NEW Cerious Technologies Upgrade - Graphene Matrix Cables
CT Graphene Matrix Cables:
I have been using the CT GE cables for almost two years. I recently traded up for a full loom of CT Graphene Matrix cables, including speaker, interconnect and PCs, and I wanted to share my experience. I started by replacing only the ICs to try and hear the differences.
The new Matrix interconnects sounded better than the GE immediately after install. I found the original Graphene Extreme ICs to be good but not on the same level as the outstanding GE speaker cables. As break-in started to clear things up, I can hear more clarity and detail not heard before. The ICs are incredible on their own and at the 30 hour mark, I can hear a clear superiority over the GE ICs. I recently started using the Teo Game Changer ICs and preferred them over GE but the Teo has now fallen to the new Graphene Matrix ICs. My Teo’s were and are great, and it is stunning to experience Cerious Technologies commitment to making great technology better.
On the third day of listening to the GM ICs. I couldn’t wait anymore, Having too much fun. I then installed the speaker cables and power cords once I had a pretty good feel for the sound of the GM ICs.
With the full loom of GM cables running in they are going through some strange changes and definitely need time to settle down before realizing what they can really do and very important Bob says to not move them. Since I have a home office I can let them run in all day. I’m at around 120 hours now and they are still improving. Here’s what I’m hearing:
Extended highs and tighter lows. More detail and better low level listening Drums are tighter, more clearly defined. So real is the snap of the snare drum. The bass has more depth, seemingly goes deeper, lower. This aspect stands out the most.
I am not in the industry, I’m not an engineer, I don’t work for Cerious Technologies, but I am a fan of the cables and am enjoying what my system is capable of.
I’m closer to my own pinnacle of sound reproduction than ever before.
I too am interested in the performance of the CE Matrix power cords and if they are anything close to the sonic performance of the CE Matrix other cables.
In regards to the WW- HDMI Platinum cable I was able to buy a short (.5M) length at a good price. Yes, it is a very big sonic upgrade from the provided PS HDMI cable. That is in terms of smoothness and natural sound. Afterall the PS Direct Stream Dac/Player is not a cheap combo so why cheap out on the connection that matters the most with these units?
Your talk about power cables is interesting, thanks to all the correspondents involved.
What are the conclusions?
Is the consensus that the CT Matrix is superior to the rest and if so in what way? Or is it component dependant? What would be the next closest PC in performance, Oyaide BM or T, Furutech?
Our own personal PC reference is the Sablon Corona Reserva.
@lancelock, thanks for your feed back, very interesting comment. I have the Corona Reservation Elite which is the latest improved cable fitted with Furutech NCF plugs, so better than the Grand Corona I believe. I would be very interested to hear what the differences sonically are between the Corona and Matrix and by what sort of margin is the Matrix the better cable. I haven’t had the Grand Corona in my system so I can’t be sure how much better the latest version is but I have read elsewhere that it is definitely an improvement over the previous version.
Hi lancelock and toetapaudio: I have the Sablon Grand Corona and two CT Matrix power cords. One with the stock connectors that Bob installs, and the other that I had him install the Fururtech NCF connectors. Generally speaking, the Sablon has a grainier sound to it than the stock Matrix PC. You'll actually here inner details on the recording that you never noticed before. Bass slamm is pretty close to equal. The Matrix PC with the NCF connectors gives you even more detail than the stock one, but takes longer to break in. (it sounded harsh and aggressive at first). Good listening. Jeff
@snook2@calloway@jl35 I was trying to convince Bob to ship graphene extreme cables to Belgium. We had quite a few mail exchanges and then nothing. I wonder if something happened :s I'm a tad worried... he's such a kind and forthcoming person :s
Ack - I just read the previous page... :s Sooooooooooooo I'm one of the people with questions... sorry. Not from Korea though ;) I just hope Bob has some time to relax. Sorry for being a nuissance.
@toetapaudio, @yoby summed it up well. I would add the Matrix is a little more natural sounding. I only have the older versions of the Sablon cables for comparison though.
@yoby, Jeff, So you might agree with Dave of ZenWave Audio who claims the connectors are as or even more important than the cable? He also thinks the NCF connectors are the best sounding by a wide margin and would prefer a lesser cable with NCFs vs better cable terminated with any other connectors. Perhaps you can give us a more detailed comparison of the Matrix cables with the 2 different connectors, NCF vs stock?
@ klh007 I had a full loom of Dave's PL cables with FI50 Furutech connectors (the version before NCF came out). Tom on here has compared non-NCF with the NCF FI50's, and doesn't think there's a huge difference, certainly not worth replacing non-NCF FI50's with new NCF FI50's.
With that said, I found the Graphene Extreme PC's to be an absolute improvement on every component over Dave's PL cables with the FI50's. And that's with the cheaper stock connectors on the Graphene Extreme's. If the Matrix are a big improvement over the Graphene Extremes, I'd say take Dave's comments on connectors with a grain of salt. Bob has a really magic recipe here with these graphene products, and at VERY attractive price points relative to the competition. I can't wait to upgrade some of my Graphene Extreme PC's to the Matrix to see what that's all about. I might be able to justify disassembling my two remaining PL cables to use their FI50 connectors in a couple of the Matrix cables I want to order in the coming months - to be able to hear those differences from stock for myself as well. At least I wouldn't have to wait for extended break-in.
My experience with the Furutech FI-50(R) and FI-50(R) NCF, mirrors Tom's. I listened to both on Dave's PL 11 and a Furutech s55n. If I already had the
FI-50(R), I would not replace it with the NCF. If I didn't already have the FI-50(R), I would be reluctant to pay the extra $ for the NCF.
The NCF Booster clamps and damps vibrations in the plug. I believe it also reduces RFI. Can be used at both the equipment IEC plug end as well as at the wall plug, if you use wall plugs, which I don’t. Some people use them additionally as cable lifters. They cost about the same as a NCF plug.
I haven’t done a lot of testing on it so far. I have it on the fidata server at the moment. When I first put it in I thought it improved openness, bit more detail, more liquid. Not anywhere near as big an improvement as introducing the Sablon Reserva Elite Power cables though. I would say get one at first and experiment. I’m planning on moving it to the Mola Mola dac/pre and then onto the Mola Mola power amps. I’ll report back if you like.
I thought I might try a Matrix next. Waiting to here back from Rob.
Any of you guys on balanced power? That’s on my list to do, I know it works from a previous experience.
@toetapaudio, give Mark a call at Core Power Technologies, his E=Q Balanced power units are the best bang for the buck, 8 outlets handling 1800 watts for under 2 grand, and smaller ones as well.
@klh007 and @lak , thanks for the heads up on Core Power Technology. They look well made but the ratings are a bit low. Here in the U.K. there is an industrial transformer manufacturer who makes balanced power supplies, cost for example about £300 for 3kVA, £500 for 5kVA. Is there anything special about the CPT transformers that might make them better?
Equi=Tech have a reputation for making really good balanced power, their transformers are made in Canada by an OEM manufacturer. The same manufacturer also supply Westwick here in the U.K., who do a lot of studio installations. They are a bit cheaper than Equi=Tech but still pricey at £5k for 8kVA. Apparently they are better than the cheaper manufacturer I mentioned but then they are ten times the price.
I can vouch for the cost/performance value of the Cerious Red Power cord. It made a big positive audio improvement for my Oppo 105D. Will eventually invest in a Blue Power cord for my Coda CSiB integrated.
If anyone is looking to unload their Teo Game Changers to get the Graphene Matrix please let me know.
Can you please answer the gauge of the power cords?
Also, does the design of the speaker cable, with "The backbone for the negative conductors utilizes 6 gauge Silver wire encased in OFC copper and Graphene powder, which is then encased in over 4 pounds of copper shot and ceramic damping spheres..." not apply to the other Matrix cables, or even the positive and ground of the speaker cable?
@jay23 , I enjoyed correspondence with Bob a few days ago. He doesn’t monitor this forum everyday and I know he’s very busy but I’m sure he will get back to you.
I purchased 5 of the Matrix cords. And no, even though I have about a 1/2 dozen Furutech DPS-4 I also own several other brands of power cords. However, I do like to keep the cable loom within a manufacturer line. In the past I have used most of the top cable names. And what I have now is, (in my opinion), the best of the rest. I'm hoping the Cerious Matrix will replace the usage of the other brands.
The Matrix power cords are breaking in just fine. I probably have about 50 hours on them so far. They were a little sluggish at first but are definitely improving now with a wider soundstage and much more dynamics than originally. I just hope the wife doesn't look at the CC for a while...
The Cerious Matrix cables does not accent any particular part of the audio band. But it does make the music sound more powerful. I over estimated the usage time of my new Matrix power cables. I have only put about 30 hours on them so far.
sadono, I'm not sure if you have any of the Cerious Matrix cables but the first aha moment comes with the first cable. Adding more of the Cerious Matrix cables in the system continues that affect. I started with the speaker cables, then interconnects and now the power cables.
I had received a Matrix pc first and thought it was great on my integrated amp but to me when I got the Matrix speaker cables that’s when things really went up a notch. Have yet to try the ic’s. Just my 2 cents
I don't have the Matrix speaker cables (yet) had the graphene Extream and thought they were awesome. I do have Matrix interconnects and Digital cable, a big improvement over the Graphene Extream that is also good!
Yes...I am still here! The actual gauge of the power cords, as with all of our cables are difficult to specify. Gauge standards are specific to wire based conductors. A pure Graphene conductor, for example, is about 1,000,000,000 gauge, but has lower resistance than a pure Silver wire the diameter of a basketball. We employ wire based backbones of 9 gauge, then add Carbon Fiber, Graphene, and Liquid Ceramic. What does this come out to in wire based terms? No idea. You cannot express composite conductors in terms that do not apply. There simply is no standard for composite conductors because everything is based on data used to computer model materials and cutting edge composites cannot be modeled because they are too radical and no data exists. This is why composites used in commercial airliners are 25 year old, because they can only model materials they have extensive history and data for. I model everything in my head and do no prototypes. The first Matrix cables produced were direct to production. I plugged them in and verified "Yep...that is what they are supposed to perform like." "Let's go..." As some brilliant Audiophile once said "The proof is in the lisnin..." Thanks! Bob CT
Thanks all for the opinions! 🙂 Any other opinions are still welcomed.
@rgrost
Is there a reason for the carbon fiber, in addition to the graphene? I know it has vibration damping qualities, and pure carbon cables are supposed to have a gloriously liquid midrange.
@toetapaudio I had the Cerious Tech Graphene Extreme just before the Matrix. The GE replaced a pair of neotech occ silver/gold speaker cables I was using before and the Matrix far exceed both. I thought the GE sc’s were great but these Matrix are really something.
Has the Matrix very recently come out in a new iteration that is more flexible than the first Matrix’s that appeared? How would those of you who have tried both Matrix and Extreme compare the flexibility (and weight) of these two cords? Is the Matrix slightly less flexible? Somewhat less? Considerably less? Much less? etc. I worry about the Matrix pulling my Oppo off its audiopoints. Thanks much in advance for your thoughts on this.
Should have noted in my previous post that I am especially interested in the flexibility comparison regarding Matrix vs. Extreme *power cords,* and secondarily the interconnects and digital cables. Thanks!
im not sure if you saw Bobs post From a few days ago:
”I am now staring at a Matrix power cord wrapped neatly around a 4" in diameter (2" radius) cylinder. This is very flexible. I think the problem is that customers need the cables to kink almost immediately as it comes out of the connector because equipment is pushed so close to the wall. With over 40 years experience and setting up around 500 systems in my life I can tell you that you do want your equipment or cables pushed right up against a wall. Walls have all sorts of crap running through them - AC, digital cable, and other things that wreak havoc on audio systems. Pull your rack out 6" and all these problems go away. It will also help with the nightmare of hooking up new equipment. The nature of the Matrix conductors and damping jackets is outlined on our website. "Metallurgy" does not apply, as they are a sophisticated composite.Thanks everybody! Bob”
personally, I think the Matrix have close to as much flexibility as the GE.
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