Excellent build quality for the price. Sound quality is good except for one problem I had. See weaknesses below.

Collapsed the soundstage when used in my 2 channel system between DAC and amp.

These cables do have excellent build quality, but they ruined the soundstage of my 2 channel system. I first tried these cables between a NAD amp and a Sounstream DAC-1, and the result was not good. Soundstage was reduced to hearing music coming from a right and left speaker. I did give the cables a few days to "break-in" just in case there is such a thing for cables, but noticed no improvement. The sound quality of the actual music was quite good, but for some reason the cables took away the soundstage and imaging I had previously with a pair of MIT Terminators (4). Before deciding to return the cables I tried them between my Panasonic DVD-A7 DVD/Audio-Video player and the 6 channel direct inputs of a Denon receiver. In this configuration the cables shine. Not only did I not take them back, I bought one additional pair. Now I use the cables are surround L/r, center, and subwoofer out of the Panasonic. I don't know if it is the solid core construction of the cables that do not make them good as an audio interconnect between amp and DAC, or maybe they are just not meant for my 2-channel system. Anyway, I have no intention of downgrading these cables. They sound very good in the configuration I am using them for, and the price is right.

Similar Products Used:

MIT terminator 3 & 4, Monster Interlink 300 (suck)

For the money, these are fantastic cables. What you get here is nice build quality. You can unscrew the connector boots and immediately notice the high quality soldered connections. These cables make a snug fit, and the wire jacket is pretty cool looking. They aren''''t as mechanically flexible as other cables, but they aren''''t too rigid either. As for sound quality, they sound pretty flat to me. Bass is not boosted, but not reduced, nor muddy. Treble is slightly laid back, but not too much. I recommend them over anything else in the sub $30 price range, which isn''''t asking that much considering the build quality and good looks. Give em a try!

Fullness, not expensive, good tight connections, wider soundstaging, more clear music even at lower listeing levels

High end not as sharp as I prefer, some muddiness in bass, lack of lower bass but does not "add bass" if there is not a lot in the recording anyway

Replacing Monster 100 Interlink RCA interconnects with Audioquest Sidewinder (1 meter pairs) showed an immediate improvement in the entire sound spectrum. The link replaced were the cables from my NAD C520 CD player to my ancient but nice sounding vintage Yamaha CR220 receiver. I have Bang and Olufsen Beovox S35 loudspeakers connected with Audioquest CV-4 and Type 4+ wired together as one "Bedrock at a discount" configuration. The first thing noiticable with the Sidewinders connected was the fullness of the music with so much more to listen to and the extended spectrum of lower lows and higher but less shrill highs and bass as bass should be as to what bass there was actually on a particular CD recording. My Nick Drake CD''s sounded much fuller. Paul Weller''s Wildwood album sounded so lifelike before with Monster IC''s sounding muddy and tired. So the accuracy and the neutralness of the AQ Sidewinder was appreciated right away. Drum parts stood out with the distinct sounds of a drum kit easily identified. Unheard guitar parts were heard for the first time, many even on sparce and barely produced Beatles early albums were finally heard. Quiet passages were full especially on The Who''s Whos Next album, and there was more air in between sounds as if the music had slowed down to allow for all of the lost dynamics to appear from nowhere. All of my CD''s sound new and many sound great and not tinny or thin where before they sounded like crap, especially my Oasis CD''s! After about a month of continual play I noticed the cables warmed a bit in sound and lost some of their harshness and some high end was lost also. My Bang and Olufsen speakers have a really high treble brightness and it seems that I have lost some of that top end high. So I am trying the AQ Coral and then probably a Viper to possibly improve the high end and clean up the muddiness of the bass that seems to have emerged more with more playing through the Sidewinders. For $29.00 a pair these are wonderful cables to improve a stereo currently using basic RCA cables. They really do sound nice and were not too pricey. However, these Sidewinder cables do seem to lack the high end bite I prefer and the bass seems to be lacking--as are my components probably being 20 years old except for the NAD C520 CD player. A great cable for the price I believe.

Similar Products Used:

Monster 100, Monster Jr Interlink, Ordinary RCA factory cables