Speaker Cables


I've read and heard many good things about Acoustic Zen speaker (Satori or Hologram) cables and would appreciate if some of you could share your experience of what seems as an extremely good value set of speaker cables if what Sterephile and Soundstage reviewers says.

My original choice are the more established cables from Cardas like the Neutral or Golden Reference speaker cables. I have the following setup and my preferences in music are more towards jazz, vocals, instrumentals, sax, guitar, etc

Musical Fidelity A3 Integrated amp
Musical Fideltity A3.2 Power amp
ProAc Response D15 (Floorstanding) speakers
Musical Fidelity A3.2CD
dtanclim
I single-wire using spades, and replaced my Cardas Cross with Satori going from my VTL MB-185 200w tube mono's to my Thiel 2.2 3-way 8" floorstanders. The choice was pretty easy in my system, but I can't speak for the Cardas cables above Cross, though I have a feeling they would do much better in this comparision, albeit for more money (much more money in the case of the GR).

The Satori is a great-sounding cable IMO, with a very refined yet complete presentation. It opened a clearer window on the performance, while also lowering grain and hardness. Images 'inhabit' their soundstage environment to a greater degree while remaining well-individuated, with less background grunge in between and fine dimensionality apparent in all directions, but these are not forward cables, and I experienced increased freedom from the speakers being perceived as obvious sound sources. Bass took on a more tactile and authoritative quality, conveying weight and texture without bloat or overhang, and treble purity is outstanding, with cymbals sounding more natural and less tizzy. Air is naturally abundant without being emphasized. Tonally, this cable seems nicely palpable through the midrange, and so is not lean in any way, but otherwise feels quite neutral and unhyped while still being extended. Dynamics are notably uncompressed and and complex material remains uncongested; competing events within the soundstage don't impinge upon each other. Quietness is excellent, likewise coherence and overall ease. Vocals are more believable than before, with a less 'electronic' character, yet more low-level detail is also unmasked, so the Satori strikes me as being transparent in the truest sense. I can't detect any noticable blurring or etching of outlines, and transient definition and cleanliness sound unimpeded on both attack and decay. As you can see, I have no complaints pending ever hearing something better at home, but in fairness it took me a longer time than I've yet lived with the Satori so far for me not to feel that way about the Cross.

In some systems I suppose the Cross could sound initially more exciting, but ultimately I felt they were 'zippier' and had more glare without actually revealing as much, and weren't as even-handed across the spectrum, or as easy to listen to without fatigue at higher levels. Manufacturing quality on the AZ is fine, while the appearance is distinctly more attractive. I am not thinking about any other options here at the moment, although one member who has used and liked Satori (in biwired guise) has told me that he switched when he got the Audience wire. Even though I haven't tried anything more expensive than these cables in my system, I feel the Satori has got to be a wonderful value for its cost whether or not it's really the 'giant-killer' some have said, and would recommend auditioning it to anyone interested.
I use it in a bi-wire/bi-amp with my Vandersteen 3A Sigs. It sounds as good or better than any cable I've used to date. Wonderful smoothness and transparency.
For reference, I have used Nordost SPM, Tara Labs Master Generation 2 and "The 2" and have tried Cardas Golden Reference. The differences are not much but the money sure is.
Try the new Purist Audio Musaeus. I just ordered a Bi-wire pair for my B&W's. I tried these against the Cardas Neut ref. The new Musaues just amazed me at what it did and it is better then their older long loved colossus cable and is about 1/3 the cost of colossus. ($580 compared to about $2000) The thing that is nice about purist is if you order a bi-wire, they actually add double the cable instead of just splitting the existing conductors. And the new cables don't use fluid anymore for sheilding. They use a metalic substance called Ferox that really sheilds the cable creating an extremely low noise floor. The museaus is fuller bodied sound, very open and airy, detailed and soundstage is deep and wide. Their new Venustas is another level of performance, but at about $2500 to 3000. I just ordered their Venustas XLR IC for my amp to pre. The venustas is breathtaking!!! The midrange is so natural sounding. Vocals are stunning. Call Paul at "The Cable Company" he was my salesperson. They will send you loaners to try in your own system.
Happy listening.
Email me and I will let you know my experience with AZ, Shunyata and Audience speaker cables and let you know what I settled on. Also include your equipment. I am not a dealer or anything.