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Audioquest Firebird Zero

I've tried several speaker cables over the past year; Shunyata Alpha and Sigma, Wireworld Silver Eclipse series 7, Audioquest Oak and Redwood, Audience Au24 SX, and I own Clarus Crimson speaker cables. I prefer the Clarus over all of the aforementioned speaker cables. I've had the Audioquest Firebird Zero speaker cables on loan for three days. My initial thoughts were everything is a little clearer through them compared to my Clarus Crimson. Not a night and day difference, but definitely clearer. The Clarus are slightly more 3-dimensional to my ears. My wife on the other hand just keeps saying the AQ sounds sharper, clearer, there are less impurities in the music. I'm not sure what she means by impurities, but she keeps repeating it. Maybe she means a darker background? My plan was to have a home audition of the Thunderbird Zero speaker cables, but they had banana plugs on the amplifier end and I can't use them. I took the Firebirds with the logic that if I can't hear a difference between them and my current cables I didn't need to have a home audition of the Thunderbirds. $14K for an eight foot pair of speaker cables is freaking crazy and sad! It would be easy for me to dismiss it  because there isn't a night and day difference, but once you hear the difference it's very hard to ignore. Financially I just can't justify spending $14K on speaker cables and hope to hear the AQ Thunderbirds sometime next week. Once again I'm reminded that absolutely everything makes a difference. For those that can easily afford $14K, $20K or more speaker cables I understand, because cables can be equivalent to a component change. Does it ever end?
ricred1
gdnrbob
4,445 posts
 
@meuch,
I would buy what you can comfortably afford.
IMHO, AQ cables will not dissapoint.
If you want a good person to discuss the differences, I suggest PM'ing Audioconnection, or call John Rutan at Audioconnection.
Yes, he is a dealer, but he knows his stuff, and can give you the most accurate, free advice out there as he knows not just the brands he sells but just about anything out there.

Bob
eziggy
137 posts
 
@meuch I would go with either Thunderbirds or William Tell Silvers.  The Robin Hoods are pretty low gauge in comparison.  

I have personally tried Thunderbird Zero cables with ML 11As and was overall impressed with transparency and resolution.  I had WEL ICs and they worked well together.  The Thunderbirds are very different the prior model Oaks.  They will sound closer to older gen silver than copper.

That being said, I have spoken to dealers who absolutely love the William Tell Silver.  I think they had them paired with Vandersteen speakers as I recall.

Either direction you go they will both be very transparent and true to source.  This is a good thing and also bad if you are looking to use cables to balance sound.  As an example I had the Luxman 509x paired with the 11As and when I switched to the Thunderbirds I thought it lacked bass.  I replaced the Luxman with a Vitus RI-101 and it was like adding 2 sub-woofers into the room.  The difference wasn't as apparent with older model AQ cables.

I second @gdnrbob's recommendation, I have spoken to John @Audioconnection and he is very knowledgeable and straight forward.  He actually talked me out of upgrading a while back.
meuch
3 posts
 
Thanks Bob, All, 
I spoke with John, very knowledgeable! He recommends Robin Hood Silver or W. Tell Silver for Logan ESLs.  Think I'll have to spend bit extra for the W Tell Silver.  Also recommended some stone between speakers and wood floor.  
Much appreciated. Matt
meuch
3 posts
 
Update - I tried William Tell Silver, They had very wide image, and were more open on top than my old Aspens, but overall really did not compliment my McIntosh c2600, Levinson 335 and Logan 13As to my or wife's ears.  The lower mids were a bit thin (lacked male vocal fullness) and upper mids could be sharp if saxophone was hot in mix.  I tried both Nordost Tyr2 and AQ Earth Interconnects to no avail.  I tried pair of Wildwood spkr cables and seemed more musical, balanced and sorted throughout Midrange.  Firebirds may have worked better, but can't afford them.  Horses for courses I suppose.  
gdnrbob
4,445 posts
 
@OP,
Interesting. I have no experience with any of your equipment, so I can't comment. But, I would call Johnny again with your impressions. Given his knowledge of equipment, I am sure he would have some suggestions.
All I can say is when I listened to the William Tell's with the Vandy VLR's, Belles integrated, and Aurender N100, it was a serious upgrade from the lower grade AQ cables (GO-4?).
As far as 'Horses for courses', I think so much of this hobby is not only system dependent, but 'listener dependent', though if both you and your wife felt a similar discord, then there must be something not clicking.
Whether it is the cables or something upstream or a combination of both is the question.
Bob
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