Audioquest Firebird Zero

Audioquest has reached a totally new level in the world of audio cables. I have done thousands of tests with cables in over 20 years of time. And never found a brand or even cable that has so little compression as these new Audioquest cables have.

You can not even compare all the Audioquest series before with the new Folk and Mythical Creatures series. I never tested any brand that made these huge steps. Audioquest may thank God that they hired Garth.

But there is one important thing that needs to be mentioned. We see that most people have not done a lot of tests as we did in over 20 years of time. So many people buy a Zero cable and they will use bridges. This is proof of how little they all know about loudspeaker cables.

When we compare each new Audioquest Folk or Mythical Creatures series between Zero and Zero+Bass the differences could not even be bigger. In a Tru-Fi system where you will always have access to all aspects of sound, the differences are even bigger compared to the trial&error world.

The Tru-Fi world will always have a huge 3-dimensional holographic stage. Where both voices and instruments are being experienced intimate and palpable in front of you.

So what does it do when you use a Zero instead of a Zero+Bass together in the Tru-Fi world?

The answer is A LOT,

It makes the stage smaller and gives the voices and instruments a less intimate and palpable individual focus of voices and instruments.

In the Tru-Fi world, we have access to diversity in height. This means we can reveal very clear the differences between the height of voices and instruments. We call it the High-End ++ property. And what it does to the human emotion is stunning.

When you go back to only a Zero the diversity in height becomes less apparent. It is like you go back in precision.

Audioquest developed for the first time a cable only for the low frequencies and one for the mid/high frequencies. And mannnn this makes a different world.

What is the thing we like and love most in the Tru-Fi world about the Folk and Mythical Creatures series?

The fact that we can create a superior level in the end result for a lot less money. When we use a cheaper Zero+Bass version for the same money as one Zero cable then effectiveness becomes even higher.

Even the William Tell Zero+Bass outperformed the Redwood in Bi-wire easily. The Redwood uses even 30% pure silver. But the Zer0+Bass can even reveal more details in the high frequencies compared to the Redwood. I never have seen this before.

People with Tru-Fi systems spend a lot more money on Audioquest cables compared to all trial&error people. Based on the fact that we have access to all 8 aspects of sound. We will let our clients speak for themselves so you will get an idea of why they experience Audioquest cables so different compared to trial&error users.

Audio is all about facts. And facts will always show and prove the truth. The thing I love most regarding audio is the fact that each human will always prefer and choose that sound and stage what creates the highest level of emotion.

EMOTION IS THE ONLY KEY TO SUCCESS IN AUDIO.

The biggest limitation regarding Audioquest is the fact that almost all users have only access to a limit level of the whole quality it could give and create. When you do audio by Tru-Fi the truth becomes a different one than it is in your limited Trial&error world and truth.

The Trial&error world proves on facts and sound and stage that different aspects of sound are always missing. And we can prove this for each individual human over and over again. We see that each person directly understand it with their own music.

When we let new clients experience the music they know very well by all aspects of sound. Even at the first sing they understand and feel how much better it is. And this can even be explained very easily on facts over and over again.

Our new clients in the US have let us know that many people play directly into the wall. We have not even one client who does not use a conditioner. I told them that in the US most do not even use them. They were amazed and could not even believe that this was true.

AUDIO IS ALL ABOUT SOUND. LIKE SOUND OWNS DIFFERENT ASPECTS. THESE ASPECTS CAN INDEPENDENTLY INFLUENCE YOUR EMOTION.

Each audio system that is able to reveal all aspects of sound will be preferred and experienced by each person as so more intense and emotional. Because there are a reason and even a truth why people want to change their system all the time.

BECAUSE THE LEVEL IN EMOTION IS LIMITED.

The question is; what does this have to with Audioquest?

The answer is; EVERYTHING

And you know why? Very simple trial&error will give you access to only a limited level of emotion. When you use an Audioquest cable in a trial&error system, this system will prove by facts and by sound and stage that the cables have no access to all the different aspects of sound.

FACTS WILL ALWAYS BE LEADING AND TELL THE TRUTH.

AUDIO will always be about a shootout and comparison. We see that each individual person will always react the same when we compare a Tru-Fi system with any trial&error system.

Each recording owns details and different aspects of the music. So everyone understands that you need a system for this that is able to reveal all these details and layers. All different aspects of sound can independently influence human emotion during listening.

We can show and prove by sound and stage that Audioquest cables can reveal all those different aspects of sound.

But........there is one thing needed? You will need a system that will give you access to all these different aspects/properties of sound. And now comes the real and most important problem. Most audio products can not reveal all the different aspects of sound. Because they lack different aspects/properties of sound. And what is missing never can be added after.

All our clients have a different truth and perspective on the use of Audioquest cables by Tru-Fi. Now we started with different US clients, they will write reviews about what these differences are and do with their system.

So you will understand how different and more effective Audioquest cables can become when you use them by Tru-Fi. Our new clients are even prepared to share this with you. Visit them and experience it yourself.

Someone needs to get over themself, but that's for another thread.  

PLEASE let's keep this on topic.

to the Clarus guys. I really liked the Crimson, but for my system, in my house, the William Tell smoked the Crimson in all respects.  

Next month Audioquest Europe will visit me for a demo. We will prove and show how much more details, dynamics, and layers we can get out of every single Audioquest cable.

A new client of ours from New York will soon put a review about his experiences with how we work. And he will explain how much more we can get out of each cable and component.

We are a company that have spent thousands of hours in research in both sound&vision in over 20 years of time. In the last 4 years, we have done a lot of research regarding electricity. And we have done research in Elektro-smog, high-frequency noise, and magnetism. Always together with the best experts in these areas in the world.

This gives us now a huge advantage in insight and knowledge regarding both sound&vision. We can prove over and over again how much more details, dynamics, and layers we can get out of each cable and component.

In the last few weeks I am surprised how little insight and knowledge there is in the US regarding electricity. These are clients with systems of over 200.000 dollars. We adapt not only electricity. We go so much further into details. We use the best conditioners in the world.

We use tools and also modifications to minimalize electro-smog, high-frequency noise, and magnetism. We do this by each individual aspect. It will blow your mind how much further we are in knowledge and insight.

In the last years, I spent all my time in research. With one goal to create new reference standards in both sound&vision. We did research on stereo, surround, and vision. Because we want to outperform in each area.

We had a lot of discussions lately with Audioquest about the use of the Zero with bridges. I have done thousands of tests with cables in over 20 years of time now. I have tested single wires vs bi-wire compared to each other a lot. In most situations, the bi-wire works a lot better compared to the single wire with most bi-wire loudspeakers.

We sold this year several new Zero+Bass of the new Folk and mythical creatures series. The combination of these two is far superior compared to only the Zero version. We sell the most expensive Audioquest loudspeaker cables in the Netherlands. We never sold any single wire cables to any owner with bi-wire loudspeakers.

I use the Firebird Zero+Bass combination with my Monitor Audio Pl-500, This is of a different planet. And creates new reference standards in audio.

https://www.facebook.com/bobby.kingma/media_set?set=a.10161505935885083&type=3

We recently started to sell Audioquest cables in the US to new clients from the US as well. We hear from all these people how much more knowledge we have regarding all the differences in detail of all Audioquest cables compared to US dealers.

Soon new clients will place reviews of their experiences with our insight and knowledge regarding audio.

I ordered the William Tell bi wire combo for my Vandersteen Quatro's, Ayre AX5/20 and The Memory Player server/DAC.  I can't wait to get them into the system.  I've heard them a few times now and feel they are a GREAT value (seriously) at this price range for speaker cables.  The Robin Hood's sounded incredible, but the price difference was the same as moving up to a new component.  That's RARE in cables, but it's how I feel. 

What are other's thoughts on the new AQ series speaker cables? 

I'm getting either the William Tell or Robin Hood bi wire's tomorrow. I have Vandersteen Quatro's, Ayre AX5/20 and The Memory Player server and DAC (most current model, the DAC is their prototype and will keep getting upgrades and a new cabinet soon).  

I just told my AQ Castlerock cables tonight.  I heard the Tells on a larger Vandy system a few weeks ago and the Hood on a lesser system.  Both were killer and a major upgrade over the older AQ speaker cables.  Garth is a great guy and to me one of the top cable/cord designers going.  

I have heard most of the speaker cables on the market over the last year or so.  For my ear I just enjoy the AQ neutrality.  I've never felt they lacked in '3D' sound.  I can say that you need to spend some time with them to truly appreciate what they are doing in the system.  

I too enjoy the Clarus Crimson.  Perfito's nephew owns The Stereo Shop in Hartford, CT and of course they sell the Tributary's as well as the Clarus lines.  You can't go wrong with either cable.  Just great choices and we all win out.  Thanks for sharing info guys.  

jafant,

Thanks. I view cables as the icing on the cake. Finding the right cables is a very tedious process. There are just too many cable options and it can be overwhelming.  

kingdombuildingcon,

I've said over and over there are no absolutes in audio, only preferences. In addition, I consistently say, that cables are system dependent and if possible always listen to a cable in your system prior to purchase. Stay with the AQ Thunderbird if that's what you prefer.

ricred1

Thank You for keeping the Cable/ Power Cord  torch burning my Audiophile friend.

Happy Listening!

This is a rhetorical question, but how much is the AQ Thunderbird zero compared to the Clarus Aqua?

Ricred1, 
I have got to do the lower end comparison. I bought the Thunderbird zero and replaced it Clarus Aqua. Its the same deal.  I have a new Level of clarity. I am hearing deeper sounds. New vibrations off the interments. ive lost breath and bloom. Bob Dylan's harmonica is a bit sharp. I would like to try the crimson. or change out some RCAs to get some breath back. There is something about the aq that is fun to listen to. I dont think its better. It really is preference.  i felt like I was close to perfection and now i have opened a whole new can of worms.. 

divertiti,

I agree with with you that it's a game changer relative to the Oak and Redwood. I listened to both in my system and was underwhelmed. In that respect the Firebird Zero is definitely a step-up to my ears. I listen last night for a couple of hours and decided to keep my Clarus Crimson cables. There just isn't enough difference between the Firebird Zero and Clarus Crimso to justify the expenditure. 

Yeah, 14K is ludicrous, hell even the 4.5K for Thunderbird is ridiculous for a cable. I think the game changer comment was made relative to the previous Audioquest product offerings, rather than overall objective price/performance value, which would be hard to establish.

If you run efficient speakers with relatively low power requirements, the smaller gauge Folk Hero cables should be close in performance as the higher priced ones, which might boost the value.

Relatively speaking I wouldn't say the Firebird Zero speaker cables are game changers simply because of their price.

According to Audioquest customer support and dealers, these new speaker cables from Garth Powell are a game changer just like the Storm series and new Z series power cables, which share the same noise rejection grounding tech. The results you heard seem consistent with that claim. The lower Folk Heros series are much more affordable, and they are built with the same technology, just thinner with fewer conductors. It'd be interesting if you were to get the Robin Hood Zero or William Tell Zero for home audition as well to see how they compare.