TMC Gold Reference Speaker Cables
TMC Gold Reference Speaker Cables
USER REVIEWS
[Sep 15, 2007]
tebbs
AudioPhile
Sorry...This is by way of clarifying the preceeding review....my preference in the TMC/AQ speaker cable shootout should be stated with more clarity..... I definitely preferred the tmc gold over the aq even while using the az digital cable. The AQ bass was fractionally more articulate ie plumbed the depths ever so slightly better. The TMC bass had more weight but was still extremely musical (ie not bloated)...this was the only aspect of the aq that I had a slight preference for...the treble and mids were hands down more seductive with the Golds even with the az in the system. It was then the introduction of the TMC Blue digital cable which became such a revelation ...as a long term much travelled audiophile I can only describe it as startling....thanks |
[Sep 14, 2007]
tebbs
AudioPhile
Strength:
All as above
Weakness:
As in my case they may be substantially cheaper than your previous reference wires...us audiophools do like to spend money I have used tmc yellow ics between my pre and power amps for many years but only made the move on the speaker cable and digital ic 3 months ago..and did so with some skepticism. I had been enjoying bi wired Audioquest Gibraltar speaker cable along with an Acoustic Zen mc2 digital cable. This setup gave me great detail and deep clean bass but I felt that the soundstage was recessed and narrowed and therefore lacked the sense of "musicians in the room". My process of changing cables included the appropriate burn in periods and the result was as follows. . I changed the aq for the Golds first and felt the differences were subtle...slightly better image focus,retention of the great detail ,slightly blacker background with the bass about equal with a slight preference for the aq,s. Both sets of cables have good pedigree (remembering that the aq was 3 times the price of the TMC) so I wasnt suprised by this...however when I changed the AZ for the TMC Blue 75 ohm digital cable (between my transport and dacs) which I did with little expectation I truly was amazed. The width and depth of the soundtage literally blew me away. I could hear 'into' recordings that had been far more one dimensional in my old setup. Instruments became truly isolated from one another with the air in the treble increased dramatically. Dynamic swings in music( particularly big band,classical and rock) which served previously to remind me that I was listening to compressed recordings in the digital domain were now a revelation. ..all brought forth from an absolutely dead quiet background. The 3 dimensional presentation of that which I had become familiar with in 2 1/2 dimensions pressed all the audiophilia buttons in me that devotees generally yearn for...not to mention pay for. I recommend without reservation an all TMC system...45 days money back says it all.
Customer Service Brilliant Similar Products Used: Nordost, AQ, acoustic zen, monster, wireworld ..and a fair few others |
[May 14, 2007]
whiskeytango6
AudioPhile
Strength:
Clear defined bass. detailed mid and highs reproduction that doesn't fatigue. Presents the music as it should be heard.....no masking, no addition or subtraction. Makes expensive cables obsolete! Mine with Eichman bullets.
Weakness:
Their Aussie and not US? No weaknesses to speak of. Long break in time. I've had these in my system now for 2 years. Never once thought of upgrading. have in my system now a Classic 6.6 int. amp and an esound e5sig cd player. Brutally honest and wonderful equipment from the far east........what isn't made in the far east these days! cables are a joy plain and simple. replaced kimbers 8TC and heard an immeadiate improvement. I have tried other cables in the line, some costing upwards of $2000.00 a pair.....I keep coming back to the gold reference. Customer Service Outstanding! King aswers all questions within a day! Similar Products Used: Kimber 8tc
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[Aug 19, 2006]
magisterludi
AudioPhile
Strength:
Price and Provides a very realistic open soundfield that is rich in inner resolution.
Weakness:
Spades are a little on the thin side, but they function fine. It is so nice that there are excellent cable options available to audiophile's that don.t cost too much. I 1st heard about these at the highly respected Supratek preamp website. I had to downgrade my system for financial reasons,selling off some very nice Jena Labs Symphoney speaker cables and gave these a try.
Customer Service Great sole propieter that is very customer service orientated. Similar Products Used: Analysis Plus Oval 8, Jena Labs Symphony |
[May 28, 2005]
suss
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
quality, price, customer service
Weakness:
that I hadn't bought them sooner I purchased these cables (along with XLR's, white label interconnects and even the jumper wires) to have unity throughout my 2-channel system. They were recommended to me by a friend who's an audiophile and insisted that I give them a try. I bought two 3m pairs of the Gold Reference Speaker Cables because my Proceed AMP2 has two sets of binding posts for true bi-wiring. When I hooked them up to my KEF Reference 3's the improvement was remarkable. The most glaring difference to me was in the bass response. The mid's and highs were much clearer making the music more "lifelike". I also know that as they burn in, they will sound even better. And don't let the weight of these cables fool you. They are light but they will make a believer out of you, as they did for me. I had never spent this much on cables before, but getting 50% off my entire order sure didn't hurt. Imagine that, a quality product at a reasonable price. And if it's personalized customer service you want, King will answer all your questions quickly and honestly. You must try these great cables from Down Under. Similar Products Used: Signal Cable, Monster M-Series, Proceed PRE, Proceed AMP2, KEF Ref 3's |
[Feb 27, 2004]
Micf
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
lower frequency extension and power natural highs, non fatiguing first rate noise shielding
Weakness:
maybe slightly less resolving than silver cables. Prior to using this cable, I was using QED Silver Anniversary and wanted to tame some of the tweeter brightness I was hearing through my speakers. I figured this would be less expensive than a component change and I could always return it if not satisfied. I had nothing to loose. Well, the bottom line is I didn't return them. The Gold Reference make my speakers sound less bright/harsh especially with "s" sounds in vocals which had always been a problem. The detail is still there but it's just more musical and less synthetic. The bass and mid-bass are more substantial and satisfying. They may not be quite as resolving of the fine details like the QED but overall, I like my music more through these cables and frankly, it's the only thing that really matters. They look good and are well made. I'm no electrical engineer but I do believe their construction helps cancel all outside interference which can cause distortion. Though it wasn't as dramatic as a component change, they made a positive difference in the overall sound of my system and it didn't cost me an arm and a leg. One last thing: The guys at TMC know what customer service really means. It's exceptional. Similar Products Used: QED Silver Anniversary Monster original 12 ga. Monster XP |
[Mar 09, 2003]
oltzhome
AudioPhile
About 8 months ago, I came across a preamp from Australia, the Supratek Cortese and Mick of Supratek strongly suggested that I try The Music Cable (TMC) products. I've been very pleased with my long time reference cables from MIT (The Oracle Series and all its predecessors). The MIT's always imparted a "roundness" to the music that to me is very essential in conveying realness to the music. By roundness I don't mean a softening of detail or an enriched warmth in those lower regions of the music; I mean a 3 dimensionality that contributes greatly for me to believing that there are artists "performing" for me as opposed to canned music. As I have auditioned cabling from many manufacturers throughout the years (harmonic tech, tranparent, nbs, tara labs, FIM, DH, to mention a few), I've always come back to the MIT's. Sometimes immediately, sometimes it would take months, but I would come back to that 3D effect because it just made the music more believeable. Well, along comes this shipment of cables from King at The Music Cables in Australia. 8 ft pair of Gold Reference spk cables with assorted intereconnects. King and I had discussed what cabling I want and what he wanted me to try. He strongly suggested that I try TMC's throughout my system. He assured me that this was the best way for me to appreciate what TMC had to offer. Money back guarantee, why not! Almost immediately upon putting the cabling in my system I was taken taken back by the relaxed balanced that my system now had. An acoustic guitar had dimensionality. Nora Jones was there, right there in front of me, in the flesh. All three beautiful dimensions of her (4 if you count her voice!). The music now has power without being edgy or forward (pushy). There is a "liveness' to the music that is most rewarding. And talk about quiet! These cables use a solid copper tubing as a shield, the ultimate shield. They are stiff, but pliable, I actually found it an asset to be able to form the cables into the shape I needed to go over other cables or around equipment. They aren't very heavy so they aren't pulling equipment off my rack (and I have everything on Symposium Roller Blocks) Wow, a new set of cables that are neutral, balanced (sonically), quiet, and they do for me what my reference cables have been doing for years but at a fraction of the cost. Yes, the TMC's are inexpensive by today's standard of "high end " audio. I know there are a lot of really great products out there that cost a really large sum of money and many of those may actually justify their price, but when it comes to cables I'm sure you have had that internal discussion with yourself (if not with others) as I have had with myself about the sums of money we are asked to pay for that lenth of copper or silver with those beautiful locking connectors at each end. Well, my suggestion is to go to www.the-music-cable.com and read their propaganda. Surprisingly, it's more fact than fiction. Then order your cables. Order an entire system of cables. They have a money back guarantee. But beleive me; I am certain that you won't be sending any cables back to King. Anyone want some MIT's at a great price? |
[Oct 24, 2002]
Joel Patterson
AudioPhile
Strength:
Transparency. As King says, you just hear the music, not the cables.
Weakness:
The infamous stiff interconnect cable, but for this sound, I'll spend a few minutes bending them into shape. At first, you're worried you might break them, but as time goes by, you realize these cables are solidly made. I started with TMC Yellow label interconnects, and now my entire system from interconnects to speaker cable is TMC and I recommend them to all my friends. What more can be said? Vandersteen 3As Belles 350a amplifier OCM-88 pre-amp |
[Oct 07, 2002]
Yingtong Gao
AudioPhile
Strength:
Turns sound into music, noise into voise.
Weakness:
Too cheap! that's why many people don't believe it beats other big-buck cables Like many other reviewers here I am using all TMC cables in my system now. I have to say their entire cable product line brings highly musical sound, and I cannot recommend more. I've tried many other cables before and after I got TMC, those cables all got favorable reviews, all cost more, all sounds good, but I end up staying with TMC and selling all other competitors. For those who doesn't have TMC, put aside $100 at audiogon and give yourself a try, for those who are already TMC, don't buy another cable unless you wish to spend thousands. I lost enough money buying new cable and sell them 24 hours after comparison with TMC (all cables cooked by professional machine so there's run-in problem). Best @200 I spent in my system, my audio gears come and go, TMC cables are the only ones that stay for two years! Similar Products Used: DH Labs, Van Den Hul, Monster Cable, Kimber, etc |
[Sep 11, 2002]
TimF
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Great value cable that, like the venerable Vandersteen 2Ce, does so many things right, it's hard to gainsay it. Try them... King is great, and you'll buy more vinyl with the money you save!
Weakness:
Stiff, but not unmanagable. Slightly weak spades, but seem not to affect quality. This is more a follow up to my lengthy yellow lable review. First look at these cables may have you skeptical... spades are less than beefy... BUT, after you listen, you really won't care. These cables are truthful, and wonderfully present. I got these to round out my system with all TMC, and replaced some much more expensive and highly touted cables. Since then, I have switched out to more expensive cable, but continually return to TMC! The music is there... all of it. You can get better, but be prepared to move WAY up the price chain. Midrange is especially coherent. The very ends of the extremes get ever so slightly frayed, but really, you'll need to approach 1G before you hear significant change. Great cable, and very much worth the 5/5 rating. Similar Products Used: Too many to list. For system, see yellow label review. |