This review page is supported in part by the sponsors whose ad banners are displayed below

This complexity might explain why room correction devices have remained mainly focused on the professional markets. Lyngdorf, Audyssey and Meridian have tried to invade the domestic markets but the benefits of their technologies have not revolutionized the traditional ways of hifi consumption as though to suggest undue complexity for not always satisfactory results.


On stage left now enters Trinnov’s ST2-HiFi from France. Trinnov is the concretization of a ten-year project. In early 2000 Arnaud Laborie, Sébastien Montoya and Rémy Bruno joined forces to focus on research in 3D sound. Since its incorporation Trinnov has been working intensively on various R&D projects on national and international levels.


In 2006 Trinnov released the first version of their room correction device called Optimizer [below]. As one example of further technical involvement, by 2008 Trinnov had developed an OEM strategy of licensing to Sherwood and Outlaw the first implementation of Trinnov Optimizer technology in certain AV receivers and preamp/processors.


Over the last year Trinnov released a new ST2 processor range featuring higher performing audio interfaces. The ST2-Pro was showcased at the 128th AES convention in London and the ST2-HiFi at this year's High-End Munich event. Today the Trinnov Company has a wide international distribution network mainly based on agents specialized in professional audio monitoring and broadcast clients. Extending the network to conventional home audio and high-end will obviously depend on the modification of consumer habits and the transmission of technical knowledge to resellers to maximize the sonic benefits for each room and user.


The ST2-HiFi is thus the last generation of Optimizer and can be described as an adaptation of a professional device that was mainly used in music and film studios. It is presented as today’s most advanced loudspeaker/room optimizer. It offers Trinnov's patented digital room correction technologies in a package specifically customized for hifi enthusiasts.


The Trinnov gear is supposedly easy and very flexible to set up. Its powerful algorithms support sophisticated functionality such as multi-point measurements, time/frequency analysis, comprehensive graph support and target curves, automatic phase optimization, intelligent crossover alignment and flexible fine-tuning to meet personal tastes.


This French army knife can also handle D/A conversion and preamplification functions (the volume works in the digital domain and an optional USB knob is available to avoid computer operations). Experimenting around 360° with such features and an impressive number of permutations and combinations obviously requires more time and space than are commonly dedicated to our reviews. What thus follows is a brief overview of the immensely complex and multi-faceted topic of room acoustics and active correction.


I will not attempt to compare the Trinnov to well-known competitors. My commentary focuses on my loaner's intrinsic performance and its ability to be operated intuitively. I will pay particular attention to report on the setup process of this versatile device. Even so my findings represent the interaction with just one specific system and room. What works for some will not necessarily be applicable to all. The main interest resides in the potential of this approach and its ease of use for the common audiophile. In my mind room compensation is a most important check point on the road to hifi heaven. Does paradise hide at the end of a flat response highway though? That should not be a foregone conclusion. One thing seems obvious however. Whilst advising you, the Trinnov lets you decide what kind of road and heaven are right to and for your ears.

Enlarge!