Tellurium Q Black Diamond cables

Im listening to alot of TQ now, just a straight up audition. System details below. I had mentally convinced myself the black series of cables were what I would prefer and they were horrifying bad in my system. I listened to Black Diamond ICs and Black II speaker. I really hated it to be honest...Then I listened to Ultra Silver ICs with Silver II speaker, it was alot smoother more musical, but the bass was constrained and mids didn't sound open. In all fairness these cables are new and need some more run in time. 

Overall though I can get a pretty good flavor these cables, broken in or not and they are proving not to be a cable I'd want to buy. Time will tell with the Silver series, they are vastly smoother than the Black in my system. Maybe they will magically open up, however alot of folks have reported they never break in, and I know TQ emphasizes their break in CD hardcore. Shouldn't be that complicated IMO. 


Speakers= Dynaudio Special 40
Amp= Sugden A21SE
Source- MSB Discrete DAC
Sub= Rel T5i

thanks...I need to find a cable that will match off well with this system. I was considering trying Cardas Clear, Auditorium A23, and some of the Tara Cables. After that I give up. 

These speakers are a first order cross over, not sure if that makes is harder to match off a cable with them or easier. They are a very revealing speaker and the TQ do not seem to compliment that. 

Ended with a pair of Silver Diamond ICs, kind of blown away by these. Open, lots of air, mids and highs are accentuated but not bright, in fact they're smooth. It's really an interesting change...Need to order cables, may get the Ultra Black or Black Diamond. Not sure which to do with yet. 

So ended up with the Silver Diamond ICs and the Black Diamond on speaker cables. Looking ahead to a power cable now. 

The TQ reference level cables are really fantastic wire for a system. I didn't get as much life out of the lower models like Black II, Silver II etc. But there is a BIG step up when you get into Diamond, as there should be for the extra cost. 

With further the listening the Black Diamond speaker is not turning out to be the right fit for my system. I may end up going to back to Black II, it was really balanced in my system. These are doing some odd things tonally that I don't like, hard to listen to at times. I've had wildly different experiences with TQ cables and the company is anything but helpful when you ask any sort of technical questions on their cables. They're down right evasive quite honestly, I really do not get it. 

What one needs to know about any of the Diamond cables in particular is they are a flat cable and should not be coiled at all. In my experience the slightest of coiling effects the sonics considerably, for me it was loss of bass and some mids. Once I flattened it improved, but there is still something missing that was just there with the Black II. It could be the positioning of the cable, TQ will not come out and admit it effects sonics, much like Nordost never will for their flat cables, but I can tell you from experience IT'S ABSOLUTELY a position sensitive cable. To some it won't matter to others it will , so hope it helps. 

Thanks Jayctoy...I have some speakers in for audition and the BD sound really good on those actually. With my Dyn special 40s they didn't sound as good, but with the Dyn Heritage a nice match. And they brought new life to the Audio Vector R1s I am auditioning as well. 

I also have a pair of Nightshade speakers from Verdant Audio in the mix and they are sensational. Every bit as good as the Heritage ($7k). I am super impressed with them, giving me pause for sure. It's a super fun shootout and I am happy to see the Black Diamonds are performing well on these higher end speakers. 

Yeah I am staying with the TQ BD for the Heritage. Considering the SD quite honestly but I'd have to try them first.