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REVIEW: KLEI gZero20 Interconnect

I have just purchased these and can honestly say they leave me breathless.

How can a piece of wire be responsible for such remarkable improvements? Take a look at the review on the KLEI web site and there is a brief insight into the gZero Architecture.

Bottom line: the abilities of these interconnects are remarkable.

I've owned the gZero6's and tried the gZero10's, but the gZero20's are deservedly KLE Innovations pinnacle product.

Imaging, dynamics, clarity, hi-end and low end extension leave most other cables in their wake. You want PRAT, these IC's are about as good as you are going to experience.

Fist let me state that my system, albeit modestly priced, has some very high performance power cables that allow the components to excel in their performance. I also have the KLEI gZero6 speaker cables - which allows the amp to exert it's authority in controlling my very adept Gershman Acoustics Sonogram full range speakers.

So unless you have invested in the other cables in your system, you will not reap the full benefit these IC's have to offer

My casual listening is via streaming to my Schiit Bifrost DAC, which has it's own set of high performance power, USB and interconnects. With the gZero20's employed it was about as close to my analogue rig that I have ever come from a smoothness and warmth perspective, without compromising the crisp dynamic nature of this excellent little DAC.

Transferring these IC's to my analogue rig really demonstrated the extremely fine level of details these IC's are capable of conveying. But they also took the performance of the entire analogue side to a whole new level of - "belief".

The biggest improvements were in clarity, image and overall control. From and extremely well controlled and deeply extended bass performance, to the incredibly detailed, but smooth high-end vocal, strings and woodwind performances. But there was also a new warmth to the entire performance, that the gZero10 was a little short on.

What captured my attention from the get-go was the sense of "Space"...
- the extended space around performers
- the cavernous space of the venue and it's very detailed acoustics
- the placement of performers within the space

If you don't own any KLE Innovations IC's...
- the gZero3's are an excellent place to start
- the gZero6's are a considerable step up
- the gZero10's will have you going through your library
- but the gZero20's will make you forget all about time

It doesn't matter what level of resolution your components are capable of - these cables will have to thinking you've just completed a major component upgrade.

I do not hide the fact I am a huge fan of products from KLE Innovations - that is because...
- I've tried most of them
- not only do they ALL work extremely well
- they provide great value

They really are - that good!

Regards...
williewonka
williewonka OP
3,075 posts
 
Max - are you referring to a return policy - such as "return within 30 days for a full refund" type of policy?

Email them - see what they say

You may find it is something similar to Schiit - 15 days only

I know it's always nice when you can do this type of in house assessment, but I can see why companies like Schiit and KLEI, that are sure of their products, do not want to encourage those people out there who have no intention of buying and who take advantage by placing an order for a $2000 cable just to try them out for a thrill and then return them

Yes - it may spoil it for the more genuine customer, but in todays world there are so many that think it's a right to be able to return products for a full refund.

That whole process just increases the cost of doing business, which is in turn, simply passed on to valid customers.

I'm all for charging a restocking fee - make you think twice before ordering - I think there needs to be some level of commitment from the customer

Put yourself in their shoes

Just an opinion :-)
mofimadness's avatar
mofimadness
4,991 posts
 
Willie...with all due respect, I completely disagree with your above comments.

Cables are the most system dependant of any item, we, as audiophiles have to deal with. I've heard $2000 cables sound like poop, but $200 cables sound fantastic on the same system. Actually this happens way more than most people think.

Cables, for the most part, are very easy to manufacture. There are very few parts (inventory wise) that need to be stocked and a relatively short labor time.

They are very easy and inexpensive to ship.

They have one of the highest profit margins of any item (except for some cartridges, they are probably the most profitable). How do I know? I was in the high-end audio business for 25 years.

They really can't be scratched or dented like equipment, so there is minimal risk.

IMHO, I think every cable dealer and manufacturer should provide a minimum of 60 days for a trial period.

You really can't tell how any cable will sound in any system, until you hook it up.

Just my .02 worth.
williewonka OP
3,075 posts
 
Mofi - I agree with you 100% about trying before you buy

I simply cited Schiit as one company that has a short return period and
mentioned KLE might do the same.

BTW - I have no idea what KLEI's return policy is - they might just be very
reasonable - which would be a nice bonus :-)

FYI - all of the KLEI gZero cables are hand built (hand wound actually) - they
are not as easy to make as many other brands that use bulk cable from a reel.

Not defending them - just saying :-)

Regards...
jafant's avatar
jafant
19,715 posts
 
Welcome! to the wild, crazy and wonderful world of Cables!
Excellent review -Willie. How did you discover this brand?
Which other cable/cord(s) Brands have you owned?
I look forward to reading more about your impressions...
Happy Listening!
williewonka OP
3,075 posts
 
Jafant - I've been playing around with cables for years with little real success until recently

I started with some well known brands and settled on Van den Hul D102 mkII with Furutech RCA's for many years and flirted with DH Labs bulk cable once

Then I tried the Stager Silver Solids and have never looked back. However, I replaced the Canare RCA's on the Stagers with Eichman Silver Bullets, what an improvement!

I post all of my tweaks on a blog and KL Eichman happened upon it and asked if I would like to try his KLE Copper Harmony

Since then I have reviewed most of his products and purchased many of them - I just bought another set of the KLEI Absolute Harmony yesterday :-)

During that time I have refined my own DIY cable design which uses the KLEI RCA's - since they offer the best performance I've come across.

Other than those mentioned above I haven't compared the KLE gZero to too many other brands.

However, I have had a chance to compare them on friends systems to...
- Kimber Silver XLR IC's
- Tara Labs (RCA) don't the model, but towards the lower end

In various local stores I've auditioned some very pricy cables (>$5000) on systems ranging in price from $70K-$180k from...
- Purist Audio
- Siltech

Now, I can't say how KLEI compared in this instance, since there was no direct in store A/B comparison, but having acclimated to the KLEI sound over months of listening - I found I was not really hearing a whole lot more (if anything) with the Purist Audio and Siltech IC's.

Having said that, I think we all come back from a salivating visit to such stores and on listening to our own systems think - hey, my system sounds pretty darn good :-)

As always in this game, when you get to this level of performance you are into diminishing returns - where it really depends on what people are prepared to spend - which I have no problem with BTW :-)

Moving on - yesterday I took the gZero6 speaker cables and the gZero10 IC's to a local hi-fi store (in Toronto) in the hope they would start importing them - just so others will be able to audition them.

The owner of the store was very impressed at the improvements they provided over his own "benchmark cables". Outcome: He will be contacting KLEI for more details - fingers crossed :-)

That's about it for my IC history - not as extensive as many other members on this forum, but I tend to research things at great length before changing anything.

The one thing that impressed me about these cables was their architecture and how the design combats many issues present in the more conventional cable architecture and RCA designs.

Regards...
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