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
All, A couple of months ago I started to play with the High Fidelity CT-1 power cords. Ah yes, thank you Harve FPlanner2000
for the suggestion.

I was somewhat skeptical before connecting the creatures into my system because of the unusual coaxial construction and underlying technology. But to make a long story short, these CT-1 cords are turning out to be in exceptional synergy with my system and my taste in sonic beauty and music.

What floors me is that they are just the entry level PCs of the High Fidelity line.

I have started to post a multi-part review of the CT-1 series at:

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?fcabl&1437589292&openusid&zzGuidocorona&4&&

Hope to see you there,

Guido
@everyone. Only on our thread does it go this way. Lol. Any way system is sounding pretty good over here high fidelity is doing it good.
Ghosthouse, I think unpredictable is really the proper word. I was on a doctoral committee once where the US Army was paying a guy to get his doctorate. He was seeking to achieve the best prediction of weather in Iran to deliver supplies so that missions would not venture out when predictions were averse. He raised correct predictions to 3% accurate and the meteorologists were amazed.

In my research explaining 3% of the variance is worthless. If we could predict how only 3% of voters voted, whether 3% of adults would vote, whether 3% of states providing more money to improve education, etc., we would be failures.
Norm i agree. i was surprised that i got hit as i have >50 hardwood, fully mature trees in my yard that extend well above my roof line..
Calloway, lightening is a very perverse force. I had it hit one of my water heaters just above where I was about to step from my car. I was only about fifteen feet from where we had a very large water oak. It started a small flame on the gas pipe to the water heater which fortunately faced away from any wood or boxes.

My system was on at the time and only about six feet away on the other side of the wall. It was totally unaffected which I think was the result of the Audio Standard ac filter I was using at the time. I now worry about the Tripoint grounding unit as well as other components and remove both when storms are around.

Most of the large trees in my yard are now gone after the draught of 2011, so we are now sitting ducks.
Thanks guys..i was very lucky...i had lightening destroy the lt channel on a pair of Piega C-40s in the past..I have about 100 very large hardwood trees in my yard..you would think they would draw the hit first...We have another large storm approaching tonight in about 2 hrs...i do try to unplug everything before the storms get here..
@calloway. As long as it didn't mess your system that is the important part. As an audiophile. Lol
Lak...yes..it took out my front yard sprinkler system controller that is in my garage...loudest noise i have ever heard.Fortunately it did not get my system.i have double house surge protection and protection on all my wires going into my IMac...It made no difference.
Calloway, did anything else in your home get damaged from the lightning strike?
@calloway. Enjoy them. When you match it all up it gives a good sense of realism especially when you let them settle in real good
My 3 new CT-1 pcs have about 100 hrs on them now and are just superb.they were/are all that i needed to get my system to the final sound i wanted.i lost about 2 weeks after getting them after lightening took out my IMac.the sound now is just amazing...
I agree the URR power cord takes the component to the next level!
Enjoy...
50 page blog, although not a record, is very impressive! I surmise the products must be quite special to warrant all of this.
Thanks Rlawry, Calvinj for your descriptions of the improvement with the URR. I agree wholeheartedly and look forward to the next High Fidelity
Cable I buy, and the next.
Right now, I can think of 4 more HF cables I hope to buy.
The sound here is alluding and uncanny, so real it's crazy.
Cheers D
@rlawry. That URR power cord really takes things to another level. It just pulls all the instruments out the speaker into the room. Enjoy.
I too just bought a URR power cord to place between my HFC power conditioner and my Manley Steelhead phono stage. After only a few hours' use I can hear the usual quantum leap in what HFC does so well at: immediacy, tactility, presence, quickness, dimensionality, detail but not edginess. What is so great is that even crappy recordings are now listenable, not just the usual audiophile-grade recordings. HFC seems to transport the musicians into my listening room.
Hello all, I've been having great fun with HFC power cords lately and my tweaking of waveguides. We have been enjoying another astonishing level of
being "inside the music venue" realism. I'm blown away by being engulfed in the soundstage today, and every time I sit down to listen. Never heard anything like it.
More HFC Magnets- I ordered a double DSD system yesterday and like any components I buy, I must figure out how many more HFC products I MUST
get to complete the magic. looks like I need a HFC UR IC, 2 Ct1 pc's and another bigger HF power cord. Anyone want to buy a used kidney? ;-) D
Well I listened today for an hour tonight. Once again just took ultimate reference rhodium took it to another level of music and clarity. Goes deep inside the instruments and the nuances they have. Open without being bright or offensive. Great initial impact with body and just the right amount of weight. Great sounds.
Calloway. Enjoy it. It's special. Glad to know we have happy ears around here. Lol
Geoffkait....in the past you would be correct but after > 25 yrs I truely am happy with what I have put together...
Norm...I understand the "pursuit of perfection "concept but at some point in the quest,you, hopefully, reach that moment when,while analyzing your system's sound, that you say to yourself, ' i've arrived'. Then you can just turn the system on each night and not have to think anymore and just immerse yourself in the music...that is where I am..finally..no more major changes..
Calloway, I too have spent a lot of late and dearly wish I was done, but Rick keeps pushing the boundaries as do the people at Star Sound, and now I have H-Cat back in the picture.
Psvane WEs...I have their WE 845s too.2 matched pairs of the 845s.They are great..
@Callaway, congratulations, that's great news.
Which 300b tubes are you expecting (just wondering)?
My 3 new CT-1 pcs have been in about 4 days and are going through their maturing process..Every day they sound better.They are just what i needed to take my system to the level i have always wanted it to be..Except for new 300b tubes next week i will be finished with the upgrade bug for a long time..
Self control < audio addiction

HFC > audio addiction

Therefore

HFC >> audio addiction.

Be forewarned

If your like me....and you hear the top tier....You will desire them

Very dearly

Very
I agree with Calvin and Lak, the urr power cord is amazing. I bought one for my DAC a few months ago. I couldn't believe the difference it made. It was huge. The soundstage opened up and the tonal quality was much more natural not to mention the improvement in dynamics and background silence I got with the change. Rick is the master of magnetics!

John
Calvinj, I agree with Rick that more magnets are always better than fewer. The only real limit is how much you might pay as they are costly to assemble and to buy the rare earth magnets. Obviously, a meter long set of wave guides with plugs at the end would be the limit.
@lak that self control is true. Once you hear it you don't want to go backwards. Lol
I agree that the URR power cord really does add to and allows the music to shine regardless what component you put it on. It seems to produce a better sound stage, more dynamics and a greater sense of naturalness.
As many have stated in this forum for each level of HFC you step up to the quality of music improves. Self-control is really an important factor here ;-)!
I know I put this thing on my dac and the dac and it completely opened it up. It let the music really come through. Really put the musicians in the room with me. If it doesn't work for somebody else that's whatever. It does do it for my ears.
Calvinj, The URR is a masterpiece and beyond, way beyond what anyone might imagine. No surprise to me that you were Blown Away. The good and bad news is that it gets that much better with each URR one adds. Norm had 6 and a WGPC at last count.
ENJOY!!!
@ddraudt. The ultimate reference rhodium is the one thing the I never owned or had an extended demo of. It really gets better as you go up the line. I'm really enjoying this. I guess that's why I got so excited. It just got better than what I ever heard before. I have a really good setup with my resonessence dac. My gato fm6 speakers and my kr audio va 900. I actually tailor my system to have the high fidelity stuff in it because it gets so many of the things sound wise so right and better than I had heard. Anyway we all have to go on our musical journeys. The one thing that I find is that you can't let other people tell you what is right or what you like. Listen and enjoy for your own system.
I have had a pair of CT-1 interconnects on both my CD player and phono pre and, apart from the fact that they are definitely transparent and dynamic, I find them 'unmusical'. They make the music less involving emotionally. Of course, as many here attest, YMMV.
@ddraudt. @lak @tbg and anyone else. My apologies. The power cord I have is the ultimate reference rhodium. It incorporates the helix design. It's the one high fidelity line that I never had in my system before. I don't want to mislead anyone. This cord is already out and it was the only one that I never had in my system. Once again it came in and just made everything sound better. Sorry for any misunderstandings. Of course I get excited when my system sounds better than it did before. Everyone enjoy your Saturday listening sessions.
Calvinj, Although the URR is new to you, It is not new.
According to Rick, You have the same cords that I have.
That being said... the URR is amazingly superior to the other power cords
in the line because of it's double helix magnet design..
More magnets = more fun!!
Calvinj,
Is the power cord you are speaking of on your dac something new,
or is it the CT-1URR?
Sorry but I'm confused.
I went from an ultimate to compare it to this new one. It's really amazing what it did with my dac. Really blew up my soundstage in my room. My listen room is a really odd shape and it just filled the room. Still has that musical precision. I don't know the price yet. I really like the fact that gets a more of things like the piano. It goes deeper. You hear inside the piano deeper. Background is completely black. Love the music. The horns open up and you can hear a little bit of the spit coming through the instrument. Just live and yet pleasing.
Calvinj, what power cord did you replace the URR for? did you have Ultimate or UR? The URR's Double helix magnet design is what makes it superior.
Enjoy D
Wow! I had no idea HFC came out with a new power cord, I should have guessed that. I'm glad to hear it's working well in your system. What do these bad boys go for? I don't see them on the HFC website.
@tbg@ddraudt@lak@jazzonthehudson. I just got a demo of the NEW high fidelity ultimate reference rhodium helix design power cord. It made me go WOWWW!!! It has a top end with sweet decays. It's midrange is open, full, textured. Both the lower midrange and the upper midrange. It's bass is deep and tight. It also give the music plenty of drive and throws a wide deep soundstage. I used it on my resonessence mirus dac and it was like giving that dac steroids. I've never heard a power cable that gave a component a big spacious sound like that. It's improved over the other high fidelity cables because it gives you even more of the music. It lets you hear deep into the performance like I have never have before. This is a winner. Best power cable I've heard so far period ever!!!
@meadowlark did you ever own the Marantz Sa 7s1. If you did what were your thoughts. @everyone. Enjoy your music while you are here. Don't forget that we are all blessed to be in this hobby.