Being a High-End afficionado since 20+ years I owned many different brands, they came and went in the course of the never ending search for the ultimate system. Whether it were Mark Levinson Amps or those from Nelson Pass, Naim and Linn, Hovland, Nagra (to name a few), I never really felt having reached the summit. Some my call it sick, those of you being in the same process know what I am talking about. When it came to cables I always refrained from searching a compromise. At least this is what I thought before I met Dirk from Schnerzinger approx. 2 years ago. All my "goodies" from Nordost, Kimber, Cardas (and others) were lying around in his impressive show room ready to be used for comparison. In the majority I listen to Vinyl as this is the top medium for me after really checking out some of the most freakingly expensive digital sources some guy create a hype of. I was after Phono Interconnects when I came to Dirk and I went with my first pair of Schnerzinger's. While driving back I thought I might have made a mistake as my system was slightly different to the ultimate beast Dirk has sitting there. Back home I gave the cables 2 hours of breaking-in and then sat back to listen to Mercury SR-90226 (The Firebird), one of my all time favorites. It might sound a bit confusing when I tell you I stood up just 1 minute after sitting down to check whether everything is o.k. with my system because what I heard was so much different to what I knew before. The quiet opening sequence spread much wider, I heard the air vibrating and felt sitting right THERE in a recording session merely 50 years ago. It was shocking. I looked at my hyper-expensive cable array I had been so proud of before and I became angry. I called Dirk and dicussed the next steps. I felt my purse growing thinner and thinner but I knew there will be no way back. Never. Within the next few months I got a second pair of Audio interconnects (I have 2 turntables of which one is equipped with a Lyra Helikon Mono cartridge), RCA-Interconnects (between my Ayon Shperis Pre-Amp and my active speakers), another RCA interconnect (from my Resoltuion Audio Cantata to Ayon Spheris), an XLR-Interconnect (from Ayon Spheris to my Stax SR-007 Mk.II) and finally Schnerzinger's power installation. I do not regret any of these purchases as these cables brought me to the heart of the music. I do not listen to bass, treble and midrange any more - I do not try to find out about any merits of a recording. The interaction between musicians, the snap, details, ambiance, panorama, pace and rhythm are just there - even on my worst recordings. I am here to tell you that you should think twice before you spend big $$$ in any equipment, especially in cables. If you can afford it, Schnerzinger is the way to go. These cables are so much better than anything I know that all the other brands, makes and models are just a waste of money. Period. I am still reading audiophile magazines but mostly for the information about new recordings (and old ones) only. While typing this I listen to a Re-Issue of Elvis' Golden records. Side 6, Track 2 is "Crying in the chapel". The voice, the choir, the room and its air make my crying in my listening room. There is no better compliment I can shoot towards Schnerzinger. The end of a very long road. Thank you guys so much!
