Full sounding, engaging power and drive. detail and warm sound.

not a good all-round music cable. Might not match some systems

Buy this interconnect after reading a HiFi magazine, which highly recommended it. At first I borrowed the Ruby from a friend, and it match my Marantz Cd players and Cyrus Amp. It soften the overall sound a bit which I like. Not really excellent but value for money at this price here. Great link

Similar Products Used:

Straightwire, Cabletalk, Chord Co, Ixos 102 master, Nordost,Soniclink, AQ quart, QED.

Well made, strong. Full bass.

Phono plugs a little tight. Hard to flex. Cloudy and muddy sound. Loose bass.

I bought the Audioquests after comparing them to the cheap OEM cable which came with my CD player. I heard them in my dealer and bought them on the spot. I was very happy with them for many years until I bought some shop soiled Cable Talk i/c's for my home cinema kit and decided to trial them in comparison. I originally thought the Audioquest would maul the Cable Talk but was stunned on the differance. The Cable Talk were much clearer throughout the frequence range, was faster, gave tighter bass and more energy. However, they reduced the fullness of bass considerably. I am not sure if the Audioquests just deteriorated over time or that the Cable Talks are just much better but the Ruby's now are used for the subwoofer link beteen by DVD and AV amp.

Similar Products Used:

Cable Talk Advanced 2, Cable Talk Monitor

Detail and transparent! Superb built quality

Maybe a bit slightly more expensive

Among audio cables, I think interconnects are the hardest to tell apart between which is better than the other, especially for those at about the same price range. A good CD player would make it easier I think (most of DVD players out there has mediocre analog reproduction for regular CD stereo sound, it's not much better than any regular CD player out there if it's better).

I have compared the Ruby with Jade, Topaz and other brands such as Monster and Straightwire. Ruby is no doubt better than Jade and Topaz, and the Monster 200 interlink, but there are in different price range anyway. The Straightwire I tested was at the time more expensive than the Ruby (don't remember the model), about 20% more, but I could really hear the different at all. But this may change if I used a better CD player...

Speaking of 200 MKII interlink, I compared it with the Jade and there are honestly about the same, the Jade seemed a bit more solid and tight. But for a couple more bucks, I would much rather buy the Jade (I now have both, mistake!). Monster Cables overall are very low in build quality, the cable body, the connectors and even the little directional arrow. It is a cheap piece of sticker that easily falls off! It's simple ugly and cheap and not worth the money! Don't ever buy them!

Overall I am satisfied with the Ruby for both its sound and built quality (then of course the Opal I just bought is even better). I recommend anyone who looks for interconnects to consider AQ stuff. For beginning to mid class cables, there are not too expensive and about the same price range as other, but the look and built is so much better, and if the sound is no better than others in the similar price range, it's not worse but better built!!!

Similar Products Used:

Monster, AQ Jade, Topaz, Opal

Build Quality, Detail

Somewhat trebly

I love this cable. Just right for the Marantz Monoblocks running my system. They are very detailed although do not use them on harsh or cheap electronics! The build is great, they should last a lifetime.

Similar Products Used:

Kimber, Monster

Audioquest consumate build,more detailed than the Pro Co. cable I was using,and not grainy at all.

Of course there are better...lets not kid ourselves, but others withstanding, these cables are a very good buy.

I have pair of the Balanced XLR connectors for this review,though of course I am sure the -10dbv RCA are made too. Hooked up between my Tascam CD-RW5000 to my Otari MX-5050b, this gear occupies my project studio. Never under estimate the use of fine cables. These Ruby cables definately are a possitive move in my project studio. These are demo cables that were sold to me, so obviously break in time is not an issue. The Cannon/ITT barrel connectors are well constructed with the pins gold plated for better conductivity. Pin 2 is hot following convention, and matching any gear wired for the balanced world. The Otari MX-5050b is pin 3 hot, though this being the case, there appears to be no ill effects that I could hear with this arrangement. The sheathing cover is a rubber like I would guess polypropelene, and appears to be durable enough for my project needs. After installation, recording starts with my ever present test disc, David Benoit "Every step of the way", GRP release catalog GRD-9558, running through the entire disc with no breaks, the warmth and smoothness are maintained. The slight fowardness, and edge from my Pro Co. cables is gone. Bass is tighter and alittle more full bodied. The Tascam isn't generous in the slam department to begin with, so it is nice to have a cable not get in the way of what it does have. Highs are smooth and easy. The midrange unmolested. I am running direct without any intervention from my mixer or other processor devices. Running at 15 inches per second and with BASF low noise tape on a 10.5 NAB reel, my Otari is at the beggining of its best with this cable. I am hoping to get some better cables for the mixing console. If you must buy balanced cable, get the best your money can buy you won't be sorry. Audioquest products continue to impress me with thier performance and this cable just continues that trend. Special thanks to Thang,Duke,Rick at Sound Factor in Pasadena,CA. for this fine cable set. Good cables are as important as your gear,balanced or single ended. V.C.

Similar Products Used:

Monster,Pro Co,Audioquest,Audio Technica

none

sound was little bit too hard . Special for female voice .

well , I use AQ Ruby for 2 years . I use it for CD player to amplifier . Yes , sound was good and balance . And detail in some pure music products , like Jazz music and pop music . But after these 2 years time , I found the sound of Ruby was really " hard " . Special for listernig to some female vocal songs , it's not too comfortable .

And right now ....I use AQ ruby for my LD player ( Pioneer LD-X1 ) . Actually , the sound from Ruby was really match with LD / Video / DVD use . After I use Ruby for LD player , I felt sound was better from LD player . It's full and detail and rich in bass sound re-produce . I'm highy recommend to all LD / DVD users . Ruby was quiet match for AV use . Yes , it's quiet expensive ......

But you may ever feel the same from your LD/DVD player .

Similar Products Used:

Hitachi cable MTAX-205

The Ruby is an excellent interconnect. With these cables, you will realize the true potential of your electronics, even if they are mass-market products.
They appear to pass much more information, providing a richer sound than most other cables in the price range. If you are thinking about buying AudioQuest Topaz cables, one step down from the Ruby, you will be doing yourself a big favor by auditioning the Ruby head to head against the Topaz. The difference in price between the Topaz and Ruby for a 1 meter pair is about $40.00. The difference in sound is unmistakeable.

The Ruby works particularly well if you are running solid state electronics with speakers that have a reputation for sounding exquisite, but have a tendency to pronounce system or source material deficiencies (in most cases those deficiencies tend to favor exessive top-end energy).

A better sounding cable than some other's in it's price range. Good amount of detail retrieval, and well-balanced overall. The Ruby's are one of the better cable values in hi-fi.

Similar Products Used:

•Too many to list.

Upgraded to Ruby from Monster cable so I'm easily impressed. Nevertheless, I've had some experience with low end MIT and Kimber PBJ. Ruby beats the hell out of the Monster/Circuit City mass market stuff---you'd thought I had put in a new amp or speakers after puttting in the Rubies. They are not as good at articulating individual sounds as the Kimbers, but very, very smooth and vibrant. You can listen to jazz all day on them without fatigue, the Kimbers wear you out a lot earlier. I give them five stars for their ability to lower stress in the listner which is why I listen to music for the most part.

The Audioquest Ruby is abeautiful, well-made, excellent sounding interconnect. The end terminators are very sturdy and grip well without being over-tight. I have the cables connecting my Sony CDP-XA20ES (the only Sony product I even consider to be worth a look, a great machine) and Parasound HCA-1000A Power amplifier. As I am not using a pre-amp (the Sony has variable gain outputs) it was imperative for the interconnect between the two to be of high quality. The Ruby brings out nuances and details in well-recorded music that I no other cable in this price range can. It preserves the air and definition of my music with a sense of reality that I love. I highly reccomend the Ruby for any serious connections on any Hi-Fi system.