Stéphane Even, founder and CEO
A constant questioning
On some days, the sound produced by a Hi-Fi system offers moments of pure grace: our favourite artists are with us in the room, with all the atmosphere of a live concert. In such instances, the realism seems absolute. However, more often than not, there is something slightly artificial about Hi-Fi sound, even from a top-of-the-range system, that prevents us from really “connecting” to the music in question. For nearly 15 years, in my profession as a designer Hi-Fi equipment, I was confronted by phenomena that simply could not be explained by conventional technical knowledge. During this time, I tried to understand the physics of these phenomena, and conducted more than a thousand experiments. I saw Hi-Fi as a scientific anomaly, as a field in which there was a fundamental lack of understanding as to what determined the quality of the sound.
Several questions remained unanswered:
- WHY do cables have a sound signature?
- WHY is there no correlation between the measured performance of amplifiers and their sound quality?
- WHY does a Hi-Fi system not sound the same every day or at all times of the day?
2015
Discovery
In 2015, my research took a major leap forward. I discovered a vibrational interference that was at the source of the majority of High-Fidelity anomalies. This interference propagates through solids, in cables, chassis and cabinets. Ultimately, it interacts through the air with the sound that is being reproduced. This parasitic emission, which is outside the audio band, is responsible for a significant loss of definition. The more one absorbs these parasitic effects in each element of the system, the better the resulting sound.
“Parasitic” sound in a few words
A sensation of dissonance
With acoustic instruments, with unpleasant resonances on certain notes. Concert instruments tend not to sound good, more like student instruments, with no harmonic richness.
A marked tonal imbalance
With either bland sound quality that favours high notes, or muffled or thick sound with emphasis on the lower end of the spectrum. Each element of the system, including the cables, seems to have its own sound signature.
A sensation of loss of the concert hall ambience between notes,
As if the acoustics are too dull. This is due to the loss of the micro-signals that are so important to the ear. The ends of notes are shortened and not the same as when one hears live sound.
A sensation of hardness,
Stress and confusion on loud notes, reflecting an inability to transcribe the dynamic differences.
A very flat sound image
With no height or depth, far from the 3D effect of which stereo sound is capable when it is coupled with good sound recordings.
technology
Zero Vibration
The initial simplicity of this vibrational phenomenon hides the complexity inherent in the way it propagates. Our patented Zero Vibration technology provides a solution to this technical challenge, with a means of combating the harmful effects of vibrational interference. The ORIGINE B1 anti-vibration mounting is the first product to incorporate Zero Vibration technology. It enables music lovers to significantly improve the sound quality of their Hi-Fi or home cinema system. It is a universal, scalable solution. The cables in the Origine range incorporate a technical solution that was also developed from Zero vibration technology. Combined with the PW1 mains powerstrip, all of these products constitute a complete solution that frees the musical potential of High-Fidelity electronic components and speakers.
