Cable Asylum: REVIEW: Maple Audio Whisper Cable by cableguy

Model:	Whisper
Category:	Cable
Suggested Retail Price:	$250
Description:	1 set of speaker cables, and one set of interconnects
Manufacturer URL:	Maple Audio
Manufacturer URL:	Maple Audio

Review by cableguy ( D ) on April 14, 2003 at 16:07:57
IP Address: 64.230.113.47

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for the Whisper

This was a comparo done between a number of cables including QED Silver Anniversary biwire, IXOS 6004 biwire, Ultralink Challenger biwire, and Canare biwire which up untillnow was the refernce on his system. His system consists of:
Cyrus IIIi amp & PSX-R power supply
Rotel RCD-970BX CD player
Signet SL280e speakers
It's important to note that the only thing stopping him from getting the Maple's was his fixed budget. The biwire Whipser is $500, and the budget was $250.
Here's what he found (I decided to pass along the comments).
The Ultralink Challenger was warm and full but lacked the highs of the Canare it sounded very slightly muffled in comparison, although the midrange and bass were excellent.
The Ixos was noticeably better in the highs sounding similar to the Canare but with more detail.
At first listen, the QED sounded similar to the Ixos, until I noticed some instruments that I hadn't heard with any cable previous! I listened to the same track again and then a third time with the Canare. Sure enough, I didn't even notice the passage with the instrument. Back to the QED and there it was! Definitely more detail and air than the others, and far more revealing than the Canare. Good midrange presence and very authoritative bass too.
Of course the Maple Audio was pure magic by comparison to all of the previous cables. Open, airy, detailed, delicate highs, a gorgeous midrange and authoritative bass. Now I know what they mean by transparency the sound just floated through the air. Damn! The only things that drove me nuts about it were the inflexibility of a solid core cable, and the crunchy casing every time it rubbed against itself, it would make a kind of crunchy sound.
So the QED comes closer to the detail of the Maple Audio, without as much delicacy. Between the Ultralink, Ixos and the QED, I would have to pick the latter, based on the revealing detail.

Product Weakness: solid core conductors are not easily manageable
Product Strengths: incredble sound for the money

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Cyrus IIIi amp & PSX-R power supply
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	none
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Rotel RCD970BX
Speakers:	Signet SL280e
Cables/Interconnects:	Canare Star Quad biwire
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	various
Type of Audition/Review:	Friend's System

Product Weakness:	solid core conductors are not easily manageable
Product Strengths:	incredble sound for the money