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Cable Asylum: REVIEW: Clear Day Audio 2 x Double Shotgun speaker cable Cable by David L

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REVIEW: Clear Day Audio 2 x Double Shotgun speaker cable Cable

82.22.144.179


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Model: 2 x Double Shotgun speaker cable
Category: Cable
Suggested Retail Price: $800
Description: Bi-wire solid core silver speaker cable
Manufacturer URL: Not Available

Review by David L on October 07, 2008 at 13:41:58
IP Address: 82.22.144.179
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for the 2 x Double Shotgun speaker cable



I have been using the Silver Blue solid-core silver cables from Audio Synthesis (a UK company at:
http://www.audiosynthesis.co.uk/index.htm )
for speaker connection for the past 15 years, and have been very happy with their performance; in particular their transparency, naturalness and immediacy.

A recent re-modelling of our main living room meant that these cables were not really long enough. As the Silver Blue speaker cables are no longer in production I looked around for alternative silver cables. I read the review of the Clear Day cables on Audio Asylum:
http://www.AudioAsylum.com/audio/cables/messages/13/136927.html
and hence found details of the supplier on Audiogon ( vonwaffen@juno.com ). I noted that the feedback there from purchasers of these cables was 100% positive. What is more the qualities highlighted by purchasers were exactly those I was looking for: naturalness, ambience and sweetness.

Given the relatively low cost of these cables, I took the risk of buying 2 pairs of the Double Shotgun cables so that I could bi-wire my speakers. I chose the Double Shotgun cable as my existing cables comprise 2 x 18 gauge wires to each speaker terminal, and I was concerned not to increase the cable resistance to any great extent (the Double Shotgun has 4 x 24 gauge per terminal i.e. half the cross-sectional area of my existing cables).
It has been suggested to me in the past that increasing the number of conductors for a given wire gauge could cause a slight tonal shift towards the bass, so I was interested to see how the Double Shotgun would compare.
The other important physical difference between the Clear Day cables and my Audio Synthesis cables is that the latter have an outer shield whereas the former are twisted pairs without a shield.

As advised by Paul Laudati, I have waited over 100 hours before judging these cables; they certainly changed considerably during this period.
In a word they are brilliant; by which I do not mean that they stand out in any way, rather that they convey very realistic sounds in a natural acoustic. Compared with my old cables they are sweeter and give a better sound stage. They are possibly less 'forceful' in the bass but still very quick and tuneful in this area - this may be the more accurate reproduction. Overall the sound is balanced across the frequency range, with excellent reproduction of instrument tonality, and good transparency. Because of these qualities I can listen at a higher volume levels so I am able to hear more subtle musical details than before, and better experience the whole range of dynamics. My music tastes are very catholic, but classical, acoustic jazz and world music predominate. For these genres I am happy to live with the approximation they give me to live music. For highly processed music I prefer their approximation to the distorted sound I typically experience when I hear the corresponding group live. Do I have any negative comments? If really pushed I might cite a slightly less 'black' background between the notes than with my old cables, but this could well be my imagination. I have yet to experiment with routing the cables further from the equipment mains leads, which might change this perception.

Hence I would recommend the Double Shotgun cables without reservation. They are superb value for money, and it has been a pleasure to do business with Paul.


Product Weakness: ?? No hype in sound - not for those who wish to be immediately impressed!
Product Strengths: Natural and transparent sound. Excellent reproduction of instrument tonality and soundstage.


Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: 2 x bridged Alner-Hamblin SA400 (1.1 kW)
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): none
Sources (CDP/Turntable): MF CD Pre24 + Bel Canto DAC 3
Speakers: Harbeth Super HL5
Cables/Interconnects: Cawsey CCB (balanced)
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Classical, jazz, world (acoustic)
Room Size (LxWxH): 21 x 14 x 8
Room Comments/Treatments: none
Time Period/Length of Audition: 2 months
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): Kimber mains block + dedicated spur
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner




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Topic - REVIEW: Clear Day Audio 2 x Double Shotgun speaker cable Cable - David L 13:41:58 10/7/08 ( 1)