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Cable Asylum: REVIEW: ModWright I2S Cable by Pete Watt

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REVIEW: ModWright I2S Cable

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Model: I2S
Category: Cable
Suggested Retail Price: $99.00
Description: I2S Digital Interconnect
Manufacturer URL: ModWright
Manufacturer URL: ModWright

Review by Pete Watt ( A ) on January 13, 2003 at 12:00:30
IP Address: 198.81.26.232
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for the I2S


I have just completed auditioning Dan Wright's new I2S digital interconnect and, in a word, it's a winner. First, I'll describe how I structured my listening tests, and then cover the results.

My current Perpetual Technologies digital front-end is configured to interprolate to 24 bits in the P-1A and to upsample to 96k in the P-3A. This means that for my normal operations and for these tests I did not select the I2S Direct option. Rather, the I2S cable connecting the two Perpetual units functioned in the same manner as either a balanced or coax digital interconnect would. This has the advantage of permiting a better apples to apples comparison with non-I2S cables. In this mode, I listened extensively to three digital interconnects: 1)the Audio Magic I2S, 2)the ModWright I2S, and 3)the Audience AU24 balanced digital which is my reference interconnect.

As for the results, between the two I2S cables it wasn't even close. The ModWright was much more natural and less bright in the treble, more real and much more transparent in the midrange, and presented a significantly wider more dimensional soundstage. Base content and detail definition were close to a push, with the ModWright having a slight edge. The ModWright is clearly superior to any other I2S I've heard, and as an added bonus, is very reasonably priced.

In head to head comparison with my Audience balanced digital interconnect, it was a very close call, with the AU24 having a slight but audible edge in more transparent sound and a more ambient soundstage. As a result of earlier listening tests, I had selected the AU24 after auditioning many other digital (balanced and unbalanced) interconnects. In my opinion, the ModWright I2S comes in a close second to the AU24, and is clearly superior sonically to my other top rated contenders -- the Jean Labs Trio and the Kimber Orchid (both balanced).

My bottom line conclusion is that the ModWright I2S represents an excellent way to connect the Perpetual boxes, and if you are running in I2S Direct mode, there is really no other game in town. Though I still prefer the AU24 in my configuration, I must admit that, at less than half the price, the ModWright is a better value.


Product Weakness: None
Product Strengths: Very natural treble, transparent midrange, wide dimensional soundstage, extended base, detailed definition, value


Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier: Spectron Digital One (Class D)
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Conrad Johnson PV-12 (highly modified)
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Perpetual P-1A (SOCS) & P-3A (modwright II)
Speakers: B&W Nautilus 802's
Cables/Interconnects: Audience AU24 interconnects; Alpha Core Goertz MI2 cables
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Classical; Jazz
Room Size (LxWxH): 20 ft. x 18 ft. x 12 ft.
Time Period/Length of Audition: January 2003 -- 7 days
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): Exact Power 1000 regenerator
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner




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Topic - REVIEW: ModWright I2S Cable - Pete Watt 12:00:30 01/13/03 ( 3)