Great improvement to the overall sound. The sound is so clear and makes my amp sound so transparent with the speakers. It is not coloured at the extremes my Kimber 8TC and replaced the DH Labs Q-10 that thickened the sound but did not make clear like it sounds now on this gear:
Audio Technica PL-50
Toshiba Universal Player
NAD 325BEE
PSB Alpha B1s
Strengths: very clear sounding. (That is what I REALLY wanted.) If your amp has great bass aleady, no need to artificially inflate the signal. Solid core wire (again) shows me how superior it is to other wires I have.
Weaknesses: Had to (carefully) juggle the spades into the posts but hey, there are greater challenges in life, right?
Associated Gear:
Tara Labs Nexa (also good but better on different amps); DH Labs (okay but overpriced; better for amp/speakers that have apparent treble roll-off), Kimber 8TC(use now instead------- for my amp to sub but not in mains).
Strengths: Very inexpensive, very decent quality, great sound.
Weaknesses: Not really in this price range, I can't imagine (and haven't encountered) a better speaker cable short of $500 plus.
Bottom Line:
These cables have been in my system(s) for a long time, with quite a few suitors coming and going through the duration. I really must say that they are very good for the money, as good or better than any $500 cable that I've come across. I bought them as a tide-me-over, as a demo off my audio shop's floor for some sum of less than $100 (can't even remember). I still like them all this time later and am very pleased with the sound they provide. I use them now with a modified Cayin TA30 EL34 integrated, custom solid copper interconnects (too bad these aren't mass produced, I would reccomend them to anyone in the $1000-$1500 range for inters), Rega Planet 2000 as transport through modified MSB Link 3 dac, Myryad MCD200 single box CD player used for listening to certain albums, Tandberg 3011a tuner, Von Schweikert VR1 monitors on VR stands. Fun little system.
Submitted by
lee lane
a Audio Enthusiast
from pittsburgh, pa, usa
Date Reviewed: August 21, 2003
Strengths: eye candy, broader soundstage, if you place your speakers 12 feet apart, tellin ya, you'll improve your system 1o percent at least, move those beasts apart, isolate your components, shorter length runs are better, wouldn't go any longer than 15 feet, durability
Weaknesses: none for price and application. i repeat, none hong kong mofo.
Bottom Line:
well, let me start by saying that these cables are intended not for 50k systems, maybe 3 -5k systems. generally, your cable expense should be around 20 percent of the cost of your system. my system consists of a krell cd, nad s200 amp, nad100 pre, psb stratus gold, stratus subsonic sub, aq python inters, cardas power cords, aq gibraltar speaker cable,. i used type 4 for about 4 years , and they were and still are a wonderful hi fi value cable. ask anyone who knows anything about hi fi and they will tell you about how entry level cables and how with the right amp they sound as good as cables 10 times as much. as far as terminations, i use bananas. bare wire too dangerous to your amp, also a big pain in the bum as i always shift my speakers around the room. i've been a stereo junkie for the last five years, and it is bittersweet affair. seems the music itself gets lost in the mix because your always questioning your system, ytour setup, you have doubts, you want better components, you become caught up in the hype bullfeces that's out there , and there's plenty of it. if someone is spending 60k on a home stereo system, he or she is insane. for about 5, 7 grAND , YOU can get a kickbum system, and be satisfied, as i am. i advise you research the heck out of whatever you buy, audition first, never buy until you listen personally to it. remember, lots of these salesman work on commission, don't give a crud what their selling you, so you need to be prepared and educated, pick up some hi fi mags, read those articles, and slowly hi fi will begin to de mystify itself. overall, these cables are a nice buy. i recommend in the future going about 5 steps further and getting cardas cables. my friend has em and they blow aq away.
Similar Products Used: monster, cardas, acoustic research, wireworld, cheapie crap from radio crap.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Fuzzy32
a Audio Enthusiast
from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: April 3, 2003
Strengths: Price; Good quality solid conductor; cable jacket. Appearance.
Weaknesses: none so far.
Bottom Line:
Tweaking my HT. Last step is to upgrade speaker cables. Using Type 4+ for LCR. Good deal for $2.05/foot Canadian. Sounds great hooked up to my PSB Image 5T and 9C. Post another review with a few more hours listening under them.
Similar Products Used: generic stranded speaker cable.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
soso_soso
a Audio Enthusiast
from Denmark
Date Reviewed: March 13, 2003
Strengths: Everything but the bass. Gives pleasure because of smoothness and warmness.
Weaknesses: Mute bass. Very often bass line is difficult to follow and in the shadow of the rest
Bottom Line:
Very good cable for the price. Easy to feel music in middle and high range however bass is a bit lazy and not good controlled. Sound is general rather warm and easy going.
Stage is no more then average and it is a biggest disadvantage of the type 4. But at the price nothing to complain.
It works together with rotel 02 set and ruark prelude II speakers in biwiring
Similar Products Used: Supra rondo (good bass but nothing more), link+tech (crap), tara labs prisma (rather average but still better then type 4; unfortunately for higher price)
