@nwres "clean and articulate with great extension" sounds about right to me. Also interesting plan with the network cables, I would not have thought of doing short versions like that but it makes sense. Someone in this thread earlier mentioned good results with their ethernet products (several different people and models if I recall correctly) so hopefully it works out well. I am inclined to check out the Connexa ethernet cable (top model I think) but not until I cool down from various overspending this year.
Veritas Cables a new brand that I found
Always been a big fan of smaller cable makers. I've had great luck in my system with brands like Audio Art, Cabledyne (RIP), Audio Sensibility, and Triode Wire Labs. These and others I'm surely forgetting seem to offer so much bang for the buck compared to the more mainstream brands. Not exactly cheap but usually a great value for what you get. It's noteworthy that most of these are most easily found by cruising Audiogon, US Audio Mart, Audiocircle, etc and if you only ever read Stereophile/TAS you'll probably never be exposed to all these great options.
As with most people around here I've also had my fair share of Audioquest, Kimber, Shunyata, Cardas, Wireworld, MIT, and the rest of the big names. Some of those were very enjoyable but I have a hard time when I think about how big their marketing budgets are. And when my local dealer will always give me a deal for a very substantial discount, it makes me realize how inflated the regular pricing is. Not to mention I notice that many of these don't really get good until you move fairly high up the line, with their entry and mid priced options often being pretty uninspiring.
A few weeks ago I was browsing the various classifieds as I often do and stumbled across a name that was new to me. Turns out that's because they are new, period. Veritas Cables calls themselves a boutique hifi cable company specializing in small batch creations. That sounds reminiscent of early Black Cat Cable which they actually reference as an inspiration. This immediately caught my attention as I used to work with Chris Sommovigo at one point and loved his approach to building cables. The company had 3 items listed at the time: RCA interconnects, a power cable, and an ethernet cable. I liked what I saw but was actually in the market for an XLR interconnect, so I checked out their website (still under construction) which indicated more cables were coming soon. I figured it was worth an email inquiry to see what the time frame might be.
I got a quick response stating that they had just completed a batch of XLR cables and while most were spoken for via local word of mouth sales, they did have one extra set they could sell me. The price was well within my target and actually much more affordable than the others I had been looking at (Audio Art Copper Cryo, Morrow Audio MA6, Silnote Anniversary being the main contenders). So I took a chance on it, although with their in home trial terms it wasn't a huge gamble. They sent over an invoice with paypal and due to Veritas being in California like me the cable arrived very quickly.
When the company told me they don't use any fancy packaging, they weren't kidding. It was more like buying a second hand cable off a forum with no original packaging. But I've never cared about any of that stuff and would rather have that money go towards the actual product. In that sense I was not disappointed. Veritas calls this their Magnus cable and it shares design cues with the rest of their line I had seen listed on USAmart and the Veritas website. Specifically that means the use of a metallic silver braided jacket instead of the usual plastic or fabric sleeving most other cables have. This is the same approach used by Ed Bowman with his Cabledyne brand which I miss dearly. Back in the day my entire system was Cabledyne Reference Silver, then upgraded to their Vanguard line and was happy with that for quite a while. So I am very pleased to reintroduce a similar looking cable. That said the Veritas Magnus is somewhat thicker yet more flexible than the Cabledyne models which makes it easier to deal with.
Veritas doesn't come right out and list exactly what the internal composition is on their designs. When I asked directly they were happy to answer so it's not a complete secret, but I guess more of a marketing choice. Discussing this with them also reminded me of chatting with Ed Bowman, where there is clearly a lot of knowledge but also a desire to simplify things for a dumb end user like me. I tend to agree with their philosophy that says silver doesn't always have to sound bright and copper isn't always warm. Designers can do a lot based on geometry and purity and shielding and a dozen other factors to where a silver cable might actually be warmer and smoother than a copper cable. Or a copper cable might be more focused on speed and treble extension. Honestly I don't care as much about the specifics as I do about the end result, just give me an excellent performing cable no matter what it's made of.
In any case to my eyes the Veritas Magnus looks every bit as well made as the other options I had been considering. Those range from $630 for the Audio Art, to $1250 for the Morrow, to $1500 for the Silnote, all for 1.5m XLR versions just to give you a general idea. Meanwhile the Magnus was $389 which is almost what I would call entry level territory with the price of cables being what it is these days.
So far I've been using the Magnus to connect my Eversolo DMP-A8 to a variety of tube and SS headphone amplifiers in the $2-5k range, then feeding the amazing Raal Requisite CA-1a ribbon headphones via the Raal transformer box. It's a pretty simple system and this is the only interconnect involved, making it easier to spot the contributions versus a system with separate transport, DAC, preamp, and amplifier and of course cables running between each of them.
The sound I heard was shockingly open, clean, detailed, and smooth. Huge staging with impressive depth and even height on the right recordings. Very convincing tone on violins, guitars, and vocals both male and female. The Raal headphones are pretty ruthless and reveal all sorts of upstream shortcomings, but I got the feeling I was bouncing up against the limits of the DMP-A8 D/A conversion rather than the cable/amp/headphones. I'll test this out soon when I switch to my bigger system with a better/more expensive DAC, and I'll report my findings when I have some thoughts on that.
Checking my cable collection for things with a vaguely similar price as the Magnus. I rounded up a Harmonic Tech Truth Link, Analysis Plus Copper Micro, Anticables 3.1, and Moon Audio Black Dragon, all of which sold for somewhere in the sub $500 space (I think) at some point in the last decade. It was no contest, the Veritas Magnus outclassed them all by a significant margin. These are all decent cables with something to offer which is why I keep them around in my stash, but compared to the Veritas they all sounded either dull, thin, slow, compressed, or some combination of those traits. I also note that each of them looks and feels like more of a budget product (which I guess they are) where the Veritas Magnus seems like it belongs in an entirely higher class despite the price not reflecting that.
My next goal is to compare it to some others in my arsenal priced around the $1K range. So far, from memory I would say it feels very competitive even in that class, but I want to be more specific about it so no comments for now. The crazy thing is that Veritas told me they have another XLR option (didn't catch the name or other specifics) positioned higher than the Magnus, for what is likely still a pretty reasonable price considering their approach to the market. All of those were spoken for at the time but did ask to be notified when the next batch is ready so we can discuss that. I had been considering the Infigo Audio Sparkle or maybe even Sparkle Signature XLR down the road but I might detour to the Veritas instead, just for the sake of adventure. But that depends on the pricing and specifics they give me, if and when we have that discussion. I'm also curious about their power cables or maybe a USB down the line. Sometimes when cable companies try to do everything, they bite off more than they can chew, or seem to excel with digital rather than analog or vice versa. So it would be interesting to see if Veritas can do the full line of cables to this same high caliber.
In closing I'll say (and it's probably obvious) that I'm extremely impressed with this product so far. It's the most dramatic result I've had from a cable in quite some time, and I appreciate that it didn't involve spending thousands of dollars. The folks at Veritas really seem to be on the right track in terms of quality and value. Which is not to be confused with being very good at marketing a product, which honestly they don't really seem to be, nor do they seem to even care all that much at the moment. They definitely have some improvement to do when it comes to optimizing their operation, but they told me their focus is on organic growth and quality over quantity. That seems like a noble approach so I can't fault them for it. Their website also could really use more specifics but at least they answer emails quickly and are easy to deal with that way.
I'll be back in the next week or so with additional updates. Maybe some downsides will present themselves. But so far it's been a totally positive experience. Next up is my bigger system with more expensive components and cables, we'll see how the Magnus holds up in that context.
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@samureyex How is it going now that you probably have more hours on the cables? I had fun reading your updates for the initial hours, seems maybe things have tapered off or finished burning for the most part? @nwres I may have missed it but what speakers are you using with the Aperta cables? Did you get the spades or the banana connectors? I have used cables with both types over the years and can't decide whihc style I prefer. |
@tubeguy80 I just reached the 100 hour milestone. Will do some serious listening and update if anything noticeably changes. The last 30 hours or so have been mostly background music. |
@tubeguy80 I have all banana connectors on my Aperta speaker cables. I find them more convenient than spades and I have never noticed a difference as long as they are well made with quality metallurgy. My current speakers are Tekton Nebo's, quit large. I am extremely pleased with the sound. The combination of Argentum x and Aperta reveal every aspect of the recording with amazing, clean, impactful bass. And I do not need a sub. I feel the Aperta's and Argentum x are as advertised. |
@nwres Thanks, I am planning on getting the Aperta at some point when funds allow. I have used my quota for the year but next year starts soon enough. It's nice to hear that you find them impressive, that seems to be the common thing I hear from all users. Those Tektons are serious business, I bet they sound wonderful. |
@lak I lost track somewhere between 60 and 70 hours of burn in and I am probably over 100 hours as well. My next step is to put my old cables back in to re-compare. @tubeguy80 Yes the Nebo's are a unique design and a space commitment. Not everyone's cup of tea, but in my dedicated room, I am all about the sound, and they deliver. |
Like @lak I am also back to chime in with my continued enjoyment of the Veritas Cables. I've been comparing the Argentum R interconnect with a couple of others that originally sold for much more. My system is Auralic Aries G2.2 streamer, Lampizator Golden Gate 2 DAC, Primaluna EVO 300 hybrid integrated, and Dynaudio Confidence 20 speakers in a smaller room with some DIY treatments. It's very resolving and since it only uses one interconnect, it's easy to hear how the cables impact the signature. I already wrote about my WyWires Diamond interconnects which are over $4k new and perform very well. I'm actually still really impressed with every aspect of them and would happily recommend them, but for the fact that the drastically more affordable Veritas Argentum R matches them very closely and even exceeds them in some ways. The Argentum sounds more open and has more low end kick, and while I originally felt the Diamond may have a slight edge in treble articulation, now I'm not so sure. I now think it might be an illusion because of the comparatively leaner tonality, which forces me to focus more on the highs, as well as the more closed-in or less spacious feel which again directs attention a certain way. Ultimately if given the choice between the Veritas Argentum R and the WyWires Diamond for the same price, I would choose the Argentum. That's already a big deal before we factor in value, which is where the Veritas has an overwhelming advantage. I also got a loaner of the Audioquest Pegasus. These go for around $1700 in 1.5 meter RCA form which is what I use. They didn't really blow me away though. Not bad at all, like a solid B to B+ in every category, but they didn't excel in any area or do anything better than the Veritas or WyWires. Don't get me wrong, the Pegasus is an enjoyable cable and probably the best Audioquest interconnect I have yet heard. It's definitely a step up from their older designs (even some more expensive ones) which I felt were hit or miss, and I can totally see why people like it. But for me I'd say the WyWires Diamond sounds like an upgrade (which it is considering the price) and the Veritas Argentum R blows it away in sound and value. I don't normally like using such strong language for what usually amounts to subtle differences but in this case it seems justified. Enough ramblings, hope everyone is enjoying their system whatever it looks like right now, happy holidays and new year. |
I’m around 105 hours. Been busy so haven’t had a chance to properly sit down and listen. Will try to do another overview the next 1-2 days. But I’m here to report an abnormaly. On 2 different occasions I have lost sound with the Aperta speaker cable (same cable, left speaker). The cable was in tight when I lost my sound. I know it was in tight because I tried to check if they were in tight and they were and the sound didn’t come back, reinserting immediately fixed the problem. As I stated, this has happened twice. |
@samureyex Thats strange. It will be interesting to see if it should happen again. I've had my Aperta speaker cables on three different amps and three different pair of speakers and have no issues what so ever. If it were me just to be on the safe side I'd send an email to Veritas in order to see what their thoughts are. Best regards... |
@samureyex That is very weird. I can't even think of a way that would be possible. Now with headphones and their cables which get stressed by regular use then it makes total sense. It's one of my biggest frustrations with headphones in general. But a speaker cable just sitting there undisturbed? I can't think of a good explanation. |
@samureyex Try installing another set of cables for a few days to see if it happens. I would want to isolate this if possible. |
@nwres The morning of my last post talking about how it had happened twice, it happened for the third time that morning. I believe it has to do with how that specific banana plug work, I believe it has a mechanic that pushes outward for a tight fit? It has never happened to me before decades in this hobby, but then again I’ve never used a connector like this, not a big deal, jist reporting if anyone had similar experience. 110 hrs on 2 cables (Aperta, Argentum X). Not much else to update vs the 50 hr checkpoint, treble might possibly be a teeny bit more relaxed, hard to say. The bass has awakened quite a bit though. Very tight punchy bass and plentiful in quantity. How have you guys find the cables to sound in your system now? |
I started with the Connexa network cable and was satisfied enough to also order the Praesto AC cable. I love that too, about to pick up a couple more so my system runs exclusively Veritas power cables. Tempted to try out their interconnects. But I might be rearranging the furniture soon and also getting a new audio rack. I'd hate to buy a bunch of XLR cables only to find out they are too long or too short for the new configuration. Once everything is settled I'll revisit the idea, because their network and power cables are very impressive. |
@tubeguy80 Better safe than sorry, wise decision to wait until you have the new set up. |
@lak Thank you, nice to have someone tell me I am not impulsive with audio gear because it sure feels that way sometimes. Even this morning I came far too close to buying a vintage Nakamichi amplifier that I've always been curious about. I have absolutely zero use for it anywhere in the house, but... Nakamichi. I barely overcame the temptation.
@nwres Interesting, why 3 of them? What sort of system configuration needs that? I can think of ways to use 2 pretty easily but 3 is less obvious to me. |
@tubeguy80 For the Mirus ethernet cables, I need one at 1M from the wall to my Network Acoustics switch, then a short run from the switch to my iFi LAN iPurifier Pro filter, then another short run from the filter to my streamer. Since all three components are on the same shelf together, these short cables will be about 16 inches. |
@maxima95 The OP started this thread describing his excellent experience with the Magnus XLR's. I have the Argentum x XLR's and also give them high praise in my setup. |
@nwres I see, that is a smart setup you have there. I’ve always wondered how much if any improvement my system might have with some of those audiophile oriented network components. Right now I just go straight from the wall to my Innuos Zenith mk3 with the Veritas Connexa, and I’m very pleased with it. I’ve considered going all out with the Innuos Phoenix reclocker and maybe also their Phoenix Net, which feels like a pretty extreme digital system. Then again I’ve owned a big 4-box dCS stack back in the day for spinning discs and I already feel like my Zenith plus Modwright Elyse combo sounds better than that ever did. So maybe not so extreme to build on this already great platform.
@maxima95 The Magnus does look nice and has good feedback in this thread from maybe a few people. The only problem is that the Argentum X isn’t all that much more expensive and seems to have more people using it so more feedback. If or when I try out some of their interconnects I would probably go with Argentum instead of the lower series just because the jump is not that large. |
1+ @tubeguy80 @maxima95 I totally Agree with tubeguy80 the Argentum X isn’t all that much more expensive and to my ears in several different systems sounded better then the Magnus. The Magnus did sound good, but then you begin to wonder how much better would the Argentum sound. |
@nwres "how do you know it's the Aperta" My amp has vu meters and when there was no sound, the vu meters were playing as normal, indicating proper signal. As the problem had happened 3 times, I find, a little wiggle on the black cable of the Aperta silves the problem. It is strange indeed. People that have tried the Praeto cord, what would you say its strengths are?
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@maxima95 Sorry that was me, I get long winded at times. In summary the Magnus XLR cables are really clean and fast, but also have nice tone so not thin at all. I compared them to a few different XLR cables (some a lot more expensive) and the Magnus was as good or better than all of them. Definitely the best value, no question. I also have their Argentum RCA cables but obviously can't compare XLR to RCA so that doesn't help.
On another note I'm copy/pasting a write up I did on a different thread about USB cables. I picked up the Veritas Audax which is their top USB model, and compared it to some other new cables I recently got. Sorry @maxima95 this one is too long as well.
As for me I have been rotating through all these USB cables. So far I continue to love the Pink Faun USB although I'm now confused about the name. The original owner calls it the "Ultra" but Pink Faun's website only shows the "Interlink" USB cable. It appears identical but with different text on the label showing that name. Maybe the same product but they changed the name? I don't know. But it is very musically engaging, rich, really open and spacious sounding. For around $1,000 new this is a great cable, for the second hand price I paid it is a steal. The Audience Frontrow USB is a close second place. Also really enjoyable, a bit more focused and energetic at the expense of not feeling quite as open. It makes the Pink Faun seem a little smooth and relaxed in comparison which is good or bad depending on your system or preferences. I prefer the Pink Faun but with different gear I could see the Audience taking the win. At around $1500 for the 1.5 meter version I have here, this one is also a great cable if not as good of a value as Pink Faun. The Clarus Crimson was somewhat annoying because it only comes in 1 or 2 meter versions, not 1.5 meters. So I ended up with a 2 meter cable which was longer than necessary and cost around $1,000. It did end up sounding fairly nice in isolation but didn't really do anything better than either the Pink Faun or the Audience. Still a good cable and maybe if you only needed the 1 meter version it would be a good value, but I'd personally go with either of the other two. The Crystal Cable Diamond is the entry level USB for the brand, selling around $1000 (seems like a theme here). It was the only one of this comparison that I didn't really enjoy in my system. Very lit up, fast, and clean, but missing out in richness and texture that the other cables had. "Thin" is probably the best word I can think of. Too bad, as this is a beautiful cable, possibly the best looking of the bunch. Might work great in another system but for me this was a poor match. The above represents my initial comparison. But I had a last minute addition with the Veritas Cables Audax USB. Veritas is a new brand I stumbled upon and have been really impressed with the several cables I've tried so far. Audax is only $400 for a 1.5 meter version and it gives up nothing to the others in looks or build quality. In fact it might be up there with the Crystal Cable and Pink Faun as far as being the nicest built. In sonics the Audax is also very competitive with the best in this bunch, sounding a little like a mix between the insightful Audience and the more musical Pink Faun. It doesn't do quite as well as either of them in their areas of strength, but sort of combines both into a really well rounded and coherent presentation. There's a trade off involved (as with all audio) but I might just like the Veritas best even inspite of the price differences. Factor in the price being less than half the others and it seems almost unfair. In summary, the Pink Faun, Audience, and Veritas USB cables are all exceptional sounding and very well build. I could be happy with any of them but the value aspect goes overwhelmingly to the Veritas Audax. I guess I would say the Veritas Audax and Pink Faun Ultra (or whatever it is called) are sort of tied for first place, then Audience Frontrow, then the Clarus Crimson, and the Crystal Cable Diamond in last place. I'll be returning or selling several of these but the Veritas and Pink Faun are keepers. |
@maxima95 Absolutely. Even though they are the lower model of the two options I remain highly impressed by them. I can't imagine anyone being unsatisfied with the performance they bring for the price. And that's coming from someone who has tried a whole bunch of cables at all sorts of prices. |
Just hooked their Argentum X between a Laiv DAC and Hifi Rose RA180. I did try the Magnus and felt my DIY OCC and Triple C XLRs were as good or slightly better (IMO). The Triple C has been my reference (WillieWonka Helix design w/ AECO connectors). Figured I'd try the Veritas silver. At their price point, pretty sure that I would spend close to the same if I built my own.
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@mbolek I have been a huge fan of the Helix design for years. My Helix RCA and speaker cables were my reference as well. Back when I was making them my shop space was great for DIY. But since moving not as easy. I never made any Helix XLR's since back then I had no use. I would think that the Argentum X will be a bit more revealing than your OCC, Triple C. Mine took at least 50 hours to burn in. Keep us posted. Still loving my Argentum X and Aperta speaker cables. |
@lak Yes. Argentum XLRs (they made me a 1M pair). I asked about using AECO connectors but they prefer using the silver Viborg's. |
@mbolek Any thoughts yet on the Argentum X compared to the Magnus? I'm very happy with my Magnus, maybe since I have no experience building my own cables. Compared to a half dozen other XLR sets from bigger brands though, it is wonderful. I do have the Argentum R which is also very impressive but obviously can't compare them directly. |
@v-fi Not Yet. I don’t expect a huge performance upgrade with the silver. The Magnus is a good cable and probably on par with my DIY helix copper builds. I’ll see if the Argentum can extract more details as I run through some of my Qobuz playlists. I listen to a lot of radio Paradise as daily background music and did catch myself saying that is or that song sounded really good. Premium conductors, good connectors, solid connections....
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Just went for it and grabbed two sets of Argentum R interconnects for my main system. Now I am using Veritas Praesto power cables on all components, Connexa for network to my ZENith server, and soon to have the Argentum R going from DAC to pre and then from pre to power amp. I'm already set on the Aperta speaker cables based on the great feedback in this thread. Still need to figure out length and decide if I want spade connectors or banana type. That would only leave USB as the last non Veritas product in my system. Have been happy with my iFi Mercury USB for a while but I admit it is mroe of a budget cable compared to the rest of my system. Got it when I first switched to USB and was happy with it so I never really examined other options. Maybe time to do that soon. My only real concern is that Veritas has multiple USB cable options and I don't really know what the difference is or which one might fit my system best. Anybody know the differences between them? |
@tubeguy80 I suggest you email Veritas and ask them. They have been very good about getting back to me with answers to my questions. |
I have been listening to the Aperta speaker cables, Connexa and Mirus Ethernet cables for several weeks now and thought I would share my thoughts. The Mirus is extremely engaging. Everything sounds real. Great balance, detailed, smooth, and just musical. I do notice that the soundstage gets a little blurred and that instruments aren’t as individually separated as my reference Ethernet cable. The Connexa sound is big, clear and neutral. Great separation of instruments and deep soundstage. Can be a little bit too neutral at times and loose some of female and male voice warmth (which is personally important to me). Overall a fantastic cable and ultimately prefer over the Mirus. The Mirus sounds beautiful like you are listening to a high end audio system but the Connexa can sound more like the live event. The Apertas went into the system and I haven’t looked back. They replaced some well regarded older Audience cables that now sell for $2K. Similar in sound but the Apertas are more open and engaging. I feel like I may have lost a touch of warmth and bass but maybe it’s just the Apertas much more open character. Overall all three cables are fantastic especially for the price. I have listened to a lot of cables in the $500 - $2,000 price range and these Veritas cables are as good and in most cases better than all of them. There are always trade offs and system synergies but I am very happy I gave them a try. |
