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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
alpass
lak's avatar
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lak
4,557 posts
 
Hifial and 68pete; I agree, Hifial asked a really good question and I also would like to know the answer to it.

On a different note, I'm thinking one reason the Hemisphere takes so many hours to break in is because I believe it uses the Furutech GTX-D Rhodium R outlets. I own and use 5 of them and they took about 500 each to fully break in and sound consistently good.



hifial's avatar
hifial
332 posts
 
Pete, thanks for the feedback.

Just a thought on your last comment.

Perhaps it is your amp needing to reach its operating temp that you are hearing. Even though it is in standby it may need to be"on" to reach its peak. Of course I am guessing because I do not know what amp or for that matter Preamp and Disc Player you are using. It could be any of them as some equipment needs to have a signal run through it to sound its best.
I would think it would be one of them before the Hemisphere but perhaps not.

Let us know how it progresses for you. 
68pete
994 posts
 
Hello hifial
If it is the amp, i have never noticed it until the last couple of days.
As the sound stage improved is when i noticed it. My system consists of:
Esoteric CO3x pre amp
Esoteric KO3x SACD/CD player
Mark Levinson 335 amp (on a dedicated 20amp line)
PSaudio P10 and Power base (not on dedicated line)
8 MC O.5s and 1 Hemisphere High Fidelity
Transparent interconnects ReferenceXL MM2 XLR on all
Transparent speaker cables Reference MM2 (right below the XL line)
B@W Matrixs 800 speakers
Thanks for the info
Enjoy Pete 

68pete
994 posts
 
Hi lak
I am sure you are right about the Furutech GTX Rhodium outlets adding to break in time. Rick all so told me the magnet set up in the Hemisphere is all so very different from the Distributor.
Enjoy Pete
rlawry
477 posts
 
Abraxis, I apologize, at least for myself anyway, that you find us posters on this forum to be fanboys or shills for HFC.  My intent has always been to post my personal experiences and I can assure you I have been a serious audiophile since before my college days over 40 years ago.  I have had a multitude of speakers, electronics, cables, tweaks, room treatments, analog front ends, you name it.  I always thought the limiting factors were with electronics but found myself at least partially wrong when I tried my first HFC cable.  At one point I had about $80K of NBS cables but went to other cables prior to HFC.  Like others here, I have paid way too much on HFC products, but when hearing what are almost certainly the biggest changes ever, it is hard not to keep pursuing the addition of these products to my system that keeps improving the sound ever more.  I would have to consider myself being dishonest if I were compensated by convincing others to buy these products.  I am in technical sales in the medical device industry and learned a long time ago not to operate this way.

My system consists of:  Essence solid-state power amp, Essence tubed preamp, Manley Steelhead phono stage, SME 20/2 turntable with Graham Phantom arm and Lyra Titan i cartridge, Homemade speakers with Audio Nirvana 12" single drivers with alnico magnets, JL Audio F113 subwoofer, NOS tubes, KL Audio ultrasonic LP cleaner, and 8000 LP's.  I also have a digital rig but rarely listen to it.  For HFC products I have 3 pairs of UR interconnects, U speaker cables, a URH power conditioner on a dedicated 20A line, a URH power cable to the Manley (my amp and preamp have custom power cords with round military connector), and 7 of the MC-0.5's plugged into the wall and into unused conditioner outlets.

I personally am not aware of any shills on this forum and hope there are not.  No one has steered me wrong yet.
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