Best Interconnect under $1000

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Review: How does one put together a champagne audio system on a beer budget? --- Very carefully! ---- I have been very involved in audio and audio equipment since I was a child. I even worked my way through dental school managing the best hi-fi store in New Orleans. It was a work of love. Before I left the company, I put together the best audio system available at the time. It remained virtually unchanged for 20 years. I attend the San Francisco symphony regularly as well as other musical venues. Then about seventeen years ago, I heard a system that showed me that it was time to upgrade. I first upgraded to the small Krell amp and preamp (later upgraded to a couple of the big Krells), and then added a digital unit (upgraded several times and now use an SACD player.) One of my happiest upgrade was my improvement in speakers. I had been using double AR-LST’s (Cello Amati’s). Twelve years ago, I went to the big B&W800’s (now actively bi-amped and driven by Krell.) One item that has remained unchanged for about the last fourteen years has been my interconnects. It is not that I haven’t tried others, but none in my price range of under $1000, have bettered what I have been using. What is that, you might ask: Years ago, in Stereophile, a totally new concept in interconnects was released to great reviews. It blew the competition out of the water and was soon used by many reviewers in both Stereophile and The Absolute Sound. It did have one big problem that eventually became its demise; it was brittle and repairs were difficult. The companies name was Lindsey-Geyer. Because reviewers are constantly plugging and unplugging, this was a nightmare, but for me, it caused little trouble and GREAT sound. In fact a few years ago, when I added an active Krell crossover and need two more balanced interconnects, I had custom balanced Lindsey-Geyer’s made for me. But things are about to change. For the first time ever, I found an interconnect that has proven superior to my beloved L-G’s: Silent Audio’s new Apollo Silver Balanced Interconnects I did my listening trials by inserting the new cable between my SACD player and my preamp. I first tried their Venus RCA i did my listening trials nterconnect and was amazed at how well they sounded. They I tried the Silver Apollo RCA version and was amazed at how close to the balanced L-G’s they sounded. Knowing that my Krell’s really prefer to run in the balanced mode, I contacted Silent Audio, to have them make me a set balanced. Heaven arrived! It took a while for them to get the proper XLR connectors and ship me this new interconnect. I first connected them between my preamp and my crossover and turned on my tuner and turned up the volume on my preamp to let the cable burn in. After a week, I began listening with the Apollo’s between my SACD and preamp. The first thing I noticed was that after I listened with the Apollo’s, the L-G’s soundstage sounded flatter. Also, I also feel that the Apollo was a little more revealing of the inner detail. I do know that sometimes it can seem that there is more detail when there is a loss of fullness, but this doesn’t seem to be the case here. There was no loss in tonal balance, which is so perfect with the big bi-amped B&W’s. Lastly, and maybe of most importance is that there seems to be an overall increase in the excitement of the presentation . Deep bass is present and profound. I don’t know how so much information can be transferred over those threadlike silver strands, but the sound is full and detailed from the top to the deep bass. The bottom line is that now, I have ordered the Silver Apollo Balanced interconnects for my complete system. This move took 14 years and I can‘t wait for them to arrive! Richard. PS> the website is: www.SilentAudio.com

No coloration very transparent

NONE

I must tell you that when I first opened the box with this set of cables I said oh my what have I spent my money on. I am an old school audio nut that was taught that bigger and fatter is better, boy do these cables dispell that nasty rumor. These babies are super light and at first glance kind of flimsy looking but in this case looks mean nothing. My Audio Research D76 was rockin and rollin.Very transparent, not a hint of any coloration. I use a Precision Fidelity C8 with my Transcriptors table and SME arm and I heard stuff on my vinly I have never heard before. For those who want to spend $500 for a set of cables go ahead*********I will take these babies and laugh all the way to my local second hand shop for another tidbit with the money I saved.

Exceptional clarity, soundstaging, natural timbre, sweetness and bloom. Tight, deep bass.

3" long rca connectors preclude using the cable in tight spaces. Unusual appearance may not appeal to everyone.

Silent Audio is a new company that manufactures cables that seem to be updated designs derived from magnet wire. In the case of the Apollo's the wire used is pure silver. The cable's appearance is a little unusual in that it is a plastic ribbon with two conductors space apart. Because of this the connectors are little longer than normal. Don't let the cable's appearance put you off. I think this cable may be a contender for one of the best cable values in audio. Since Silent Audio is a relatively new company, they are aggressively selling cables on Ebay and Audiogon at discounted prices. I am mainly using the Apollo between a Quicksilver line stage and a Rotel power amp. In this application, the cable has beaten out Monster M550, DH Labs, Belden 82952, MIT 330, and Harmonic Technology Precision Links. None of the above was even really close. In fact the closest cable I have heard to the Apollo's would be the Harmonic Tech Truthlink, which sells for $250 and I think the Apollo's are better. The Silent Audio Apollo presents exceptional clarity and the largest soundstage I have heard from my speakers. It does this while sounding very natural and relaxed (and I don't think I have fully burned it in yet). The timbre of voices and acoustic instruments sounds very accurate and enjoyable. No etched or tilted up sound often associated with silver cables here. No smearing of small details like you usually get with low cost cables. If you're looking for a cable that has world class clarity and inner detail but will not assault your senses, this would be a good one to try. Of course, I haven't heard everything out there, but I have heard a lot of cables and this one is a keeper. Silent audio also gives a money back 30 day trial so if they don't work for you, there is little risk involved. I don't think Silent Audio will get many of these cables returned.

Similar Products Used:

Belden, DH Labs, Harmonic Technology, MIT, Monster