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How long does cable technology take to 'turn'?

Every couple of weeks I think I know it all again, then I hear something which redefines everything.
Such is the case with the Acoustic Zen Audio Cables.
A long time Kimber Kable fan, (and still am) I gladly and gratefully give a full nod to Robert Lee and his Shotgun cables, as being the current best on the market for an even semi realistically priced cable.
This find was by accident really; I bought a new entertainment center and needed longer cables so I decided to update my thinking.
Last year at CES I put together a consortium of high end manufacturers in order to make a big splash in a ballroom, (versus a small room like everyone else), for a speaker manufacturer, featuring some of the best equipment available. I selected, VAC, and the well respected Kevin Hayes, PS Audio's power conditioner, Chris Huston was there to record Misty River each night for a "Live vs. Recorded" face off, Oracle's Jacques Reindeau and, of course, Robert Lee's Acoustic Zen.
During the show I got to know him as much as such a venue will allow, and found him to be straight forward, prefering science and technology over emperical opinion.
His cables did nothing to draw attention to themselves, even though in show circumstance, that is not always the case.
Last week I asked him to send me the "Shotgun" for appraisal, he did and here we are.
The cables, (I am using my own speaker design, which has bi wiring capabilities) replaced two pairs of Kimber Select 3035's. The difference was startling.
Better high frequency openness and clarity without a hint of sibilance, better bass definition without any bloat so common to some cables.
The midrange was right, as opposed to forward and overblown.
So the question is: How long do we hold on to current cables before we decide that last year's fav's are this year's also ran's?
lrsky
10 responses Add your response
david99
1,467 posts
 
I feel cable technology has taken a step forward with the introduction of the Eichmann products.
This is a totally new approach to connector design.
I recently purchaced a RS Audio Cables ILLUME' silver braided interconnect with silver Eichmann plugs (RCA's)
I believe the combination of the fine silver wire RS Audio Cables uses and the Eichmann silver plugs makes this cable a steal and has beat out cables I have owned at 2-3 times the price.
The silver Eichmann plugs are $25/each and copper plugs $10/each.
They are reportedly very easy to install on existing interconnects.
Eichmann also sells bananas with the same new approach to connector design.
gregm
3,405 posts
 
Whay are there so many manufacturers/fabricators
The entry price is very low -- all you need to start, basically, is wire, solder, an iron, connectors and some good ideas.
We assume you have a system already!

This doesn't guarantee you will be sustainable though -- but the trial losses are minimal.
Post removed 
lrsky OP
1,118 posts
 
Break in, a little appreciated or understood concept...Some four days later these cables are more natural and smoother,I wonder if anyone, including Robert Lee would hazzard a scientific guess. My inclination is to think that, in part one becomes 'used to' the sound, and compensates for the differences.
Another, more esoteric look tells me that the cable really does have to ' break in' in the sense that audiophiles rail on about.
I only know what I think I hear, which is, a more (subjectively) 'natural' sound. Sibilance, my bane of existance, is almost non existant, even though the high frequencies are much more prominent, and clarity is greater than before. The bass, which is subjectively 'bigger' than before, still is not over big or wrong sounding.
I am really impressed, and only wish that more people could afford this product--or at least would budget the money it takes to have this cable in their system.
Dean Martin live in Vegas, is very telling. One can actually hear a woman in the kitchen, yelling at a co worker, something not as obvious before. Trust me, I know this album like the back of my hand, and hearing this after hundreds of listens, is not simply a "you heard it because you listened again". I have scrutinized this album ad nauseumm and this information was not there in this focus or clarity before. God, this is fun for me.
Robert, if you're out there, please tell us why your cables are so much fun, so clear, and more musical--I am sure most of us would like to know.
Best,
lrsky OP
1,118 posts
 
I got the hybrid copper/silver.
It's funny, the cables are so stiff as you might imagine, that during the course of hooking things up I moved my speakers out further into the room (one of the reasons for the new cables) only to accidentally hook them up backwards on the right side. Backwards as it relates to having the copper on the top, vertus the silver on the top, as is appropriate. The difference was dramatic. A friend, who is a golden ear, immediately noticed that 'something is wrong here'. The cables are so revealing of the most complex, yet simple subtlties of music at all levels, that they make all types of music more interesting and fun. Clear--crystal clear in the highs, yet no hint of sibilance, as I mentioned. Older albums, (CD's) a 1960's Bobby Goldsboro album gets completely pulled apart latterally, instead of that congested front to back sound that was so common to many of that era recordings. I am psyched about these, more than I can convey here. I recommend them so highly, and again give cuddos to Robert Lee, the unsung genius behind these cables. Why does he hide in the background? Humility is one thing but he is almost invisible. Their marketing team should bring his knowledge to the front--I would if I were in charge of his Public Relations.
Good listening.
nighthawk
259 posts
 
Lrsky, which model of Shotgun did you try? AZ has three models - Satori Shotgun, Double Barrel, and Absolute Shotgun. The bottom two are all copper, while the Absolute is a copper/silver hybrid.
lrsky OP
1,118 posts
 
One of my points here, which no one has chosen to address, is the "I am sure that, now I know it all....again."
The ongoing 'quest' for that audio Nirvana is fun and exciting. One has to be careful to note that which is just different, and not better.
These cables were tantamount to buying a new component, and rightfully so given their cost. But I was amazed given the comparative pricing of products, that being the Kimber 3035 versus the Shotgun.
This really sings.
My typical manner of comparing any audio is not unlike ABX, which IMHO puts undue 'stress' on the being right part of the equation--so I always listen to "A" then "B" without knowing which is which, then switch back to "A". Only then do I make my decision as to which is better. Copious notes are always helpful in this process, since usually nothing is better in every way, but better in some, not as good in others, and so on.
For me, these made a quantum leap in all meaningful areas by unobtrusively 'passing' more information than I was used to. It sure was fun to redo my system.
Plus, supporting a guy, a good guy who really knows his stuff, like Robert is an added bonus.
Best,
twl
3,251 posts
 
I think it simply has to do with when you get "the itch".
84audio
175 posts
 
Do we short change ourselves when we don't evaluate cables as carefully as we do components? In high end audio we should probably throw out our preconceived notions on a regular basis. Yesterdays best may be todays average, and it's very easy to lose touch. Creating the best "buzz" and creating the best sound are different skills, and my guess is we often fall victim to the hype. I have been recently re-evaluating my system, and when you let your ears lead, sometimes you find the buzz is just wrong.
avguygeorge
2,300 posts
 
Me thinks it is on-going and always will be. While there are many great performing cables from lesser kown mfg's---one must always be cautious---resale of same can be quite a problem.---For the most part any cable's value is more of a popularity contest---Just like all the other gear we use/buy/sell.
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