2. cables
  3. 1335297906

High Fidelity Cables CT-1designed by Rick Schultz

In December 2011,I wrote that High Fidelity cables led by cable designer Rick Schultz was putting together a new cable.The cable came to market as CT-1.The CT-1 has FINALLY made it into my system!I had obtained a version of the prototype that Rick had been working on.It blew my previous reference Genesis by Virtual Dynamics.I thought I had finally found my end with this cable.This prototype delivered to my ears "Nirvana".Could I be at the end of my quest for the ultimate sound?
No. I received two pairs of CT-1 to replace my prototypes.They went into the system this past Friday.Unable to dedicate time until Sunday listening,I stole a few moments,ducking away from company with anticipation.My guest could tell even with the music set for"ambiance"something was intriguing and I was in for a treat!
The experience:
First off,CT-1 was very user friendly.Installation was simple;the cable is very nice and light.The female RCA fit beautifully unlike any I had found in other cable.It was secure and reliable.It seemed much thought was dedicated to developing a designer fit to an aesthetically stunning RCA connector.Install entailed a few wiggles to ensure what seemed like a compression fit on my RCA.
It was 2-3 hrs. for the 1st step of break in to be complete.At that point I had something different!Today,although they only have 10-12 hrs. on them,I can`t put into words how much my system has transformed.Believe me,I loved my prototypes.However....there is simply no comparision.
The clarity and sound is so natural.
The soundstage is like nothing I ever heard.Resoulution is breathtaking and inner detail is simply hard to believe possible.
The sound has transended and now it simply does not seem as thought I have speakers.
My system is musicians playing music.
I am told with time they will improve and I trust that as it was revealed with the prototypes.I wanted to share my thoughts with you that now.
Unequivocally,a testament to High Fidelity,as the name declares.
High Fidelity Cables for me,the last word on it,after 12 hours!
Truly Amazing

Al
alpass

Showing 13 responses by tsushima1

tsushima1
1,165 posts
 
Keep up the eulogizing please folks , I am going stir crazy waiting on my HF's to show .
tsushima1
1,165 posts
 
Siddh
"Did you notice a drop in output gain?this poses a problem of having to jack the volume knobs way up."

@Siddh,

With a few more weeks on the clock I am curious as to whether you have been able to reign back on the volume control or does this particular facet of the speaker cable remain unchanged in your system ?
tsushima1
1,165 posts
 
Should the Audio Gods be of benevolent humor my CT-1 Ultimate Ref IC's may be with me a week hence . I shall endevour to post a few thoughts upon initial replacment of the incumbent CT-1U's.
tsushima1
1,165 posts
 
Good evening Folks.

In no small way due to the generosity and swift personal attentions of Rick and the consummate professionalism of Richard of Lotus HiFi , HiFidelity cables UK distributor , I have a set of Ultimate Reference IC's on initial hours burn in doing their thing betwixt CDP and Pre amp and shall pen a few thoughts as they mature .
tsushima1
1,165 posts
 
Gentlemen , May we endevour to keep to the salient subject of this thread please !
tsushima1
1,165 posts
 
I would be most interested to hear opinion from forum members that have either, purchased or have demo'd, any of the High Fidelity speaker cables, in conjunction with speakers of 'middling' sensitivity and which may also exhibit a marked swinging load.

In particular, I would be pleased to hear from anyone running Martin Logan's , Apogee's, Quad Electrostatic or their like.

I have had previous experience running with a set of CT-1E's and current CT-1U's, into my pair of Martin Logan CLX.

Whilst I am always impressed with the level of detail, clarity, separation and decay, I find myself having to crank the volume control up by at least 10-15 notches
in order to pressurize the room to my satisfaction In comparison with other of my SC's.

A mere matter of Impedance! One might cry, were it not also that, with the HiFidelity speaker cables, I feel myself listening to a fine construct of a recorded performance , yet never quite feeling as though I were immersed in the live event.

Perhaps, somewhat obviously this tends to manifest itself more with an a Live performance, near palpable with a quality recording, and which can at times seat you at that table 'Live at Blues Alley', that for my part just seems to elude the presentation with HiFidelity cables in conjunction with the CLX's.

I should add for the record that I am an inordinately thrilled owner of Rick's CT-1 UR signal cables that are nothing short of Revelatory in my system.

tsushima1
1,165 posts
 
I would be most interested to hear opinion from forum members that have either, purchased or have demo'd, any of the High Fidelity speaker cables, in conjunction with speakers of 'middling' sensitivity and which may also exhibit a marked swinging load.

In particular, I would be pleased to hear from anyone running Martin Logan's , Apogee's, Quad Electrostatic or their like.

I have had previous experience running with a set of CT-1E's and current CT-1U's, into my pair of Martin Logan CLX.

Whilst I am always impressed with the level of detail, clarity, separation and decay, I find myself having to crank the volume control up by at least 10-15 notches
in order to pressurize the room to my satisfaction In comparison with other of my SC's.

A mere matter of Impedance! One might cry, were it not also that, with the HiFidelity speaker cables, I feel myself listening to a fine construct of a recorded performance , yet never quite feeling as though I were immersed in the live event.

Perhaps, somewhat obviously this tends to manifest itself more with an a Live performance, near palpable with a quality recording, and which can at times seat you at that table 'Live at Blues Alley', that for my part just seems to elude the presentation with HiFidelity cables in conjunction with the CLX's.

I should add for the record that I am an inordinately thrilled owner of Rick's CT-1 UR signal cables that are nothing short of Revelatory in my system.

tsushima1
1,165 posts
 
Calvinj " You are actually telling people who spent three days at a show what they did or didn't see!!! Wow I think you are starting to hurt the TARA LABS brand with these outlandish comments."

We're I CEO of Tara Labs I would be applying for an Gagging order against this individual for that very reason!
tsushima1
1,165 posts
 
Has anyone demo' d or purchased from Ricks Latest low resistance versions from his range ? I found that the standard impedance Ultra speaker cables were not a great match for the ML CLX's , I would have sought a demo myself however as the UK distributer seems to be sulking with me this is unlikely to come to pass!
tsushima1
1,165 posts
 
Siddh....Thank you for commenting upon your own experiences, that mirrors my own, it would seem that we have both settled on a similar compromise in utilizing Rick's signal cables in concert with another brand of speaker cable.

Rlawry.... Whilst not quite requiring maximum Warp during the time I had the CT-1U's installed, I did find myself cranking up the System by at least a further 10-15 points on the ARC Ref pre in order to equilize previous room pressurisation and soundstaging.
tsushima1
1,165 posts
 
Siddh....If I may inquire, which model of low inductance cable did you trial?
tsushima1
1,165 posts
 
Good evening Folks .

I would appreciate advice from any HF CT owners who may have utilised an quality RCA > XLR adaptor , out of expedience , with ones equipment and whether this additional non HF tech link would significantly negate the magnetic flow of the cable

I suspect like a number of potential HF customers I am left deciding whether to commit to an initial purchase of source input RCA and Speaker cables whilst waiting for a dedicated Balanced cable to complete the loom between my ARC Pre to Power .
tsushima1
1,165 posts
 
Good Morning Gentlemen, and my thanks to all respondents thus far.

My main intent was to seek advice whether the addition of an RCA > XLR adapter would/may denude , to any significant degree, the fundamental way in which Magnetic technology transfers the audio signal from Pre > Power utilizing a standard RCA topology CT1-U .

I appreciate that in effect one would be running in an less than optimal way with regard to voltage output, however I was further considering .

Were the main point regarding the CT1 to be the case and taken together with the step-down affect of running single ended as apposed to optimally balance , whether the overall negatives out-way the benefits of running one of Ricks cables at this point in the chain anyway.

My ARC 40 Aniv Pre/Out does support the option of RCA or True Balanced XLR however my Ref 150 is True Balanced XLR Input only.

Jasper.

More to discover