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Review: Argent Audio Pursang Interconnect

Category: Cables

Please let me begin by saying that my listening room dimensions are 30' x 18', with a high beam ceiling. I prefer a cable that can deliver superb tonal balance or balance frequency response from top to bottom. Because of my listening room size and the fact that I am using a dynamic speaker, I greatly favor a wide and deep soundstage with a detailed and holographic presentation. Of course, dynamic range is an important issue too with my personal preference for big band music (Ellington, Basie, and so forth), however personal and intimate vocal recording artists are favored during late evening listening sessions. Finding a cable that can play uncompressed or without the digital brightness and hardness is equally important, big band dynamics and strong vocal performances often stretch the limits or range of a speaker. Truly, I find enjoyment when music flows with ease, effortless, and uncompressed.

I have tried many different interconnect cables throughout the years, some have been quite good while others were not so favorable. Besides the similar products that I have listed, I have also heard or auditioned many other interconnect cables ranging in price from $200 to $4,500 per meter. I have purposely avoided mentioning which cables are my least favorite, although after using copper cables for years, I must confess my current preference for silver cables when designed and built correctly. There are those audiophiles who claim silver cables are often bright or harsh, I am not one of those who share those beliefs because the cables I am using defy their belief.

About 18 months ago, I was using the Nordost Quattro Fil interconnect cable, which I still believe is an excellent cable. Reluctantly, I succumbed to purchasing the very first Jaden Standard RCA Interconnects sold by the designer, Ric Cummins from Argent Audio. I do not have deep pockets nor did I want to throw more money down the drain buying another cable which I hadn't heard. Yes, I too have spent my fair share of money buying cables that others tout are good, but their performance was less than expected, leaving me cables that I could not sell knowing others might be equally disappointed.

I originally contacted Ric Cummins for cable suggestions for a personal friend. Ric was not commercially selling his cables at the time, but he had made a few for shows because he was not satisfied with other products. I suppose that I purchased Ric's cables because I had the guilty conscience of buying used speakers that he designed, Rosinante Dulcinea, from a private seller. I, and a few friends, were impressed by his speakers' performance at The Home Entertainment Show at the Tuscany Hotel in Las Vegas in January 2001. I eventually crossed my fingers that his cables were good because I knew that Ric's cables were unknown in the retail market and nobody in his or her right mind would buy these cables from me.

Surprisingly, I preferred the Jaden Standard Interconnects over the well regarded Nordost Quattro Fil, and so did a very good buddy of mine who replaced his Silver Audio Appassionata Interconnects. Shortly thereafter, another close audiophile friend replaced his Nordost Valhalla for the newer design, the Jaden Signature Interconnect. For those who are curious, the Jaden cable was named after Ric's grandson.

The Jaden line was quite impressive, with a superb tonal balance quality, wide and deep soundstage, and very musically detail. I quickly discovered that my system was tipped from mid to high after employing the Jaden cables in my system.

About seven months ago, Ric sent me his latest interconnect cable, the "Pursang," which had the same qualities of his earlier designed Jaden Signature series, but even better tonal balance. More specifically, the Pursang cables have a superior cutting through quality that allowed me to play my audio system at a lower volume level with greater satisfaction (this is important to me and my family because I do not have a dedicated listening room). The Pursang cable has more extension from top to bottom, and specifically greater detail and a better dynamic range, although his Jaden cable line will deliver high end performance. With the Pursang cable, I am able to see more into the soundstage, a very holographic experience.

Lastly, I am presently auditioning the Pursang Plus speaker cables, which I plan to write a review in the near future.

I am extremely happy for Ric that he has developed a strong following for his cables. This was not an easy feat, especially since his cables were unknown 18 months ago. In my opinion, if you are looking for a high performance cable that is competitively priced, the Jaden Signature or Pursang cables are a consideration. I know many audiophiles with lavishly expensive systems who favor Ric's hand-made cables, which are light and easy to use, unlike some other cables in the market today that are heavy and rigid.

There are still many audiophiles who do not realize that Ric Cummins is the designer of the Room Lens and Dark Matter Platforms. Ric may be contacted through his website: www.roomlens.com

Associated gear
Esoteric DV-50 Universal Player
Audio Logic 2400 DAC
David Berning ZH-270 Amplifier
REL Stentor Subwoofer
Rosinante Dulcinea Speakers

Similar products
Siltech
Coincident CST
Nordost Quattro Fil
Cardas Golden Reference
Harmonic Technology
Sakura (Labs 47)
Acoustic Zen Silver Reference
Synergistic Research
Totem Acoustic
hawaiikid
listener57
730 posts
 
No one mentioned prices.
For all you "starving artists" out there, there is another home shootout candidate. For $180 per eight foot pair of speaker cables, and $120 per interconnect pair, greggstraley@yahoo.com won my heart and soul.
With the new era of direct marketing, there is a money back guarantee.
Reading the above postings described attributes present in Gregg's products. But, my main reason for commenting is to give bargain oriented Audiogon members a shot at the high end sound we all covet, without having to hide the prices from our spouses.
gliderguider's avatar
gliderguider
294 posts
 
Ric doesn't have the Pursangs on his web site yet. You have to phone or email him to talk about them. He's a seriously nice guy to talk with, so I'd strongly recommend giving him a call.

About gliders - I flew flew in Ottawa up till a few years ago, all flatland thermal flying. I flew a number of ships - Pilatus B4, Puchacz, Grob 103, Schweizer 1-26 and 1-34. I had a share of the 1-34 for a number of years, and used it to get my Silver C. I fell out of flying due to lack of time, but I expect I'll take it up again when I retire in a few years. For now I'm flying on clouds of Bach :-)
kenl
131 posts
 
I'm also one of Ric's biggest fans. I'm the guy Hawaiikid referred to in his original review who replaced my Valhallas with Jaden Signature IC's. Ric subsequently sent me a pair of his new Pursang IC's to try (he's so sly)knowing that they were even better and that I would want to upgrade from the Signatures. Not wanting to spend money on another set of IC's at the time, I hesitated plugging them into my system. However curiousity got the better of me and one day I inserted the Pursangs.

Even though they were sitting unused for several weeks, they immediately made themselves known by providing my system with all the attributes the other posters have mentioned. I think the most satisfying quality is their "cutting through" ability. They just sound more immediate than other cables I've used. I use horns, so I'm used to immediacy. But the Pursangs somehow made my Beauhorns sound even more immediate, with images seemingly right there in the room. Just last night (actually 4am) I woke up and couldn't go back to sleep. I went to my listening room and played a couple of cd's. Not wanting to wake my sleeping wife, I set the volume control to almost 0 on my preamp. Even at this extremely low setting, my system was able to deliver enjoyable soundstaging, imaging, bass and believe it or not, dynamic contrasts. I know the Beauhorns are primarily responsible for this, but without the Pursangs, I doubt they would provide this level of performance and enjoyment.

BTW, I also rediscovered how good Ric's Room Lenses are. I haven't been using them since I had a projection HT system installed in my listening room. They were interfering with the sightlines. However with a little speaker placement adjustment, I was able to reinstall them. WOW! I couldn't believe how everything just seemed to snap into focus. The soundstage widened beyond the speaker planes, while improving depth and layering. Of course the center lens blocks my view of the screen, but it's worth the effort of moving it out when watching a dvd, and back in when listening to audio. If you haven't tried these, they really do work.

As Hawaiikid and others have claimed, Ric is a great guy who loves to talk about audio (and other interesting things). Give him a call. You won't regret it.
hawaiikid OP
107 posts
 
Ken, I think you have a superb audio and video system. It does not surprise me that you are getting the immediacy and dynamic response from your system, especially with the Pursang interconnects. I am aware of the equipment and cables that you are using, and based on our friend's similar set-up and how revealing and musical his system plays, your comments do not surprise me.

Looking back, I think Ric would attribute his drive to develop a seriously high end cable, at a moderate price range, to you. After all, you were critical that his Jaden Standard interconnects were not as good as the Nordost Valhalla, which challenged Ric to design and build the Jaden Signature.

Congratulations to you in setting-up such a great entertainment system.
kenl
131 posts
 
Hi Dennis,

Thanks for the kind words. I do remember Ric taking my comments on his original cable to heart, which spurred him into developing the Jaden Signatures. Each iteration of his products seem to be leaps and bounds better than the preceding generation. Considering how good even the original versions are, it's difficult to conceive that much of an improvement could be made. But being the audio genius that he is, somehow he manages.

I only hope Ric doesn't read these glowing reviews for fear of his raising his prices. When you get a chance, let me know which products you thought were of special interest at CES.

Best regards.
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