At what stage is my current speaker cables the weak link? I have been using a ct 1 for about 5 months now. For me they sounded great when I first installed them in my system. But in the past month my system has been sounding incredible. So good that I am now trying a well used ct1 e. With only a couple of days audition I am truly suprised at how much better the ct 1e is.
So back to my question. I am using argento serenity speaker cables ATM. It is showing all the improvements I have made upstream with the ct1 and ct1 e.
Would it be better to upgrade to say a ct1 u or upgrade my speaker cables.
Or would changing the speaker cables to HF reveal more improvements with my current setup? |
What if NOT all of us use a full loom? Will that stop you from trying the cables?
If you already know, why ask for confirmation?
Have you tried a single HF cable in your system! |
It will be interesting to see how the Trickle effect will improve the lower range High fidelity cables in the future.
Ricks company seems to be unique in that it starts off with its lowest price cables first and subsequently each cable introduction is one model higher and roughly double the cost.
Also will be interesting to see how competitors will design their cables to compete with Ricks Cables. |
I decided to keep my CT 1 and to add a CT1e to my system.The Australian importer www.audioheaven.com.au was kind/evil enough to lend me a set of CT1 E. My initial plan was to trade in my CT1, but using the CT1 between cd and pre and CT 1 E between pre and power, proved to be a magic combo.
I am considering upgrading to the CT1 U, but my brain still
cant come to terms with a IC costing 50% of my preamp.
The HF cables improve the sound of my system in a way that a component upgrade cannot. Those of you who have tried HF cables know what i mean. |
Why are you advertising for Tara on this Forum! You haven't heard one piece of HF cable. You claim you don't want to pay for the 5% fee to borrow the cables from the cable company. But yet you are going to buy a $26,000 6ft cable. Why don't you try a HF cable first?
Are you sponsored by Tara. Because it's always Tara, Tara with you. |
I purchased the CT1 because they sounded better than any other cables i have ever used. I WANTED to get off the cable wagon. But its like jumping from a frying pan into the fire!! The CT1 is the lowest in the ladder with 4 more levels. The mind boggles.
Someone said that Rick is thinking of getting rid of the CT1. The cynic in me is thinking the only reason why he would do this is that the margins in other models are higher. Also a lot of people would be happy with just the CT1 and thus may be losing sales higher up.
The CT1 is really a 5 star bargain product. |
Has anyone found that their existing speaker cables sound better than the HF CT1? |
Have you guys compared it with other 7k pc cables.
For 7k there are a lot of choices and from reading posts, none of us has ever ventured into this price bracket in pc cables. |
Oh Come on Audiolab. You have been with us for 14 pages and just when you finally decide try a HF cable, you bail out!!!
What someone said has never stopped you from posting, why should it now? |
Below is a copy of my post on another thread.
Well i got the Hidiamond 8 Speaker Cables. In terms of perceived value the Hidiamond wins hands down. The cables weigh a ton and are very very well made. For the price you get a lot of cable for your money.
Sound wise i give the HD the edge over the CT 1. As others have mentioned the HD cables just sounds so dam musical. It has a very dense sound and a lot of weight on notes. You tend to forget about he details, even though they are there if you wish to spot light it.
The CT 1 cables do really wow you when you first insert them in. The precision of the voices and instruments is amazing. But everytime i listen to them i am in awe instead of listening to the music. Its kind of spectacular, but one does not get lost in the music.
I too find having HF ic with the HD speaker cables to be a great match.
I have to admit, the fact that the HD 8 cables are the top of their line, while the HF CT-1 is their base model, does influence my opinion. It also helps relaxes one mind knowing that there is no ladder to climb up the Hidiamond ladder. I am already on top!!!!!!
I have not decided which cable i will be keeping. i have 14 day trial on the HD cable. But most likely i will keep the HD 8 cable and use the savings to upgrade my HF Ct-1 to the CT-1 ultimate
Hope my mini review helps. |
Not true!
You should be able to hear the results with just the digi cable. I found the digital cable was the most improvement in my system.
If you can't hear any improvement then just accept that your current cable is good enough. Don't try too hard to hear improvements. Trust your hearing. |
Hi guys.
I just got a new pair of ultimate ic. My issue with them is that the RCA plugs fit loosely. No effort needed to insert or remove the cable. Quite the opposite of all the HF cables I had before. I thought one of the ingredients to the sound of HF cables was the tight fitting plugs.
Anyone else with newish HF cables experienced this?
Should I return the cables?
I have emailed Rick already but I thought I seek actual customer opinion. |
I have got 2 pairs of new Ultimate RCA just arrived. I find the rca fittings are very loose compared to the regular CT 1 and CT1e that i have got in my system.
Is this normal for the Ultimates?
A recent review on dagago on the Ultimate Reference said that the UR was as tight fitting as the CT1 and CT1e. |
Where is the best place to use the power cables? Is Rick planning on a more affordable version? |
I should clarify that only 1 of the plugs was very very loose. The other plugs range from slightly loose to normal fit. None are as tight as my ct1 or ct1e cables.
Rick has replied that this is normal for the ultimates because the cable burner they use has cardas connectors which are after than usual. The ultimates are burned using these cardas plugs, thus making the ultimates loose.
To me it makes no sense for I have been using my ct1 for over 7 months now on numerous machines and they still a bitch to plug in and out. Also on dagago or stereotimes review, it states the ultimates fit the same as ct1 and ct1e cables.
I assumed part of the magic on the ct1 cables was how tight the able fits into sockets. They are hellish to install and more so to remove, but at least I know it is making maximum contact.
On a side question, does how tight a cable fits influence the way it sounds?
My cables had a few more quality control issues, which I won't go into here. Not really acceptable on a 5k cable. Rick agreed and is making up another pair personally. But he is not replacing both sets , for he says the looser fitting plugs are normal and that I should use a small screw driver to force the RCA tighter!!!! I do not and should not be made to do this on a 5 k cable. What happens if I damage the cable! How do I ensure I am doing it right!
I should note that I have/ or used 4 sets of HF cables and have never had any QC problems before, except the terrible fitting banana plugs on the speaker cables.
Anyway. I wait until I receive the new pair. |
Hi Fplanner
Rick is sending me 1 new set. I most likely going to request him to replace the second set as well. Based on all the feedback I am getting, the ultimates should all fit quite tight.
Hi Snook, I can adjust by using a screw driver, but why should I need to do this to 8 plugs on new cables. These cables are 5k each!!! They should all have the same fit on all the plugs. A customer should not have to do this! What happens if I over tighten, scratch or break the cable? Will a warranty cover this? I don't think so. |
Just to let you guys know, i got my replacement Ultimates last week. This new set still does not fit as tight as the CT1, but they are way better fitting than my original Ultimate.
This new set arrived in a pelican brief case. Very Nice!!!!!
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Shameless plug! I have a 1m pair of CT1 Ultimates in sales section. Also have a 2 meter pair if anyone is interested. |
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