I use a Fusion Audio Romance at present. This is one interconnect which sounds closest to real instruments (tone, timbre, body, texture, harmonics, decay...everything is so real and present). And it does not do this only to the midrange...you hear the same across the frequency spetrum.
Anyone else tried the Acoustic Systems Liveline?
A pair of Franck Tschang's tuned interconnects (see Six Moons reviews) are still breaking in, in my system, but they have already "stomped" my Harmonic Technology Magic 2, HT Pro-Silway III+, and Van den Hul Orchid. While I don't have any at present, from memory I'd also say that they handily vanquish the Nordost Valhalla and Kubala-Sosna Emotion interconnects in my system. They are not HiFi spectacular, but are the most musical and least electronic sounding cables I've ever heard. Interestingly, several recording that have always sounded compressed and confused in spots, which I just attributed to the recording, are rendered cleanly for the first time with these cables and no other system changes.
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Actually Avatar Acoustics is the distributor, who can refer you to your nearest dealer. |
Murataltuev, I have had ICs which were even higher in resolution than the Livelines and those ICs sang in my system. I do not want to boast anything about my system, all I can say that it is a very clean sounding system. Reimyo is the source and Symphonic line the Amplifier, ATC are the speakers, cables are very well matched and clean. There is no reason for me to step backwards on the resolution front to get the balance. I have tried many cables and my basic takeaway is, there are tons of cables out there which play this resolution game by making it sound gritty and really emphasizing the presence region, especially the leading edges and Livelines are no exception to these, except that they do it in a little more acceptable manner. Real instruments dont bite. I have heard cables which give you all the details but not in a manner to chew it but as part of a instrumental tone which really helps you appreciate the instrument. Livelines were more like, it is trying to impress you so hard that at the end you appreciate the system and the cable but not the instrument. It never allowed me to forget my system, thats what I call a electro-mechanical sound. Even today I use the same system (as in electronics and speakers) but when it plays I only appreciate the fact that there is only music in the room, no electronics and no speakers. I hear all the little details and texture but they dont call attention as an individual. If I want I can always dealieanate them and listen to it as an individual. A simple example of this would be the way music sounds at late nights when the A/C line is cleaner. You hear more detail but it is presented as more music. Going by your argument, if a system is not upto the mark, it should sound worse at nights because of more details !!! I would still say Liveline is a good cable but needs to be matched well to get more positives and less of its negatives. |
Pani, the resolution of Liveline is incredible and if anything wrong in your system they will not work for you. With higher resolution is very difficult to keep balance, and sometimes you need to make step back in resolution to return balance back. Ozzy, I think for your system they will work really great!!! |
My impressions are similiar to Murataltuev. I've replaced all my Synergistic Apex ICs and spkr cables with ASI Livelines. These are definitely keepers for a very very long time. I also know several local audiophiles have replaced all their top of the line Stealth with Livelines. Thank You Franck for making them and Srajan Ebaen for bringing them to our attention :-) Gotta love the internet :-) |
I have used the ASI Liveline, had it on my system for about 4 months. Yes, you guys are right, they are very resolving of micro details, very lively with great clarity. The highs have a sparkle to it lacking in many cables. However I somehow could not warm up to its sound. It has a forward character, upfront and a bit too immediate. It was fast but not fluid. Somehow, everything felt magnified which to me is not real. No, my system was neither forward nor edgy, it was the cable, and I ascertained it after I tried it at couple of my friend's systems, the results were the same. Music always sounded very high on adrenaline, which was fatiguing to me. I also tried it as a digital cable with same/similar results :( |
Hi, Just want to share my impressions about Liveline cables in my system. This is truly amazing product! I have replaced KubalaSosna Elation speaker cables, Echole Obsession interconnects and Nordost Odin power cords with Liveline cables. 10 times better price with dramatically better result! This is something that I never experienced before!!! Better resolution, dynamics and transparency with perfect balance. All the rest sounds dead in compare. I strongly recommend! Believe me, you'll keep them just ones you heard how your system can perform! Franck, I don't know how you did it, but this is just unbelievable! |
I recently purchased a pair of ASI LiveLine (RCA 1.5) interconnects. I agree they're livelier, clarity is also greater than my Audioquest King Cobra's. Frequency much wider, but I must say that I also noticed a more natural sound reproduction of instruments. In some recordings in my Baroque collection, I hear instruments I haven't heard before - it's quite surprising! I suspect they might be the last interconnects you purchase, I know I will. I also should say that they're an excellent compliment to my Tannoy Glenair. |
Mrt, perhaps you'd care to explain your comment, "can someone explain why there is such an emphasis upon resolution as a criterion in cable selection ?" I don't see anyone saying that above. While I agree that resolution by itself cannot be an indicator of quality, why would a diffuse, perhaps rolled off sounding cable be better, more natural? In the past you have noted your preference for a rolled off treble, perhaps very little or none at all. But is that natural? I think not. Many systems may sound edgy and aggressive due to their own faults, but I submit that there is a lot of information in the upper octaves that we sense (not just hear), and it would seem that based upon research by James Boyk that that is true. |
can someone explain why there is such an emphasis upon resolution as a criterion in cable selection ? i have attended many live music events and when i hear most stereo systems, thay sound more focused or "sharper" than live music. of course, it could be a search for stimulation. often, the presentation of a stereo system which is highly resolving creates a feeling of excitement, which may be a desirable thing for some listeners. |
The distributor is Avatar Acoustics who can refer you to your nearest dealer, whom you can contact to audition them in your system before purchasing. |