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Acoustic Zen I-1010X Silver Reference
Acoustic Zen I-1010X Silver Reference
7 reviews
 5 of 5
MSRP: $ 948.00

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Performance
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Rating
Reviewed by:

rsmcphee

(AudioPhile)

Review Date
May 6, 2006

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

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Review 1 of 7

Price Paid:  $948.00 from brett interiors

Summary:
One of the best cable around. Sounds nice. HIghs are extended without being harsh. The mids are to die for and the bass is accurate and tight. I have replaced all my NOrdost cables for these cable and I am so happy with the results. I have owned Kimber select, NOrdost, Tara labs, Monster cables, and straightwire cables and so far this are my favorite. Listen without fatigue and surprising details.

Strengths:
Mids, bass, and highs are just fantastic

Weaknesses:
Addictive it is hard to leave my audio gear

Similar Products Used:
NORDOST, KIMBER SELECT. TARA LABS, MONSTER CABLES, STRAIGHT WIRE


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Rating
Reviewed by:

mumffy

(AudioPhile)

Review Date
April 15, 2006

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

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Review 2 of 7

Price Paid:  $948.00 from Vineyard Sound

Summary:
Like many in this hobby, I often found myself asking the question: What is the weakest link in the system? For a long time, that answer was the cables. When I installed two pairs of the Silver reference II between my cdp and preamp and preamp and amp I knew I had found what I was looking for. These cables offer brilliant insight into the music without sounding harsh or bright. Silver cables can often sound "zippy" but these cables do not have that affliction, they just let the music through. They serve up the entire frequency spectrum in a way that makes the music much more lifelike.
They do need to be broken in for a while to sound their best. I would say at least 100 hours. They are so much better than the comparably priced Transparent cables I had before and on a different planest compared to the audioquest and monster stuff

Associated Equipment:
Exact Power EP 15
Esoteric X-03 CDP
Krell Showcase Processor
Simaudio Moon Titan Amplifier
VonSchweikert Audio VR4 Sr
Acoustic Zen Santori Shotgun Spkr Cables
Shunyata power cords

Strengths:
Realism, speed, transparency, price to performance

Weaknesses:
Fairly long Break in to sound their best.
A little on the thick side so you need some room behind the rack to work

Similar Products Used:
Transparent, siltech, monster, Audioquest


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Rating
Reviewed by:

NY1PR2002

(AudioPhile)

Review Date
December 4, 2005

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

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Review 3 of 7

Price Paid:  $1000.00 from Acoustic Zen

Summary:
In this world of "High End" Interconnects cables there are many great Interconnects starting from Monster M series,Harmonic Technology,Tara Labs,Audioquest,Straightwire, XLO,Cardas,Kimber,MIT,Synergistic Research,Wireworld and many others all the way to the Nordost Valhalla.Many of these Interconnects have their own characteristics and will sound different from one system to another.They all sound great but were one pair will have the tendency to "excel" in one area of sound another cable will have what the other one is lacking of.It will be very hard to find a pair of Interconnects that will own and carry all of the many attributes that makes a pair of interconnects "ASTOUNDING AND REMARKABLE".Well that's where Acoustic Zen's Silver Reference II Interconnects comes in.These are the most complete Interconnects in the market today in sound and body. It will take someone very special and very knowlageble in the aspect of sound reproduction to be able to make a cable so remarkable that it will blow the competition hands down and that person is non other that the Highly Regarded Acoustic Zen's chief designer and owner Mr. Robert Lee.He is a genious at what he does best and that is making cables that will give you the most natural and real sound reproduction that no other cables will be able to reproduce. The Silver ReferenceII Interconnects are the best-sounding audio cables ever created.These cables will convey the majesty and power of a concert hall orchestra and at the same time preserving the sensual intimacy of solo vocals.The Silver Reference will bring out a more extended and open sound throughout the spectrum with astounding vibrancy and trasparency.The music flows without impediment.It is extremely detailed,smooth,extended,neutral and authoritative.It is so clear and natural you have the sensation of having every instrument and vocal be present before you.In my many Audiophile years of listening to so many interconnects and many costing three times more than the Silver Reference I have not found one pair that will own the same attributes as these astounding interconnects. Many high end magazines in their reviews of interconnets have compared the Silver ReferenceII to sound either better or equal to the highly acclaimed Nordost Valhalla. Trust me I used to owned a pair of the Valhalla and don't get me wrong ther are trully excellent Interconnects but they just didn't bring out the transparency and detail with the clarity and realism as the Silver ReferenceII.If you want to own the best and most complete pair of Interconnects in your system buy the Silver ReferenceII from Acoustic Zen. They are truly the State of the Art in Interconnects. My Complete Audio System uses only Acoustic Zen Cables and for a very Good reason.They are by far the most complete cables in the industry giving you the best performance you will ever hear from any other cables.That's why many Audiophiles choose the cables as their "Reference" cables in their system. I happen to be one of those Audiophiles. Thank you for reading my review about these wonderful Interconnects.

Strengths:
Extended and Open sound throughout the Spectrum with Astounding Vibrancy and Trasparency. Detailed,Smooth,Extended,Neutral, Authorative.

Weaknesses:
None.

Similar Products Used:
Acoustic Zen Matrix Reference II Acoustic Zen Silver Reference II Acoustic Zen MC2=Zen Digital Interconnect Acoustic Zen Satori Shotgun 10ft. Equipment Used: Parasound Halo C2 Processor Marantz SA11s1 Reference SACD/CD Player Musical Fidelity A308Cr CD Player Parasound Halo A21 Stereo Amp Definitive Technology BP7000SC


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Rating
Reviewed by:

muzz777

(AudioPhile)

Review Date
October 2, 2004

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

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Review 4 of 7

Price Paid:  $1000.00 from direct

Summary:
It's been a long strange journey of about a year and a half before I picked these cables. Go and listen for yourself! You will here the difference. I can't believe how these cables have pushed the envelope! They are a treat with all solid state components and music types. I wish I could say the same for the other brands that I have auditioned. If you have no dealer near by, call Robert Lee direct and he will be happy to let you demo any of his products. PS- check out the matrix and the power chords they are fantastic in every way. I am currently switching all my cables to Acoustic Zen each product they make is the best sounding value for the money. For one pair of Nordost Valhalla(losing no audible sonics) you can outfit your whole system!

Strengths:
Tonal Cohesion from top to bottom, Macro and Micro dynamics, image accuracy, neutral, fluid liquid,smooth full

Weaknesses:
None

Similar Products Used:
Siltech classics, Nordost Valhalla, Monster m1000, Harmonic tech, audioquest panther + cheetah + jaguar DBS, Transparent music link , Ultralink Ultima, and so on.


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Rating
Reviewed by:
GGanaway
(AudioPhile)

Review Date
December 20, 2003

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

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Review 5 of 7

Price Paid:  $380.00 from Audiogon

Summary:
This review is for the Acoustic Zen Silver Reference I XLR Interconnects. These cables are miles ahead of anything else I've had between my Levinson No 360 and No 380 and far and away the best investment I've made in sound to date. They recreate the subtle nuances of the most complex and delicate musical passages and allow the listener to hear the recording session and not just the medium! Purchased due to all the great reviews out there.

Strengths:
Ability to resolve high frequency detail. I agree with the reviewer above, they make the speakers disappear.

Weaknesses:
May not be the best choice for systems on the bright side of the spectrum. Matrix Reference may work better between amp and preamp connections.

Similar Products Used:
Audioquest Anaconda, Audioquest Python, Better Cables Blue Truth


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