Transparent Audio Link 100 Speaker Cables

Transparent Audio Link 100 Speaker Cables 

USER REVIEWS

Showing 1-8 of 8  
[Jul 05, 2005]
posta
Casual Listener

Strength:

good bass strong mids highs are smooth sound nice

Weakness:

no air needs more detail

This review is for the high performance digtal coaxil this is very nice very qiet for movies and music sound s better than tara aq monster and many more for this price

Similar Products Used:

lots and lots

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
4
[Feb 24, 2002]
Montana4
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

Soundstage in a limited way, I guess

Weakness:

Real cheap build quality. Limited, if any, top end detail.

Since when does plastic equate to high-end pricing? I borrowed a set to upgrade from some inexpensive Stinger car audio interconnects to run back into the pre/in on my SR-19 from the RBH sub. They gave me a bit more soundstage through the midrange, but at tradeoff of losing most of the high frequency detail. Immediately, my wife said "no way". I sought out a set of Vampire Wire "SCII" to compliment the rest of the Vampire line I use. They sounded great out of the box and have gotten better each day since. For about the same money, there''s no comparison. The Link 100 build quality at the RCA may not even be as good as Radio Shack Gold Series, while Vampire Wire consistently compares to interconnects costing 2-3 times as much. I can''t recommend them enough. Oh yeah, one more thing, they have this little black box (god knows what it really does)on the cable that''s made out of that high grade plastic material just like the screw-on shielding at the RCA''s. I could''ve purchased the Link 100''s for 1/2 the retail price, but I wouldn''t use them even if they were free.

Similar Products Used:

Monster Cable, Stinger, and the only cables I''ve found worth buying for the money, Vampire Wire.

OVERALL
RATING
2
VALUE
RATING
2
[Oct 23, 1999]
Chris
Audiophile

I love the whole Transparent line and though it is pricey, it is worth the money IMO. I do however prefer other cables at this price point to the Transparent Link. If I had a product in this price range, I think I would prefer the warmer sound of a Cardas Cable. by comparison, I find Kimber and Straighwire on the bright side of reality and Monster and MIT on the fat and rolled off side. If your not using a cable to warm up the bright and lean sound of most cheaper electronics, go with the Transparent. If you need a cable to be a band aid or tone control at this price point, go with something else.

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
5
[Jul 28, 2000]
**BRyAN**
Audiophile

Strength:

overall incredible improvement of sound quality.

Weakness:

none

I use Transparent BNC ended connects for my cd to amp, but haven't had a chance to compare them o anything else. But I was using Audioquest speaker connects, Type 12, I believe. When I put the Transparents in their place my jaw dropped in amazement at the dramatic improvement in sound quality. Most improved may be the bass. It was tighter & more abundant. Bet overall sound quality improved. The highs were brilliant, not at all rolled off. Sound stage & resence was improved. Adding the Transparent cables was like moving up a model in components. If you want to improve your system for not a lot of money I would suggest trying the Transparent cables. My system is Krell 250CD & KAV300i driving Dynaudio contour 2.5's. I also had a chance to compare some single ended cables. Transparent, Audioquest Topaz & Monster cable. I put them between cd & preamp. And also between pre & power amp. This comparison was done with a Denon CD player & some Adcom separates. Audioquest & Transparent were both far superior to the Monster. I preferred the Tranparent over the Topaz. Transparent gave a much more tighter & controlled bass response, as well better definition & high end. I was sceptical about Transparent at first because of the networking. But I am in favor of anything that gives that much improvement in my system & still keeps the integrity of the music. If you haven't guessed by now I highl recommend Transparent.

Similar Products Used:

audioquest, monster cable

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[May 21, 2001]
Zeus
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

Clean sound

Weakness:

Very Expensive

They sound good but not sure how much I can attribute to cables as I replaced components and speakers all at the same time. The dealer felt very strongly about these cables, I'm not so sure it wasn't due to a nice margin.

The construction is not what it should be for this price. These are at the lower end for Transparent and for the money the high end for other makers such as Monster Cable, Audio Quest etc. So I am not sure if I could not have gotten simalr performance with other cables for less money.

I'm not disappointed with the performance, it is just alot of money to spend on cables. I have read in Audiophile magazines where in blind test listeners could not tell the difference in cables.

My rears are running on 14 gauge Monsters and sound plenty good.

Most dealers won't go thru the trouble to test against other cables, so I went on their recommendation. Having read different reviews on this site, it seems most people are pleased with the different brands.

So I guess what I am saying is have the dealer prove that one cable is better than another before dropping your cash. I think the differences will be very small and you would do better to put more of your budgeted money into better speakers. That will make a much bigger difference.

Similar Products Used:

Monster Cable

OVERALL
RATING
3
VALUE
RATING
3
[Jul 06, 1999]
Mike
an Audio Enthusiast

I have tried Audioquest Ruby, Monster Cable M950i, and Kimber Kable PBJand was blown away by the sound of the Transparent Link 100s. The cable
deliver unlimited detail and the sound is natural. I have been through
many cables around the $120 dollar price range and I feel that I have
finally found the right cable.


OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
[Feb 12, 2000]
Brian
Audiophile

Strength:

Imaging, bass.

Weakness:

Rolled off treble.

They did amazing things to the soundstage and the bass was exceptionally clear, full bodied, and flat response at all frequencies, but the highs were a bit rolled off. I went w/ DH Labs at the time.

I recently tried the Musiclinks and they are now essential and I will be getting a set to go between my preamp and sub Xover. Even w/ the DH Labs between sub and power amp, they let me hear all the bass notes clearly for the first time and are not rolled off at the top at all. Has more beneficial effect than investing several hundred dollars in electronics; therefore the Musiclinks are well worth the ~$300.

Equipment: NAD 512 CD player, NAD 314 int. amp for preamp (also power amp when I evaluated the Link 100s), Monarchy SE-100 deluxe power amps (2), Magnepan MMG speakers, velodyne CT-120 sub using internal Xover for high and low pass, DH labs cables all around.

Similar Products Used:

DH labs, Nordost flatline, Straitwire Encore (II?), Transparent Musiclink.

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
4
[Aug 23, 2000]
Ash Patel
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

clear sound , decent soundstage ,tight bass , punchy , treble not rolled over

Weakness:

a little compressed than other cables

i got this cable after addign the Musical Fidelity x-dac to the marantz 63mkII cd player( now used as transport ).

After replacign the van den hul with the Transparent audio , the soundstaging impoved big time !
The midrange was much clearer, vocals are so crisp and clear , bass is tighter , treble is not rolled off .
The van del Huls are more open I find but then they dont get the bass as punchy or midrange as clear in my current setup.

power amp is nad 216 thx
linn kolektor preamp
QED silver genesis biwired spkr cable
transparent audio link 100 betwene dac and preamp
van del hul between pre-amp and amp
marantx 63mkII cd player ( used as transport)
Musical fidelity x-dac - i use fibre optic link between them as i find the soudn much more accurate than a coax digital cable - and i tried 300pounds dig coax link and they didnt come close to the fibre optic one - the dealer was surprised too !!

happy listening.

im auditioning the Rotel 1095 this weekend - hopefully it should improve the sound stage by a lot.
will send anoter review if the soundstage , etc improves


Similar Products Used:

van del Hul Dk 102 III, Qed Silver Spiral

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
4
Showing 1-8 of 8  

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