I wrote an extremely long review of 4 cables auditioned in my system recently. I pontificated for way too long and it was more an outlet for me to tell a story that cables do matter and how much each design can make your system sound. The last cable through was the Teo GC IC purchased here and it truly was a game-changer in how it shifts our paradigm about what wire gives us as "truth" and what this slurry of Ga-In-Sn can do better (IMO). Not a technical review but an emotional roller coaster through 4 different topologies:
Ribbons Graphene Multi-strand Liquid
I'm happy to re-broadcast that here but it is very long (6+ MSWord pages long). I'll point to it for now and take your advice.
Bottom line is the GC cable is truly stunning in what it can do and for us mere mortals who cannot spend thousands on cabling, I believe it can elevate anyone's system to new heights.
That would be from the 'standard' line of cables. The only XLR we make, at this time.
There is no GC XLR cable. If it was in existence, it would be a GC cable in name only, as each design is unique for it's quality range and application. I'm reluctant to give a price for a GC XLR, since it does not exist.
As for the 'standard' XLR, it is considered competitive with anything, no caveats, no restrictions.
The cable of the subject of this thread, the GC, in it’s design, is very robust. But like anything, it will break if mishandled. When I say mishandled, I mean mistreated. The very first cables made, almost 10 years ago, are still functional, and working. In use.
WCheng is also, One of my concern why Iam leaning toward HIgh Fidelity, this cables are both with stellar reviews, both company are nice, Ken and Rick are world class both humble.
Does anyone think there might be long term longevity issues with these cables since they are a liquid conductor? Would they be more susceptible to damage?
@tommylion -- As I said previously, the CT Graphenes are very good interconnects and I could have lived happily with them---until I heard the Teo Game Changers, which just give a much clearer picture of the music than I have experienced with any other interconnect. The detail, air around the instruments, texture, and impact (especially in the bass) is uncanny. In my system, the Teo cables are truly special. Several others here seem to be having a similar experience.
@lancelock -- I am still waiting on my second pair of Game Changers, which are en route and expected on Friday. They will be installed between my integrated and phono stage, but I can then experiment with my second pair between the phono stage and turntable. I will report back when I have enough time to get a handle on how they sound in this application.
Does anyone know if this cable would work well between my turntable and phono stage? I'm using the AT Art9 MC cart and am currently using a audioquest RCA phono cable.
I use the Teo GC IC in a hybrid system, where my DAC (ExaSound E12) and amp (Red Dragon S500) are SS, and my preamp (Decware CSP2+) is all tube.... right now, it's between the DAC and preamp.
Regarding the TEO Game Changers could we have some numbers on how many are using them on Tubed gear? And how many on solid state? This may be something that solid state users[like myself] might benefit from [I'm thinking in terms of note saturation, fullness of tone, and so on]. I understand from what I've read on the web this has a heavy saturated[but not slow] presentation. Any info is welcome. regards, bluenose, Sigh, more snow...
Good to see you here as well Chris! It's been quite a long time since we've chatted audio, but here we are again!
I am with you! Adding the Teo GC upstream has resulted in the best sound my system has attained! Coupled with a pair of Cerious Graphene speaker cables, its fantabulous, LOL. Just trying to figure out the best preamp to amp connection. The Cerious Graphene IC there is working very, very well. No complaints!
Hey Mark! Fancy running into you here! You raise a great question, but since I am now running an integrated, the issue for me will be whether the Teos make as profound a difference with my analog rig as they do with my DAC. I will report back once I get them and have some time to compare.
I really couldn't be happier or more excited with the results from buying the first pair. I have never had better sound in my room than I have now.
Hey Chris, I agree with Wig as well!! I am getting / hearing the same sonic qualities as he describes, in my system. Well described Wig!
The question I have is..... with two pair of GC in the mix, are they additive, complimentary, or will they become "too much" of a good thing, as I have experienced with my other fine ICs (a mix n match worked very well there!).
Fantastic explanation, Wig! All I can say is that what you expressed is consistent with my experience. I never realized how much I was "hearing" my previous cables (too many to name) until I tried the Teo cables, which completely changed my paradigm about what cables can do in a system. The Game Changers are correctly named. I am eagerly awaiting my second pair.
After reading Teo Audio initial post on Audio Circle regarding their new technology, I decided to follow their thread to learn more about their liquid metal cables and to see how this technology would be accepted by the audiophile community. At that point, only one person from AC had placed an order and I followed because of Teo Audio generous 30-day money back guarantee and I found the new technology quite interesting; it’s a win-win situation.
I’ve had the Teo GC in my system for two weeks and their recommendation is 70-90 hours of continuous playing with no burn-in aids or devices other than line level signals, but I noticed that their plugs appears to be Keith Louis Eichmann which suggests a minimum of 175 hours for their connectors to form and burn-in and currently I have over 280+ hours.
Anyway, the moment I plugged the GC into my system, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing; it was the first time in my Audiophile career (30 years) that I was speechless even though I’m quite laid back and reserved! The change was so radical and like nothing I’ve ever heard before, it was like a wave of sound coming toward you in perfect time-alignment, which felt like I was part of a live performance. Sure, they have the attributes of the best cables you have tried in your system but the GC takes it even further in the realms of clarity, quietness, texture, body, richness, dimension, natural decay, ambiance retrieval, image density and at the same time draws you into the venue of the acoustical space…
I primarily listen to Classical Guitar, Cello, Violin and occasionally piano and these instruments are front and center with the GC in place. Images within the soundstage are precisely laid out with palpable images that are spooky realistic and I now understand the cliché’ “as if no cables are being used”. The GC has such a beautiful presence in the midrange with realistic, vibrant and bloomy overtones that makes traditional “wires” sound flat, uninviting and 2 dimensional.
These cables excel in painting an accurate picture of the landscape happening between and outside the edges of your speakers with ease and at the same time sound so organic and realistic... I’ve also noticed that the GC cables reach deeper in the mid-bass and bass region, my acoustical instruments are more weighty, resonant and drums are tighter with more impact, definition and slam. The GC are so cohesive that you don’t notice the highs or lows, but it’s all there in a manner that’s hard to explain…
As an entry level offering, Teo Audio GC are actually a “Game Changer” and sounds nothing like the 20+ pairs of “Wires” I’ve owned and some in the $2K range. If the GC sound this good, I wonder how much better is their Splash version…
Bugred just let your system settle, with the Teo ,maybe you don't need those Hidiamond. Be patient, , just spend more time to familiarize what your cables and your systems does..I challenge you to listen to your system for two weeks with out changing a thing, this will be the baseline of comparison..this is how I discover more how my system sound,and how much it can connect to me musically speaking.Biggest mistake we make ,is we don't let the cables n system settles.
No. You midunderstand. Of the folks i personally know who have tried them they likevthem. I have no idea about people i dont personally know since i am not conversing directly with them. So in terms of real numbers, maybe 5 audiopools i personally know and of them only one has rejected them. Not anecdoctal. i cannot speak to others here who i do not know nor converse with. You should go back and read my words where i say personally know (not all who venture here).
Yep, the old "your mileage may vary" comes in to play with a lot of this stuff. On that Canuck Audio Mart forum that was posted earlier in this thread has a guy that owned HiDiamond 9 IC"s. He was so impressed with the Teo Game Changers that he quickly moved up to the Teo Splash which I think is in the same ball park as far as price goes with the HiDiamonds, somewhere around $2400. He said the price was close but the Teo Splash was in another league compared to the HiDiamonds when it came to performance. I think he eventually ended up with the Teo Reference MKii
There is one fellow on AC who PM'd me that his Teo's were just not good for him and he is keeping his much more expensive HiDiamonds. He said they collapsed his soundstage and made him a little dizzy trying to concentrate on what was happening where. Don't know the rest of his system but knowing him it is top notch for sure. Right now that is the only audiophool I personally know who has rejected them.
Imagine what all that does to Atmos and surround systems. If one wants to be truly put into the film, well, 'natural believability' in soundscapes, is ultra critical.
I can echo Walter's impressions as I received my first pair on Monday and am impressed as well. I too use the Rumours album and specifically the Dreams track to gauge how Stevie Nicks' voice sounds and to me she has never sounded better. Her raspy unique voice is all there with great clarity and sounds phenomenal. There's something about the way these cables make instruments sound that it's hard for me to describe other than saying everything just sounds right.
I'm anticipating the second pair I ordered...but I'm not sure I want to go down the upgrade path with these in seeing what the higher end offerings bring. The GC's seem like such a great value I think I want to just enjoy them for what they are. But I can understand bugredmachine wanting to try what else TEO offers.
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