Cable Asylum: REVIEW: VH Audio AirSine Cable by ironbut

Model:	AirSine
Category:	Cable
Suggested Retail Price:	$1199
Description:	VH Audio's
Manufacturer URL:	VH Audio
Model Picture:	View

Review by ironbut ( A ) on August 08, 2005 at 19:53:55
IP Address: 67.188.75.134

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for the AirSine

I've been meaning to write a short review of this product for some time so here goes. I bought the 6' airsine a couple of months ago and having read the owner and beta tester reviews on Chris's website I figured I was in for a long break-in. I have a set of VH audio's fine silver interconnects and am very pleased with them. I'd tried several lower priced (under $300 used) pc's and was hard pressed to hear much of a difference between them. I was ready to dismiss them as snake oil when Chris introduced an "expensive cord". This and my positive experence with the fine silver made me bite. I hooked it up to my cdp and left it to burn, but my curiosity got the better of me,.. come on, I know I;m not the only one that "Has to peek" and WOW! I was shocked. My old cheepo CAL audio dx-1 approached the sound of my Sony scd777es modded. More extention at both ends, smooth but very detailed mids, all the usual stuff you would expect from a top of the line product but the main change, and this was in in major amounts, was the reduction, maybe even the elimination of the fuzz and blur that usually occupies the spaces between the instruments. I figure this is the grunge that reviewers talk about. One of those thing you don't notice till it's gone but, when it IS gone, it allows the qualities of the components upstream and downstream to shine through. Tweaks and adjustments are more easily accomplished. Well,you get the idea,.. but I'm a vinyl guy so such a great addition was NOT going to stay on a cdp, esspecially the back-up one. So,.. off to my Conrad Johnson p r 140 amp.
Well, the improvements weren't as pronounced as on the Dx-1 but they are of the same type. I hope to replace all my pc's with Airsines when budget permits.
In conclusion, I can't imagine a bigger upgrade for a budget cdp, or a more worthy upgrade for an amp or preamp $5k+.

Product Weakness: none found
Product Strengths: makes budget equipment sound way better than they have any right to sound
releases the strengths of expensive gear

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Conrad Johnson Premeir 140 kt88eh
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Cat ultimate
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Vpi Aires at0c9/grado ref-ref sony scd 777es audiomoded
Speakers:	Magnepan 1.6qr Jensen xo,Mye stands
Cables/Interconnects:	Jaden Sig. speaker,Vh fine silver, Silver audio Silver breeze, Cardas Ref,Kimber hero,
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Jazz, Classical, Folk/bluegrass, early rock
Room Comments/Treatments:	home made bass traps
Time Period/Length of Audition:	2.5 months
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	dedicated 20 amp
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	none found
Product Strengths:	makes budget equipment sound way better than they have any right to sound releases the strengths of expensive gear