Cable_buyers_guide_2011.pdf

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STEREO • MUSIC
Guide to cables,
power products,
accessories,
& music
sponsored by
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Contents
Features
• From the Editor
tHIS SECtIoN SPoNSoRED BY
go to:
Contents
|
From the Editor
|
on the Horizon
|
Feature Articles
|
Cables & Interconnects
|
Power Conditioners & Cords
|
Accessories
|
Music
PREMIER SPoNSoR
Cable and
Interconnect
Reviews
Power
Conditioner
and Power
Cord Reviews
Accessories
Music
• On the Horizon:
Great New Cables
And Accessories
Coming Your Way
• How to Choose Cables
and Interconnects
• What to Listen For in
Cables and
Interconnects
• Cable and
Interconnect Glossary
• Editors' Choice
Awards: Cable and
Interconnect
• Editors' Choice
Awards: Power
Conditioners
• Editors' Choice
Awards: Accessories
tHIS SECtIoN SPoNSoRED BY
tHIS SECtIoN SPoNSoRED BY
• Stillpoints Feet
• Moon Audio iPod Cable
tHIS SECtIoN SPoNSoRED BY
• Transparent The Link and
Wave
• Cable Research Labs
Bronze
• Analysis Plus Big Silver
Oval
• AudioQuest Diamond USB
• Cardas Clear and Clear
Beyond
• Shunyata Anaconda
• Audience AU24e
• Crystal Cables Standard
Diamond
• AudioQuest Wildwood
• MIT Oracle MA-X
• 13 Power Cords Compared
• Audience Au24 AC Cord
• Synergistic Power Cell 10 SE
• Shunyata Talos and Triton
• Quantum QB 6 AC
Conditioner and Nordost
Sort Kones
• Ten Best New CDs of 2011
• Ten Best Reissues on CD
• Ten Best New Vinyl Releases
• Ten Best Reissues on Vinyl
• Resurrecting Musical Treasures
• New and Upcoming Reissues
• Download Round-Up
Clic k on one of the links above to jump to that secti on, featu re or revie w.
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Guide to Cables, Power Products, Accessories, & Music
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Contents
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Music
STEREO • MUSIC
CABlES, PowER PRoDuCtS, ACCESSoRIES,
& MuSIC
publisher.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jim Hannon
editors-in-chief
. . . . . . . . . . robert Harley
alan sircom
executive editor
. . . . . . . . . Jonathan Valin
acquisitions manager
and associate editor
. . . . . neil Gader
music editor
. . . . . . . . . . . . mark lehman
creative director
. . . . . . . . torquil dewar
art director
. . . . . . . . . . . . . shelley lai
founder/editor emeritus
. . Harry pearson
senior writers
. . . . . . . . . . . anthony H. cordesman
wayne Garcia
robert e. Greene
chris martens
tom martin
dick olsher
andrew Quint
paul seydor
steven stone
alan taffel
reviewers &
contributing writers
. . . . . duck baker Greg cahill,
,
stephen estep, ian
Harris, Jacob Heilbrunn,
Jason Kennedy, sherri
lehman, ted libbey,
david mcGee, Kirk
midtskog, bill milkowski,
derk richardson, chris
thomas, Jeff wilson
NextScreen, LLC, Inc.
chairman and ceo
. . . . . . . tom martin
vp/group publisher
. . . . . . Jim Hannon
advertising reps
. . . . . . . . cheryl smith
(512) 891-7775
marvin lewis
mtm sales
(718) 225-8803
to sign up for buyer’s Guides
alerts, click here
address letters to the editor:
the absolute sound,
8868 research blvd., austin, tX 78758 or
rharley@nextscreen.com or alan@hifiplus.com
©2011 nextscreen, llc
4
Guide to cables, power products, accessories, & music
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Music
FROM THE
Editor
elcome to our latest free buyer’s Guide, brought to you by
The Absolute Sound
and
Hi-Fi Plus.
this buyer’s Guide is devoted to the all-important but often underestimated category of cables,
interconnects, and power conditioners. this Guide also includes the very best music we’ve
reviewed in the past year, along with some feature articles on what goes on behind the scenes in making a
great-sounding music release.
In this issue you’ll find a wide range of reviews, all the
way from affordable entry-level cables, interconnects,
and power cords to elaborate state-of-the-art products.
Don’t be overwhelmed by the vast array of choices; finding
just the right cable for your system and budget is easier
than you might think. A good place to start is the series of
feature articles that kick off this Buyer’s Guide—“Cable and
Interconnect Glossary” defines all the jargon associated with
cables, “How to Choose Cables and Interconnects” guides
you through the cable-selection process, and “What to Listen
For in Cables and Interconnects” explains the specific sonic
qualities between good and poor cables.
If your system is hooked up with generic cables, hardware-
store “speaker wire,” and stock black power cords, your
system is performing far below its potential.
Any
audio system
can immediately sound better by improving the quality of the
cables. Although I’ve listened to literally hundreds of different
cables and interconnects in my own system, a recent simple
demonstration hit home just how important cables are in
realizing a system’s musical potential. The demonstration
was in Transparent Audio’s listening room, and the system
included entry-level Rotel electronics and B&W 685
loudspeakers ($650 per pair). We first listened with stock
interconnects and speaker cables, and then replaced those
with Transparent’s The Link interconnects ($85 per meter pair)
and The Wave speaker cable ($200 per 8' pair). The system
suddenly became much more musically communicative and
engaging. I was in for a second surprise; we replaced the
stock power cords with Transparent’s High-Performance
Powerlink ($125 each) and the system took another step up
in sound quality.
This experience drives home three important points.
First, replacing stock interconnects, speaker cables, and
power cords can render a significant improvement in system
performance. Second, even entry-level cables and power
cords are a huge upgrade over stock units. Third, even a
modest system can benefit from specialty cables.
Although most of you already know the value of quality
cables and interconnects, if you haven’t replaced your power
cords and invested in a good AC conditioner, you’re in for a
pleasant surprise. Clean AC power is the foundation on which
the rest of your system should be built. A good AC system will
render blacker backgrounds, greater resolution of detail, a
more spacious soundstage, and smoother textures.
Good listening.
W
robert Harley
C li ck here to tu rn th e p ag e.
5
Guide to cables, power products, accessories, & music
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