Acoustic Zen Speaker Cables

Zen offers a 30 day trial. I suggest you take advantage of this and give them a go. You need to decide for yourself. Nobody can tell you how they work because your idea of sound may be entirely different than someone with the exact same equipment.

I have used the Satoris and the Hologram (I now use the Hologram), and can confirm that both are some of the finest speaker cables I have used. They are extremely revealing, with an expansive soundstage. I switched to the Hologram after switching from bi-wiring to single wiring. You cannot go wrong with either of them. I previously used the Synergistic Resolution Reference, and the AZ was a big improvement. Also, Robert Lee, the designer and owner of AZ, is a great guy.

I am currently using AZ Hologram Bi-wire with my Merlin VSM. Extremely happy with them. Since the VSM is a 2 way speaker, the Hologram would be a better fit then the Satoris.

The Acoustic Zen Holograms are great speaker cables, I also have a pair of Harmonic Tech. Pro-9's that are good cables for less money that are almost as good. The designer of the Zen's may have also had a hand in the design of the Harmonic Tech's, not sure about that though.

Dave

I like the AZ holograms, but preferred the Au24 and Purist Venustas in my system (they cost a bit more, but you may be able to get them used within your budget). Of course, results are system and ear dependent. I used the AZs between a spectron amp and VSA Vr 5 HSE's, listening mostly to rock, jazz and funk. I thought they were airy and had good range but I preferred the others, which, to my ears, seemed to have more clarity.

Dave

yes Mr Lee also designed the Harm Tech Pro 9's

i have a shotgunned pair of them

could you describe the differences between the two cables in a little more detail??

thanks

Tom

Well Tom, I think they are very close. I think my bass is a little more full with the Harmonic Tech's. The mids are more refined with the Zens and a touch more air...in a biamp setup I like the Pro-9's on the bass and the Zen's on the mids. The Zen's are also much easyer to work with in tight space as the Pro-9's are to fat.

Dave

I do have a McIntosh C200 preamp, MC402 power amp and Shahinian Diapason speakers, not an easy load to drive. Fellow Audiogon member ljgj recommended that I tried still little-known LAT International's SS-1000 speaker cable, which I did. It's an astounding cable - deep, tight bass, excellent soundstaging, natural instruments and voices. ljgj told me before the cable was as good as many much more expensive ones. I found that to be true. Check out their website llatinternational.com and the reviews for their cables on audioreview.com. I support the enthusiastic reviews. Only thing is, burn-in takes a few weeks, but in the US you have a 30-day-trial period. This was, you'd even spend less than your busget.