This was my first lengthy and truly in-depth cable evaluation and also the first one that involved so many cables. Prior to this I had compared two cables at a time.
This was frustrating and time-consuming and early on, a very boring process. I also felt the urge to throw in the towel after the first few days.
BUT, BUT, BUT once I got into it, it was a very good experience and I have to say a terrific learning and growth experience for me. It has also furthered my understanding of audio and sound quality. In the end, it was a very rewarding exercise for me and retrospectively, time very well spent.
In a way, actually in much more than a way, it has brought me closer to my system --- in understanding it --- appreciating it --- enjoying it.
First phase ranking and results:
1st: Wireworld Platinum Starlight 7
2nd: Audience Au24 SE Plus
3rd: Purist Ultimate
4th: Cardas High Speed Clear
CAVEAT, CAVEAT, CAVEAT: This is in my system/room and based on my hearing abilities and preferences.
The caveats are important because after listening to all four of these cables, I can see why someone would pick any one of them for their system and needs and budget and be satisfied with the performance.
The Cardas was easy to identify as the fourth place finisher because the other three cables had a greater sweetness and refinement to their sound, greater air and bloom, and because the Cardas did not stand out based on any particular strengths, which the other cables exhibited. Some will value it’s consistency in not having any pronounced strengths. It’s Value = Quality/Price is high since it has the lowest price in the group tested.
Please note that this is the High Speed version which adds a ’special high performance data cable using silver-plated conductors’ per Cardas.
The Purist and the Audience were closer in sound signature to each other. With the Audience being closer to the Wireworld in it’s capabilities than the Purist.
Both cables are Fuller, Rounder, and Mid-Range Centric and came across more Forward with vocals.
What follows is relative to the Wireworld cable as it excelled in attributes over the Purist (to a greater degree) and the Audience (to a lesser degree).
Please know and make note that I’m not saying any of these cables are, for example, NOT detailed, or NOT transparent, or XXX (fill in the blank). This is a relative comparison.
I found the Purist to be lightly veiled, with less definition to the leading edge of the music, and it sometimes felt slow in timing. Transparency and resolution are not as strong as the Wireworld and micro-detail is lost, again relative to the Wireworld cable. Separation of musical information was not as strong as the Wireworld. It does not provide a window into the depths of the music like the Wireworld does.
It’s strong with the already mentioned fullness and roundness attributes as well as with the air and bloom it presents. Bass was the ’tubbiest’ of the four cables. I also found some inconsistencies with sound stage presentation, and at times larger than life images. I liked this cable enough to be open to considering the step up in the Purist line, but it was, relatively speaking again, the most inconsistent cable of the four.
I considered the possibility of it being somewhat defective or not run in completely. However, after hearing the 30th Anniversary version, I have to say that the cable was likely good and it’s performance is what it is, based on the house sound I was able to determine from the step up Purist cable.
If this sounds like damning information, it is not. Like I said, I was intrigued enough to be open to the 30th Anniversary version. I will say it really comes down to your system, your goals, and your preferences. I’m sure there are fellow audiophiles that are quite happy with this cable.
The Audience Au24 SE Plus (please note that this is the Plus USB cable which, per Audience, is an improvement over the SE version).
This is the first cable of the four that I really liked. The easiest way for me to describe it is that it brings most of what the Purist does well, without overdoing it as much, and it gets one closer to the Wireworld cable’s strengths.
It is more relaxed than the Wireworld.
It presents more musical energy than and with better definition than the Purist. It remains refined and delicate (not to the extent of the Wireworld but more so than the Purist) with great air and bloom. It is less detailed than the Wireworld, though it gets closer to it than the Purist.
If you are looking to split the difference between the Purist Ultimate and the Wireworld Platinum Starlight 7 the Audience Au24 SE Plus cable is the way to go.
The winner of the Phase 1 shoot-out is the Wireworld Platinum Starlight 7.
This is a well reviewed cable. On the flip side, those who have owned / demo’d it and have had concerns point to it being bright and lean and being a cable that requires careful system matching.
My impressions here are with the Sonore ultraRendu in the system (I’m giving something away here, but it is important to note that this cable was also evaluated with the Sonore Signature Rendu SE with even better outcomes which minimize or eliminate some of the weaknesses listed here).
For me, relative to and versus the other cables, the Wireworld cable nailed timing, clarity, resolution, detail, micro-detail, venue and ambient cues and information, and refinement. There is a delicate purity to it’s presentation that I noticed across tracks in combination with and contrast to a robust and engaging presentation of musical energy.
It offers a higher level of insight into the music and separates the musical information better than the other cables. Control is taut and better defined throughout the frequency range and the bass delivered is of much better quality and impact than the other cables. To my ears and assessment, timbre, tone and weight sound more ’real’ and palpable. The Wireworld also extends higher than the other cables, likely due to the level of transparency and resolution offered.
With the Sonore ultraRendu, it does have a leaner presentation than the Audience and the Purist. With certain recordings the sound was lightly fatiguing. It is less ’sweet’ sounding than the Audience and Purist cables. To my ears, it is the more honest cable in this comparison. For me, it is also the more musically satisfying cable of the four.
