Ideon Absolute Time and Absolute Time Signature Reviewed
REFERENCE AUDIO – WITHAM ESSEX
BOB’s Review Series - No 76 – Ideon Standard Absolute Time and Absolute Signature Time
INTRODUCTION
Understanding time isn’t that straight forward. Both Newton and Einstein had thought on the matter and most scientists today would agree that time is the measurable period during which an action, process or condition exists and continues. Most would agree that time moves in only one direction; forward, but time can vary in length as it is bent and acted on by gravity. On Earth though time is pretty much set with accuracy measured increasingly accurately using atomic clocks and more recently using lasers to track energy transitions within caesium atoms. This high level of accuracy is needed, amongst other things, to keep satellites in space which is important to the military and for the rest of us who rely on satellites to provide accurate sat nav, mobile phones and the internet working. Time accuracy is something we have come to accept, expect and take for granted, even if we don’t really understand why its accurate measurement is so important to our daily lives.
Resent research into charged mercury atoms could reduce discrepancies in measuring time to less than one second gained or lost in 400 million years, so pretty accurate then! For most of us it’s sufficient to think of time as being the measure of periods between the past, present and future in irreversible succession, i.e. always going forward.
Why is any of that important to audio reproduction? Ideon Audio say that ‘correct timing is what the Absolute Time is all about’ and ‘we apply correction at both ends (input-output) of the circuit’. So, they are not trying to change the laws of physics, they are just using specialist in-house knowledge, materials and experience to get closer to measuring time more accurately. This matters for CD Transports, DACs and Streamers because the human brain can detect extremely small differences or errors in timing and getting more accurate timing means better sounding products. Even analogue reproduction from vinyl relies on timing accuracy to give pitch perfect 33.3 or 45 rpm stability and today many turntable manufacturers rely on internal inbuilt clocked DACs to ensure their platter motors turn with near perfect rotational speed, easier it would seem with direct drive motors rather than belts which have their own timing issues.
Without giving the game away too early in this review of the Absolute Time Standard and Signature versions of Ideon’s range topping re-clockers I can say for sure they are onto something here. Timing after all is what music is all about and getting it right greatly improves our enjoyment. Unlike its smaller brother the Signature version comes in a full-size case weighing in at 22kg, the chassis is CNC machined from a single billet of aluminium and takes 15 hours to form. This review came about by having an opportunity to listen to the Absolute Signature at home in my own system that already includes a standard Absolute Time and an opportunity to add a second standard Absolute Time into my system to see if there were any gains by using two in series rather than using a single Absolute Signature Time. There is a cost saving of around £4,000 by using two standard Absolute Times rather than a single Reference Time but then you need to include for an extra mains lead and USB cable which brings both options much closer together in cost terms.
THE SYSTEM
- Innuos Statement Next Gen Streamer running Innuos Sense App V 3.01
- Ideon Standard Absolute Time (single and twin units)
- Ideon Absolute Signature Time
- Gryphon Essence Pre and Power Amps
- Gryphon Ethos DAC and CD Transport
- Marten Tenor 2 Speakers
PERFORMANCE
Clearly, I am already a convert to what Ideon can do to enhance timing in a system having already purchased an Absolute Time. When I replaced it with the Absolute Time Reference I was hoping for an upgrade in sound quality, it is after all more than twice the price. But the differences are not as subtle as I had anticipated. I’m not technical enough to understand just what goes on inside the Reference Time but what I can understand is just how much better my system sounds with either the standard or Reference Time devices installed. And they both seem to work no matter what source or DAC are connected to these Time machines albeit that they only have two inputs and outputs, one USB and one digital coax on RCA or BNC. Their mor entry 3R and EOS Time devices only cater for USB in and out.
No matter what music I played, whether streamed from Tidal or Qobuz or ripped from CD to my Innuos Statement the Absolute Signature brought a further level of calmness to the event of playing music at home. Some might describe this as having blacker blacks or quieter silences. Whatever, it does this in a relaxing and calming way, yet not by reducing dynamics, in fact dynamics and especially bass reproduction is greatly enhanced and is instantly noticeable with either of these devices installed in a system. They help to develop more depth and width in the soundstage, add clarity and emotion, especially to vocals and a sense of yes this is what I’ve been waiting for. Just listen to Shelby Lynne’s ‘You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me’ to hear the emotion in her voice singing as a tribute to the late and forever great Dusty Springfield. Wow.
Ideon have told me that cascading their Time machines brings added benefits, using two or even three in series is apparently a worthwhile upgrade, but not more than three I’m told. How could I therefore not try this out as I already have a Standard Absolute Time to hand. I duly took the output of the Statement into the Absolute Time Signature then into my Standard Absolute Time and from there to the DAC. Would I hear any difference I wondered? Yes, but its subtle and the same applies when using two Standard Absolute Time’s in series. The Absolute Time Signature is definitely better than two Standard Absolute Time’s and if you can then you should always choose the Signature version over the Standard Time devices but using two Standard ones helps spread the cost over time. Either way you won’t be disappointed (see what I did there).
CONCLUSION
Ideon do of course make a range of reclockers starting with their entry 3R Master Time Black Star at £3,900 and their EOS Time at £6,750 and having used these extensively in out demo rooms I can attest to their benefits between any streamer or CD transport and DAC. Adding one, two or three of these might be just right for your system. The 3R name in the Master Time refers to re-Clocking, re-energising and re-driving the digital signal it is fed, and this description applies to all Innuos reclocker time devices.
Clearly time matters and never more so than in today’s audio world. Those lucky enough to be able to raise the finds to purchase an Ideon Absolute Time Signature won’t be disappointed, the current retail price in silver or black finish is £23,950. A single Absolute Time retails at £10,000. I thought that the Standard Absolute Time was something special, and it is, I did buy one after all, but the Signature version is just that little bit more class leading and rewarding to listen to. Adding a second Absolute Time to my own one came very close to the class leading sound capable from the Signature Time but the Signature version just edged it across everything I listened to. Buy one if you can.
August 2024
Bob – Team Reference Audio