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Cable Asylum: REVIEW: T.G. Audio Labs TG Audio HSR IC (unshielded) Cable by RH Interconnects, speaker wire, power cords. Ask the Cable Guys. |
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24.25.218.178
Model: TG Audio HSR IC (unshielded) Category: Cable Suggested Retail Price: $400 Description: 1m unsielded, single-ended and broken-in Manufacturer URL: T.G. Audio Labs Manufacturer URL: T.G. Audio Labs
Review by RH ( A ) on April 21, 2002 at 16:31:24
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for the TG Audio HSR IC (unshielded)
I waited several months before deciding to share my experience with Bob Crump's interconnects. I was lucky to have ordered 2 sets at a point halfway thru the break-in he performs before sending them out. Also, I feel that it is most important to audition them in a system that is as broken-in and as fully synergised as possible. You WILL NOT hear what these cables can do if any aspect of your system has not fully settled-in. I believe they are the final ingredient in my system that tied it all together. TG Audio Lab SLVR pc at the source, HSR ic's and ending with TG Audio's HSR speaker cable w/jumpers. I finally have what I am comfortable calling a reference system. Not SOTA, but one that reveals any and all changes, is pretty much sonically balanced from top to bottom, has great bass control and a beautifully balanced soundstage.Two outstanding qualities that for me have become trademarks associated with TG cables (and really locked-in with the addition of the ic's) are the kind of soundstage created and the way bass is presented.
Soundstage- Actually more like a sonic landscape. When I close my eyes it feels so solid. Notes soar when presented as such and the entrance of individual performers/instruments is natural and at times (especially noticeable with small ensembles) you can sense when it will happen... as when at a live performance you see a nod of one performer to another. That air of excitement and performance energy is often there in spades. I had never experienced this before with any other brand of previously owned cable (Cardas, Aural Symphonics, Target, Synergistic, XLO and JPS). The center fill is rock solid, dimensional and totally connected to both sides with no discernable gaps. Also there is a strong feeling that one is transported to the performance as opposed to having it brought to one's living room. Just as a good movie sweeps you away to another time and place... the singer isn't standing between and slightly above the speakers but exists in the realm the listener is drawn into. There is also present that hard to fully describe (some call it palpable) quality where you feel as though you can hear around voices and instruments. Not exactly 3D or necessarily air but a tangibilty that is more natural sounding as in a live performance.
Bass- Hard to do in almost any system in a completely satisfying manor. And made even more difficult in less than ideal room environments. Bass performance took it's biggest leap when I inserted Bob Crump's HSR speaker cable w/jumpers. The HSR ic's locked it down. As I mentioned in my speaker cable review this is STEREO bass. It's fully delineated as recorded. It can be fat on one cd and lean and tight on another. Wherever the bass intruments are located is where the bass starts to eminate. The venue may be flooded with deep bass notes or stay more focused left or right. Bass notes feel like a true foundation for the music.
The TG Audio Labs ic's appear to have very little additive effect to the music. I do believe, however, that they allow the recorded music to sound right, natural and as close to how it was recorded or intended to sound by the artist/producer as I've ever heard. All in a natural glare-free, grainless manor with no artificial smoothing. Bass performance is world-class. Soundstaging (with my gear and room) is true to the recording and can easily go deep and wide if intended. These ic's are a "must audition". But, I must say again- please insert them into a system that you have lived with for awhile. Make sure that nothing else needs to settle or break-in. I believe John Barker at www.sonicculture.com has most of the TG Audio line available for audition.
Product Weakness: They call more attention to the music than themselves A weakness if the rest of your system cannot do the same. Product Strengths: They call more attention to the music than themselves.
Associated Equipment for this Review: Amplifier: Art Audio Gill Sig Amp and Bel Canto eVo 2 Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Art Audio dm vps w/ remote Sources (CDP/Turntable): Electrocompaniet EMC II cd player Speakers: Merlin VSM Cables/Interconnects: TG Audio labs ic's, pc's and speaker cable Music Used (Genre/Selections): smorgasboard Time Period/Length of Audition: 2 months Other (Power Conditioner etc.): Sound Application XE-12 line conditioner Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner
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Topic - REVIEW: T.G. Audio Labs TG Audio HSR IC (unshielded) Cable - RH 16:31:24 04/21/02 ( 9)
- T.G. Audio Labs TG Audio HSR IC (unshielded) Cable - mingus 18:26:56 04/23/02 ( 0)
T.G. Audio Labs TG Audio HSR IC (unshielded) Cable - Dennisj 05:30:57 04/22/02 ( 1)
- Re: T.G. Audio Labs TG Audio HSR IC (unshielded) Cable - RH 07:21:12 04/22/02 ( 0)
I too found them to be the least bright of any cable .... - DunninLA 20:37:46 04/21/02 ( 0)
RH, the interconnects you reviewed - rcrump 18:56:05 04/21/02 ( 1)
- Re: RH, the interconnects you reviewed - RH 19:04:15 04/21/02 ( 0)
T.G. Audio Labs TG Audio HSR IC (unshielded) Cable - Mike B. 16:56:27 04/21/02 ( 2)
- Re: T.G. Audio Labs TG Audio HSR IC (unshielded) Cable - RH 17:17:10 04/21/02 ( 1)
- Re: T.G. Audio Labs TG Audio HSR IC (unshielded) Cable - Mike B. 18:14:49 04/21/02 ( 0)