Audiolabyrinth, You speak of the Tara Labs Evolution cables like they are the best in the world, and that "you" have tried them against all other cables. Cables are system dependent, and a cable that will shine in your system might sound awful in another system.
Here's a report of a recent comparisons between the Tara Labs evolution and the Vertere Acoustics HB cables in the Audio Exotics Hong Kong's system. One listener's comment below shows there was no clear winner; however, the Vertere HB usb was better than the Tara Labs.
"I had the chance to listen to the vertere HB VS the Taralabs GME
IMHO, the Taralabs was more pin point with more authority over each musical instrument, while Vertere is a bit more relaxed in presentation. No clear winner. Yet the soundstage of both differs a bit.
Another surpise is the Vertere HB USB VS the S brand crown USB. Vertere's strength is clearly displayed. Its faster, brighter and fuller. The instruments size is more proportioned."
Link to above: http://audioexotics.hk/index.php?option=com_simplestforum&view=postlist&forumId=1&parentId=12150&topic=true&Itemid=
TARA Labs produces a full range of high-end audio cables which are sold through official TARA Labs dealers throughout the U.S. and in 38 countries worldwide. Products are regularly reviewed in respected audio magazines the world over. TARA Labs has won more professional reviewer awards, and has more positive reviews than any other cable manufacturer in the world today.TARA Labs is known as the worlds' leading manufacturer of high-end audio cables. TARA Labs' commitment to quality and craftsmanship enables us to cater to the purest audiophile and music aficionados throughout the world. All cables are manufactured in our facility in Ashland, Oregon, USA.TARA Labs offers Rectangular Solid Core (RSC) interconnects and speaker cables. They have become the reference standard for reviewers and serious audiophiles the world over due to their extremely accurate, neutral and frequency linear performance. Another industry first is TARA Labs' propriety annealing process, known as SA-OF8N 99.999999% copper (super-annealed, oxygen-free, eight nines pure copper). This creates a unique, long, unbroken crystal structure called “mono-crystal” which has exquisitely smooth and detailed transfer of frequencies over a very wide bandwidth. And, finally, TARA Labs offers the ultimate in cable design and engineering, the Zero Cable Series. This theoretically ideal dielectric environment starts with our “SA–OF8N” conductors that are then suspended in a Teflon air tube where a vacuum is drawn within the chambers of the tube. The Zero audio cables and Zero digital audio cables are the ultimate in cable technology,Why Rectangular?
Our patented RSC conductors have become the definitive technology in high-end audio cables. The rectangular shape offers a unique advantage over round conductors. They have the necessary mass for solid bass, yet are thin enough for a coherent reproduction of mid-range and high frequencies. The RSC is not subject to the same high frequency losses that hamper traditional round conductors. To further understand the principle behind RSC technology, it is necessary to understand a phenomenon known as "skin effect" This principle states that in a round conductor, higher frequencies will tend to travel towards the outside (or skin) of the conductor, while lower frequencies will travel closer to the center of the conductor. The larger the diameter of a round conductor, the worse the effect will be, resulting in a significant roll-off of high frequencies in large gauge conductors. Because of its rectangular cross section, an RSC conductor essentially has no center like a round conductor. Therefore it does not suffer the same high frequency losses
this is my cable's,Pr. The Zero™ GOLD - 1.0m/3.3ft
Extended Bandwidth - Interconnect
The ZERO Gold is the ultimate model in the ZERO Series of Interconnects. Using RSC® conductors, polished by hand, with no insulation material, provides for the most transparent and coherent sound possible. Using specially designed RCA and XLR connectors, the ZERO Gold uses a tube and vacuum system that means that the un-insulated conductors will not oxidize. The theoretical ideal of 2 conductors suspended in a vacuum has become a reality. The ZERO Gold delivers lifelike sounding vocals, pin-point imaging and resolution of fine detail with ease. You will hear a vanishingly low noise floor and a complete absence of distortion. The reproduction of the recorded space can only be described as holographic. The qualities of reverberation and ambient retrieval are simply astonishing. The performance of the ZERO Gold is beyond comparison to any other interconnect cable design. •Exclusive vacuum seal Torque-Lock™ RCA or XLR •Anti-corrosion coated SA-OF8N® copper shield. •Supplied with TARA Labs exclusive Floating Ground Station® featuring ISM™ technology. •RSC® Gen 2 SA-OF8N copper
in line polished conductors. •TARA Labs proprietary PTFE air-tube™. •Revolutionary vacuum dielectric environment. •Optimized geometry. •Vacuum dielectric eliminates coloration and distortion. •Exquisitely revealing of low-level ambient and spatial information. •Vacuum dielectric construction and Rectangular Solid Core® conductors create vanishingly low noise floor
The Zero Gold audio cables use SA-OF8N copper conductors. (Super-Annealed, Oxygen-Free, Mono-Crystal, Frequency-Tuned, 8-Nines-99.999999% copper conductors) All cables have: hand-polished conductors and are handmade per order in Ashland, Oregon, USA. The Zero Gold - is lifetime guaranteed,my speaker cable- The Omega™ GOLD 8ft/2.4m extended band-width speaker cable's
Spectacular power and clarity. Absolutely neutral and coherent.
Superb resolution of micro-detail and ambient information.
Powerful dynamic contrasts. Superbly defined and vivid images.
The Omega™ GOLD is the high performance speaker cable from TARA Labs, designed for use with only the finest extreme-performance systems. It represents a snthesis of the most important technologies pioneered by TARA Labs over the past 20 years. The size of the Omega™ GOLD (6+ AWG) hints at its incredible power. But because this effective gauge is achieved using fine gauge Retangular Solid Core® conductors (168 per channel), the Omega™ GOLD doesn't suffer from loss of claity or detail. On the contrary, this is the only cable that can extract superb resolution of micro-detail and ultra frequency-linarity from power-hungry extreme-performance speakers. Glass Microsphere-infused dielectric (Aero-PE®) provides the most neutral dielectric environment possible while giving the cables their necessary flexibility. This is a connoisseur product, to be recommended only for the select few who have the extreme-performance system to support it, and the discernment to appreciate it, my power cable with oyaide termination's-
The Cobalt™ AC 15amp US Plugs 6ft power cable
The Cobalt AC power cable has 10 gauge conductor runs; 60 Rectangular Solid Core copper conductors helixed in and around Teflon® air-tubes™. Each neutral run is dual shielded with anti-Corrosion coated SA-OF8N® copper braid. •Wattgate standard IEC plug. •Additional upgrade Oyaide Plug
Audiolabyrinth, You speak of the Tara Labs Evolution cables like they are the best in the world, and that "you" have tried them against all other cables. Cables are system dependent, and a cable that will shine in your system might sound awful in another system.
Here's a report of a recent comparisons between the Tara Labs evolution and the Vertere Acoustics HB cables in the Audio Exotics Hong Kong's system. One listener's comment below shows there was no clear winner; however, the Vertere HB usb was better than the Tara Labs.
"I had the chance to listen to the vertere HB VS the Taralabs GME
IMHO, the Taralabs was more pin point with more authority over each musical instrument, while Vertere is a bit more relaxed in presentation. No clear winner. Yet the soundstage of both differs a bit.
Another surpise is the Vertere HB USB VS the S brand crown USB. Vertere's strength is clearly displayed. Its faster, brighter and fuller. The instruments size is more proportioned."
@Audiolabyrinth, err.. I'm sure you can't do all your listening just through cables? A run down of components within the context of system in which they are listened to would be helpful and give all a clearer picture thx.
This is the NEW conductor technology found only in the Tara Labs GrandMaster Evolution interconnect, this is also the New top model cable from Tara Labs. Making Sense of….Gen 3 Conductors
TARA Labs, Inc. has just announced the introduction of its Generation 3 Rectangular Solid Core® conductor, to be used exclusively in its state-of-the-art interconnect cables.
TARA Labs claims that the Gen 3 conductor has an increased bandwidth or high-frequency extension, that makes it unrivalled in important test measurements and listening tests.
TARA Labs’ Vice President of Product Design, Matthew Bond, said that the new Gen 3 conductor has the same current-carrying capability of a 28 gauge conductor but has the high frequency linearity of a 40 gauge conductor.
Matthew Bond explains why this is possible. “In a conductor with a rectangular profile, there is a huge reduction of ‘flux-linkage’ or ‘coupling’ of electromagnetic lines of force. These lines of force are created as the signal (music) passes through any conductor.” Bond said further, “In a round conductor there is a large center that tends to roll-off or attenuate much more of the high frequency information … this does not happen in a Rectangular Solid Core® conductor”.
According to Matthew Bond, the new Gen 3 Rectangular Solid Core® conductor is smaller than the current Gen 2 conductor used in most of TARA Labs’ audio cables. The Gen 2 conductor measures approximately 25 thousands of an inch wide and 12 thousands of an inch in height. Bond says that the Gen 3 conductor is about 66% of the size of the Gen 2 conductor, and that it is Super-Annealed™ to increase its conductivity.
Both the Gen 2 conductor and the smaller Gen 3 conductor are said to be Eight-Nines™ pure copper, which is 99.999999% pure. TARA Labs’ trademarks for this technology are 8N™ and SA-OF8N®. SA-OF8N means Super Annealed – Oxygen Free 8 Nines copper. According to Bond, the term ‘annealing’ refers to the method whereby a conductor can be made softer and more conductive.
The Grandmaster Evolution Series from TARA Labs is truly beyond belief. It is quite simply the new watershed in the art and science of audio cable design. The Evolution Series is in a class of its own, beyond all other audio cable products in the history of the audio industry worldwide.
The Grandmaster Evolution Interconnect uses the same multi-lumen air-tube concept invented by TARA Labs as used in the ZERO Interconnects and the AIR Series Interconnects originally developed in 1986. However, the Evolution Interconnect is remarkably flexible.
The Evolution Interconnect uses the same displaced and Floating Shield design together with a new Dual Mono-Block HFX Ground system with greater absorption of RF/EMI and a vanishingly low background noise.
Incredibly, the new Grandmaster Evolution Interconnect boasts a remarkably low capacitance figure of just 2 pF per foot. This means that the new Evolution has a High Frequency bandwidth that is more than 300% greater than any other high-end cable in the world. •The most advanced air-tube technology and design •All new proprietary "dual mono-block" floating ground station (HFX) and floating shield system •Controlled spacing of conductor to conductor geometry, produces record low interconnect capacitance of a mere 2 pf (picofarads) •Additionally the conductor to shield capacitance is remarkably low so the EMI/RFI coupling from the shield to conductors is negated •The outer shield is expanded and spaced away from the conductors to such a degree that the background noise is at an all-time low •Two layers of anti-corrosion coated SAOF-8N copper shield •Compared to the Zero Evolution, The Grandmaster Evolution has a larger, more complex system of Teflon and Aero-PE filaments that ensure a complete air dielectric system. •The most revealing and lifelike presentation possible •Compared to the Zero Evolution, The Grandmaster Evolution has a high-frequency bandwidth that is 50% greater, with a stunning low level of background noise contrasted with more image outlines and fine detail •Revolutionary liquid micro-film (LMF) dielectric ensures a linear transfer of low-level ambient and spatial information
4orreal, their are different model's of the Tara Labs Evolution line, The Zero Evolution, and the Grandmaster Evolution are the two top model's now from Tara Labs, also there are more model's in the new Evolution model line-up.
I am not sure their is a such a thing as a best, but to be in the conversation as best is good, usb cables are a bust as far as i am concerned, the whole concept is not up to standards of quality analog interconnects, their is no magic fix it all with usb cables, all of you can do a search and know that usb cables do not price as high as analog interconnects, is their a reason for this?, make your own decisions.
03-16-15: Bvdiman @Audiolabyrinth, err.. I'm sure you can't do all your listening just through cables? A run down of components within the context of system in which they are listened to would be helpful and give all a clearer picture thx.
Audiolabyrinth, Please go to the link below and read, they used the Tara Labs GME (Grandmaster Evolution). There's a new comment from another listener this morning preferring the sound of the Vertere HB cables. He thinks the GME sounds a bit exaggerated. So far, there seem to be consensus even with the owner of the GME that the Vertere HB Phono cable is better, and so is the Vertere USB cable. Like I said earlier, cables are system dependent. You sound like a salesman for Tara Labs, and much like the people on the High Fidelity thread you had issues with earlier.
>> "03-17-15: Sts Bvdiman- based on his postings Audiolabyrinth's system consist of a Vincent CD-S7 running directly to a Krell 700CX which feeds a pair of JBL L7 speakers. Please feel free to view my post on 3/15/15 regarding my view on how his set-up inhibits accurate resolution.
Steve Brunelle Gabriel Gold" << ______________________________________________
that's what I am talking about, their is no absolute best, rather preference to the listener, and as we all know, system dependency, however, everyone has to know that the Grandmaster is NOT for most system's,it is for system's that is capable to allow the Grandmaster perform to full potential, an example of what I am saying is that the Zero and Omega Evolution cable's would work better on most system's, the Grandmaster interconnect has the new Generation 3 conductor's, and the other cable's uses the generation 2 conductor's, I can say this to you, a few years ago I had the Nordost Odin cable's here at my home, they did many good things right, but on my system, to my tast, I prefered the Zero Gold, Omega Gold cable's, this does not mean what I liked was better, because I have heard the Odin shine very good on other particular system's, cheers.
I appreciate all the post here, No, I am not no sales man, I enjoy what I own, and in the end, that is what matters, I also enjoy audiogon, I like getting help from others, and like helping others, a fact here is I do not costantly do what they do on the HF thread,I try to talk about the Tara cables to others, and provide info from many sources, people can buy and prefer what they want too, just like I also enjoy the sound of classic Krell amp's like my modded Krell 700cx amp, my modded JBL L-7 speakers, have not modded the vincent cd-s7 player yet, was thinking about the Mullard 12ax7 10M tube, and the 12au7 mullard 10m tube, have not decided what to use for the power supply tube yet, tube's sound very good to me with Tara Labs cable's, I will say that the Tara Labs Cobalt power cord with oyaide termination's did a huge up-grade in sound for the vincent player, I use to have the Ayon cd-s2 player running direct to amp, that was lousy sounding compaired to the vincent that is half the cost, what do all of you think about the tubes I mentioned here?
Audiolabyrinth, Regarding your comment: “everyone has to know that the Grandmaster is NOT for most system's,it is for system's that is capable to allow the Grandmaster perform to full potential.” I am not sure if that was directed at the Audio Exotics system that was used for the comparison between the Tara Labs GME and the Vertere Acoustics HB cables.
Well, I am not sure if you have been following AE. They pursue the best sounding gears irrespective of cost - most of their components are cost-no-object designs, and they call a spade a spade, no buls--tting. If you are inclined to know more about them, just talk to Miguel of Tripoint Audio.
Below are some of the components in the AE system. If these are not the best or some of the best in the world to allow the Tara Labs GME cables to perform to their full potential, then I don't know what you are up to.
Cessaro Horn Acoustics “Liszt” Robert Koda “Takumi K-15” Preamp Wadax Audio “Ultimate Phono” Preamp Trinity Electronic Design Dac Trinity Electronic Design PC Trinity Electronic Design Preamp Trinity Electronic Design Amplifiers The Lars Monica Zetterlund Preamplifier (Tube) The Lars “Type 2 Monoblock Amplifiers” (Tube) Amati 845 Parallel Single-Ended Electron Amplifiers (Tube) Zanden Audio Choku Amplifiers (Tube) Tripoint Audio “Emperor Master Reference Ground Station” Tripoint Audio “Emperor AC Station” JMF Audio PCD 302 Power Line Filter & Distributer Wave Kinetics Turntable Durand Telos Tonearm Thales Simplicity II Tonearm Miyajima Laboratory “Madake” Cartridge Vertere Acoustics Reference Tonearm ($35,000.00) Vertere Acoustics RG-1 Reference Record Player
well I thought about what has been said, I let it go, I wanted to see how far some would take it, really, I'm supprised!, first off, I know that the new Tara Labs Evolution line cables are the best available in the industry,I knew controversy is publicity, so why not let you say a little of what you know nothing about!, I will say this, who ever, or what ever you got all this info was very dishonest with you, their are many that want's to do what they can to discredit Tara Labs, and all that has been said here about some other cable was liked better than the mighty Tara Labs Grandmaster Evolution turn out to be a joke, nothing more, to all that can read, this is a prime example of what I am talking about, furthermore, when I said that I get my info from personal exsperience, and personal e-mails from Tara Labs, and the web-site, I was no kidding,Tara Labs does not make an evolution line phono cable, the phone cables listed below are from the original zero model line,like the zero gold analog I/C, and the Omega Gold speaker cables, also, Tara labs has never made a usb cable!, I already knew all this before hand,you don't have to take my word for it only, so here is the supprise!
Mar 18 at 5:12 PM
Dear Keith,
Per your inquiry, TARA Labs does not produce any sort of USB cable at this time. And certainly not a Grandmaster Evolution USB cable. It is possible in the future, we would consider a USB cable, but certainly not a Grandmaster Evolution model. In addition, the only phono cables available from TARA Labs are the Zero GX phono cable( for med-high output phono cartridges) & Zero LX phono cable(low to med output phono cartridges) phono cables. Regarding the Grandmaster Evolution cables and the currently available models, there is the Grandmaster Evolution interconnect, Grandmaster Evolution speaker cable, Grandmaster Evolution AC power cable.
Thank you very much for all your support of TARA Labs cables through the years!”
Here is many world wide publication's and owner comments Of some of the different Tara Labs Evolution model cables line, BTW, is a few diferent models, not to be confused with one or two cables, The
– Michael Fremer / Stereophile 2014 Recommended Components
“ … the new, finally flexible Zero Evolution takes the sound to another level of liquidity, transparency, and limitless high-frequency extension.”
– Michael Fremer / Stereophile Magazine 2014
“Best speaker cable I’ve ever heard!” – YK Chan / Audiophile 2014 magazine Hong Kong
“I think this is the most beautiful sound I have ever heard from a speaker wire” – HIFI Shou / Chen 2015
“The most beautiful sounding speaker wire; TARA Labs Omega Evolution” – HIFI Shou / Chen 2015
“Air Evo transients are sharp edged and fast, as fast as any cable I've come across.” - Marshall Nack / Positive Feedback Issue #77, 2015 (Air Evolution interconnect)
“The TARA Labs Air Evolution Interconnect with EVO Floating Ground Station is advertised as completely neutral and absolutely revealing with high frequency and airy detail that is not found in comparable audio cables." It is certainly neutral, revealing, and loaded with detail” - - Marshall Nack / Positive Feedback Issue #77, 2015 (Air Evolution interconnect)
“The bottom line is TARA Labs new Air Evolution cables are out-sized performers and offer a big bang for the buck. Highly recommended without reservation for those shopping at this price point.” - - Marshall Nack / Positive Feedback Issue #77, 2015 (Air Evolution interconnect)
"The imaging within the soundstage is f-a-n-t-a-s-t-i-c andso is the purity and clarity of the sound. I wish every cable in the high end audio industry imaged like that. The mids were tonally brilliant and seamlessly extended to pure and soaring highs. Triangles, flutes or blazing horns had both romanticism and bite, both emotions and technical perfection” - Listopad / 2014 MJ (Air Evolution)
“I was blown with the soundstage that was rendered by the cheap TARA Labs cables. Realistically proportioned, with width and depth without any restrictions, totally fluid in its expanding wholeness – simply breathtaking in this category of products.”- Listopad / 2014 MJ (TL Series)
Stereophile Magazine 2014 Recommended Components Fall Edition
"TARA Labs Zero Evolution: $18,000/1m The Zero Evolution is an all-new, physically flexible, easier to manage air-dielectric interconnect than the original Zero with†non-insulated rectangular solid-core conductors. Because neither end of The Zero Evolution's shield is attached to ground, TARA employs the Floating Ground Station, a heavy, black box containing Ceralex, a combination of ceramic materials and metallic compounds that absorbs RFI and EMI. Switching from the original Zero to the new Evolution Zero, MF's system benefited yet further from an enormous addition of lushness, texture, and warmth, along with major extensions of air, detail, and transparency. Due to The Evolution Zero's ultrawide bandwidth, some outside transient noise can leak into the system when nearby appliances are activated. But—"I've heard nothing like it," he declares, adding "a genuine breakthrough, though hideously expensive. The TARA Labs Evolution Zero had a fast, clean, open overall sound, with airy highs and tight bass. The Evolution upgrade adds the rich, textured midrange of the Stealth Sakra, while continuing to produce faster attacks, longer sustains, and deeper decays, said Michael Fremer ." (Vol.29 No.12, Zero;Vol.34 No.6 WWW, Zero Gold; Vol.36 No.11, Zero Evolution)".
Omega Evolution - “the best speaker cable I've ever heard”– Y.K. Chan /”Audiophile” Hong Kong, 2014
Comment by Audiocrack from Whatsbest forum:
“The new physically flexible TARA Labs Omega Evolution, incorporating almost twice as many rectangular, solid-core "8 Nines" oxygen-free copper elements, adds the speed, transparency, dimensionality and, especially, textural suppleness….”
After my first post on the WBF I have been silent about the Tara Labs grandmaster evolution loudspeaker and interconnect cables because I wanted to break them in and learn more about them while doing so. I believe they are more or less played in by now and after some changes to my AC I believe I am in the position to make a final judgment. I am even more amazed and impressed now than I was at the time of my first post. These cables are so transparent and dynamic it is almost frightening. Furthermore, they present a huge soundstage, in particular the depth is unbelievable. Yesterday evening I played inter alia an old EMI recording of Shostakovich symphony no. 6/11, conducted by Paavo Berglund (beautiful recorded BTW by recording engineer Stuart Eltham), on my Forsell/Koetsu coral stone/Kondo step up/Zanden 1200 mk III (on the latter I used the special EMI curve) phono combination. The soundstage was phenomenal in depth. The stringtone was oh so sweet and at the same time the micro details in the recording were brought alive so easily and beautifully; I have never heard this recording sound so impressive before. In short, the Taralabs grandmaster cables are by far the best loudspeaker and interconnect cables I have ever experienced in my audiophile journey of more than thirty years. I urge everybody who is in the position to do so to give these Taralabs cables a listen: they are imho phenomenal. – Audiocrack
Comment found on Audioshark forum
"TL Grand Master Evolution ultra high end cables Okay guys. Non-believers in the cable side of this hobby please hit the back button immediately. Last week I received Tara labs new grandmaster evolution speaker cables and interconnects. These cables are definitely at a price point that only a handful of people would consider. Just a little over 100 K for a 3 m set of speaker cables and a one and a half meter interconnect and a 1 m interconnect….
The only thing I will say is wow. Out of respect for my other cable manufactures i do not want to go into much detail at this time …..
I know this is a truly crazy amount of money for cables. But could the performance increase possibly be justified? For the people that can afford it I will say a very big yes.
Additional Comments from Whatsbest forum
About two weeks ago I received the new Taralabs grandmaster evolution (6 ft) loudspeaker cable and Taralabs grandmaster evolution (1,5m) ic cable. These new top of the line cables are not yet officially launched by Taralabs. However the word spread rapidly that the Grandmaster evolution cables are something extraordinary and they can be ordered, although the availability is restricted (partly because it takes quite some time to produce them). Being a music lover and audiophile for more than thirty years I have learned the hard way that a lot so-called break through products do not live up to the expectations. And although I was a little skeptical that the new grandmaster evolution would outclass my taralabs omega gold and zero gold cables, after talking several times to Matthew Bond and Devon Scott I took the jump. Boy, what am I glad that I did!
Having listened to them for about 50 hours I can say the following: the grandmaster evolution cables are by far the best loudspeaker and ic cables I have ever heard. These cables sound on the one hand very calm/serene but are on the other hand the most dynamic cables I have ever experienced. Furthermore they are very refined (velvet) sounding with a huge soundstage (deep as well as wide) but at the same time with a focus that exceeds easily all other cables that I am familiar with. Probably as a consequence of the great extension of the grandmaster evolution cables they also give you the impression that the soundstage is larger in height without making the players and instruments larger than they are. For example, the distance in height between various players in a large orchestra can be noted easily. Talking about an inky black background and transparency: the grandmaster evolution excels in this regard.
Additional Comments from Whatsbest forum
If I am informed correctly, the new Taralabs evolution line (situated directly below the top of the line grandmaster evolution cables) is right now being tested and reviewed by one of the leading audio reviewers. So if you find my great enthusiasm hard to swallow, wait for this review and find out if there are other people who are as impressed as I am.
Top notch products never come cheap and the same applies to the Taralabs grandmaster evolution line. So probably some WBF readers will jump on the issue of pricing and will be very critical. I am not going to react to this and can only advise the following: try to give the grandmaster evolution cables a serious listen. They are phenomenal imho.
Here is the intro Tara Labs Evolution interconnect, the afforadable bottom of the new Evolution model line,this I/C comes in two different types, Extentended Bandwidth or controlled Bandwidth, Air Evolution w/Evo HFX grounding station - 1.0m/3.3ft
Extended Bandwidth - Interconnect
The Air™ Series and air-tube™ technology from TARA Labs has been at the forefront of audio cable design for nearly 20 years. The Air 1 Interconnect was The Absolute Sound ‘Product of the Year’ and has been one of the best-selling high-end audio cables of all time.
Now TARA Labs proudly introduces the Air Evolution™ Interconnect that provides phenomenal performance and a Capacitance figure of only 4 pF per foot. This means that the Air Reference has more than twice the high frequency bandwidth of the famous Air 1 Interconnect. Of course the construction uses a minimal amount of dielectric material and a pair of the Rectangular Solid Core™ conductors.
The sound of the Air Evolution is completely neutral and absolutely revealing with high frequency and airy detail that is not found in comparable audio cables. There are two versions of the Air Evolution. The higher priced Air Evolution also includes our HFX Floating Ground Station System. •All new air-tube™ design •Controlled geometry for stable electrical characteristics •Teflon and Aero PE filament ensuring a high percentage of overall air dielectric •Each channel is a twin axial •Each channel uses a RSC Gen 2 conductor for separate positive & negative runs •Anti-corrosion coated copper shield •Extremely transparent, detailed, open & revealing •Fine resolution of fine detail •Image outlines clearly defined, life-like imagery
This is a new speaker cable from Tara Labs that only uses one cable per channel, instead of two per channel, I am not sure if Tara Labs has ever made a one cable per channel cable before?, I can say that in my 25 years exsperience with Tara Labs, I have never seen or heard of a speaker cable produced before like this from Tara Labs, this is one of the only cables I have not had a chance to listen to yet, if any of you out there has exsperience with this cable, please give your impression's of the sound to all of us here,cheers. Making Sense of …. OMEGA CX Speaker Cable
The TARA Labs OMEGA CX is the first controlled bandwidth speaker cable from TARA Labs that uses a balanced Inductance and Capacitance conductor arrangement. While Tara Labs high end speaker cable normally feature separate conductor paths for the positive and negative runs, to make one channel, the OMEGA CX is an integrated conductor configuration with positive and negative runs in one cable per channel.
The balanced Capacitance and Inductance measurements for this cable make it appropriate for wide bandwidth amplifiers and loudspeaker applications. The OMEGA CX is especially recommended for systems with a tendency towards harshness or high frequency glare
First of all, I am not out here to defend Audiolabyrinth. In all honesty, I find this thread somewhat strange. That said I am an user of the topline of Taralabs cables, that is the Grandmaster evolution ic's and loudspeaker cables. And although I have mentioned various times, inte alia on the Whatsbestforum, that 'best in the world' in the context of audio does not mean anyting to me because imho people hear differently, have different tastes, have different sytems, have different accoustics to deal with, etc I am still enjoying the Grandmaster evolution cables inmensely. I have not heard anything better in my two systems but - to make myself absolutely clear aboout this - at the same time I am totally fine if you prefer other cable brands.
The real reason for me to reply is the followwing. I would like to make a short comment regarding the comments that were made on the Audio Exotics website recently with respect to the Grandmaster evolution: please keep in mind that the Audio Exotocs website is commercial driven and that Audio Exotics is not the distributor of Taralabs but only of the cables to which the Grandmaster evolution was compared. Yes, Audioexotics is using state of the art components (although in all honesty I do not understand their fondness for the Cessaro speakers) but might it be possible that their attitude was (partly) influenced by commercial reasons?
There are many audiophiles that use digital Dacs in their system, some of you have state of the art digital system's, what better way to obtain all the glory from such a system than to have a cable that will bring all the magic to your listening room, this is one of the newest cable's produced as of late by Tara Labs, really, this is the latest addition to the Evolution model line up, this is the top digital cable model from Tara Labs, Making Sense of …. Grandmaster Evolution Digital
The TARA Labs Grandmaster Evolution Digital Interconnect uses a pair of RSC® Gen 3 Rectangular Solid Core® conductors.
In the AES/EBU format, the conductors are critically spaced to ensure an exacting 110 Ohm characteristic impedance; this is the AES/EBU format used with XLR connectors.
The RSC Gen 3 conductors are smaller than the Gen 2 version, and this provides a more extended bandwidth for the digital signal.
The TARA Labs Grandmaster Evolution Interconnect uses a system of woven filaments constructed from small Teflon tubes, to expand and displace the shield further away from the signal carrying conductors.
In this way, the Grandmaster Evolution Digital Interconnect is able to reduce digital distortion, called ‘jitter’.
Jitter explains why Digital cables sound different from on to another.
The most significant reason for the different sound in digital recording and playback systems is the phenomenon of ‘errors’.
The most widely known error is called ‘jitter’. Jitter can be thought of as a timing error or a distortion of the digital bit-stream within the digital send and receive components and the digital interconnect cable.
The timing errors (digital jitter) can be reduced by using better quality cable with superior shielding to reject interference within the cable.
Thankyou Audiocrack, you are most welcome to this thread, when you get time, tell us about the performance increase with the tripoint Emperor grounding unit being used with the Tara Labs GrandMaster Evolution cables you have, cheers.
The Grand Master Evolution w/ Duel mono block HFX grounding station 1.0m/3.3ft
Extended Bandwidth - Analog Interconnect
The Grandmaster Evolution Series from TARA Labs is truly beyond belief. It is quite simply the new watershed in the art and science of audio cable design. The Evolution Series is in a class of its own, beyond all other audio cable products in the history of the audio industry worldwide.
The Grandmaster Evolution Interconnect uses the same multi-lumen air-tube concept invented by TARA Labs as used in the ZERO Interconnects and the AIR Series Interconnects originally developed in 1986. However, the Evolution Interconnect is remarkably flexible.
The Evolution Interconnect uses the same displaced and Floating Shield design together with a new Dual Mono-Block HFX Ground system with greater absorption of RF/EMI and a vanishingly low background noise.
Incredibly, the new Grandmaster Evolution Interconnect boasts a remarkably low capacitance figure of just 2 pF per foot. This means that the new Evolution has a High Frequency bandwidth that is more than 300% greater than any other high-end cable in the world. •The most advanced air-tube technology and design •All new proprietary "dual mono-block" floating ground station (HFX) and floating shield system •Controlled spacing of conductor to conductor geometry, produces record low interconnect capacitance of a mere 2 pf (picofarads) •Additionally the conductor to shield capacitance is remarkably low so the EMI/RFI coupling from the shield to conductors is negated •The outer shield is expanded and spaced away from the conductors to such a degree that the background noise is at an all-time low •Two layers of anti-corrosion coated SAOF-8N copper shield •Compared to the Zero Evolution, The Grandmaster Evolution has a larger, more complex system of Teflon and Aero-PE filaments that ensure a complete air dielectric system. •The most revealing and lifelike presentation possible •Compared to the Zero Evolution, The Grandmaster Evolution has a high-frequency bandwidth that is 50% greater, with a stunning low level of background noise contrasted with more image outlines and fine detail •Revolutionary liquid micro-film (LMF) dielectric ensures a linear transfer of low-level ambient and spatial information
Please contact TARA Labs for the location of one of our official distributor/dealers, where you can purchase official USA hand-made TARA Labs cables. Please be warned that there are cable counterfeiters all over the world, who claim to have, and offer official TARA Labs cables. These criminals manufacture and design fake TARA Labs cables, and sell at discounted prices. What a customer buys when dealing with them, is not a hand-made, lifetime guaranteed, official TARA Labs cable that is backed by almost thirty years of excellence. What they get is a cable that looks like a TARA Labs cable on the outside, but sounds horrible on the inside. The money you just spent on these counterfeit cables is lost!
These counterfeiters have not only targeted TARA Labs cables, but other high-end quality audio cable manufactures as well.
Please contact TARA Labs before you buy any TARA Labs audio cables.
Zephyr24069, you have a right to your opinion, and that is all it is, an opinion!, there is NO hyperbole here that you speak of, No propaganda either, based on many years of my own exsperience, and not long ago recent auditions of alot of the new cable's by Tara Labs, their description's of the sound of each model of cable's they have has been spot on with what I have heard, over the past year, by way of e-mail's, and phone calls, and this thread, I have helped many with their Tara Labs question's and building their system's with Tara Labs cables, cheers.
Tara Lab's patented RSC conductors have become the definitive technology in high-end audio cables. The rectangular shape offers a unique advantage over round conductors. They have the necessary mass for solid bass, yet are thin enough for a coherent reproduction of mid-range and high frequencies. The RSC is not subject to the same high frequency losses that hamper traditional round conductors. To further understand the principle behind RSC technology, it is necessary to understand a phenomenon known as "skin effect" This principle states that in a round conductor, higher frequencies will tend to travel towards the outside (or skin) of the conductor, while lower frequencies will travel closer to the center of the conductor. The larger the diameter of a round conductor, the worse the effect will be, resulting in a significant roll-off of high frequencies in large gauge conductors. Because of its rectangular cross section, an RSC conductor essentially has no center like a round conductor. Therefore it does not suffer the same high frequency losses.
I will defend Keith (audiolabyrinth) as he very clearly knows TL cables/cords inside and out. We have enjoyed many conversations both online & offline. This man believes in TL and has owned many, many of their products over the years. He is also an authority on older Krell power amps, which he continues to use in 2015.
We both enjoy the passion of after market cables and power cords. Different brands and tastes aside- I stand tall w/ Audiolabyrinth. Keep me posted & Happy Listening!
Thankyou Jafant, I have done nothing to the couple of people here, I am not asking everyone to like what I do, however, I do have a passion about what I enjoy, other's may enjoy some other brand's of cable's and componet's, I understand, that is why their is a market place for many!
However, I will say take the audition of some of the Best Tara Labs has to offer, if you have the money for the big performance cables, your done!, you will likly not say nothing to anyone or talk on these threads, most Tara Labs Grandmaster Evolution, Zero Evolution, Zero Gold cable owners do not wast their time on these threads, everyone always finds a way to bash them for what they own!, I know, look at the comments here, and I have talked to many that own the better Tara cables that I have, they said the same, you will be bashed for nothing!
Super Annealed, Oxygen Free, Eight Nines Copper (SA-OF8N) is the new standard in high performance copper purity.
TARA Labs Rectangular Solid Core® conductors are completely produced in the USA. We start with Oxygen Free Eight Nines Copper (99.999999%), and the copper rods are extruded into long, unbroken, mono-crystal copper rectangular conductors. The conductors are extruded into a unique rectangular shape having specific ‘frequency-tuned’ proportions. Rectangular Solid Core conductors are annealed with a process known as Super Annealing™.
Super Annealing™ or SA, softens the RSC® conductor and increases its conductivity. After annealing, the RSC conductors are polished in-line, and will become finished SA-OF8N® Rectangular Solid Core conductors ready for insulation using advanced polymers or liquid-film technology.
TARA Labs has continuously advanced the design and materials used in its conductor technologies. Previously, in our lower priced consumer grade cables, we were limited to the use of 6N, or six-nines (99.9999%) pure copper and the OCC or Ohno-Continuous Cast copper technologies.
Since the development of Rectangular Solid Core, we have moved beyond these lesser quality materials with the use of higher purity copper and our exclusive USA technologies.
Making Sense of….Gen 3 Conductors
TARA Labs, Inc. has just announced the introduction of its Generation 3 Rectangular Solid Core® conductor, to be used exclusively in its state-of-the-art interconnect cables.
TARA Labs claims that the Gen 3 conductor has an increased bandwidth or high-frequency extension, that makes it unrivalled in important test measurements and listening tests.
TARA Labs’ Vice President of Product Design, Matthew Bond, said that the new Gen 3 conductor has the same current-carrying capability of a 28 gauge conductor but has the high frequency linearity of a 40 gauge conductor.
Matthew Bond explains why this is possible. “In a conductor with a rectangular profile, there is a huge reduction of ‘flux-linkage’ or ‘coupling’ of electromagnetic lines of force. These lines of force are created as the signal (music) passes through any conductor.” Bond said further, “In a round conductor there is a large center that tends to roll-off or attenuate much more of the high frequency information … this does not happen in a Rectangular Solid Core® conductor”.
According to Matthew Bond, the new Gen 3 Rectangular Solid Core® conductor is smaller than the current Gen 2 conductor used in most of TARA Labs’ audio cables. The Gen 2 conductor measures approximately 25 thousands of an inch wide and 12 thousands of an inch in height. Bond says that the Gen 3 conductor is about 66% of the size of the Gen 2 conductor, and that it is Super-Annealed™ to increase its conductivity.
Both the Gen 2 conductor and the smaller Gen 3 conductor are said to be Eight-Nines™ pure copper, which is 99.999999% pure. TARA Labs’ trademarks for this technology are 8N™ and SA-OF8N®. SA-OF8N means Super Annealed – Oxygen Free 8 Nines copper. According to Bond, the term ‘annealing’ refers to the method whereby a conductor can be made softer and more conductive.
I do not know if many of you know that Carnegie Hall is out fitted with Tara Labs cables, this is a premier world famous place known for music with 3 huge halls for classical music concerts Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park., this place has been around since the late 1800's, the worlds best clasical musician's from all over the world play here, many of you should do a search of Carnegie Hall, you will be at awe of the history and magnitude of size of the venue, every thing their is out fitted with Tara Labs cables, cheers.
TARA Labs produces a full range of high-end audio cables which are sold through official TARA Labs dealers throughout the U.S. and in 38 countries worldwide. Products are regularly reviewed in respected audio magazines the world over. TARA Labs has won more professional reviewer awards, and has more positive reviews than any other cable manufacturer in the world today.
Sts, Audiolabyrinth will never know unless it's Tara Labs. And oh...he doesn't give a crap about the Gabriel Gold cables since the Tara Labs evolution cables are the "best in the world".
Steve, that is a great intention, but a completely lost cause. He has absolutely no clue what the point of your Neotech example above was... zero, nil, nada. Don't waste too much time on him, the direct approach doesn't work either. Really, this is a guy that has thousands of posts on this site, and not a single post in the music forums, none. Music is what this hobby is about. To him, it is about the gear. There is a constant state of something breaking in for his system, thousands and thousands of hours worth. How could you possibly ever enjoy listening to music that way? I wonder how many cds he owns.
Zephyr, great posts. I completely agree. In addition to having a thread view count available to him, it would be nice to have some kind of count of people that are completely turned off to this brand because of this thread. He looks at the number of views as an indication of how many people he is "helping". Teehee. How many people view just to get a gawk at the next bit of nonsense he posts. Kind of like audiophile rubberneckers. You know what is happening, but for some morbid reason still have to look.
As I opined upon a little earlier in this ' Tara Labs, The Cable Zombie ' thread, were I the Marketing Director of Tara Labs, I would have sought a gagging order on this 'individual' some time ago.
You must have a verified phone number and physical address in order to post in the Audiogon Forums. Please return to Audiogon.com and complete this step. If you have any questions please contact Support.
