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
Okay we do agree on the potential benefit of resonance control and that it can be fun and games or maybe not.
Really exciting to hear a new breath or audio cue from a recording that I have listened to for years. That added breath that was revealed makes me want to find even more air in the recording.
I have recently added a external method of chassis tuning to my transport that can be adjusted right on the chassis. No soft materials are required or wanted. We have been doing the same with the amps and speakers for sometime. The fact that these are adjustable make for a trial of patience. While these methods allow for immediate change the fact that materials are more or less stressed they must be allowed to relax on their own into a redirected state. When they are settled and relaxed then you can fully evaluate their benefit good, better, best. Unlike wooden parts that can be tuned these methods in metal will not be affected by tempertaure or humidity. The fact is you can tune all night long to your preference and to the benefit of your sound space. All major parts of the components are adjustable in the same way inside the chassis. Again there are no bandwidth limitations from the use of damped materials . For all of this to work the units must be mechanically grounded so as to maximize collected thru put of redirected energy to ground..The whole idea and benefit is to maximize energy collection to the point of exit much like a tuned exhaust header. The user can adjust the "back pressure" to their sonic preference with out the use of soft materials. Tom, Star Sound Technologies
@ theaudiotweak Hi, this may come to a supprise to you!, I have given many seminairs on resonance tunning in the late 90s thru-out half the u.s.a!, I have met gale sanders, Dave wilson,people from Avolon acoustics, spectral electronics, and so on etc..., you may have heard of poly crystal resonance products that went out of bussiness years ago because Bruce Badlack could not keep up with production?, really!, anyway, I gave him a one of my inventions, the sorry S.O.B never paid me!, he sold it quite well!, I have been reading all that is said here, keeping my thoughts to my-self, I will tell you I have been amused at everything said here, It appears the few of the comunity has come along way, not very many audiophiles know what they are doing, they want to isolate everything instead of resonance tunning, I can litterally change the sound stage, bass, treble, clarity, mid-range, and etc..., with-out no electricty!, I have done this for a very, very, long time, when I express any thing about it, most believe nothing!, so I go on and do not concern myself with what they think, I have a couple of inventions now that I would like to make a reality, from cones for componets for tunning to speaker stands that are jaw dropping in performance, how do I know, I made proto types for myself, you would likly laugh at some of the materials used, that's ok with me, I know what happens when they are used, that's really all I care to say about it, cheers!
Just for the record, and not being a fan of soft materials as a general rule, viscoelastic damping material is a "soft" material. The viscoelastic material just needs to be constrained, allowng vertical vibrations to be converted to heat via horizontal motion of the viscoelastic layer.
I once had ten tube traps, I once had eight Room Lens, I once had four Shatki Holographic room treatments, I once had 22 RPG diffusors, and I once had mylar room mirrors. Now I have Zilplexes which are eleven tiny cups. I've had it!
I've enjoyed resent posts. Thanks for all of your inputs. I can say I have experimented with components designed for resonance tuning and have used some damping to improve their sound to my ears. Recording Studio folks and "Big Dawg" audio people have been impressed also so not just my ears.. I wish I could hear more of your systems and you could hear mine, music speaks louder than words.. Anyone live within 250 miles of Austin? I've not heard a system I like better than mine. If I did, I'd wanna git me some. I have heard much general philosophy on resonance tuning here but not much detail on things to try myself. I believe that it takes a combo of tuning and damping to get it all. I can be open minded and my system is not finished (never finished), so I'm happy to try something new. I HAVE tried a lot of things already. ;-) Enjoy Dave
Many, many times when I traveled thru-out, I heard rooms with alot of room treatment with computer soft-ware and mics to configure the rooms sound, this was incredible!, I could yell to the top of my lungs and my voice would fall within an inch of my mouth!, needless to say, that system sounded like crap!, All rooms need some reverberation to the rooms sound, if you do not, speakers cannot breath their sound thru-out the room correctly, you can over do anything!
Audiolabyrinth, yes I once invested in a live end/dead end room. After about two nights of hoping I had not wasted my effort and money, I tore it all out. The Tube traps had the same impact. Then are read about diffusion. From The Handbook of Acoustics I had profession model WPG diffusors built. They lasted about five years.
As I said, now I have eleven little 1/2 inch bowls on my walls and ceiling. I have no absortion at all other than me, a carpet, some furniture and thousands of records and cds.
@ TBG, Awsome, now you are talking, This is why I like you, you have long exsperience with audio, you have done and seen so much, I respect you, this post is in regards to us talking about room treatment,this is my reply to your last post to me,Thankyou, cheers.
Audiolabyrinth, Tbg, Thanks for sharing things that did not work. I had a close friend who had an over damped room with heavy curtains, tube traps with heavy cloth, absorptive material on other walls ext. it lacked some life which I did not like although it had many other great qualities. I shutter to imagine electronic room stabilizers, hate the idea and work to keep my signal path pure and simple. I've heard lead sound awful and tube traps sound awful and vibration transfer + vibration damping sound awful. I've heard many products I did not like that others hear did. I believe we each perceive sound differently and prefer our choice of sonic clues. That's cool, folks are different, that is why they make Chocolate, Vanilla and Strawberry! In my room, the walls ceiling and floor are bare to offer life. the tube traps are actually my own redesign, much better and very finely tuned. The combo of damping materials I choose and the applications are very specific. I would never have a coffee table in the way of the music or a high back chair to listen from. but that's just me. Gotta go, have folks coming over to listen. ENJOY Dave
My High Fidelity Cables- Ultimate Reference Speaker Cables are just about here!!! I'm So excited to get them after hearing the effects of Ultimate Reference digital cable and UR magnetic power filter. UR speaker cables will give me a full loom of Ultimate Reference. The Ultimate Speaker cables I'm using now are mind blowing and they've helped redefine the words amazing, lifelike, natural, real, and detailed. I've already heard how huge the improvement is between Ultimate and Ultimate Reference so I know it will be worlds better, but since every improvement I make theses days puts me into "never heard anything so wonderful anywhere", I have no reference to compare. Also, all the descriptors have already been used to describe lessor products so even eloquent phrasing will fall far short of adequate for painting an accurate picture of High Fidelity Cable's superiority. You just Gotta hear this revolution to know what is possible. Hope your enjoying the music! I know I am!! Dave
Ddraudt..Dave, certainly am loving hearing my music now, even though only have a 1e loom at present (hoping to move up to 1u in due course), so can well understand your feelings re completing your 1ur loom - I'm so envious...but happy for you at the same time! Happy listenings to all us HFC users! Nick.
Thanks Nick, I'm happy you're enjoying these revolutionary cables too! I've learned so much about magnetic conduction in the past 18 months. I've heard unbelievable, unequalled improvements with High Fidelity products and I'm surprised at every upgrade's incredible advances. There is much more to come from High Fidelity. Try to imagine a bypass cap and other internal components with magnetic technology… Most have not yet heard the power side of the HF line which is every bit as astonishing as the signal products. Truly amazing! I wonder about how to let people know about this monumental, must have, no going back, Revolution in audio playback??? Those who have not heard it could not possibly know just how Cataclysmic HF's magnetic technology will be. 20 reviews and years of blogs fall short because all the words have been used up on far less world changing items. I know folks who never read reviews or blogs. From what I have learned and heard…I believe all manufacturers will have to go to Magnetic conduction to stay in the game. A bold claim and perhaps I'm preaching to the choir. I have people over once or twice a week to listen and I have lent HF cables to Stores, companies and friends, and it talk about HF a lot. This is slow going. I've seen how blogging on other sites can go horribly wrong ;-0. It'll be interesting to follow the progress. Happy listening to all! Dave
It's always interesting to see new products with new design philosophies. Not having a local dealer I can't demo these cables, but I would like to know some users' experience. 1. Would the sound quality collapse with these cables in wrong direction? 2. Does the sonic change from these cables resembles that from a good power conditioner or such? Thanks.
Silemus, I can answer question #1.Yes it does change the sound. In fact the manufacturer said that one magnet in the wrong direction among the many on each cable harms the sound.
The sonic change of all the High Fidelity products sounds much the same, namely great speed most evident in the leading edge, great dynamics, and on many recordings, a lighting up of the recording that makes you think you are there. I have heard these characteristics only in their power conditioner.
As you say, you have never heard the High Fidelity cables. While I would agree with most of your generalizations, they are exactly that. When you actually DO hear these cables in a decent system, I think you will find fast, detailed attack in addition to a natural decay. There is NO artificial truncation to the decay at all, nor is the presentation "forward". Its just natural, as if you were there.
That is MY experience and part of what makes these cables so special, at least for me.
...i will second what Fplanner says. i have looked for years for a cable that would allow my ears to finally allow me to stop looking.i have had many of what are considered the top of the cable world in my system. what Rick's cables bring...i have the Ct-1U versions...is a sound that when you hear it...you know your are finally there. i sold my Audiodharma cable cooker after hearing the HF cables because i knew i would not be trying any more. ( Rick uses the Audiodharma to cook his cables )...As Fplanner says...these cables are 'so special'..
Jmcgrogan2, I guess that I have always been a leading edge guy. I love compression drivers for that reason. But these cables from the first CT-1 on have an ease and speed about them that is novel. What is most endearing about them, however, is their allowing the room to light up as though one were at the recording event.
I have no doubt that other components also contribute to this, but I now hear this on perhaps a third of my recordings. In my thinking it is the decay of notes defining the recording event that allows this, so I would say that attack and decay are both there with these cables.
John, You raise some good points and of course there's no perfect anything that lacks flaws. However there are varying degrees of compromise and some potent strengths can dwarf small blemishes. The HF cables have exceptional transient performance but aren't "razor" sharp,"ultra" fast, IOW they aren't artificial or hyped . They just sound natural (what a beautiful word) and their note preservation and decay is superb in my opinion. They are re producers of music rather than attention seeking hifi show offs. Charles,
Charles1dad, I don't think the philosophy implied in your comment that "there is no anything that lacks flaws," is destructive of improvements. I think that my philosophy is that nothing cannot be improved is better and clearly the Enhanced and Ultimate cables improved on the original cables.
Silemus, First welcome! I think the Cable Company still has a loaner program for High Fidelity cables but I don't know where you live. An interesting note about these cables, They are not cables in the traditional sense of word. They operate on different principals and pass signal and power so much more successfully (and naturally) that they can't be compared to cords or cables from the past. Hearing HF cables is a novel and wonderful experience of something More, something better than we had all heard before. Within the 20+ reviews and 675 posts on this thread, there are many great words describing this new phenomena of magnetic conduction and it's sonic superiority. The Sound of HF cables is even better that words can say.
My cables have very fast transient speed and natural decay of notes!, they are not High-fidelity cables, really, there are a few cables in the world that have these traits, I have not listened to the high-fidelity cables myself, However, I have been around audiogon a couple of years, and read many members past post that talk on this thread, I trust their Ears fair enough to keep my interest in these cables, and the cost of the High-fidelity's best cables compaired to most other very good cables is inexspensive!
Jmcgrogan2, John, I would have to agree with Tbg, Calloway and Charles1dad that these cables are very special, not like any other cables ever. But that claim has been made many times before as you eluded to. 18 months ago, before I heard High Fidelity Cables, I was in the same place as many. I've heard almost every fancy cable and special new designs in 3 decades. A friend told me about them and I started reading articles and blogs and technical info on the design idea. I was impressed by reports on this NEW way of signal and power transmission and thought it might be a serious game changer. I was still NOT prepared for how much better they sounded (by a large margin)(in every aspect) than anything I heard in my 30+ years of testing. I'm sure You and Silemus will love them once you do get around to hearing them. Enjoy the music!!
@ TBG, I will be making a post on the taralabs 0.8 thread of a run down of all the New Taralabs cables to be released for sale 5-1-14, I will be moving up the cable food chain of Taralabs myself to the Evolution Omega speaker cables and the Evolution Zero interconnects, Normally I would not do this, However, This new model that replaces My omega gold speaker cables and zero gold interconnects is a whoping 75% increase in performance!,The speaker cables is $2,000.00 more retail for 8ft than what I have,$26,000.00, I will be getting a 6ft pair, This is to be a cable system to be recond with, the only cable that will better this is the Taralabs Evolution Grand Master speaker cables and interconnects, that I cannot afford!, Maybe I can Ride off into the sunset?, You think?,LOL!
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.
totally agree. if you are not going to contribute to the conversation on Rick's cables start a post on your Tara cables.go back and take a look at the title of this post.
Also in agreement. You really should know better, having been on these forums "a couple of years". Its a breach of etiquette and you are totally disrespecting all of us that have contributed to this thread.
I'm surprised they let the shill post even get on here - either voluntarily have it removed (the classier option) or we will have it removed for you.
I am sorry gentleman, I was talking to TBG, He had some interest in the new Taralabs cables that I was Talking about weeks ago on a different thread,I also said to tBG to go to another thread to read what I was posting, BTW, Thats 26,000.00 for 8ft, I said, I am buying 6ft to save money, I did not mean for you guys to feel disrespected, LOL, That's why my post said, AT TBG!, gees, I apoligize to all of you, please forgive me.
I'm relieved that I wasn't the only one who got the wind knocked out of over the misplaced post. Wouldn't it be great if there could be a comparison between the two. I tend to think that we would be comparing a new wire technology with something beyond wire. BTW, Rick has developed a new super cable without wire just magnets all the way thru. The cost would make UR look like a bargain and a speaker cable would be more than my first house but the sound is an education into what wire is doing wrong.
Hi Ddraundt, I am going to send you an E-mail to you about some of the New taralabs offerings that go on sale 5-1-14, you make up your mind what will be a game changer in cable design and sound when you read what I send you, then maybe go and listen for yourself, that is allways the best thing to do, what I will send you is not on the Taralabs web-site, nor will it ever be on the revised web-site 5-1-14 to the extent of the info I will send, the High-fidelity and Taralabs are all good cables, I am going this week-end to listen to the ultimats of high fidelity, I am taking my discontinued Taralabs Zero gold interconnects and Omega Gold speaker cables to par against High-fidelity's best, My cables are discontinued as of 5-1-14, to be replaced by a new cable that has 75% better bandwidth, it will be the second from the flag -ship cable, The new cable I will be getting is called, The Zero Evolution interconnect with HFX floating Ground station system and The Omega Evolution speaker cable, now High- fidelity fans here do not feel direspected!, that is not my intent, I am E-mailing this gentleman, Ddraudt mentioned a comparison, and NO!, I do not have some sort of hidden agenda, and I am not a Dealer!, that is the craziest thing I ever heard, LOL, I have an open mind to all cable brands, I want to learn about them all, That way I can be an asset to other members, I have recommended cables to others that was NOT Taralabs cables, Really, Really, there are boat loads of brands and sounds out there, people should learn to have an open mind to see what is possible with audio, cheers gentleman.
I had the pleasure of demoing the high fidelity ct1 enhanced speaker cables and ultimate interconnects. The are clear, they have great prat and the give instruments great timbre. Love, these when listening to very quick jazz quartets. I think they are some of the better interconnects I have ever heard. They are worth the asking price because they get the job done. I have also listened to the tara labs 2 EX interconnects. They are great as well they very open and detailed. Life like. The prat on the ct1 is a little better. It is a matter of taste. The openness of the tara labs is ear attracting. They are both great cable makers. I think Rick Schultz is a great guy with a great product and technology in the ct1. I met him at the Lone star audiofest last year and he was raving about his cables and technology. At first, it was all over my head until I heard his cables and I was really wowed by them. I was able to have a in home long demo with them and I was very happy with the performance. They provide speed and clarity. Rick also was confident enough in his product to let me demo his cables and that is what separates him from a lot of others in this business. Great product and based on the sound and the quality I would recommend them to anyone looking for a great cable. I have also done a demo of the tara labs 2EX with ism on board. They mated well with my vienna acoustics beethoven baby grand se I have. The ct1 mated better with the sonus faber liutos. Different cables work with different speakers. I would love to listen high fidelity cables new ultimate reference cables. I have heard that they are really good. I don't work for either company. I just love the things that both do. I want to also listen to the higher level tara labs. I was really impressed with the 2ex. I must admit though when you have a good person like Rick Schultz making a great cable like the ct1 line then you have hope for high end audio. In closing, I think it is system dependent which ones you go with and the things you like in sound qualities in your system. Tara labs are a little more open and the ct1 have better prat. Just in case you ask. Yes I like and have listened to both extensively. This is my comparison review of the ct1 and the tara labs 2 ex with ism on board. As usual it just depends on all the other equipment and qualities you have and like in your audio system. Happy listening everyone. @everyone I'm talking to everyone lol.
Great review calvinj, The Two Ex is dicontinued, the new version of that cable is called, The two, there are now two versions of that cable for best system matching, there is the two with ISm on board for controlled bandwidth, systems that are wide bandwith like some amps out there, then the other version is The two with HFX Ground station system, this is called Extended bandwidth, It cost a little more, it is the more resolving model and is extended with more resolution, neitherless, This cables full retail is around $2,000.00 for ISM on board, and $300.00 to $500.00 more for the HFX Ground station system version, when you go up the cable food chain, the Taras are very fast on the attack, with note decay, resolution, more clarity, and delay to give the illusion of the real musical event, As you said, they are both great cables, cheers.
Calvinj...thanks for your time and review...i don't know how the 2 stand from a price comparison but i can tell you that as you go up the HF chain the improvement is not linear.everything gets so much better. again..thanks for the comparison..
Audiolabyrinth, Ok please send me a set of Tara's from you store and I will try them. ;-) Just because I was polite about a comparison the other day does not mean I wish to continue a Tara discussion on this thread.
Calvinj, Thanks for your report. In you post you mentioned hoping to try HF UR Cables. I really hope you get to. I find it difficult to quantify the improvements as you move up the line of High Fidelity products because the higher tiers are not just a huge improvement. It's more like a whole new world is reviled. It's like a glimpse at the impossible. Like the known world was black and white and the Ultimate Reference reveals a vivid colorful universe too lifelike to comprehend. For me to say that the UR is somewhere between 10 and 100 times better then the Ultimates indicates that the Ultimate Reference made a miraculous transformation of my system beyond anything I have ever heard on any system anywhere!
Yes! I am going saturday, why would I ever say something sounds better if it does not?,I do not work for NO audio companys period, If it's better, well then, I want to buy It!, this is the stupid audio nerversa disease we all have, really, I hope I do not have to buy all new cables, anyway, why did you repost my post, I did not put it here, what is your agenda?, I am not going to post my impressions here period!, I will post where you got my post from, what are you doing?
@jmacgrogan that is true. Audiolabrytinth is king Tara labs. Lol. @ Calloway. You are right. Each time you go up the chain with high fidelity ct1. They do get better. I have personally witnessed it. The other thing is these cables have great speed. Jazz quartet music with multiple cymbal and drum taps are amazing. @audiolabryinth. I am enjoying the cymbal decays on the tara labs 2ex air great. The trail away in the air like water vapor. I like the Decays in my music that way.
It is late,( so excuse any whatever's) but after 140 hours on my UR IC's and digital cable , I am loving the presentation that these cables bring. it is an OMG sense, crazy good, best i have ever heard in my system, best my system has ever sounded, I realize that the hours are lacking to give a complete synopsis of what they have done, I expected great things, and they have fulfilled all expectations so far. deep soundstage to say the least. I had the pleasure about 10 years back to hear October Project at the Green Door in Chicago and their return last leg of the tour at the Park West for the second time. Mary Fahl never sounded better than at the Park West, but I was always comparing October Project to my system even back then,They sounded just like their CD. Tonight they revisited my listening room, I don't know the other musicians names but they were fantastic live and exactly placed from memory on the soundstage before me tonight.I've had a boatload of cables in my system over the last 40 years and these are the absolute finest cables at doing what cables are suppose to do that I have ever heard.I had the Ultimate Digital and U IC's running the last 2 months but the UR's are, bar none a complete satisfaction guarantee of the best that can be. I'm sorry to cut this short, but an early morning is my wake up call and will report after more hours of listening to describe in detail, so please forgive. Bill
Gentlemen, It seems like our thread has been invaded with a few people trying to cause trouble and i am not sure how to reach the monitors. Jmcgrogan2, Why do you think it's ok to post what others have said on other posts just to give someone a hard time? How is that discussing High Fidelity cables?? High Fidelity cables are wonderful, intriguing, game changing ect. I hope all who wish to post here will be respectful of others and keep on topic.
Calvin, I agree that comparisons of cables are fair game. This long thread has been very interesting and has remained on topic, lets keep that standard intact.
I agree!, this is all of your gentlemens thread, however, the Tara labs cable thread is the peoples thread, all is welcome to talk about anything!, all of you here are welcome to talk about high-fidelity cables there as well, this is just a screen in my face, lets enjoy this hobby together, cheers gentlemen.
@Charles1dad. I agree. The ct1 really deliver performance wise and it good to know how they compare to other cables people have owned. I like them better than some cables I bought that were bigger names and more expensive. It's good to know that there are other owners of this great brand and I also like to see what other brand owners are saying in comparison. Speakers, amps, preamps are going to always be in the mix. I just know that when you get the high fidelity ct1 cables that they deliver performance wise. I bought some bigger names that I can't say the same thing about. I can't wait to hear the ultimate reference.
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