Taralabs cables

The Zero EvolutionThe TARA Labs interconnects of the top series have always been my own “analog sound' role model, i.e. very smooth, warm, without underlined edges. I understood it this way, that the developers wanted to avoid the problems which recordings provide in abundance. The mission was a success, because with The Zero I never heard any harshness, distortion, dirt, or unpleasant elements in the sound. A very similar behavior to worshiped Wadia's CD Player, model 861.
I do not know how TARA guys did it, but the new The Evolution Zero interconnect is even smoother, more enjoyable, and yet its tone is significantly more open, treble is nicely extended and it never lacks the energy and brilliance. Everything that is happening there, whether it is cymbals, or trumpet and saxophone harmonics, and finally sibilants - everything shines wonderfully, is particularly vivid, and yet smooth.

I know I repeat myself, but I have to say it again - I do not know how the company did it, but presentation is even smoother than the one of Siltech Triple Crown IC. I thought smoother was no longer possible, until I heard The Evolution Zero. The tonal balance of the performance is placed quite high, and yet it initially one has an impression of it being shifted down - a phenomenon that I try to explain with quite powerful bass delivered by TARA that resonates for a long time and always tries to be present. Siltech presents larger images, bigger volume, but it is TARA that provides listener with more relaxed presentation of the recorded music, it's Tara that enchants listener from the very first minute of listening.

I mentioned the bass already, not let me elaborate. A way of showing double bass, organ, piano, electronic instruments, is very pleasant. It's slightly warm presentation, without clear edge forming, and therefore very safe. And if it was another cable from a lower shelf, then one could speak of a slight rounding of shapes and "releasing" sound towards decay phase. In any other case I could indicate a slight remission of control. I'd talk about rounded attack resulting in less precision. But not here, not in this case.
Yes, it's true, it's not a perfect control, there is no precise determination of the attack and stop. But this gives the impression of the presence, density and fullness, while there is no rumble in the room, listener never complains about the extended bass notes, despite the high energy of the whole lower end. The message is perfectly coherent, we do not track individual elements of the performance by simply listen to music.
The soundstage is wide and deep. But quite different from that which I have heard with other top level cables. Let me spoil it for you and tell you right now that I will tell you the same about other elements of the Evolution series: rear plans are as important as the front one, they are shown equally clearly with the same, high level of energy. Volume (size) of instruments, vocals, and non-musical elements placed there are comparable with those on the front.
I have no idea how this is achieved, but I can not deny the facts: the Evolution shows a change of timbre, dynamics, emphasis shifts, change of drums pace that is set at the back of the stage as well as of the leading instrument. I mean that both arouse similar emotions, involve listener in the same way. And they demand the same level of attention. So there is this impression of incredible richness of sound. It comes at a cost, obviously but I'll tell you about it bit later.
First, let me tell you about dynamics - a fantastic, explosive, powerful one. Always equally exciting without tempering in less important moments, and by that generating huge excitement. This is one of the few cables that show this aspect of music intimately, as if we were sitting in front of a stage at a concert. It's a beautiful, exciting performance even smoother than what we get from SILTECH Triple Crown, which took me completely off guard. How they achieved that, how did they combine energy and open treble with such an excellent smoothness - I do not know. Just as I have no idea how they managed to show back plans so perfectly without adding any brightness to the sound, without damping the attack.

The Omega Evolution SPIf you start listening from the interconnect, it will prepare you for most of the changes that will happen after the change of speaker cable. Even this, however, does not prepare listener for the incredible dynamics of this cable with which the it delivers music. This is amazing, because until now I believed that Omega Onyx, which I was familiar with like with almost any other element of my system, will crush every competitor and won't be taken by a surprise by none. And here come a surprise - Omega Evolution is clearly faster and much more dynamic. These are not minor changes but a significant improvement.

This applies to both the foreground and what is behind. I would even say that the latter constitutes its performance, because I have not experienced so far anything like that with any other cable. Hitting drumroll, kettledrum, double bass' solo, guitars are with the new TARA speaker cable simply outstanding. An older version of the cable, Omega Onyx, was phenomenal in this respect. The new cable slightly improves what is happening in the front, but completely changes the rules of the game by showing as clearly dynamic shifts in the rear of the stage.
Omega Evolution is a cable with a much wider bandwidth (perceived) than the old Omega Onyx. It has firmly extended treble and more meaty bass. With the older version nothing was missing at least until I heard Evolution. Also Siltechs – both Double and Triple - Crown seem less "present" at the top of the band, their sound is more "vintage". Powerful treble performance itself is not a feat, I know a lot of expensive cables, which have a high treble energy. But none of them is at the same time so smooth, so - I'm exaggerating, but I want to show it clearly as possible - warm. This is not a "warm" sound in the sense in which we use the word to describe the majority of tube amplifiers. It is "warm" through lack of aggression, smoothing of all irritating elements of the recording, and combining everything into a fluid whole.
It all doesn't mean that the Omega Onyx just gives up without a fight. Despite the fact the its performance is less open, a little more chaotic and there is no the same incredible smoothness and fluidity that Evolution has, it excels however when it comes to slightest shifts in timbre, and instruments placement on the stage. This is the price that the new series pays for the excitement, for the beauty, for "gold" ambiance the Evolution cables present music with. The world portrayed by the interconnect and speaker cable is always more beautiful, more interesting than one delivered by other cables. Just as a well taken, cropped and processed image in a top shelf color magazine.

The Omega Evolution ACThe Evolution Zero interconnect and The Omega Evolution SP speaker cable have a very similar sonic signature, contribute very similar changes to the signal. The Omega AC Evolution power cable is different. Strongly emphasizes the treble, adds weight to the lower end and slightly withdraws the upper midrange. In combination with the two other cables of this series it allows the system to present the elements in the back of the stage in even clearer, more distinct way. They are clearly displayed, as clearly as what is happening in the front, but without bringing them forward. It is clear that TARA Labs is a champion of spacing and imaging, the soundstage is extremely wide and deep.
Dynamics is another surprise, again. It is very high and again I had the impression that Tara delivers more live-like performance, that other cables present more "studio-like performance" in this respect, ie. they average dynamics to allow user to use higher volume level. With TARA sound seems louder. One puts these cable in, touches nothing else and it gives an impression of a volume level higher by 1-2 dB.

SummaryTARA Labs Evolution is one of two or three sets of ultra high-end cables, which impressed me THAT much. Among them these offer most beautiful sound. Beauty is an extremely imprecise category, but in this case it best captures my feelings and thoughts. These cable allow user to enjoy his whole music library, regardless of the genre and even quality of the recording. With each album they create an amazing spectacle and a draw listener into their world.
But it is always their world. A fantastic differentiation provided by top Siltechs, even if they sound a bit more "roughly" (again, I'm exaggerating, but that's life), clearly shows the differences between recordings in a more distinct way; so recordings of lesser quality will sound worse then those of high quality. But even they can not do what TARA can – they are not able to present in such an exciting and energetic way the events in the back of the stage. Other cables, in comparison, appear to hide what happens back there. I assume that this is due to the phenomenal dynamics of the reviewed cables.
Writing about the performance of a high quality audio component I emphasize that you have to test it in your own system, because the composition of the individual components is an individual matter. When it comes to TARA Labs Evolution my recommendation becomes even more important. This time it's not even about them delivering poor performance in some systems because they will sound in equally spectacular way in every system. So the question here is only whether they to suit your tastes and approach to music listening or not.

On the one hand, these are brilliant cables, especially the interconnect and speaker cable, as they transform listening to the music into a true musical feast. But then all recordings are gaining the same excitement, the same beautiful refinement, which makes them more alike. So if you are more interested in listening to music in comfort, with continual pleasure, with the same level of fun - TARA Labs is for you, and once you have them you shall never again even think about any other cables. However, if you are willing to sacrifice a peace of mind for the sake of getting to the truth about each recording, if you are more interested in how they were prepared, then you will have to look somewhere else.
Anyway, TARA Labs Evolution is a wonderful, amazing set of cables made by the people who know how to turn a great product into outstanding one. How many more such magicians are still walking around in this world? GOLD Fingerprint Award for the interconnect and speaker cable – there is no way around it.