Gabriel Gold IC's are they really this good?

I didn't mean to insinuate that Steve is letting the customer set the price. He has his standard prices on his standard lengths. He doesn't have pricing on non-standard lengths though. That's why when I e-mailed him to ask what a 1 meter pair of Revelation speaker cables (monoblock amps) would cost, he e-mailed me back and told me he hadn't made a 1 meter pair yet. He then asked me "Did you have a price in mind?". I replied with my thoughts. Then he told me he would think about my offer and get back to me. That was on 4/13, as of 4/16, I haven't heard back from him though.

So I didn't mean to infere that the customer was setting the price. I did find it very strange though for a manufacturer to ask me how much I was willing to pay though. That was a first, for me anyway.

John

I've heard some good things about Virtual Dynamics and Jade.Some interesting comparisons are sure to come in the future it seems

I haven't heard any Gabriel's yet, however, from reading the threads it would seem they are more comparable to the Jade and Stealth cables than to the Virtual Dynamics. I've owned Stealth, Jade and Virtual Dynamics, amongst many others. The Virtual Dynamics will sound more powerful and dynamic than the Stealth or Jade, but they are also have a more forward presentation that I did not care for. The VD cables also had less of a three dimensional stage, and didn't present the natural sounding instrumental colors and hues that I get from Jade, Stealth, and PAD cables.

This of course is all just my opinion. I do know many VD fans who love that forward, dynamic and powerful sound. They love the excitement of that front row presentation. So it's all depending on your musical tastes. I would say that Virtual Dynamics is in an entirely different camp than Jade, Stealth PAD and from what I've read, the Gabriel's as well. Which camp you wish to be in is your call.

John

John, I do agree the VD cables are more power, dynamic, and the presentation is more forward. However, can you elaborate on the comment regarding natural sounding instrumental colors and hues. Any specific examples you can cite.

On a side note. I decided to also include a couple other cables in the comparison. Namely the Oritek X-2 and Ridge Street Audio Poemia!!!. I tend to rotate these cables in and out of my system for variety purposes.

I'd also like to ask a question regarding shielding and noise. My understanding is that the Gabriel Gold Extremes are not shielded. Has anyome who used the cable had any issue with RFI or noise as a result of the lack of shielding.

Clio09, it is hard for me to elaborate, as I'm not a professional reviewer, but I will try. To my ears, in my system, the cables/cords that I've owned from Stealth, Jade Audio and PAD present a more natural, realistic instrumental colors and hues, as I've mentioned above. By this I mean that instruments natural decay resonation seems to come through better. I've demo'd VD Revelation speaker cables, and I still own Revelation and Master power cords, so I'm not slamming VD, they do have their positive attributes, as I've already mentioned.
IMHO, the VD's dynamic sound is attributed to it's incredible speed of the attack on the note that's played, however, the decay of the note is truncated. I hear more natural decay of the notes resonating on the aforementioned Jade, Stealth and PAD cables. As I tried to explain it to a friend of mine, when using the VD cables, the pluck of a guitar string sounds clearer, however with the Stealth, Jade, PAD, I can better hear the wooden body of the guitar resonating as well.
To my ears, this is most notable with brass instruments, horns and even cymbals. The natural shimmer that I associate with live sound just sounds more realistic when the note is allowed to decay in it's own space. I don't know if this explaination helps you out or confuses you more. Again, it's not easy for me to put what I hear into words. Also, I do understand that others have different tastes. Some may call my preference for hearing natural decay resonation a 'euphonic coloration'. So be it. Just like the tube vs. SS debate, this issue will have it's own proponants.

Now I'm not trying to rile up the VD zealots, as I mention they do have many positive attributes. I even still own some, and I'm trying to find a proper place for them. Somewhere where they will deliver the added dynamic power, w/o losing the 3-D stage and natural decay that I prefer.
I note in a previous thread that you had a RSAD Z-der block on your preamp with a VD Master attached. I currently have a VD Revelation p/c going through a Z-der block into my preamp. It sounds better than the RSAD Alethias! Signature cord that I had on the preamp before the Revelation. I haven't tried the Stealth Dream here yet though.

FWIW, I used to own RSAD Poiema!!! and Poiema!! Signature interconnects and speaker cables. Very nice cables, though I don't own them anymore. I do still own a pair of RSAD Poiema!!! Signature power cords along with the one Alethias! Signature power cord (and many others).

Also, just to get back on topic, I did order a pair of Gabriel Revelation speaker cables today. I will report back some time in the future with my impressions.

Cheers,
John