Three cables, Two Months, One baby

MikE

Color Me Gone
First, I’d like to thank both Wardsweb and Sasaki for sending me these interconnects for review, and for letting me borrow them far longer than I should. Thanks guys.

The review consisted of three cables: Wardsweb DIY [silver] – Steve Huffman “Grover II” [silver] and my reference: Silverline Audio [copper]. While the Silverlines were originally introduced in 2000, they have been upstaged many times by cables I’ve “borrowed” since. Yet never were those cables essential to my enjoyment. And what is essential to my replay enjoyment? The 45 driven SET, the passive line stage and the i2s digital format w/Audio Magic silver cables. Truth be told, if I had the disposable cash I may have pulled the trigger on some mega-buck cable but instead needed a low-cost alternative. And after sampling the two cables in this review I may have found the elusive coupling device. Read on.

Physical Description: Ward’s: 1.5m w/Dayton connectors, RG-316 coax, Bentely Harris fiberglass cloth lined rubber sleeving, all covered in Bentely Harris expandable sleeving. Sasaki’s “Grover II”: 1m w/hollow plug vintage connectors, using a coaxial design with a very fine gauge silver ribbon conductor through a Teflon air core. Silverline Audio: 1.5m w/Cardas connectors, with a PVC dielectric consisting of seven small groups, one of which is a flexible PVC core for absorbing the excess resonance within the cable, the remaining six groups divided into three red (+) and 3 black (-), each consisting of multi-strand 16 AWG pure copper.

Review Protocol: Both of the review cables saw alternating duty in my system for the period of two months. I also compared them in another system that I’m very familiar. The review protocol consisted of two phases. The first where I’d insert one and listen casually as if I wasn’t conducting a “review”. This would last for weeks at a time. Then in phase two I’d put on my “analytical hat” for some A/B/A comparisons, listening for specific components of each cable. For this I reduced the source material to a handful of tracks. I compared each cable for possible effects on the overall presentation and for subtle shifts in the music, attack of instrument or voice inflection.

Burn-in Process: All three cables were in different states of use. The Grover cables had seen some use, Ward’s were brand-new and mine, of course, were stable. Needless to say the two review cables saw the most action, and one or the other was always looking at a signal. I know some of you don’t put much faith in this process but others have witnessed the effect firsthand.

After a month I sat down for a comparison. The thing that grabbed my attention was the “snap” and “aliveness” with the Grover interconnects in the system. The Silverlines almost sounded “constipated” in comparison, although a bit more composed [smoother] overall. As we became more acquainted I became more and more impressed with they’re imaging abilities. They had a unique way, one I’m still coming to terms with, of presenting multiple instruments distinctly rather than as a homogenized blur [Johnny Cash: American IV]. This added a great deal to my musical enjoyment. The other strong suite of these cables was they’re ability to resolve information the other two cables shrouded in a haze of electronic artifacts. At first I thought they were a bit forward in perspective but later attributed this to they’re resolving power. In fact, I found them to be anything but forward or “large-gestured”.

Next up, I checked out Ward’s DIY silver cables. The build quality of these cables was impressive and I wanted to like them because they were assembled just for me. Unfortunately, while pleasant enough I found them somewhat muffled and veiled. They were a bit too intrusive and glossed over the same information the others revealed. And like the Silverlines, it lacked the dynamic expression of Sasaki’s cable and rather than project images they remained shackled to they’re enclosures [Jeff Beck: Who Else]. While neither of the silver cables would be defined as robust, Ward’s leaned further from that characterization.

Slids the Grover interconnect back in. In addition to they’re imaging, speed and pace I also appreciated the way they uncovered ambient cues, like room noise; movement about the mic, and the chattering of cords, chairs or feet [John Lee Hooker: Chill Out]. Room boundary information, while not the best I’ve ever heard, wasn’t lacking either [Kings of Convenience: Quiet is the New Loud]. These cables had greater extension in the upper registers, and I kept jotting down the word “shimmer” in my notes. They were a bit more sibilant than the copper cable and perhaps not the best patch cord in a SS system.

I then listened to the cables in a friend’s system and recognized the same qualities I had earlier. We then A/B/A between the Grover cable and his reference – Micro Omega Ebony – which are hideously expensive and incorporate a very unique out-board battery supply. While recognizing the “Grover signature”, the longer I listened I had to agree that in comparison the Micro Omega was simply superior: Offering a richer mid-band, lightening quick transient attack and a variety of tonal color, shading and texture that was on another level [Nick Drake: Pink Moon]. Due to the complex nature of the Micro Omega device I’ve not tried them in my system but if my friend considers them his reference they must have won many a battle. Even so, head-to-head the Grover cable didn’t embarrass itself, especially in the recovery of low-level data.

For me the highest praise I can give any component is that puts me closer to my music. And because it didn’t editorialize or serve the music in a compartmentalized fashion it delivers a measure of that promise by weaving discrete elements into one uniform fabric.

Reality Check: Audiophiles often have difficulty interpreting the effect of a component in product reviews. We need to put those words into context. As you can tell I was quite impressed with Sasaki’s cable and intend to give it my highest endorsement – by purchasing a 1.5m pair. But shortly after concluding my audition I was introduced to another component that may assist in adding perspective to my cable review. The component was the Audiomeca Enkianthus DAC. A very beautiful and expensive component, and one that transformed my friend’s system like no other SOTA cable or cord ever had. Or for that matter, like any other core component either. It was like dropping a vinyl rig in his system, minus the rumbling and pops. So while I believe the Grover cable is a terrific bargain [$75] it will not fundamentally change your system or makeup for shortcomings elsewhere in the chain. If anything, it may present them in sharper relief.

Disclaimer: As with any review, and especially for one involving cables, many of the descriptors used do not concern attributes of the device themselves [in this case a cable] but for what they recover or allow the system to replay. I.E. The cable itself isn’t “fast” instead it better replays the music with a “alive” quality. Assuming, of course, those characteristics were present before you pressed play. If that was not the case, then you need to hang out more in the Music Forum [or listen to live music] and spend less time reading silly reviews.

MikE
 
Left to Right

In the photo above are the Silverlines, Ward's DIY and the Grover II. MikE
 
Nice review MikE. Thanks for taking the time to take the notes needed to write it and especially for wrapping your mind in an objective fashion around such a subjective thing as interconnects and how well they work.
 
Minor correction: the DIY were twisted pair multi stand silver plated copper with a teflon cover. So, no coax and no shielding. I made these specific for Mike who wanted to try the silver. My originals I use are the RG-316 and, as stated, were not tested by Mike.
 
Oops

Thanks Ward, it completely slipped my mind that you tweaked the cables for me. So I'm assuming you've not listened to the particular configuration I reviewed. I'd think that the one's I tried would be to my liking but who knows. Be curious what you think when you get them back and can compare the two.

MikE
 
Glad you appreciated it. Truth is I find this stuff [cable auditions] pretty tedious stuff. But these cables appeared interesting and like I said, I'm looking. :para:

MikE
 
Great review. I too find auditioning cable most tedious. That's why I go for the long term listen approach to garner some basic general impressions etc...
 
A bit OT, but since you mentioned it...

Originally posted by MikE
But shortly after concluding my audition I was introduced to another component that may assist in adding perspective to my cable review. The component was the Audiomeca Enkianthus DAC. A very beautiful and expensive component, and one that transformed my friend’s system like no other SOTA cable or cord ever had. Or for that matter, like any other core component either. It was like dropping a vinyl rig in his system, minus the rumbling and pops.

Until very recently, Audiomeca was one of my "featured" product lines - and, technically speaking, I'm still an Audiomeca dealer (that is, I still have access to this line).

That being said, the $4700 Enkianthus DAC is a most impressive unit. But you friend might be interested in auditioning at some point Audio Note's recently-introduced (and less-expensive) DAC2.1x Balanced, which would be even more "like dropping a vinyl rig in his system, minus the rumbling and pops" in all the best ways...

At any rate, you are quite right in claiming that component upgrades are far more likely to result in "night-and-day" differences than even the most radical cable swaps!
 
Originally posted by sasaki kojiro
I too find auditioning cable most tedious. That's why I go for the long term listen approach to garner some basic general impressions etc...

I agree. Long term listening is usually the way to really appreciate cables. There are exceptions though-bright stuff annoys me instantly. If its painfull to listen to, its history.

Jack
 
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