ruhayatx

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Price Paid:  $55.00 from Secondhand

Summary:
Bought these secondhand for about USD55 for a 2-metre pair based on the favourable reviews here. Plugged them into my system comprising Quad 34/306 amps, Dynaudio Audience 50 speakers and Rega Planet CD player. Interconnects are Tandy Gold Patch. Then I compared them to some cables I have lying around. The goal was to get a natural, easy-going sound that augmented the character of my Quad 34/306. I first compared them to the Kimber 4TC. The 4TCs were clearer - they highlighted instruments in a stark, forward manner - but also consequently lacked the warmth I was seeking. Next up, Naim NACA4. The NACA4s sounded natural enough, but again the Crystals were better. With the NACA4 there was some smearing and instruments/vocal layers got obscured. The Crystals were more detailed. Finally, Kimber 8TC. This was a real contest. They each did their own thing very well indeed, but at the end of the day the 8TC edged ahead by a nose, thanks to the chunky and clear sound, and the Crystal's looser grip on bass. However, the 8TC wasn't exactly the kind of sound I was looking for in this particular set up, so the Crystals have now replaced them in this particular system. I would say this is how a lazy Sunday afternoon would sound like, basically, but without compromising detail. Perfect sound for lounging about.

Strengths:
Smooth and easy-going, without compromising on detail

Weaknesses:
Bass can be a bit loose, might be too warm for some

Similar Products Used:
Kimber 4TC, Kimber 8TC, Naim NACA4, Ecosse CS2.5, Audioquest Type 4, Audioquest F14, QED 79-strand, solid core mains cable, no-name Italian-made silver wires

Price Paid:  $100.00 from Kief's Audio and Vid

Summary:
back in 1997, i got a great combo deal: demo denon dcd-815 cd player and 8' pair of audioquest crystal(also demo) for $350. whether salesman was looking to clear them out, or made a quick math error when quoting a price, either way great deal. i upgraded from the audioquest bottom-of-the-line(can't remember name; around $2/ft. pair.) the biggest difference i noticed was the clarity of the midrange and highs sections, such as voices, cymbals, acoustic guitars, etc. bass also sounded better, but not to the extent of the midrange and highs. at higher volumes, highs become very bright, but i think that is because of my amplifier(see below).

Strengths:
clarity, enhanced detail, added depth to voices and acoustic instruments

Weaknesses:
cumbersome, thick wires can be a pain if redoing plugs

Similar Products Used:
audioquest bottom-of-the-line speaker cable(typeII??) Equipment: Denon DCD-815 Denon PMA-560 Paradigm 9se Speakers TMC White Interconnect

Price Paid:  $200.00 from Private Seller

Summary:
After accruing several audiophile grade components, and listening to my system for quite some time, I decided that my system should sound just a little better than it did. It seemed like something was holding it back from being a really great system. I decided to swap out my lampcord style speaker cable with an audiophile grade cable as a cost effective way to increase the sonic performance of my setup. I purchased the Audioquest Crystal 10' bi-wire speaker cables, which really did the trick! The sound is much more lifelike, and the clarity is fantastic. The sound became more smooth and defined...just more enjoyable to the ear! These cables are no longer being produced, but you can find them for sale on ebay or other sources. If you're looking for that extra something...this is it!

Equipment used for Review:

Adcom GTP-500 Preamp/Tuner
Adcom GFA-555 Amplifier
Yamaha EQ-70 Graphic Equalizer
Technics SL-10 Quartz Linear Tracking Turntable
Sony SLV-N50 HiFi VCR
Sony CDP-CX205 200 CD Player
Sony DVP-CX850D 200 CD/DVD Player
PSB Image 6T Floorstanding Speakers

Strengths:
"Crystal" clear highs and lows. Super imaging. Very smooth sound. Bi-wire design.

Weaknesses:
Thick, cumbersome, and ugly in appearance.

Similar Products Used:
Monster Cable.

Price Paid:  $150.00 from Usedcable.com

Summary:
I just bought this cable from usedcable.com. I was a little scared to by used stuff, but usedcable.com defintly offers a good used product, with no glitches.

The sound of this cable is very open and extended treble. Much more clean than my Type 4+. The bass is really strong yet defined. This cable flys by my Type 4+.

Everything else about this cable is said by other reviewers.

System:
Paradigm Mini Monitors V1
Paradigm CC350
Paradigm Atoms
Klipsch KSW 12
Onkyo DV-c501
Onkyo TX-DS575
Cardas High Speed Data Digital
AQ Crystals
Monster sub connect.

Happy Listening.

Strengths:
Clean Clear sound, strong bass. Excellent on voices. Great soundstage.

Weaknesses:
Big cable.

Similar Products Used:
Audioquest Type 4+, Mapleshade Clearview Golden Helix

Summary:
When I audition the Crystals in my system the first time, they were edgy and harsh sounding. I thought they're trash and I would never try any AQ products again. Later, I accidentally switched the direction of the cables, ( just running the cables reverse the "Audioquest...." label) and EVERYTHING became incredible, they are now very smooth, very dynamic and the soundstage is now twice bigger than my XLO.

Strengths:
Very Smooth, Good Dynamic, Neutral.

Weaknesses:
Very sensitive to Cable Directionality.

Similar Products Used:
Transparent Music Link, XLO, AQ Indigo...