To clarify, for the last year I have been using the Audio Envy $179 P2 and the $279 M3 power cords. I like them and as I noted before, they easily bested the Isotek $1k power cord. As many, including yourself, say that Zavfino is better than AE, I thought I'd give Zavfino a try since they appear to be value oriented as well. Around the same time I was thinking of trying Zavfino, Hijiri was also mentioned and so that's how I got here. I appreciate your comments.
聖HIJIRI Users thread
Based on a discussion with another forum member, I've been reading up on this Comback Corporation brand. The reviews I've found have been pretty positive, but I've also learned over the years to take all reviews with a grain of salt. So the purpose of this thread is for users to share their input on 聖HIJIRI cables. When you share, if you'd discuss what model of HIJIRI you demoed and what brands/models they were compared to, that'd be very helpful.
A little background: a few years ago I was reading the Audio Envy threads and decided to give them a try as the seemed to compete with much higher-priced cable. So I decided to give AE a try. I found both the $179 P2 and the $279 M3 to easily best an Isotek power cord at $1k. So that got me thinking even more about value products. I was about to give Zavfino a try and then was given another recommendation to give HIJIRI a try. So this is how I got here. I'll be very interested to hear all user comments on HIJIRI and this should be a good repository for the brand.
Here is their website: www.combak.net
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My hesitancy to shell out money is based on the idea that the power cords are made using nothing that really jumps out at me, as "high tech". construction is with copper wire and Wattgate plugs. I really doubt whether either of the models would compare favorably to my current power cords. Collin may be the greatest guy in the world but that would not be my reason for trying the cables. BTW, I have seen on Audioshark many of these cables for sale throughout the world. ozzy |
I only compared the Nagomi and TAKUKI Maestro power cords. After hearing the differences between the two, I felt ‘upper’ level cables in HIJIRI line is the way to go. I wanted to be done with cable upgrades and focus on other areas of possible improvements. And that’s exactly what I did, HIJIRI’s cables have been instrumental in approaching and more importantly differentiating the next level of digital front end along with new appreciation for my existing components in the system. |
@pokey77 I think you mentioned that you hadn’t heard AE or Zavfino, but correct me if I’m wrong on that. Now I have not heard Cap’s NV11 ribbon SC or his Mega power cord, which I think used to be an off the menu type of thing. However, based on my time with the Prestige interconnects, the grounded and ungrounded power cords and the NV9 SC, I would say Zavfino interconnects are definitely better - and that’s both the Arcadia and Fusion, and the Power cable and speaker cables also perform at a higher level, but again, I haven’t heard the Mega or NV11 and I’m comparing those against the Prima mkII PC/SC. I would love to try Hijiri down the road. I get what lalitk is talking about with the constricted nature of the Zavfino cables- that may be related to the high temp PVC, as I’ve heard this gives more punch and detail although it doesn’t help as much with smoothness or ease. The Zavfino cables are definitely inserting their sonic signature on the music, but it’s very engaging to listen to. I am comparing Zavfino SC/PC against Silversmith and Puritan, as they don’t do looms. @lalitk you’ve heard both levels of the Hijiri cables? |
I was introduced to Gestalt Audio by Grannyring. To say Colin is an *Honest* stand-up gentleman, no-pressure dealer, would be an understatement. I ordered cables from him and he delivered on a dime, always answered or returned calls immediately. I'm thankful to know him and his very unique, extremely musical product line. |
Lots of great comments in here. Keep them coming. I believe that @kimurastanley also has some Hijiri. If you'd comment, that'd add value. Thank you. |
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I own the HIJIRI Nagomi power cords and HIJIRI HCS Speaker cables and love them. Best cables I have own to date. They have a very detailed and natural presentation in my system. Not subtle at all, these cables are tuned and you can tell. Colin was great to work with and I feel he is someone I can trust 100%. I know because I bought 3 pc’s, returned 1 and got my money back in a blink of an eye. Why did I return 1 of the cords? Because I felt I only needed 2 pc's in my system. I installed 1 on my Power Conditioner and 1 on my Tube Pre Amp. Oh and they were better than the $3000 Shunyata Sigma V1’s in my system :) |
Please do come over next time you’re in Houston. I would love to hear your feedback and any suggestions you may have to kick the performance another notch. I have been thinking to re-do flooring and go with all wood flooring but not sure how that would impact the overall sound. BTW, the integrated is Accuphase not Luxman as you noted above. I prefer the slightly warm sound of Accuphase not to mention its delicious synergy with Canterbury’s. |
@lalitk ,
Oh my! I just finished looking at your system. I would love to hear it someday. The Tannoy Canterbury GR speakers are fabulous. I also know the Merging digital units are very special. The Luxman amp, subs, turntable to die for, your room etc…You have a full loom of Hijiri’s finest cabling to boot! I know your music must sound so involving. Well done! |
I love my Fyne F704 speakers! Just a joy to listen to. I need to update my pictures as the speaker placement has changed and we have two new diffusion panels. The panels will be installed tomorrow afternoon. A large custom build is going on the wall behind the speakers. Tried to post it here, but not able it seems
I think the new Network Acoustics Muon products are wonderful. I purchased the set and am waiting to receive the new switch.
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“If you received a refund, then why are praising the product?” @ozzy, The refund was received for another ‘custom’ product that did not meet my expectations. Colin asked, how can we make it right, I said I’m not comfortable with replacement and would like to send back the merchandise. He said no problems, I am going to issue you a full refund and address the quality issues with the manufacturer. It is worth pointing out that custom orders are typically non-refundable. PS: My system has a full loom of HIJIRI “Million” series cables. |
Gentlemen, I do appreciate all your comments and concerns. All valuable here. Please, let's keep this on topic and cordial. Honestly, I never thought that this thread would go over one page, but glad that there are those out there who have contributed their impressions and those who'd like to give Hijiri a try. Ozzy, I do hope that you will be able to find a way to audition Hijiri, but I understand if it does not work out. Also, if you consider the Millions line too much of a risk, you could try the Performance line at about a fifth of the price. Several here have mentioned how good it is. |
Ozzy, Colin is far more than a nice talker. He puts action behind his words. I find him a rare commodity these days. Low keyed gentleman that puts no pressure on you and speaks respectfully about other dealers and brands. Just a kind man. He has listening skills like nobody I have ever experienced. Very talented listener with keen skills on how to properly set up speakers. He knows exactly what to listen for while patiently and tirelessly optimizing his customer systems. He coaxed so much more out of my new speaker, which I purchased elsewhere, that it left me realizing how much I still have to learn.
He has listened to many, many high dollar cables. He did the comparisons while deciding on the brands he would carry. After testing he decided on Hijiri and Tchernov. These cables are very special. Both deliver on music’s beauty and nuance in a special way. I know his listening skills are better than mine. They just are. He is gifted in my opinion. Without him I would still have a nice sounding system and cables. However, I would have missed the level of engagement and enjoyment I now find with my music. That is true for me.
This is certainly as, if not more important, than the size or annual sales afforded by a dealer in my experience and opinion. |
For whatever it may be worth to anyone, I agree with members who are speaking highly of Colin. A few months ago, I auditioned some $15K speakers from Gestalt, which were excellent, but--in the end--not for me. He did not hesitate for an instant to refund my money in full when I informed him I was going with a different speaker. In fact, he was a perfect gentleman, even though he had invested quite a bit of time conversing with me about how to set-up the speakers I was auditioning to get the most out of them. With all due respect, it is the dealer who is taking the bigger risk in these auditions. Even with a credit card number as "insurance," a buyer can always fabricate a reason to do a charge back and leave a dealer in an untenable position if gear is damaged, etc. I do not deny there is some mutual risk, but it has also been my experience that most dealers require purchase with an agreed-upon window to return for a full refund. That works for me, as long as the dealer has an established track record and excellent feedback from respected longtime members, as is the case here. As others have indicated, you can deal with Colin with the utmost confidence. |
“Have you ever received a refund from him?” Yes. He is a man of very high values. He does what he says, a class act all the way. Wish I can say the same for you! |
Lalitk, Perhaps you are not at the level of being an Audiophile like me. Once I decide on an item that I may be interested in, I seek out potential dealers. You can do that without my assistance. The first few questions I always ask is how much, is it in stock, and do you have demo units? Not hard to do, just try it. They are not gonna be knocking on your door if that’s what you want. You have to be tenacious. Sheesh, I was a Salesman and a Senior Purchasing Agent for a large corporation each side has its needs. It is not too much to ask these questions. If they say no, then move on or try another dealer. Many, however, will work with you if you sound sincere. In the case of Collin he appears to be a nice talker but a small-time operator with limited resources. I have never heard of him before and his website looks anemic. That throw’s up a caution flag to me before I would send him money and hope for a refund. Have you ever received a refund from him? Has anyone? That would be good information also. ozzy |
@ozzy, Nope, not calling you a liar. Simply taking you up on your amazing spirit of sharing the names of dealers who are willing to send merchandise without any payment security or take the CC info for security but not actually charge it until you decide. Why not disclose their names here so our community can mutually benefit from their generous business practices. |
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grannyring, laltik, The difference is that the power cord that I would like to try is > $5000. A lot more than a cost of a fuse! And I have had many instances of difficulty trying to get my money back after so called trial periods. I even had one company want to refund just 50% because of claimed shipping, handling, restocking costs etc. I think the challenge on the cable’s merits against Synergistic Research SX Galieo, or the AudioQuest Dragon would have been a good one. And if it prevailed, I would have bought one, perhaps even more and sold my existing cables on the gon But enough said on my part. Enjoy! ozzy
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Agreed Ozzy, we should actually try them in our systems. We seasoned Agoners all agree on this. I don’t think Colin is weary or anything like that. He just operates his business in a reasoned and professional manner. We both pay for fuses and all manner of gear upfront with a trial period. Sorry to hear about your past issues with refunds. Not good! |
@ozzy, Thanks for your input. I can only speak to my experiences and how I approach auditions. As long as I am fully aware and good with return policy terms of a dealer providing me an opportunity to audition a product in the very comfort of my home, I have no issues with putting $$$ on my credit card. No one is forcing anyone to audition HIJIRI cables. This thread exists to share positive or not so positive experiences of end users. I always urged folks to try before they commit to purchase any product. There is no such thing is one size fits all, please read my first post on this thread. “We post our impressions based on experience levels, system quality and personal taste and what we think is the best.” |
Someone mentioned experiences. Just for reference purposes I was an Allied Radio Shack Manager at age 19. Previous to that I built many Heathkits. Anyone remember them? This hobby has always been in my blood, and I love it. My actual experience has been through testing, trials, shows, friends and many, many so called, "Mad Scientist" experiments. ozzy |
lalitk, I have had dealers in the past who guaranteed refunds if not satisfied renege on that. Only after getting the CC company involvement along with proof of return was I able to recoup the cost. I don’t know Collin and he doesn’t know me. I get it, both parties are weary. Providing a CC number in the case that I did not return the item should have been security enough. I also will add I have never not paid for something that I received on loan. That would be terrible! Most times if the product tests out to be as good as the claims, I buy it and brag about it on Audiogon. The power cords that I presently own were either previously loaners or was bought used on Audiogon. So, what we have is boasts from seasoned Audiogonners (that I respect) but with no actual relative comparison. Meaning that they are not tested against cords in the same price range. But I am sure some rag mag will review it for their benefits. Leaving again the average Audiogonner not sure how it would compare. ozzy |
Does it ever ends..I know exactly what do you mean. When you put together a system, you are constantly looking at ways to extract every ounce of performance from each component….and that’s where the fun begins. Music is very close to my heart and my audio system is just a reflection of my passion for achieving ultimate expression of music reproduction in my MAN CAVE! If I were you, I would enjoy Zavfino cables until you get that itch for next level performance. Audio pursuits are not very different than our life journey, Zavfino is just another stop, don’t feel rushed to hop back on for next stop, HIJIRI :-) I completely agree with you; in my 30 plus years of audiophile journey, folks like Colin are rare gems. Colin has been a tremendous help and resource in my pursuit of achieving sonic bliss. Couple of more tweaks (hint: grounding) and I am done! |
@pokey77 , you are doing it right by trying cables in your own system with an open mind. The price of a cable, by itself, will not always translate into it being the very best cable in your system and for your tastes. |
@cd45123 , enjoy your new cables and music. Many good cables out there and Zavfino offers very good value products. |
@ozzy I was looking forward to your feedback since you seemed to have listened to a lot of stuff. I think with Hijiri, the prices now get into mid/upper range Shunyata, Siltech, Hemingway, etc. @lalitk @grannyring I imagine you guys have heard a lot of different looms, so will take your word for it on Hijiri. I just settled into Zavfino, but it never ends, does it? :)
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Honestly OZZY, Colin could not be a finer gentleman. I’m not gonna try to convince you because his reputation among his customers really says it all. I will say this; in my experience as an audiophile, some 42 years, I have never run across a more competent, professional and caring dealer. So yes you can trust Colin absolutely and completely.
I must admit here that I am also speechless as the practice of a trial period is near ubiquitous today. I not only expect it, but find it the only reasonable way to run a business. Some dealers don’t even offer a trial period with returns like Underwood Wally, LTA on MHDT dacs and others. Now if being sent gear at no charge is a must have expectation for you, then I respect that need for you. |
“I don’t mind taking my credit info for security but to try and obtain a refund later is just too risky” Honestly I am speechless. There are so many reputable folks here shared their wonderful experiences with Colin. If that’s not enough, most reputable credit card offers Purchase protection benefit for their consumers, where is the risk :-) |
@ozzy ,
I am a bit confused with your last post. A trial period with the option to send back for a full refund is quite common. That is how it has always worked in my experience. Some dealers reduce the refund by charging a restocking fee. I don’t think this dealer charges a restocking fee. Being charged upfront is the way it always works in my experience. Both dealers and direct to customer manufacturers work this way. Perhaps there are some exceptions, but those would be rare exceptions. This is how far less expensive cables are sold by companies like Zavfino. I was charged upfront and given a time window to return. I returned mine. Audio Envy works the same way. With these Hijiri cables the upper end models represent a significant amount of money. I rather doubt dealers keeps 10 of each variety and length in stock. Some cables may need to be ordered and shipped directly to customer.
Perhaps I am missing something and you can clarify. |
This is exactly the feedback I was looking for. Very much appreciated. When folks like grannyring, lak, wig, & lalitk all report fairly similar results, and some of those users also having used Audio Envy and Zavfino, you can have a better idea of how even the Hijiri Performance line is also a value. Let me explain. I mentioned a $1k power cord in my intro. Audio Envy's $179 and $279 power cords were both better by a fairly large margin than the said $1k PC. So if these posters are saying that Hijiri is much better than Audio Envy and Zavfino, at the price that grannyring mentioned for the Hijiri Nagomi power cord above ($1,350), it is still a solid value in that it handily beats the AE and Zavfino power cords. And understand that grannyring and maybe others in this thread have spent a lot of time building cables and so have a larger world view of wire and how it works, you can then understand that when the Hijiri are recommended by them, that they must be pretty good. I have some experience with trying different power cords, but certainly not to the extent that grannyring, lalitk, wig, and others do. So their experience and insight with Hijiri can be highly useful for many who read this thread, certainly for myself. |
Not sure if these prices are still current, as they were given to me back in April 2021, but here is the MSRP back then:
Hijiri "high performance to cost" XLR interconnects: .75m $1,725 1.0m $1,790 1.5m $1,910 2.0m $2,030 2.5m $2,150 3.0m $2,270
Hijiri "high performance to cost" speaker cables: 1.5m $1,900 2.0m $2,150 2.5m $2,400 3.0m $2,650
Hijiri Kiwami "Million" XLR interconnects: .75m $2,800 1.0m $3,150 1.5m $3,800 2.0m $4,450 2.5m $5,100 3.0m $5,750
Hijiri Michi "Million" speaker cables: 1.5m $6,750 2.0m $7,400 2.5m $8,050 3.0m $8,700
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