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Cable Asylum: REVIEW: Auricle Audio Design Speaker Cable Cable by bartc

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REVIEW: Auricle Audio Design Speaker Cable Cable

207.200.116.66


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Model: Speaker Cable
Category: Cable
Suggested Retail Price: $200-375 depending on length
Description: Sturdy copper speaker cable
Manufacturer URL: Auricle Audio Design
Manufacturer URL: Auricle Audio Design

Review by bartc ( A ) on January 16, 2006 at 12:26:33
IP Address: 207.200.116.66
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Joe Mazzaglia promised me that his speaker cables would satisfy - and he delivered!

I'd been using his Auricle Audio Design Encore and Ka ICs to great advantage in my SS system. My old favorite speaker cables were Cat 5 tri-braid and very very good. But I'd been interested in seeing if there were a reasonably priced upgrade that would significantly improve my sound. After toying with several DIY designs, I decided instead to give Joe's hand built cables a shot, since he'd always come through for me before.

I won't go into the details of design; they follow Auricle's simple yet sublime formula. Ask Joe if you're interested; he'll answer. They're encased in what looks like a nicer techflex type jacket with very good spades - terminated to your desires. They're not overly flexible, but not stock stiff either. Sturdy, reasonably attractive, and built to your own specs.

The best way to describe the sound is to say "musical" and "moreso".

Moreso because they deliver more of everything I've come to love about the previous cables. They increased HF detail with much improved soundstage and imaging, including a greater sense of air. I got more out of my VR1s than before, and they made those speakers sound closer to the VR4jrs in terms of imaging and airiness. However, they are not bright at all. Timbre of cymbals, metallic sound, decay are all excellent with no tizziness. Brass sounds like brass; woodwinds sound like woodwinds with all the detail and subtlety of the reed and the wood (same for sax but with the brass bell). Piano and strings are more realistic; guitar and bass are delightfully rich. Vocals, male and female, are smooth and realistic. LF is also outstanding with greater detail and better dynamics. Percussion is excellent (as a one-time percussionist I would know); in fact, percussive sounds of any type are well defined and dynamic, whether a drum or just the plucking of a string.

Best of all is that these are all well balanced. Nothing seems more "forward" than anything else - just right. There's more detail and punch at every frequency range.

Musical because they deliver it smoothly and delightfully. They swing. They have subtlety and nuance galore. They're fun to listen to. Were they merely "euphonic" you would lack that detail, but these deliver more detail than my old cables by far across the spectrum.

This was a significant sonic upgrade for me and it shows to everyone who listens. I won't vouch for my neighbor's dog or spouse, LOL, but my neighbor just sat there transfixed when listening last night.

Do these rival the best of the $1,500-4,500 high priced spread? Probably not. But are they worth every penny multiplied by a factor of 4 or more? I'd bet on that - at least for my money and to my ears.

Joe's easy to deal with, reliable, not the fastest on delivery because all his stuff is hand built and tested first. I don't hesitate to recommend his ICs and now the speaker cables, too.


Product Weakness: none so far and at this price they're a steal!
Product Strengths: detail, air, imaging, soundstage, extension, balance, nuance, dynamics and punch; appear sturdy; price/value


Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier: NAD C740 receiver
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): none - integrated
Sources (CDP/Turntable): NAD 541i
Speakers: Von Schweikert VR1s; cheap KLH sub
Cables/Interconnects: Aurical Audio Encore Ka ICs; Silvery First Ys between pre and amp
Music Used (Genre/Selections): jazz, pop, classical, world
Room Size (LxWxH): 24' x 14' x 9'
Room Comments/Treatments: Q&D bass traps, felt dots, room lens clones
Time Period/Length of Audition: 3 weeks
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): Taddeo Digital Antidote passive II; JR Q&D Iso Trans for digital, DIYed PCs everywhere, Power Wraps, cap arrays, vibration damping everywhere
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner




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Topic - REVIEW: Auricle Audio Design Speaker Cable Cable - bartc 12:26:33 01/16/06 ( 0)