Teo XLR

Joncourage, a 1m pair of balanced (XLR) Standard Mk II interconnects retails for $4200.

Klinerm,
You stated: "I'd also like to comment on the toxicity issue. I'm not an audio dealer, and have no dog in this “fight.” I'm a microvascular surgeon, I have an undergraduate degree in chemistry, and I think I'm capable of understanding, in general terms, the issues involved here."

With all due respect, you do not need to be a microvascular surgeon or to have a degree in chemistry to understand the issue here. You may be aware that mercury leaches from so-called silver amalgam fillings and is highly toxic. There is no evidence that has been presented to prove that toxic liquid indium does not leach from Teo cables.

You stated: "I personally would not consume Indium, or intentionally breathe it for long periods." I believe this goes without saying. But you may be unintentionally breathing indium "for long periods" if Teo cables are leaching indium vapor through the dialectric and sheath.

You stated: "While it is sometimes easy to prove a positive, such as something is dangerous, it may be impossible, from a practical standpoint, to ever prove that something is completely safe. It all comes down to a risk / benefit analysis. My feeling is that these cables sound so good that their sonic benefit outweighs any of the theoretical risks discussed here."

With all due respect, it is impossible to prove that indium -- a known toxin -- is "completely safe". In fact, it is impossible to prove that indium is safe to any degree. Indium is a highly toxic element. According to your risk/benefit analysis I would never consider a cable with mercury as a component because my risk/benefit analysis would come down firmly on the side of too-high-a-risk. I do not care how good cables sound. If there is a potential health risk they are not on my short list -- or my long list.

Indium is in the same class as mercury. They are both toxic liquid metals. Since there has been no evidence presented that indium does not leach from Teo cables I would be foolish to assume that there is no risk. Many of those who believed their dentists that mercury does not leach from fillings have paid a very heavy price for accepting this false claim as the truth.

You stated: "Many things are potentially "toxic"". I note that you put the word toxic in quotes. Indium is not "toxic". Indium is toxic. With all due respect, to try to minimize the potential harm for a know toxin that is incorporated into a commercial product serves no one well. IMO. One must always err on the side of safety -- until such time as proof emerges that caution is unwarranted. No such proof has yet been presented anywhere regarding indium and Teo Cables.

The only thing that has been presented for the safety of Teo cables are unproven claims. This is not good enough. False claims for the safety of many toxic products have been made in the past. Those who believed such claims often lived to regret it. The sad fact is that it often took decades for the truth to emerge. Too late for too many.

Sab,

You are like a CDP stuck on repeat over this toxic phobia you have. Let it go dude let it go and enjoy your HD cables.

Hi Gloria,
Toxicity is not a phobia. Toxicology is my part of my profession. Teo cables are irresistible. So sit back, relax and enjoy the scenery.

Hi Gloria,
That was a typo. This should read "Toxicology is part of my profession."

Toxins are an unavoidable part of our lives. But, IMO, the wisest course of action is to choose the least toxic options when presented with a variety of choices. Toxicology and pathology go hand in hand. Pathology can take decades to manifest itself. The incremental accumulation of toxins can suddenly appear as pathology when yesterday no signs or symptoms of pathology were apparent.

Making wise lifestyle choices is critical in helping protect ourselves from the possibility of a pathological outcome. This means if we have the choice to smoke or not to smoke the wise choice is not to smoke. If we have the choice to drink moderately or heavily the wise choice is to drink moderately. If we have the choice to have non-toxic dental work or toxic dental work the wise choice is to choose non-toxic dental work. If we have the choice to purchase potentially toxic products or non-toxic ones the wise choice is to choose non-toxic ones.