I own the Acoustic Zen Silver Reference interconnet and Satori (copper) speaker cable. Keep in mind that just about
all silver sounds different! I've owned mellow sounding
cables that are silver (Audiomagic Sorcerer). With this in
mind, you should'nt consider materials or construction or
even size....1" does'nt always sound better than 1/2".
I've owned Kimber PBJ, and it's a very good entry level
interconnect; but compared to much more expensive cable, it
will sound grainy and bright. The Silver Reference is the
most "neutral" interconnect I have used; it defies description of sound. It is better described with things like fast, zero noise floor, absolute focus and control of
the soundstage, natural sibilance ......on and on...,but it
cannot be described as bright, dark, heavy on the bass etc.
Read the review at www.stereotimes.com ,and look in the archive section. I agree 100% with the review. I never have
had a chance to try Analysis Plus or the above mentioned Bear Labs interconnects (I try everything I can get my paws
on though), but I chose it over the above mentioned Audiomagic, Staight Wire Creshendo, Kimber Select 1020/1030,
Purist Audio Colosus and Nordost Quatrrofil. I have taken it
to two different dealers and have tried it with a variety of
equipment, tube and solid state. It always worked best, but
keep in mind that because this is not a tone control and it
has such high resolution; mediocre recordings will have their warts amplified ; good recordings can be bliss! Also,
it is unforgiving of cheap electronics; but you apear to own
decent components so no need to worry.
The Satori speaker cable is almost as good as the interconnect; awesome resolution and lack of grain,but with
a few speakers it can sound slightly lean and therefore it
can be system dependent (which the interconnect is not). On
the bright side, I've read about a couple of reviewers in
The Absolute Sound and Stereophile that use expensive Nordost with Maggies; and the Satori has a similar balance,
with even better resotution for less than a 1/4 of the $.
On a side note, Michel Fremer of stereophile ,recently reviewed some Analysis Plus cable (which he liked); but in
the same review he prefered some cables from Harmonic Technologies. Robert Lee was the senior designer for H.T.
before he started Acoustic Zen. I have spoken with him personally (great guy),and he left H.T. because he felt he was getting shafted.....but he kept some of his own tricks up his sleeve! In the Stereotimes review (I beilive theres
two different ones), they compare some of H.T.'s cables
(among others)to the latest Acoustic Zen's; and guess who
came out on top!
Best of luck! ed
all silver sounds different! I've owned mellow sounding
cables that are silver (Audiomagic Sorcerer). With this in
mind, you should'nt consider materials or construction or
even size....1" does'nt always sound better than 1/2".
I've owned Kimber PBJ, and it's a very good entry level
interconnect; but compared to much more expensive cable, it
will sound grainy and bright. The Silver Reference is the
most "neutral" interconnect I have used; it defies description of sound. It is better described with things like fast, zero noise floor, absolute focus and control of
the soundstage, natural sibilance ......on and on...,but it
cannot be described as bright, dark, heavy on the bass etc.
Read the review at www.stereotimes.com ,and look in the archive section. I agree 100% with the review. I never have
had a chance to try Analysis Plus or the above mentioned Bear Labs interconnects (I try everything I can get my paws
on though), but I chose it over the above mentioned Audiomagic, Staight Wire Creshendo, Kimber Select 1020/1030,
Purist Audio Colosus and Nordost Quatrrofil. I have taken it
to two different dealers and have tried it with a variety of
equipment, tube and solid state. It always worked best, but
keep in mind that because this is not a tone control and it
has such high resolution; mediocre recordings will have their warts amplified ; good recordings can be bliss! Also,
it is unforgiving of cheap electronics; but you apear to own
decent components so no need to worry.
The Satori speaker cable is almost as good as the interconnect; awesome resolution and lack of grain,but with
a few speakers it can sound slightly lean and therefore it
can be system dependent (which the interconnect is not). On
the bright side, I've read about a couple of reviewers in
The Absolute Sound and Stereophile that use expensive Nordost with Maggies; and the Satori has a similar balance,
with even better resotution for less than a 1/4 of the $.
On a side note, Michel Fremer of stereophile ,recently reviewed some Analysis Plus cable (which he liked); but in
the same review he prefered some cables from Harmonic Technologies. Robert Lee was the senior designer for H.T.
before he started Acoustic Zen. I have spoken with him personally (great guy),and he left H.T. because he felt he was getting shafted.....but he kept some of his own tricks up his sleeve! In the Stereotimes review (I beilive theres
two different ones), they compare some of H.T.'s cables
(among others)to the latest Acoustic Zen's; and guess who
came out on top!
Best of luck! ed