A-Audiophile

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 6.00 votes

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
This is a review of AQ Diamond vs AQ King Cobra... I have used AQ Diamond in my system for some time and was very happy with the clearity and detail they offerd...bass was not really, really deep but it was there and sounded very good. Over all the Diamond is a very, very good cable and beats anything on the market near its price range. AQ King Cobra takes the clarity of the diamonds, smooths it out and lets even more low end through...in effect the King Cobra is a highly polished perfect Diamond...what ever is IN your music will come through...punchy low bass, mellow seductive mids, shimmering cymbals its all there. Placement is right on, imaging is focused and the soundstage is both wide and deep giving you a holographic tonal image of the music and artists in your room...the cables are FAST and will let the transient attacks come through wonderful and with full emotion. Out the box they sound great and with break in sound even better and more focused, cleaner and clearer. Other lesser cables presence in known in your system as they are mellow or bright or vailed in some way or forward in some area...while the King Cobras vanish, while at the same time giving you a very smooth presentation of your music. Clanks, toes taps, drum sticks noises that I never heard are clearly audible as well as lyrics, you can actually hear clearly every single word people sing with no vails what so ever.

Strengths:
20Hz-20KHz (everything within the human hearing range)

Weaknesses:
Zero

Similar Products Used:
Everything that is sold at audio stores...Cardas, Kimber, XLO, etc.

A-Audiophile

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 26.00 votes

Price Paid:  $0.00 from store

Summary:
After listening to Kimber Kable for so many years and knowing from the very start what short comings I had settled for I finally ended my search with the Audioquest Diamond. I wanted the constant upgrading to end, I wanted a cable that let the music shine thru without breaking the bank, without settleing for lack luster bass but good mids or thin highs. I got everything I was looking for in AQ, I studied reviews, listened to cables every chance I got but no cable gave me the low end realism and total musicality, the real to life mids and smooth highs as anywhere near this price. My search is over, finally..and I still have money to buy music.

Strengths:
looks, sound, musical, cost

Weaknesses:
none

Price Paid:  $350.00 from eBay

Summary:
I have always been skeptical about cables and put off by the industry hype and often outrageous prices for "just wire". Many cables are sold as audiophile products but do not deliver the promise! But there are some cables that have the capacity to move a good system to another level and convince even cynics that well designed interconnects are a vital link in the chain that cannot be ignored. Of all cables I have tested only the AQ Diamond has provided a truly synergistic match to bring through the true capabilities of my ARC SP11 MK2 preamp annd D125 valve amp feeding Appogee Duetta Signatures. I use both CD (Sony XA7ES and Turntable sources (Linn/Koetsu) With this cable my system delivers a remarkable deep 3 dimensional soundstage with extended and delightfully smooth high frequencies. Midrange and bass are superb with fine resolution of micro detail that "ordinary" cables simply cannot resolve. Yes they are expensive - even secondhand but well worth it!

Strengths:
A well made neutral cable that enables resolution of detail at all frequencies. Excellent extension of bass and treble providing excellent imaging when used in a high quality system. Probably AQ's best affordable cable!

Weaknesses:
None

Similar Products Used:
Vanden Hul, Kimber, Audioplan, Goertz

Price Paid:  $700.00 from From a friend

Summary:
I've been using the AQ Diamonds for more than 5 years and I've not come across a pair of cables that better them. AQ simply did them right, with tubes or solid state. Current system set up TT : JSR Andromeda + Graham 1.5tc + vdH Frog Phono : Acoustech PH1 Preamp - VAC Vintage Poweramp - VAC High Powered 100WPC monoblocks Bass amp - Genesis Servo Amp Speakers - Genesis 200 Cables : Arm to Phono to preamp : Audio Note VX Preamp to amps : AQ diamond amps to speakers : Custom made AQ for Genesis and Gotham

Strengths:
Smooth, natural, real

Weaknesses:
None I've noticed

Similar Products Used:
XLO, vdH The Second, Straightwire, Monster

Price Paid:  $400.00 from Paris, France

Summary:
Soory for my bad english. I have a pair of Audiotruth Diamond II (it's a best class in comparaison to the "classic" Audioquest Diamond). What can I say? Absolutly natural (voices, acoustic instruments...) but a little lack of resolution and transparency.

Strengths:
Natural, musical, marvellous.

Weaknesses:
A little lack of resolution and transparency. But it is not the case with Diamond III (a friend of mine have a pair, grrrr!)

Similar Products Used:
Monster cable M 1000, M 1500, M 2000, HMS Duetto, Cardas gold cables...