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High Fidelity Cables CT-1designed by Rick Schultz

In December 2011,I wrote that High Fidelity cables led by cable designer Rick Schultz was putting together a new cable.The cable came to market as CT-1.The CT-1 has FINALLY made it into my system!I had obtained a version of the prototype that Rick had been working on.It blew my previous reference Genesis by Virtual Dynamics.I thought I had finally found my end with this cable.This prototype delivered to my ears "Nirvana".Could I be at the end of my quest for the ultimate sound?
No. I received two pairs of CT-1 to replace my prototypes.They went into the system this past Friday.Unable to dedicate time until Sunday listening,I stole a few moments,ducking away from company with anticipation.My guest could tell even with the music set for"ambiance"something was intriguing and I was in for a treat!
The experience:
First off,CT-1 was very user friendly.Installation was simple;the cable is very nice and light.The female RCA fit beautifully unlike any I had found in other cable.It was secure and reliable.It seemed much thought was dedicated to developing a designer fit to an aesthetically stunning RCA connector.Install entailed a few wiggles to ensure what seemed like a compression fit on my RCA.
It was 2-3 hrs. for the 1st step of break in to be complete.At that point I had something different!Today,although they only have 10-12 hrs. on them,I can`t put into words how much my system has transformed.Believe me,I loved my prototypes.However....there is simply no comparision.
The clarity and sound is so natural.
The soundstage is like nothing I ever heard.Resoulution is breathtaking and inner detail is simply hard to believe possible.
The sound has transended and now it simply does not seem as thought I have speakers.
My system is musicians playing music.
I am told with time they will improve and I trust that as it was revealed with the prototypes.I wanted to share my thoughts with you that now.
Unequivocally,a testament to High Fidelity,as the name declares.
High Fidelity Cables for me,the last word on it,after 12 hours!
Truly Amazing

Al
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albertporter
4,949 posts
 
I guess when you hear something great and the technology is truly different it intrigues you one hand and excites the ears on another. I go listen to systems all the time and I have heard three great ones this past week that sound completely opposite. One was more live natural and detailed with great speed and prat. The other one was organic with soundstage that filled the room and was totally rich as possible. The owners of the systems like their systems their way. I enjoyed both of these mega buck systems and could listen to both all day. They are two of the best I've heard at the cost no object price points. The other system was smaller and a mix of the two. It was one of the best sub 50,000 systems I have ever heard. There are different ways to get where you want to be.

A well stated point of view. I share your opinion completely and hope others experience same as they listen and learn. My own system has changed so much over the years to the point it's unrecognizable from where it began.

I have fond memories of the musical signature from each major variation and no matter what I have I reflect back and miss one strength or another that each variation offered.

I think this is much like music itself, some music is exciting, some soothing, some filled with passion and some soft and reflective. I think perhaps speakers are the major force but with good speakers it comes down to each component as well.
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audiolabyrinth
4,555 posts
 
Thankyou Ddraudt for the kind words, recently my theory is that my amp must have finally burned in, I am hearing air 3-dimensional treble resolution I did not know was possible with home audio playback that I have never exsperienced on my system, so yes, the music has taken me to soothing places and lifted me up a little, Happy listening.
calvinj
2,479 posts
 
@albertporter. It is so true. Time and equipment can evolve your tastes. I used to be in the heavy,warm, textured, rich and organic camp. When I listened to ricks high fidelity the music was so much more live and natural. It also had no background noise. The speed and prat for a heavy jazz listener like myself was greatly enjoyable. So now I want a mix of the two sounds. I'm going to use high fidelity cables and get the other part I seek through the electronics. Speakers,amp, and a tube pre or the right integrated. I listened to Ricks system this weekend and the clarity and naturalness was off the charts. The speed was there in spades. There is a song by Kendrick Scott Oracle called "Cycling into Reality" during one of the solos you can hear the band members talk while they are playing when they are really feeling it. Most cables background noise would obscure this but the high fidelity stuff allows you to hear this and when the four other instruments come in. It does it with great prat, decay and proper instrument placement. It was very enjoyable and non fatiguing but crystal clear and detailed without being bright.
tbg
5,263 posts
 
Calvinj, I understand your thirst for warm, textured, rich and organic sound. But I must say that I have found the HFCables to have cut off the road back to this. I have often had all tube electronic and often only horn speaker systems with SET amps. In conjunction with the Tripoint Troy Signature, I find the HFCables make tube electronic too lacking in resolution and slow to work well with the sound I can get with solid state electronics to be satisfying.

I think one can have a very musical system that can make you sit back and enjoy the music or you can have a system that makes you feel you are present when and where the music was recorded. The latter is what you get with the HFC and perhaps gives you the sound that you would get were you the microphones, and the former is what you might hear were you in row N at the symphony but which lacked much ambience and much of the high end as the audience was absorbing this information. Since I love to hear many jazz performances where the artist is dead, I relish the HFC sound. I want realism not just good sounding music.
calloway
874 posts
 
Tbg...you haven't heard the right 'tube electronic' with the HF cables yet..i will assure you that superb resolution and speed are both possible with the sound that SS electronics cannot match..
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