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Reviewer: Joël Chevassus
Financial Interests: click here
Source: Esoteric K-03, Lumin A1, Lumin S1 [on loan], Apple iMac Lion/Audirvana, Trends UD-10.1, MacBook Lion with HiFace USB bridge
Amp/Preamp: Coincident Technology Statement Line preamplifier, SPL Volume2, Luxman M-800a x 2 (bridged), Coda CX [on loan], Trends TA-10.2, SPEC RSA V1EX [on loan]
Speakers: Vivid Audio K1, Magnepan 20.7 [on loan], Lawrence Audio Double Bass [on loan]
Cables: Skywire Audio 2020 digital cable, Naturelle Audio interconnects Live 8 MK2, Grimm Audio TPM interconnects, High Fidelity CT1 Enhanced speakers, Triode Wire Labs cable loom [on loan]
Power Cords: Audio Art Power 1 SE, Supra, DIY cables, Triode Wire Labs 7 & 10 [on loan]
Stands & room: Music Tools Alica furniture, DAAD 4 bass traps, Microsorber room insulation, PYT Panels, Stillpoints stands.
Review component retail:  €9’032, €600 for optional 3D measurement microphone


Publisher’s comment: This review contains a lot of images. To make their perusal more manageable, I’ve embedded links for various screen shots and diagrams throughout. Whenever you see a linked term, it’ll open as an image in a new window. Afterwards simply close that window to resume reading.


Context. Digital room correction is an aspect of acoustics whereby digital filters designed to improve unfavourable effects of a room's acoustics on playback are applied to the input of a hifi system. Modern room correction produces substantial improvements in the time and amplitude domains of a playback system. Digital correction uses sophisticated filtering panels to operate with optimal time resolution, optimal frequency resolution or any desired compromise that will match a user's listening requirement.


And that is the core business of Trinnov whose ST2-HiFi as the first device dedicated to the audiophile and home audio market I reviewed two years ago. Then that model was one of the most advanced to correct frequency response, phase and time within a quite intuitive interface. That per se was already a major achievement. Acting as digital source and preamp, the ST2-HiFi was the first audiophile weapon against unfriendly acoustic environments—and which normal living/listening room acoustics aren’t challenged?—that stood a chance at convincing the straight-wire purists. Digital advances and ongoing audio engineering never stop, hence Trinnov some time ago released a new flagship with improved sonic performance and a few additional functionalities.
To remind us shortly of basic Trinnov highlights, the company incorporated in the early 2000s under three Frenchmen: Arnaud Laborie, Sébastien Montoya and Rémy Bruno. In 2006 they released their first room correction device called Optimizer which thereafter also integrated in advanced AV receivers and preamp/processors as OEM technology. In 2010 Trinnov released its first device dedicated to the audiophile market: the ST2-HiFi.


That was a very user-friendly device with powerful algorithms and sophisticated functionality like multi-point measurements, time/frequency analysis, comprehensive graph support, target curves, automatic phase optimization, intelligent crossover alignment and flexible fine-tuning to meet personal taste. After the launch of the ST2-HiFi, Trinnov grew, doubled its number of employees and moved to more spacious offices. They also became deeply involved in the movie theatre market, selling audio processors to more than 750 theatres in France alone.