2. cables
  3. 1335297906

High Fidelity Cables CT-1designed by Rick Schultz

In December 2011,I wrote that High Fidelity cables led by cable designer Rick Schultz was putting together a new cable.The cable came to market as CT-1.The CT-1 has FINALLY made it into my system!I had obtained a version of the prototype that Rick had been working on.It blew my previous reference Genesis by Virtual Dynamics.I thought I had finally found my end with this cable.This prototype delivered to my ears "Nirvana".Could I be at the end of my quest for the ultimate sound?
No. I received two pairs of CT-1 to replace my prototypes.They went into the system this past Friday.Unable to dedicate time until Sunday listening,I stole a few moments,ducking away from company with anticipation.My guest could tell even with the music set for"ambiance"something was intriguing and I was in for a treat!
The experience:
First off,CT-1 was very user friendly.Installation was simple;the cable is very nice and light.The female RCA fit beautifully unlike any I had found in other cable.It was secure and reliable.It seemed much thought was dedicated to developing a designer fit to an aesthetically stunning RCA connector.Install entailed a few wiggles to ensure what seemed like a compression fit on my RCA.
It was 2-3 hrs. for the 1st step of break in to be complete.At that point I had something different!Today,although they only have 10-12 hrs. on them,I can`t put into words how much my system has transformed.Believe me,I loved my prototypes.However....there is simply no comparision.
The clarity and sound is so natural.
The soundstage is like nothing I ever heard.Resoulution is breathtaking and inner detail is simply hard to believe possible.
The sound has transended and now it simply does not seem as thought I have speakers.
My system is musicians playing music.
I am told with time they will improve and I trust that as it was revealed with the prototypes.I wanted to share my thoughts with you that now.
Unequivocally,a testament to High Fidelity,as the name declares.
High Fidelity Cables for me,the last word on it,after 12 hours!
Truly Amazing

Al
alpass
tsushima1
1,165 posts
 
Siddh....Thank you for commenting upon your own experiences, that mirrors my own, it would seem that we have both settled on a similar compromise in utilizing Rick's signal cables in concert with another brand of speaker cable.

Rlawry.... Whilst not quite requiring maximum Warp during the time I had the CT-1U's installed, I did find myself cranking up the System by at least a further 10-15 points on the ARC Ref pre in order to equilize previous room pressurisation and soundstaging.
rlawry
485 posts
 
Tsushima1: Thanks for your response. I may have an unusual situation with my analog system in which my Manley Steelhead Phono Stage is at the minimum gain (50dB) and my preamp has a maximum of 38 volts of gain. So my preamp volume control is at 9:00 and very small changes in position lead to large gain changes. I know another poster here on the HFC forum who had the same issue and had to buy an outboard phono stage for more gain when he went to HF speaker cables. I am not sure if the HF cables reduce gain or reduce noise as the music seems to come from a blacker background, similar to listening to 2 recordings in which one is recorded at a lower level but has more dynamic range.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,407 posts
 
HAs anyone ever measured the electrical properties of the HF wires?

In that it uses a radically different approach using mu metal like conductor and magnets I would expect a unique audible sound signature with HF wires that go directly in the signal path in particular.
tbg
5,263 posts
 
I recently asked if the HFC power cords were more efficient than the typical ones.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,407 posts
 
FWIW, according to Wikipedia conductivity chart, I read electrical conductivity of Nickel, the main metal element in Mu-MEtal, to be about 1/4 that of copper or silver. The second largest metallic component, Iron, has even lower electrical conductivity.
More to discover