Price Paid:  $165.00 from Almas HiFi, Dearborn

Summary:
I am presently comparing Viper to MIT-330 Plus Series II interconnects. My little system is a Creek 4330 MkII, a Pioneer Elite PD-65 cd player, Triangle Titus XS speakers on sand filled Atacama Nexus stands, Audioquest bi-wired Slate speaker cable, Monster Sound line conditioner, and commercially bought cd''s, (no sub). Viper is very smooth and listenable for long periods in this set-up. MIT is more intense and "present", and I find myself craving the MIT''s intensity after switching to the Viper. So, in this system with a mellow little amp, a cd player of renowned analogue-like sound, and speakers that fly out at you, I like the MIT, but the viper is by no means a slouch. I just love being "there".

Strengths:
Smooth, no listening fatigue, lot''s of mid-bass.

Weaknesses:
Not enough bite.

Similar Products Used:
Kimber PBJ, MIT-330 Plus

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I recently upgraded from the 0.5m Coral (which I favorably reviewed earlier) to a 0.5m Viper. Expecting very modest improvements in sound, I was quite surprised to find the Viper to be actually quite a cut above the Coral. After substantial break-in and comparative listening, here are some of the key differences I''ve noticed: Viper''s overall tonal balance and portrayal of instrument timbres is slightly less warm than Coral''s, but definately more accurate. The separation and localization of instruments (and vocals) is considerably better with Viper, as is the sense of space and ambient detail. There is also a little more inflection in the vocals. Overall, Viper is simply more clear and transparent and able to hold the sonic picture together with more ease when things get loud or busy (i.e. more dynamic). Decay of instruments is also improved with Viper. This is most obvious with cymbals, which are considerably less "splashy" and have more of a natural attack and decay. Percussion, in general, works better and has more of an actual tone to it. The most dramatic improvements, however, are in the bass regions. Viper''s bass is much more taught and tuneful. Perhaps even a little deeper than Coral''s. With acoustic bass, especially, it''s like night and day. I can actually locate the bass in the soundstage with ease now, where before it was anyone''s guess where it was a lot of the time. From what I understand, this may have as much to do with bass overtones as the bass itself but, nonetheless, the overall effect is quite striking. These are the most significant and quantifiable differences between the Viper and the Coral. Of course, results may vary depending on the overall resolution of one''s system. But for those of you who''s systems would benefit from a cable upgrade I highly recommend this cable, especially if you''re an AudioQuest fan. Equipment: Panamax 1000+ power conditioner Cambridge Audio D500 CD player (w/ Wireworld Stratus power cord) AudioQuest Viper interconnect (0.5m RCA) Bryston B-60 integrated amplifier (w/ Wireworld Aurora power cord) AudioQuest Slate speaker cable (bi-wired) Castle Eden loudspeakers

Strengths:
Clear, neutral, dynamic, and tonally balanced

Weaknesses:
Subjectively less warm than AQ Coral

Similar Products Used:
Van den Hul DM102 mkIII, Nordost Blue Heaven, Wireworld Atlantis, AudioQuest Coral

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
This is the best interconnect I have ever used. It''s very neutral and uncolored with open highs. I used to think high priced cables were a rip off. But the viper is really great, better then some I tried in my system for over a 1000 2M pair.

Strengths:
Open highs, neutral sound, uncolored, full bass

Weaknesses:
none

Similar Products Used:
starightwire, MonsterCable Silver Audio

Price Paid:  $195.00 from AudioAdvisor.com

Summary:
Some interconnect cable comparisons, and how I did the tests.

First – the equipment :
Sony CD-X779ES player
Krell KRS-2 preamp
Krell KASA100S power amp
Chario Academy-II speakers

The Krell KRS-2 preamp has 2 inputs which can be matched to have the same input and CD filtering properties. So the first thing I did was to adjust the DIP switches so that all CD filtering at the CD input was in by-pass mode [as is the AUX input on the KRS-2].
Now I have 2 identical inputs to make instant comparative tests with.
The 779ES player has 2 single-ended outputs, one of which is via the variable gain control. This cannot be bypassed, so one still will need to switch cables between the two to eliminate any disparity due to this.

I connected AudioQuest VIPER from one output and a “non-brand” cheap cable on the other output. Connected each pair of cables to the preamp’s 2 inputs.
Now you can sit in the listening position and have a friend switch between the 2 inputs on the amp’s selector.

The differences between various cables tested was quite subtle at first, but constant switching between them showed the main characteristics clearly.

The Vipers [already burned in for 2 months] were smoother, but with a tendency to show a fatter bass content. The highs were smooth also, but without “bite”.
The non-brand cables showed a leaner bass line but with a muddied mid band and a not too distinct high band.

Replaced the non-brand cables with another non-brand [custom made] silver cable with good quality AudioQuest connectors.
Comparisons showed the non-brand silver cable to have a better upper frequency sheen, the snare drums had natural and open “thwacks” to them, the bass line was tuneful and not “fat”. The vocals were more intelligible and instruments more separated.

Then I tested the non-brand cable against an AudioQuest lapis.
The results were similar – meaning, that the AQ cables seem to have the same characteristic tendency to be [overly] smooth but lacked the transparency that the silver cable is capable of delivering.

Comparing the AQ Viper to the Lapis did not show any great differences.

Last comparison was between AQ Viper and Tara Labs Prism 22.
The Tara cable out did the AQ by a large margin.
The Tara cables were natural and clean. No muddiness in the bass, clear mid band and a shimmering high band. The soundstage was as deep as the AQ cables showed, but the separation and the clarity was much better with the Tara cables.

This in no way is to put down the AudioQuest cables, but more to show how I did the comparative test and what suits MY system the best to my ears!

Anil.
8/20/01.

Strengths:
Smooth, looks[!], build quality.

Similar Products Used:
AQ Lapis, Tara Prism 22

Price Paid:  $115.00 from internet

Summary:
Well i bought these from the classified section in balanced and RCA between CD and Pre-Amp amd Balanced from pre-amp to Amp and I was not sure at first as the rubies were good and the Sonic horizons ( Huricanes ) were interesting but after breaking in it showed who the winner being the viper no muddy sound at high volume very nice sound stage and a nice timbre with a punchy base not that the sonic horizons are a bad cable I was actually impressed with the price and what you get I just feel that the viper handled things a little better, It is only my opinion but thats what this is all about right