Thanks Lak, Bear Lab cable is the best


Last one year I tried out many cables including Cardas Golden Ref, Nuatral ref, Cross, Jps Super Conductor 2 and the plus, Alpha Core Micro Purl Silver, Audio Analysis Silver, Harmonic Technology Silkway II, Silver Audio Hyacinth, Mit 330 Shotgun, Transparent music wave xl, Acoustic Zen Silver Ref, Audio Quest Python, Lat, Kimber KCAG, Nordost Red Dawn, Blue Heaven, Pure Silver Sound etc, but here in AudioGon discussion forum recently I wrote a review for Harmonic Technology Silkway II and Silver Audio Hyacinth, then person name Lak mentioned about Bear Labs silver cable. I was intrigued and ordered the cable direct from Bear Labs, it cost me only $150 for .6 meter rca ic. I did not expect much, but now I am very satisfied with this cable. Only thing I am going to say it is very nuatral and detail, without usual silver cables harmonic bleachness in the mid or any copper cables warmness. In my estimation only cables that can beat the Bear Labs are and I am not 100% sure Nordost Valhalla or NBS statement (I heard in my friend's place). So, Thank you Lak for the recommendation.

Here is the direct qoute from www.bearlabsusa.com site about his cable and I agree completely:

"Silver Lightning is arguably one of the finest interconnects ever. What makes it different than other 'silver' cables? Aside from a very high build quality, premium components, custom manufactured ultra high purity silver wire and Cardas connectors? It is what I call "natural timbre and tonal balance."

Almost anyone can buy solid core silver wire and fashion a home brewed silver cable. That's not all bad. However, after you experiment even for a little while you'll notice that somehow the silver wire sounds different than copper or even silver plated copper wire - especially when used as interconnect. I have found that when used between a turntable and pre-amp (very low level signals) that the
effect is even more pronounced. Generally speaking, silver tends to exhibit "tinkly " and clean sounding highs, while being a bit thin and anemic in the lower mid registers
and bass region.

If you want this particular effect in your system - a "tone control" of sorts - then just about any silver wire is fine. My philosophy is to avoid creating products that act as "tone controls." It is impossible to completely adjust or correct one error with another. Trying to do this is (what I call) "complementary colorations." An example might
be using a "dark" amp with bright speakers, or dull cables with a bright amp, etc. I feel that this is a common trap for "high-end" audiophiles and should be avoided. So, I offer Silver Lightning as an interconnect that is virtually free of its own character or "sonic signature." Now you have the opportunity to eliminate interconnects as a source of coloration in your system, and focus elsewhere.

Silver Lightning is made from multiple gauge strands of high purity silver wire which is then extruded into a jacket of genuine DuPont FEP (one of their Teflon tm products) resulting in approximately 20awg wire. I then braid the wire, isolate the braided conductors inside a
clear 0.375" PVC sheath, and cover that with black fiberglass mesh, finally Cardas SRCA (silver plated) RCA plugs with "Teflon tm" insulation terminate the interconnect. Electrically, Silver Lightning is also very low capacitance - on the order of 12-14pf/ft.
The result is a durable, rugged and sonically wonderful interconnect. One that truly sets the standard for performance and quality."
manzoor
Hi Tom,

I have heard your particular system (Arc Ls2 MKII, ARC d300). Usually, Arc amps are very detail, fast, and color of timbre is little bit white. Your choice of Cardas Golden Ref and Golden Cross is a good choise. Between the
two I liked GR than GC, GC is more bloomy but slower sounding than GR, which is more accurate, revealing, but still has enough bloom and lush sounding in the midrange. If you want to go cheap around $300, then check out Audio
Analysis copper Oval or Coincident CST interconnects, both are very good. As far as Bear Lab, it is a silver cable but very accurate and neutral, so it might show weekness in your system, still you can try out for 30 days trial period from Bear Lab direct. I use BL from source to pre than
to power amp. I hope these informations will help you to get the right cable for your system, main thing is system matching from top to bottom. Good luck, and let me know which cable you finally decide to keep.

Regards,
Manzoor.
Hi Gregm,

Sorry for the late reply, and thank you for the encouragement; my system is described in the www.audioasylum.com web page in the member system. My moniker is manz66. Good Luck.

Btw, I checked your previous comments in audiogon, and looks like you have two keen side of ears, I am impressed.

Regards,
Manzoor.
If anyone has any experience with the Bear Labs Speaker cables I would definitely like to hear about it. Brian
I wonder if these are the same Bear Labs cables that I tried several years back
I didnt like them.
They sounded rolled off and dull.
Bear Labs is still around. They are evidently a build-to-order audio custom shop for electronics and speakers. And they still make those Silver Lightning Cables.