Artesania Audio Exoteryc Pro Upgrade Kit
Preparations and Side Notes
Stainless Steel floor bases (Artesania calls them Dampers) can be used with a selection of coupling discs, including Nylon and Neoprene as standard. In 2018, Artesania introduced Beechwood discs separately. Naturally, the bases can also be used directly on the floor. Depending on the rest of the system and personal preferences, using the bases without coupling discs can be either a positive or a negative, as it yields a more robust, earthy sound while also reducing flow, refinement, and treble air. For the longest time, the Nylon discs worked best with my system and to my taste. Sure, they produced a less solid, less impactful sound than Beechwood or when using no discs, but I really liked the agility, airiness, and fluidity they offered.
This changed when I reviewed the Panzerholz Discs late last year. Ever since, these have been my favorite coupling discs. I use them with all Artesania racks and have kept them in place for this review.
Some time ago, I discovered that the sound of the rack can be influenced by the tension with which the Cylinders are tightened. The tighter they are screwed, the faster, more direct, and articulate the sound becomes. Conversely, loosening the screws makes for a more relaxed, sweeter sound. Over time, the tension may naturally subside, so it’s worth checking periodically. With this in mind, I checked the tension of all Cylinders and ensured that I applied the same force to all of them before starting the comparisons. I prefer them to be super tight for my system, but I recommend experimenting to find the optimal tightness for each situation and system.
Listening – Nylon/Stainless Steel Pro Cylinders
To start, I used one Aire Floor Platform for the components of the Pro upgrade, leaving a second Aire untouched (albeit also with Carbon Fiber Linear Arms installed), and I relocated the CH Precision A1.5 power amplifier from one rack to another to assess the differences.
Artesania Audio products are a feast for the eye, and the components of the Pro Upgrade Kit are no exception. There’s again a very nice balance between technical functionality and smooth visual styling.
After moving the A1.5 from the standard Aire to the Aire with the new Nylon and Stainless Steel Pro Cylinder assemblies, the sonic presentation is very noticeably cleaner, with improved definition and center focus, and more distinct soundstage layering in the depth plane. However, contrary to what often happens when the sound becomes more precise, the new Pro Cylinders do not make the sound in any way more technical. It’s the opposite: the sound remains beautifully organic and liquid, with a full-blooded tonality, more warmth, and an added sense of smoothness and calm. Also, while the bass is fuller, it remains articulate, although the pacing feels a little more relaxed. Likewise, the midrange, while cleaner, richer, and timbrally more natural, arguably has less bite and transient expression than the standard Nylon Cylinders.
Going back to the original Cylinders, the sound is indeed leaner in the bass and lower midrange, which increases the perceived pacing. This comparison also confirms that the standard Exoteryc and Aire racks exhibit what can be perceived as a slight dip between the bass and lower midrange, making the upper midrange sound more prominent. Conversely, with the new Pro Cylinders, the bass and midrange are more seamlessly integrated, resulting in a fuller and more continuous sound with a perceived more relaxed pacing. While I appreciate the more unbridled expression of the original Nylon Cylinders, the greater definition and precision of the Pro Cylinders make the original Cylinders sound less audiophile and comparatively untidy.
LAiV GaNM Power Amplifiers
The CH A1.5 amplifier weighs 50 kgs, so to make it easier for myself and spare my back, I repeated the test with the beautifully small and lightweight LAiV GaNM mono power amplifiers using Artesania KSH2 Krion Shelves. Sure enough, even with these relatively affordable Class-D GaN-based amplifiers, the same differences were perceived, albeit less clearly, in terms of resolution. This is likely because the CH amp is inherently more highly resolving. Nevertheless, I heard the same increase in bass fullness, body, midrange richness, warmth, soundstaging, and rock-solid center focus.
These amplifiers also clearly illustrate how the Pro Cylinders produce a more natural timbre. In comparison, the original Cylinders make the amplifiers sound comparatively more “synthetic”. Of course, this is just a relative observation. Exoteryc rack and Aire Floor Platforms are the most natural and organic-sounding racks I have heard, and none of their products sound even remotely unnatural. Still, there is a relative difference, and the new Cylinders are clearly beneficial for these amplifiers.
I could continue testing more audio component categories, but I know from experience that all components are sensitive to what they are placed on. I can confidently state that the effect of the new Cylinders will be clearly audible in any situation, although the level of success ultimately depends in part on the particular pairing.
While part of me still favored the original Nylon Cylinders for their more playful expression with the CH amplifier, this was no longer the case with the LAiV amplifiers. This is what makes the audio hobby both challenging and fascinating. The explanation in this case is simple: because the LAiV amplifiers are inherently rougher than the very refined CH but also more impactful, propulsive, and dynamic, the combination produces an ideal balance, where the rack not only accommodates the audio component but actually upgrades it.
Next: Listening to the Pro Footers, the Full Pro Upgrade Kit, and Conclusion
