STEREO • MUSIC Guide to cables, power products, accessories, & music s ponsored by Shunyataa ReSe Rch and MuSIc InteRFace technOLOGIeS NEXT pagE Technology SQUARE-WAVE RESPONSE IN AUDIO: (pronounced Zi-Tron) is a Square-wave response graphs have been verifiable advance in signal used for decades to test the accuracy of transmission through copper conductors. amplifier designs because they objectively represent a SOURCE SQUARE-WAVE This innovation significantly improves signal significant parameter of audible performance. Electronics “They (ANACONDA SIGNAL CABLES) transmission bandwidth and squarewave designers know that even minor differences in squarewave COMPETE WITH, response compared to conventional transmission response can represent significant performance differences AND IN MANY WAYS EXCEED, methods. These dramatic improvements are measurable in terms of resolution, timing and transient response. Square- THE PERFORMANCE OF THE World’s and audible when used in any professional recording system wave test results are not typically published for signal cables BEST CABLES REGARDLESS OF PRICE. or high-end home entertainment system. because, until now, no significant differences are discernible. REFERENCE-QUALITY CABLES AT A REAL-World price.” Technically speaking, Technology significantly WHAT THE SQUARE-WAVE GRAPHS SHOW: — ROBERT HARLEY: EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, reduces dielectric polarization within a signal conductor. This Ideally the signal that appears at the end of the cable THE ABSOLUTE SOUND form of distortion reduces signal bandwidth and causes a should look like the signal that enters the cable. At top right blurring of the transmitted signal — which can be seen in is a graph of the source signal as it appears from the signal the squarewave tests. Technology incorporates generator. The center graph shows this same square-wave as an EFCC (Electric Field Compensation Circuit) that splits the it appears at the end of a conventional cable. Notice the electromagnetic signal into its two constituent parts; the first rounded rising and falling edges of the wave. This demonstrates CONVENTIONAL CABLE RESPONSE being the E-field (electric field) and the second the M-field a significant distortion of the input signal especially at high (magnetic field). Each field is then transmitted independently frequencies. This is easily heard as a notable loss in resolution across two coincident and concentric conductors. This and transient response speed. The square-wave graph on unique method of transmission eliminates or significantly the bottom is from the same type of cable, except it uses reduces dielectric polarization, skin effect and also reduces Technology. Notice that the square-wave more the characteristic impedance of the cable (when compared closely resembles that of the input signal. If these were from to identical cables without the EFCC). The absence of these an amplifier, the designer would be extremely pleased with distortions is readily apparent when compared to any and the improvement. To make this magnitude of measurable all cables that use conventional signal transmission methods. difference in a cable — is simply astonishing. “These reasonablY PRICED CABLES EARN THEIR PLACE The pinnacle of price and performance. IN A HIGH-PRICED SYSTem.” — MARC MICKELSON: EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, THE AUDIO BEAT SAME CABLE WITH TECHNOLOGY NOTE: Notice the much faster response time with the Technology. Rise Time of 403 ns versus 1,377 ns. OVER THREE TIMES FASTER! SHUNYATA RESEARCH • www.shunyata.com • POULSBO, WA USA go to: Contents | From the Editor | on the Horizon | Feature Articles | Cables & Interconnects | Power Conditioners & Cords | Accessories | Buyer's guide | Music SPS oN oRED BY Contents Shunyataa ReSe Rch Power Cable and Conditioner Interconnect and Power Features Reviews Cord Reviews Accessories Music • From the Editor • Clarus Aqua • On the Horizon: • Kimber 8TC Great New Cables • Kimber 12TC And Accessories • Transparent The Link and The Coming Your Way Wave • Cable Designer • Cable survey: Siltech, Cardas, Roundtable Synergistic • Dirty AC Power: • Kimber Hero • 13 power cords compared • Critical Mass Systems • Best 2012 New Releases on Getting it out of • Analysis Plus Big Silver Oval • Audience Au24 powerChord MAXXUM stands and racks Compact Disc Your System • USB Cable Survey • S hunyata Hydra Talos and • Stillpoints equipment racks • B est 2012 Reissued Releases • AudioQuest Diamond USB Triton • Stillpoints Ultra SS feet on Compact Disc • Audience Au24 SE • Synergistic Tesla PowerCell • Best 2012 New Releases on Buyer's Guide • Cable Research Lab Silver/ 10 SE Vinyl copper • Shunyata's Caelin Gabriel • Best 2012 Reissued Releases • Editors' Choice: • Crystal Cable Micro talks with Robert Harley on Vinyl Power Conditioners IC/Micro • Editors' Choice: • Argentum Aureus-2 and Mythos Power Cords • Shunyata Anaconda • Editors' Choice: • EnKlein Amphora Cables and • Furutech Reference III and Interconnects Evolution • Editors' Choice: • Crystal Cable Absolute Dream USB Cables • Transparent Opus • Editors' Choice: • MIT Oracle MA-X Accessories • AudioQuest Wildwood • Synergistic Research Galileo Click on one of the links above to jump to that section, feature or review. 3 Guide to Cables, Power Products, Accessories, & Music www.theabsolutesound.com previous page NeXT page Made with pride in the U.S.A. MIT ora shd av ad 2013.indd 1 11/30/12 3:47 PM go to: Contents | From the Editor | on the Horizon | Feature Articles | Cables & Interconnects | Power Conditioners & Cords | Accessories | Buyer's guide | Music sTEREO • M usiC GU IdE to cab lEs, PowEr ProduCts, accessorIEs, & MusIC publisher. Jim. Hannon senior writers. Anthony H. Cordesman Next screen, LLC, inc. editor-in-chief . Robert Harley Wayne Garcia chairman and ceo ....... Tom Martin Robert E. Greene buyer's guide editor ..... Chris Martens vp/group publisher ...... Jim Hannon Jim Hannon executive editor . Jonathan Valin Chris Martens acquisitions manager Tom Martin advertising reps ........ Cheryl Smith and associate editor . Neil Gader Dick Olsher (512) 891-7775 Andrew Quint music editor ............ Mark Lehman Paul Seydor Marvin Lewis Alan Sircom MTM Sales creative director ........ Torquil Dewar Steven Stone (718) 225-8803 art director ............. Shelley Lai Alan Taffel reviewers & To sign up for Buyer’s Guides contributing writers. Duck Baker, Soren alerts, click here Baker, Greg Cahill, Stephen Estep, Jacob Heilbrunn, Garrett Address letters to the Editor: Hongo, Sherri Lehman, The Absolute Sound, David McGee, Kirk 8868 Research Blvd., Austin, TX 78758 or Midtskog, Bill Milkowski, [email protected] Derk Richardson, Karl ©2012 NextScreen, LLC 5 Guide to Cables, Power Products, Accessories, & Music Schuster, Jeff Wilson www.theabsolutesound.com previous page NeXT page go to: Contents | From the Editor | on the Horizon | Feature Articles | Cables & Interconnects | Power Conditioners & Cords | Accessories | Buyer's guide | Music FROM THE Editor elcome to The Absolute Sound’s Guide to Cables, Power Products, Accessories, and Music (2012). W We at The Absolute Sound are firmly convinced that well-designed audio cables, power conditioners, and accessories can enhance the sound quality of most any hi-fi system, regardless of cost—often in surprisingly dramatic ways. Any of our editors could describe instances where careful importantly, we also devote an entire section to the one thing new releases and reissues in both compact disc and vinyl cable selection and judicious use of power products have audiophiles cherish most: music. formats. made a telling difference between audio systems that merely Highlights include: We all want better sound and deeper, more profound sounded “OK” versus those that truly brought the music • A preview of 42 new cable and power products soon to enjoyment of the music we love, and well-chosen cables, alive in thought-provoking and profoundly moving ways. Our appear on the market. power products, and accessories can go a long ways toward founder, Harry Pearson, famously observed that in audio • A “Roundtable” offering insights from five of the most helping our systems better serve the music. Doesn’t it make systems, “everything sounds”—meaning that even seemingly influential cable designers in the world. good sense, then, to take the time necessary to choose those small system elements like cables and power cords can yield • Reviews of 32 cables and interconnects, plus 18 power system elements carefully? We certainly think it does and big differences listeners can readily hear and appreciate. cords and power products. hope that this Guide helps you to make good choices that will To help you navigate the world of cables and power • An in-depth interview with one of the industry’s leading help your system “sing.” products, this Guide provides roundtable discussions and authorities on power cords and power conditioning. Happy listening. interviews with industry experts who explain why audio cables •Reviews of three killer accessories with great potential to Chris Martens and power conditioners/filters are essential ingredients for improve system sound. good sound; plus a wide range of expert reviews covering • T AS Editor’s top picks for cables, power conditioners, and everything from affordable entry-level cables, interconnects, accessories. and power cords to elaborate state-of-the-art products. More • A music section with recommendations for 2012’s best Click here to turn the page. 6 Guide to Cables, Power Products, Accessories, & Music