"For me, the combination of sound quality, engineering, build quality, flexibility and value for money is exceptional."
REIKI Audio is a brand I have been following for some time, so I’m genuinely delighted that we are now able to offer the range here at Kronos AV.
What initially interested me about REIKI was their approach to digital audio and, in particular, network optimisation. I have long believed that the network is an important part of a serious streaming system, and REIKI takes this area far beyond the typical off-the-shelf network switch.
Their range includes both conventional and optical network switches, giving customers the flexibility to choose the approach that best suits their system. Importantly, the switches are also designed with an upgrade path in mind, with the ability to improve their performance further through upgraded power supplies as a system develops.
It isn't simply the switches that impressed me, either. REIKI also produces its own hand-built Ethernet and USB cables, creating a complete range of products designed specifically around the digital signal path.
Another major attraction for me is that REIKI Audio products are designed and built in the UK. British-designed and manufactured specialist Hi-Fi is becoming increasingly rare, and it is great to see a company investing this level of thought and engineering into products built here.
The physical construction is equally impressive. These are beautifully made products, with details such as copper-lined network switch chassis demonstrating the level of attention that has gone into both electrical performance and mechanical design.
Then there is the pricing.
Given the engineering, UK manufacture and construction quality, I think REIKI has positioned its products extremely competitively. The conventional and optical network switches start from around £1,650, while their hand-built Ethernet cables start from around £1,200.
Most importantly, of course, I have spent time listening to pretty much everything REIKI currently produces.
The results have been extremely impressive. Across the range, I found improvements in clarity, separation and overall presentation, but without changing the fundamental character of the system. Good digital accessories should allow the system to do more of what it is already capable of, rather than imposing an obvious sonic signature of their own, and that is something I think REIKI does particularly well.
For me, the combination of sound quality, engineering, build quality, flexibility and value for money is exceptional.
I also like that REIKI doesn't insist there is only one way of approaching network audio. Some customers will prefer a conventional network architecture, while others will want the additional isolation offered by an optical solution. REIKI caters for both, and gives customers the opportunity to develop and upgrade the system over time.
That flexibility is one of the biggest reasons the brand appealed to us.
We only take on products that we genuinely believe offer something worthwhile to our customers, and after listening extensively to the REIKI range, this was a very easy decision.
I'm genuinely excited to have REIKI Audio at Kronos AV and to be able to demonstrate what these products can do in a properly set-up streaming system.
I hope our customers enjoy discovering the brand as much as we have.
— David Campbell, Managing Director, Kronos AV