or the manufacturer – Ed.
Reviewer: Dawid Grzyb
Transport: Innuos Statement, fidata HFAS1-S10U
DAC: LampizatOr Pacific (KR Audio T-100 / Living Voice 300B + KR Audio 5U4G Ltd. Ed.)
USB components: iFi audio Mercury3.0
Network: Fidelizer EtherStream, Linksys WRT160N
Preamplifier: Trilogy 915R, Thöress DFP
Amplifier: Trilogy 995R, FirstWatt F7, Enleum AMP-²3R
Speakers: Boenicke Audio W11 SE+, sound|kaos Vox 3afw
Headphones: HifiMan Susvara
Interconnects: LessLoss Entropic Process C-MARC, Boenicke Audio IC3 CG
Speaker cables: Boenicke Audio S3, LessLoss C-MARC
Speaker signal conditioning: LessLoss Firewall for Loudspeakers, Boenicke ComDev
Anti-vibration conditioning: 12 x Carbide Audio Carbide Base under DAC, preamp and speakers
Power delivery: Gigawatt PC-3 SE EVO+/LC-3 EVO, LessLoss C-MARC, LessLoss Entropic Process C-MARC, Boenicke Audio Power Gate, ISOL-8 Prometheus
Equipment rack: Franc Audio Accessories Wood Block Rack 1+3
Music: NativeDSD
Retail price of reviewed component in EU (incl. VAT): €450
Rise 'n' shine. Akiko Audio's Triple AC Enhancer has been their bestseller since its debut ten years ago. Seven springs later its fancier Evolution version came to be and is on the menu this time around. In late 2019 I had the pleasure of sampling a product which radically changed my stance on the subject of AC noise or rather, helped me understand how severe this issue is. It all started with UK manufacturer Computer Audio Design aka CAD best known for their 1543 MKII DAC and CAT server/streamer transport so digital stuff all around. However, company founder Scott Berry did a lot to keep his two designs as noise-free as possible so packed them inside non-conductive acrylic enclosures. To investigate how serious he was on the matter, five years ago he sent me his Ground Control GC1 and GC3. These fully passive big blocks are made specifically to drain AC noise within the 700kHz to 10GHz range generated by home appliances like TVs, battery chargers, routers, light switches, dimmers and so forth. Their transient noise bleeds into our mains power and earth then audio systems where it negatively impacts our noise floor. When that happens, sonics suffer.
CAD's GC3 and GC1 siphon off ultrasonic noise from an audio system's signal ground and/or mains earth then convert it to heat. These black holes for AC pollution proved as effective as they were large and very expensive. Back in 2019, the GC3 with the necessary low-Ω umbilical cables wanted ~€5'000 and as much rack space as an integrated amp. Then again, this CAD affair clearly targeted consumers interested in potent accessories boosting already finely curated systems. That audience prefers to extract the max from their existing speakers, amp and sources instead of endlessly replacing them to incur financial losses. In this context, products such as CAD's ground sorters offer a viable upgrade path.
These days specialist hifi noise trimmers occupy a fairly diversified product group. HF noise rejection is their common ground but the means to achieve it can diverge. The Lithuanian company LessLoss offers intricate C-MARC wiring and passive Firewall filters meant for in-line use. CAD's passive GC range works in parallel to our electronics and their AC veins. Ansuz follow suit with their passive Tesla coils and active analog dither circuits designed to work in parallel to signal and power lines to keep inductance low. That's the extent of what I've tried so far. Today this fairly short list grows larger by Akiko Audio from The Netherlands whose exposure on 6moons is generous already. I'm merely catching up and happy about that when this Dutch brand has been on my radar for a long time.
Akiko Audio was founded in 2011 by Marc van Berlo who for many years was an entrepreneur in the financial sector and after hours an avid audiophile. He also had firm ideas on how to use the properties of various minerals and crystals. At some point the decision was made to leave office work behind and focus on audio which eventually turned into a full-time job for him and his son Sander, my contact. Fast forward 13 years and Akiko Audio remain a well-known family business run by two people while additional staff help with production during busy periods. Their product roster accurately reflects a specialist profile. It comprises ground conditioners Castello and Minelli, power conditioners Castello Solo and Corelli Corundum, various AC plugs, cables, tuning sticks and discs and other accessories related to vibration control or power. I initially assumed that Akiko's bestseller had to be one of their conditioners. Not. That place has been usurped by their Triple AC Enhancer. When Covid hit, Marc and his son had time to apply in this device a solution already perfected in their Corelli model. After thoroughly tweaking the recipe, that flourished into today's Triple AC Evolution. Should you wonder about the company name, Akiko means brilliant in Japanese while the kanji in its logo means sound. The combination of the two is obvious.
