Stealth Cables M-21 Interconnects Speaker Cables

Stealth Cables M-21 Interconnects Speaker Cables 

DESCRIPTION

Silver line-level analog cables.

USER REVIEWS

Showing 1-3 of 3  
[Sep 18, 2003]
Alex Moreno
AudioPhile

Strength:

Transparent, Airy, dynamic, articulated, harmonically correct in all frecuency range, Truth to timbre, Truth to Spatial information, THE BEST I'VE HEARD!

Weakness:

None. Although I would love they would be cheaper.

Immediately after receiving them I connected them to the afterwards mentioned system. I first treated the cables with Purist Audio System Enhancer - Rev. B CD, and played it for 5 continuous times before playing any music. This process took all night and helped me also to speed the burn in timeline. To be honest I was a bit skeptical about these cables improving my sound because I’ve had excellent ones with this same system in the past, and didn’t really think a big deal of a change could happen. My first impression was that the room had grown by maybe a third of its current size the soundstage was larger, deeper, wider & taller. I also felt A LOT MORE of AIR between all instruments in the orchestra. Then I switched to Mussorgsky’s Night on Bald Mountain (track 10), because sometimes is hard for cables to cleanly reproduce this particular track’s detail and dynamics. I got truly impressed by M-21s capabilities to reveal all the fine details included on this track. This is a heavy orchestrated piece and the cables were able to present all the colors and transients with cleanliness and relaxation I had never heard in the past. Various times I was also able to hear for the first time the Conductor breathing in various passages. Recently I found this particular HDCD Asian import of Patricia Barber’s “Nightclub” CD, which I found to be very interesting. In all songs Patti’s voice sounds warm and focused. The only thing I was missing was her presence itself. To the point that sometimes I even felt I was there with her and the other musicians. At the same accustomed volume levels, in several passages my speakers could not take what the AMP was sending. These cables were really sending MORE INFORMATION to it and thus to the loudspeakers. The M-21s are the finest interconnect cables I’ve ever owned. They are the most Musical, Articulated, Transparent, Harmonically correct, Detailed and Airy analog interconnects I have ever heard out of many I’ve tried. At the end of the day if cables’ critical mission is basically to pass the right information to interconnected components, then the M-21s are certainly the best to fulfill this major endeavor! I totally agree with other audiophiles’ perception that these cables is like there is NO cable linking your audio components. There is no sound coloration. These cables will just enable your music system to develop its real potential and thus perform at its very best. Of course if you are looking for fuzzy cable, then I do not recommend to get these ones! Thank you all for taking the time to read this extensive review. I insist that Interlink House’s M-21accomplishment deserves no less than a serious may be long report like this one, in order to tell the audiophile community that they are here making real high end products at reasonable prices and without the big noise of Marketing Companies, which sometimes don’t even make real high end stuff. THE REVIEW WAS MUCH LONGER. DUE TO SPACE LIMITATIONS I JUST POSTED HIGHLIGHTS! ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT: - Power Amp: PLINIUS SA-250 Mk IV (with most recent update by Advanced Audio). RCA linked to Preamp (Single Ended as per Plinius Audio recommendation), with M-21 (Cryo-treated) interconnects. - Preamp: PLINIUS M16p. XLR linked to CDP (Balanced as per ML recommendation), with M-21 (Cryo-treated) interconnects. - CD Player: MARK LEVINSON 390s CD Processor. - Loudspeakers: Joseph Audio RM25si Bi-wire linked to Amp with Stealth Hybrid MLT (as per my own taste and wish jaja!)

Similar Products Used:

Kimber, Tara-Labs, Audio Magic, NBS, Van Den Hul, Cardas, several Stealths

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[May 11, 2003]
Jules Coleman
AudioPhile

Strength:

transparency, harmonic detail, body, coherence and air

Weakness:

absolutely none other than it is a cable

I had purchased a CWS cable on audiogon several months ago. The cable was so impressive -- especially given its relatively modest price -- that I became intrigued with other offerings from STEALTH. The outstanding feature of the CWS was its extraordinary detail and natural dynamics without a hint of edge or harshness. The one thing that kept it from being reference quality was that it was relatively unidimensional. That is not to say that it lacked depth in soundstage. Not at all. Rather, in listening to it, the musical details were not uncovered layer by layer. It all comes at once. Well, I was sufficiently intrigued to purchase both an M-7 interconnect and a PGS interconnect. Now we were moving up the food chain considerably. The PGS was simply the best audio component I have heard this year. There is simply no more natural or relaxed sounding component of any sort. The M-7 is an excellent cable comparable to the best silver from the likes of Acoustic Zen and Audio Magic. In fact, I have owned both and the M-7 is superior to both, but comparable. I couldn't argue with someone who chose either over the M-7. I wouldn't but it is matter of taste at that level. All that ends with the M-21. This is a step and a half up from the best of the 700-1K silver interconnects mentioned above. M-21 is quieter, has a darker background, a deeper and weightier bottom end and an airiness that is downright spooky. It belies every conventional view about silver. It has more body than the best copper i have used. It has no edge or harshness. it is devoid of timing errors. it is a distortionless cable, and as anyone who knows cables knows they are the source of more coloration in a system than anyone is willing to admit. At best, cables are designed to allow your components to work to their design goals. The M21 do just that. Their presence is best noted when they are removed from the system. They are a system's best friend. With other silver cables I have been reluctant to recommend their use throughout a system, and i have had little success using silver between preamp and amp. All that has changed with the M21. I would not hesitate using M21 for all analogue connections in any well designed system. And in my reference system i use it between a tube preamp and a pair of tube monoblocks. I have also tried it between the same preamp and a Levinson amp. This is a nearly flawless IC. It works extremely well with the PGS which I use from the CD/SACD to the preamp. Indeed, the PGS is the only cable in my experience that betters the M21, and that is because, however wonderful the M21 sounds, the PGS simply does not sound at all

Similar Products Used:

Everything (see my PGS review please)

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Mar 24, 2003]
s23chang
AudioPhile

Strength:

Huge sound stage, dynamic, live like sound. highs are refined and bass is very well extended sweet mid range

Weakness:

None so far (after 20 hours of listening.) Pricy but you get the best performance ever.

After audition the Stealth M-21 special, I finally find the Stealth cable in the winner circle in my setup. I have came across so many different brands of interconnect and never before I felt such a great difference with the Stealth M-21 special interconnect. I've been always searching for the ultimate sound for my setup and switching cables is my last step to bring out the best possible sounding in my system. I was skeptical in my early audiophile days regarding to wires. I've been experimenting with different wires since settled down with my primary components ( speakers, amps, preamps and sources.) The "link" to all the components plays a major role in clarifying signal path. I've spend the past 3 years trying to get the best combination of wires to produce the best sound from Audio Note to Z-cable live. At least over 50 different manufactures I tried regardless of price and yet I thought I was pretty much settled on cable until I've used Stealth M-21 interconnects. My original sound prior to M-21 special is already very pleasant. Musical, dynamic, sweet mids and transparent. Because of the speaker choice, I thought I was limited to smaller and less "impact" sound stage. ATC SCM10 passive speaker is the MOST inefficient speaker out there regardless of the price and size. To drive and 80db speaker, it requires a lot of research and trial and error on the amp choice. To make a small non-ported bookshelf sounded like a floor standing is a real challenge. I've tried 4 different interconnects from Stealth Audio Cables and it didn't really satisfy my taste. I spoke to the designer Serguei himself from time to time do discuss about his cables and the possibility improvements. Serguei is a very nice gentleman with great patience to listen to my needs. He's always there to offer help on what I'm trying to achieve. I've been asking Serguei about the M-21 since I don't know anyone else have tried it. He gave me a good sonic description of the M-21 and he told me that he can tune it to my needs. This really stir up my curiosity. I then ordered the cryo treated M-21 special from him and give it an audition. I didn't expect too much improvement from my already great sounding system but I was wrong. Once plug in the M-21 special, the magic really happened. I tried it on my second system first just to see how much improvement I get from the other interconnects I had. I was shocked and amazed that the sound stage, imaging, bass extension, and the mids blows away my primary system. This is one big step up from the other interconnects I have tried. Since I also replaced my speaker cable with Stealth Ultimate Ribbon, I couldn't conclude if the improvement is from the speaker cable, interconnect or both. I then plug-in the M-21 special into my primary system just to see the difference. Wow, this is it. My primary system has lit up. The high and low extension are much well defined and less harsh than my previous interconnects. The mids is much full bodied sound with expansive sound stage. I never thought I can ever get bass so deep, tight and defined with the book self speakers but I was wrong. The M-21 special made the speakers on both system truly disappeared. When I listened to Jazz at Pawn Shop, I felt like I was sitting in the middle of the jazz club right in the 3rd table away from the stage. The sounds are coming all over the place. The M-21 special has great separation of instruments that no other cables I tried in the past could achieve. The refined high extensions is truly airy and enjoyable too. I would expect a bit of edginess from silver but this cable doesn't have any harshness in it. This cable is truly amazing. I didn't expect it to work so well just out of box. I'm pretty sure it will be even better after the break-in. If you're serious about finding the perfect cable then you should definitely give Serguei a call. enjoy listening!

Similar Products Used:

Audio Quest, Nordost, NBS, Acoustic Zen, Audio Note, Z-cable, Cardas, Stealth, XLO, Synergistic Research, Gryphon, Transparent, Siltech, DYI silver interconnect.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
Showing 1-3 of 3  

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