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Cable Asylum: REVIEW: Chimera Advantage II speaker cable (DIY) Cable by paul_s

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REVIEW: Chimera Advantage II speaker cable (DIY) Cable

69.19.254.102


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Model: Advantage II speaker cable (DIY)
Category: Cable
Suggested Retail Price: $way cheap
Description: true Litz braided copper cable
Manufacturer URL: Chimera
Model Picture: View

Review by paul_s ( A ) on March 05, 2005 at 12:40:38
IP Address: 69.19.254.102
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for the Advantage II speaker cable (DIY)


I want to share this cable because it is one of the best discoveries I have made in over 40 years of tinkering with hi-fi. To contextualize this, I should say I listen primarily to acoustic instruments and voice, and I want to capture as much as I can remember of the live events I frequently attend. I use LPs as recorded source material. Basically, I want my gear to get out of the way of the music so the performance passes through as unscathed as possible. As simple as this sounds, it must be a lot to ask, since neutral gear is not common.

I purchased DIY cable materials from Dennis Boyle. All the info is free, all the time, for anyone who is interested. Ready-made (by hand) cable is also sold, with a money back guarantee. I used 18 strands per channel of cryogenically treated 25.5 gauge 'continuously cast' copper magnet wire that has been coated with a thin, tough dielectric with very nice specs. The wire is woven into true Litz braids, and I terminated mine with not-so-big Vampire spades. I used copper content solder for connections, and I saturated the finished cables with purified bees wax before covering them with braided poly sheathing. I used shrink tubing on the ends, for neatness. Dennis recommends various wire counts for different applications. My cables were made for my nearly-finished Diamond Edition BassZillas. My current Lowthers-in-a-box(es) would normally get but 10 strands per channel. Even my 18-strand cables are physically thin by contemporary commercial measure; but this does NOT mean the sound is thin - at all.

I am told that this cable continues to improve for up to 200 hours of use. This is hard for me to imagine because the sound is so lifelike at only 16 hours that my wildest hopes have already been exceeded. Not only am I getting the most accurate, unobstructed performances I've ever experienced, but the soundstage has opened up completely free of the speakers when the recording warrants this. Even good mono recordings have palpable depth. I have never gone in for audiophile effects, but I can say that in this case realism is served in a most tangible and enjoyable way that adds considerably to the immediacy of the musical experience. This is the first time I have heard realistic, musical ambience that comes well forward of my speakers, and it continues to fill the room as the cable breaks in. I'm NOT talking Bose here, folks; I hear real often enough.

People talk about musical expression, and I always had an idea of what could be done with hi-fi. But the sound with these cables is so clear and pure that it IS music. I have used some fine (and very expensive) cables, but it is just since I started using the Advantage II that I became aware of how noisy most cables are. Realism is more than than just details, and music is not always served, IMO, by the sort of sound effects most high-end gear offers, including - and perhaps especially - cables. While the frequency range, pitch, timbre, dynamics, detail, depth, etc. from this cable certainly hold up under scrutiny, it's really not 'that sort' of component.

If you use live acoustic music and voice as a reference, you will be well-served by this cable. I have not found better in over 40 years of keeping my ears open. Don't be put off by the low price. Use the money you save for records or NOS tubes.

Happy Listening,
Paul S


Product Weakness: Can't speak for disco-type systems and sources.
Product Strengths: Amazing, lifelike clarity; noise free; neutral; natural


Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier: Wright Sound WPA3.5s with NOS drivers and rectifiers
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Modded AI M3A with NOS Teles
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Sota vacuum TT, WT Ref arm, Ortofon MC 3000 II cart.
Speakers: Lowther PM6As
Cables/Interconnects: Advantage IIs (DIY)
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Acoustic jazz from 50s - 60s
Room Size (LxWxH): 35' x 25' x 9 - 21' (sloped)
Room Comments/Treatments: carpet, rugs,furniture
Time Period/Length of Audition: 16 hrs. (40 years)
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): Sonic Horizons PC
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner
Your System (if other than home audition): listed




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Topic - REVIEW: Chimera Advantage II speaker cable (DIY) Cable - paul_s 12:40:38 03/5/05 ( 0)