Cable Asylum: REVIEW: Audience Maestro Audio Interconnect Cable by westerman@cave.net

Model:	Maestro Audio Interconnect
Category:	Cable
Suggested Retail Price:	$194/meter
Description:	Maestro High Resolution Audio Interconnect Cable
Manufacturer URL:	Audience
Manufacturer URL:	Audience

Review by westerman@cave.net on November 07, 2001 at 11:52:08
IP Address: 66.35.72.143

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for the Maestro Audio Interconnect

The 2001 Audience Maestro Interconnects are finished with a smooth outer jacket and small RCA connectors that is an improvement from my original Maestro (5/98). I have installed Maestros for connecting my CableDriver outputs into my main power amplifiers; in addition, a second pair connects into my subwoofer.
The Maestro sounds much more natural than the Kimber Cable KCAG that sounded very hard and harsh in comparison (2/2000).

The Maestro's bass was more dynamic, midrange, especially voices sound more lifelike (O's and F's sound correct) and the highs more natural and open (S's) compared to the Audio Quest Emerald. Better tonal balance than the Wire World Polaris II (5/98).

As good as the Maestros sound, I replaced two pairs -- from my converter into my passive and then into my CableDriver with the superb Audience Au24 (4/2001). Please see my Au24 review of that very remarkable interconnect.

Product Weakness: Lack of precise imaging and lifelike dynamics found in the Au24.
Product Strengths: Natural tonal balance.

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	PS Audio 250 Delta monoblocks (250 watts per channel in 8 Ohms)
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Audience CableDriver with a passive DACT volume control unit.
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	PS Audio Lambda CD Drive with a Theta DS Pro basic IIIa DAC.
Speakers:	Sonus Faber Elector Amator (88 dB/W/m @ 8 Ohms). Sunfire True Subwoofer Mk II (18-125 Hz) upgraded by Audience.
Cables/Interconnects:	Audience Maestro Speaker Cables/ Maestro Interconnects/Au24 Interconnects
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Classical - a wide range from Adams to Zappa. Operas - over 50. Jazz's big hitters. Some Rock-N-Roll. A variety of others.
Room Size (LxWxH):	17 x 12 x 8
Room Comments/Treatments:	My studio room is designed specifically for audio listening, yet functions as part of a modern home. It is of typical size (1594 cu. ft.) though an excellent sounding room, calculated as a #3 in terms of quality according to the formula provided by M.M. Louden in The Complete Guide to High-End Audio. The floor is a double joist, suspended technique, and covered with Berber carpeting. The interior walls are a double offset construction, set 16" on center, and finished with a total of 2.5 inches of dry wall. The ceiling is double layered drywall with overhead track lighting fed from a normal house circuit. All ceiling and wall cavities are loosely filled with fiberglass insulation. The entry door into the room is a high quality, double paned, divided light exterior door carefully sealed around its entire perimeter. There are two 3' X 5' exterior windows covered with inset vertical blinds. One ventilation outlet is supplied by means of a flexible duct and there is no cold air return. Front and side wall surfaces are treated with a variety of custom made absorbing units that provide the proper damping. There are inverted resonators in the rear corners and the rear wall and ceiling are diffused.
Time Period/Length of Audition:	May 1998
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	Four (4) primary dedicated circuits wired with armored cable directly from the service panel into metal outlet boxes (two 20-amp lines, 180 degrees out-of-phase, power the main amplifiers; one 15-amp line is dedicated to analog gear; and one 15-amp line is dedicated to digital gear). All outlet receptacles are Hubbell hospital grade with isolated grounds. Another 20-amp circuit powers the subwoofer. The electrical service itself is well grounded outside the dwellingâ€¦. Auricap 600v power conditioning caps on 120v L-N legs f each piece of powered equipmentâ€¦. Spiked stands under the power amplifiersâ€¦. Isolation cushions under shelvingâ€¦. Vibrapods under the digital front-end gear.
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	Lack of precise imaging and lifelike dynamics found in the Au24.
Product Strengths:	Natural tonal balance.