Seperation

Very very stiff cable

This a review for air digital rsc 1. The word I got is that it would be airy and maybe it is but what a sound. The detail it digs is unbelieveable but what I love most is the seperation. I'm using it with just a pioneeer 636 and a yamaha 620. It's cheap but all that I need setup but I never slack with my cables. I'm sure this cable outclasses what I have but it alone let's my system run with the bigger boys and is not for sale. I can recomend this cable without hesitation. It does what you pay it to do, be a top end cable and does it ever look the part.

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Not much in digital but I know cables. I run Red Dawn and Wire world now.

Everything I can think of.

Nothing I can think of.

Tara Labs Air Cables are brilliant. The sound is wide and very "airy". If you prefer a very neutral sound image with lots of details, these cables should do the trick. Work very well with revealing hifi equipment (NAD Silverline ampfliers, loudspeakers like B & W Nautilus). If the Air 1 cables are too expensive in your opinion, you may try Air 2 instead. They are not that inferior. But don't go for Air 3 - these cannot even compare to Air 1 and 2.

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Tara Labs Prime 1000

Well-balanced sound

Not as fast, open, and transparent as the best out there

Warning: I have only tried the single-ended interconnect. This review is on that type of product only. If and when I try out the balanced interconnect and speaker cables, I will post reviews for those.

The Tara Labs Air 1 single-ended interconnect (I'll refer to it as SEI from now on) is highly recommended for high-end systems where balance and neutrality are paramount. If you're looking for sonic spectaculars or a tone control, look elsewhere.

The Air 1 SEI tries very hard not to add or subtract from the signals it passes. This is plainly evident in its overall sound. It does not restrict image depth. It does not reign in the soundstage, or warp its dimensions. It does not sound gritty, grainy, or harsh. Nor does it flood your system with milk or that awful warm diarrhea coloration.

The Air 1 SEI does have some minor colorations. You have to ask yourself if you are comfortable with these colorations. If not, ask yourself if you'd rather spend the money on, for example, Tara Lab's ISM series cables, which, in my experience, are significantly better performers.

Tonally, the Air 1 SEI errs ever so slightly on the warm side of neutral. Yet, I didn't find it to add unnatural heaviness to voices and instruments.

Maybe it's due to the lack of ISM shielding, but I found that the Air 1 SEI falls short in see-through transparency. There is a thin, silky veil thrown over and between the instruments.

The Air 1 SEI is also a bit slower and sweeter than absolute neutrality. Pace and rhythm are a tad retarded, compared to the ISM series cables.

At this price point, XLO Signature 1.1 has long been the best (i.e., most neutral). I now declare the Tara Labs Air 1 SEI to be the alternative. The XLO Sig 1.1 is faster and images more sharply than the Air 1 SEI. But the Air 1 SEI counters with a generally smoother sound, and much better reproduction of image depth and size. Tonally, the XLO leans toward the bottom (due to the slightly lean mid and restricted image depth in the treble), while the Air 1 SEI mildly favors the mids.

So which is better, you ask? IMO, it's a toss-up. If you like dynamics and focus, you'll choose the XLO Sig 1.1. But if you favor sobriety, balance, and poise, you'll pick the Air 1 SEI.

The Air 1 SEI sounds almost exactly like Kimber's KS-1030. The KS-1030 costs twice as much as the Air 1 SEI. You make the call. The only problem is, if you can swing the scratch for Kimber's KS-1030, you're probably not going to buy the Air 1 SEI. You'll probably go with Tara's ISM-series cables.

Whatever the case, in my exhaustive auditioning of single-ended interconnects, the Tara Labs Air 1 SEI is at or near the top for this price range. Recommended.

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AQ everything; Kimber everything; Tara Labs ISM-3, The 2, and The One; XLO Reference and Signature

Excellent transients

I had compares the Master Gen 2 to Audioquest, Monster cable and one other brand. For the price range, the Master Gen 2 was MUCH better than the other brands.

When I compare the TARA Labs RSC Air 1 to their Master Gen 2, the main difference is a very pronounced improvement in transients - in attack. For example, with the Air 1, I can clearly hear the stick hit the cymbal - whereas with the other cables, you just heard the beginning of the sound. This is to be expected in view of the reduced interaction with dielectric due to the air surrounding the cable.

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Audioquest, Master Gen 2

Clean and grainless, with a very good density of sound. Gives the music more body and thereness.