I have been listening to CT 1 speaker cables and CT 1E interconnects in my system for close to 2 weeks and am Absolutely Amazed that these cables could so dramatically improve the sound in every aspect. All the outlandish claims are TRUE!!!
I hope to hear the CT 1 U interconnects soon. Rick told me the Ultimate are 4 times better. As my custom built, super modded, super tweaked system sounds better than any system I have ever heard with the CT 1's I have now,
it's hard to get my head around it being that much better. Can't wait!!
I think Ricks designs will change the world. Thanks Rick |
I just got an Ultimate Digital cable after a month of listening to the Enhanced digital and CT 1 speaker cable.
(ALSO, I did get a brief comparison between the entry level CT 1 digital and the Enhanced digital. The Enhanced was easily better in all respects.)
I have enjoyed the Enhanced digital very much this month as it does everything so wonderfully well.
In comparison, the CT 1 Ultimate is another huge jump in musical delight.
There is a definite amazement in the improvement focus and clarity, control and quietness.
An astonishing increase in detail and intimacy-
coupled with even smoother, more liquid sound-
leading to even greater listening ease and enjoyment.
I'm lovin it!!!!
The CT 1 cables are surprisingly great!
The Enhanced cables are amazingly wonderful!!
The Ultimate cables are utterly FANTASTIC!!!
I anxiously await the arrival of my Ultimate speaker cables. |
Rick told me "Ultimate Reference" cables coming soon (as expected)
I have no other info on that yet. |
Listening to my new CT-1 Ultimate Cables as I type.
I have 1 U digital and 1 U speaker set.
compared to the CT-1 speaker/ E digital combo I was using, there is much more solidity to the image with ultimate, quieter background, smoother airier highs, deeper tighter lows.
My best CDs sound more real than I have ever heard any system sound.
I live in Austin- and have 3 cables for short term personal loan in Texas- 8 ft pr CT-1 spk cable, 1m pair CT-1E ics, 1M pair Ultimate interconnects.
If you want to hear my system contact me and we can see what we can work out. |
I have 1100 hours on my Ultimate spk. cable and it seems to get better all the time.
I've been reading forum but haven't written on this since pg. 3 (early April).
I've been waiting for my new custom integrated amp to arrive but it is at least another month away so I will comment now.
Whenever I listen I am amazed by awesome "realness" like I've never heard in
35 years of listening. There is something so special about the sound from the
HI Fidelity cables that I have been a fan since I first heard the CT-1 interconnects. The Ultimate series is much much much more improved.
At 1100 hrs. it continues to get more liquid, more natural, more powerful, cleaner, clearer and more detailed. they are pure joy.
I hope to get Ultimate REFERENCE Cable and HI Fidelity magnetic power filter box by the end of the year. |
Price of Hi Fidelity Ultimate Reference speaker cable $12,500.00 for 1 Meter
and I believe $900 for each half meter more. I spoke to Rick while he was at CES this week. I'm making plans to get the UR speaker cable as soon as I can.
I have had so much fun and been so amazed with all the HF cables so far.
Thank You Rick Schultz for my amazing year in audio.
The best in 35 years of listening. |
Hi Charles1dad, I would love to hear you impression on both.
I don't think the HF wave guide power box is a filter per se.
It does have one capacitor but it is more a magnetic wave guide device that
operated on the same principals as the HF CT cables do, with similar effects,
on the power side of the equation.
A friend from Houston is bringing a number of good to great power cords and his latest power box design here this weekend here to help see what this power box can really do. I've been enjoying his power box for a year and we will try it in conjunction with HF power box and each separately.
I will also try tweaks like damping, shielding and isolation
like I have used successfully with the CT cables. |
HF Wave Guide Power Box- first impression.
I fell so fortunate to get to try Rick's power box as I have found no info online that they even exist . Rick has mentioned the power box to me many months
ago but the were awaiting parts.
I just got it yesterday but my first impression reminds me of the first time I
put a CT 1 cable in my system. Hearing my system do things I did not know were possible.
There is a tiny layer of detail now clearly audible behind the tiny details I could hear in my system with all CT ultimate cables in it.
There is improved sound quality at all frequencies.
Even more natural sounding,more dynamics, more control, more depth and tightness of image. Wow factor of 10.
I will report more as it breaks in. I only have it for 1 week trial.
Rick is set to produce two wave guide power boxes, small and large.
The small retails at $6000 and had two duplex outlets.
The large retails at $10,000 and has 4 duplex outlets.
I am testing the large which is said to have more weight than the small.
The smaller one is said to have very good weight and perhaps a bit better air.
but both have similar sound and effect.
more reports to follow. |
TBG, My home and the HF WGPB test were in Austin.
I wish more folks could have heard it too.
Looking forward to you views once you get to try it.
After reading reviews for over 3 decades, I struggled to
find a way describe the amazing experience fully without
rehashing overused phrases.
Still trying to wrap my head around the experience.
With some tweaking.... the WGBP brought my system (with all HF Ultimate cables)
so far beyond what I dreamed possible that I am still dumbfounded.
Even music I don't like sounds good. |
Tbg,Thanks for your comments.
I still remember the words to pop songs from the late 50's.
The WGPB is really that good... when hooked to the right components
with the right amount of tweaking.
Like you, I have been making other improvements (rebuilding my listening room walls, floor and ceiling,-
custom battery operated CD player- $10,000+ in good tweaks and 3+
decades in tweaking techniques. with much more to come.
I must say that Rick Shultz and High Fidelity have made the most dramatic improvements toward realism of anything else I have tried.
Happy listening
DD |
Just bought the Wave Guide Power Box I was testing.
decided I didn't want to go without it in my system.
silly things like car repairs and dental work can wait.
Thank you Rx8man for the WGPB photo
My box is on its side, in the corner, behind some tube traps
with a bunch of stuff piled on top for damping. not a good photo op. |
Tbg, Wave Guide Power Center is a good professional sounding name.
I have heard it referred to as " Wave Guide 3 power conditioner" also.
Before I wrote about it I asked Rick what he called it.
He said "Wave Guide Power Box"
With such a new product, things might change.
|
New official pricing of WGPB. (I am just the messenger)
In an earlier post I stated a suggested price for the Large and small WGPB
Wave Guide Power Box.
Now that the final costs and distribution have been calculated.
The Large unit will be $12,900
the small unit will be $8,500 |
Tbg, I'm happy to hear you will have a WGPC real soon.
I'm very much looking forward to hearing your experiences.
I am loving mine.
on hearing the TROY and WGPC together...
Charles1dad once wrote" Only in my dreams would I have access to these two products together."
Maybe those dreams are coming true. |
Mrtennis, I enjoyed your well written review. Thanks
You have captured their essence in your words.
Hope you get to experience the rest of the line as they take this concept
to much higher levels. |
WGPC gets better and better.
Performances appear effortlessly before me.
I listen in Awe and find it hard to stop...
Sublime! |
I agree with Tbg.
Since First using the CT 1 I could hear issues in my system that needed to be adjusted to get the full beauty of the cables. The same was true going to CT 1E then to Ultimate then adding the WGPC. We can truly hear so much further into our systems strength and weaknesses. (which allows finer system tuning.)
By this time I want to make sure I polish all my power and signal contacts with FLITZ metal polish and a good (hopefully clear liquid) contact enhancer.
Including any place a wire is screwed to a connector. Rick uses and recommends "Stabilant 22" |
Nglazer, Welcome- I had a Stealth Sextet digital cable that I loved.
It beat out all competition until the CT 1.
In my system, compared to High Fidelity Cables, the sextet was nothing.
Happy Listening
DD |
Tbg, glad to hear your impressions of the UR-WGPC. I believe we are fortunate to get to experience Ricks new gem.
your statement-" I sat in awe most of the remaining evening and hesitated to go to bed. " describes my experience of many nights this week. I am having to develop a new understanding of music reproduction and struggle to get my head around my systems current presentation.
I have 150 hrs on the box right now so I don't know how the break in will go but it is already to good to fathom. Way more than my all Ultimate cable system without "the box".
The WGPC box is designed with purposeful stress and tension to help pass vibration out of the box so cone feet should help.
I am experimenting replacing the metal stand with small isolation table and
Cerabase feet which use ceramic ball bearings as the touch point. In my system, they work better than all the many cones I have tried.
BUT.. In order for the vibration transfer to work effectively... I used screws to increase the stress between the waveguide stand and the bottom of the box.
The screws made it sound 6db louder.
If the preceding paragraph doesn't make sense, you may ignore or contact me for the longer explanation. |
Tbg, Thanks, I love to hear your system. My system is not complete as I am borrowing integrated amp and speakers until mine are built.
I have not tried the still points ultra fives and wonder how they compare with
Finite Element cerabase. (I have at least 30 of those). I will be looking for some SP U5's to try.
For those crazy tweakers out there- I have found ways to damp, isolate and shield wave guides for a better sound (less noise, cleaner, more intimate, dynamic)
using a combination of wood, lead, clay, iso table, iso feet and aluminum foil
They must be off the floor and only wood (and air) touches the wave guides.
I will not have this perfected until I get my new amp and speakers but it sounds considerably better in my current system. |
I know Rick and company have spent years studying vibration control an was involved in a 3 year college project on the subject.
I am just a little fish that have enjoyed removing unwanted "noise" of any kind
from systems for over 3 decades.
Three things... Rick has heard my system and said he liked I have done so far...
Rick Suggested I try using STill Points on the WGPC...
Although Rick has years of experience with this, he is willing to listen to my humble suggestions and, i believe he would use them if he liked the outcome.
I believe resonance control thru herding vibration is great! I like a dash of damping in my system. The iso tables I use dissipate vibration coming from above and below the table (into heat). ALSO, I personally hate the sound of concrete vibration and isolate my system from it.
Anyway... I love to listen and to play with my system so I'm happy!!
Happier than I have ever been now I have High Fidelity products. (plug) ;-) |
TOM, yes I understand Transduction is not as scientifically efficient and why.
I know that a manufacturer building a product needs efficiency for cost reasons. They must stop short of doing everything they could do for the same cost considerations.
Once I get the product home I like to play with it to see if I can get it to be more effective for my ears and my system. I often use less efficient methods but I like it more. If I like the sound of adding a transducer or 20, then I like the sound.
Scientific advances have continually improved my listening experience.
This was never more true than with Rick's amazing High Fidelity Products.
Listening and liking music for me is sometimes emotional, subjective and personal rather than reasonable.
Meanwhile, I am having fun and hope you are too. Dave |
Thanks to all for recent conversations about vibration abatement.
I continue to experiment with vibration Damping and vibration Grounding methods. as always keeping a keen ear on loss of liveness, realness or humanness.
In my current system, with the WGPC (and all other magnetic wave guides )
I like the sound better with some damping directly on the wave guides as it sounds more coherent, resolving, involving.
I like the goosebumps analogy and that (or magic) is what I am always searching for. |
Great to hear another positive HFC experience. Thanks.
I think of my experience with Rick's cables this past year from the time I
read the very first post on this thread by Alpass. Then going from listening to Ct 1, CT 1E, to an all CT Ultimate system with Wave Guide Power Conditioner.
AN AWSOME RIDE!!! Redefining Naturalness, intimacy and soundstage presentation for me... many times. Thanks Rick!!
Dose anyone have more to tell about WGPC? |
Norm, visiting sounds like fun and next weekend is a possibility.
How is the WGPC sounding? |
Tbg, Thanks for you report on WGPC. I'm still amazed at how much MORE
the WGPC adds to the HF cable improvements. WOW!
Will love to hear you views on the Stillpoint ultra 5's on the WGPC
I have months of experiments to do on the WGPC which include trying different devices under the unit, on top of it, and inside. also trying items in conjunction with the WGPC.
One distraction is that it sounds so fantastic I get lost in the music. |
Norm, Thanks Much. I really enjoyed visiting.
You system looked and sounded fantastic. Very impressive.
I learned a lot.
You have lots of great toys that will end up costing me a lot of money
to get.
First time I've gotten to see and hear the HF Ultimate Reference speaker cable.
Super fine man, Super Fine!!!
i was so happy we got to play with stuff.
Glad we got to demo my wave guide damping idea and glad it worked as well there as at my place. (better bass, detail, image, balance.)Your Stillpoints made the damping idea really sing!!
Those Stillpoints are fabulous on High Fidelity gear! I need about 50 of them.
Thanks again. Hope to hear your thoughts.
DD |
Welcome Calvin, to the new world of audio.
HF cables have dramatically altered and improved my listening experience this year.
I have heard all of Rick's Magnetic cables and power conditioner.
It is a wonderful experience
Enjoy the music
Dave |
I agree with Fplanner2000 and Tbg that the HF cables just get better and better.
Probably for thousands of hours. My system started sounding very good in 48 hours and was unbelievable in a week. Still getting better months down the road.
I have an all ultimate system now along with a prototype Ultimate Reference Wave Guide Power Conditioner.
My friends and I are awed every time we listen and have never heard anything like it. The subtle nuances in the Noiseless background that make it sound more real than I ever imagined possible. the dynamics, the texture, the air, the Naturalness and intimacy ... WOW!!!
In the next year, I hope to sell all my Ultimates and get all Ultimate Reference.
Happy listening everyone!
DD |
Iblieve, My last set of speaker cables was Jena Labs twin 19.
Each of the 4 cables (+,-, L, R) have 19 runs of Jena wire in them.
I was using them because they were the best cables I had heard to that point (35 years of listening). They sounded better than Jorma Prime and Audioquest Rosewood in my system.
The HF cable was such a vast improvement in all categories it was like listening to a completely different (and much better) audio system. Micro detail, soundstage imaging, texture, intimacy, naturalness, dynamics like I have never heard anywhere in all my years of listening. I did not know a sound like this was even possible!!! Everyone who hears my system is awed every time we turn it on.
I have all Ultimate cables in my system and an Ultimate Reference Power Conditioner and I'm amazed every day.
I have done some system retuning to enhance the system with these cables.
The cables have a long break in time.
As I recall, only a few posts in 448 posts had even a doubt about HF cables.
Sorry you are out in the boon docks and can't get an easy audition.
I hope you work out a way soon as High Fidelity Cables are terrific!!!
Happy Listening
Dave |
Great to find so many new posts since I last checked 5 days ago.
Very interesting comments. many even on topic.
I have used a cable cooker on my HF CT-1 U and it helped very little
compared to in system playing time. I think I got some wire cook in but
cable cooker does not seem to help with the magnetic effect (which is MUCH larger that the wire effect in these cables).
Rick talks about the magnetic effect permeating the components over time.
Which is where HF cables becomes truly magical.
The higher you go in the CT-1 line, the more powerful the magnets and the greater the permeation. |
Thanks Nic, for you response.
Fyi that was Baltic birch plywood, birch trees that grow in cold weather
grow more slowly and are therefore, more dense with closer grain.
sound better that warm weather birch. if one wishes to nitpick.
I've been really enjoying all the interesting posts of late!
Dave |
HF power cords.
I just got a picture of Ricks new ultimate reference power cord.
It appears to have 3 UR interconnect waveguides in a stand in the middle and powerful magnets on each end.
the 3 "wires" look the same as UR cable.
I hope to test one soon.
can't post pictures here but, if you get your email to me I can send.
perhaps a more savvy computer guy can post pic and send link.
D |
The HF UR WGPC is a rare bird at this point with only a few in circulation.
Rick has come up with some new improvements that sort of make the few
out there Beta units IMHO.
That said, The WGPC sounds no less than amazing in my system.
It sound great quite quickly but has been improving for months.
For those of you who have had the good fortune to hear the improvements
moving from CT-1 to E, to U, and even to UR. The WGPC is like going even further in the same direction as it has the same effect on power as the CT-1 series has on signal. So what ever words you would use to describe the best you have ever heard.
I call it unbelievably awesome.
Other descriptors
the High Fidelity Ultimate Reference Wave Guide Power Conditioner, in conjunction with CT-1 Ultimate cabling....
has brought a "never before heard" level of image solidity, tighter crisper bass that I thought possible in my system. So intimate and real sounding that I that I hold my breath when listening to the clear and delicate interplay between instruments and harmonies. Sweetness and air in the highs brings sighs of adulation.
So, pretty good then (-: |
Jazzonthehudson, In my experience, the U series CT-1's really separate themselves from the 1 and 1E in all aspects of musical reproduction.
everything the first two did, the Ultimate does better- a LOT better.
But Beware… If you listen to these High Dollar speaker cables, you will not want to let go of them.
Also, they take 4-EVERRr to break in fully. sound ok in a week but improves to breathtaking in 2000hrs.
I hope other Ultimate owners will comment on this.
DD |
Chatnoir, Iblieve, about the wire size of Ct-1 series.
I would add that I had to learn to think differently about the High Fidelity line.
My decades of understanding of wire and it's principals DOES NOT APPLY HERE.
Magnetic conduction is quite different, and , I believe, a superior new concept.
The improvement up the CT-1 line comes mostly from stronger magnets rather than bigger wire or better wire configuration.
A gross simplification of the design might be "The wire was developed for it's magnetic transfer qualities rather than standard wire with its focus on electron movement".
It seems very likely to me that Magnetic conduction will improve all electronic
device's power and signal paths, and more. think power lines, vehicles, medical.... |
Hifial, I also us very familiar music for fine tuning and I'm sure you will be able
to hear quite quickly how the CT1E is better than the CT 1 at just about Everything.
You might hear it right away but for sure within 24 hours you will start to hear it.
Then it will improve for hundreds of hours.
I look forward to your report.
Happy Listening. |
Tbg, From reading and listening to Rick, the principals of the magnetic conduction and it's effect on the systems components. There is a claim that break in time on magnetic cables includes "magnetic saturation" of components. If true, (and I have no reason to doubt), Then break in
prior to shipping will have limited effect. I have used a cable cooker and had HF cables played for weeks in other systems but still had to wait to hear the best sound. As we know, cables can be sensitive to movement,
so there is some break in time ofter moving cables. however, the break in time ofter moving is so long I don't think it is just moving cables.
I believe different folks with different systems will have varied experiences.
I'm loving the music!!
Hope you are too.
DD |
Calloway, I enjoyed that 6 Moons article- thanks for mentioning.
The author explains the effects of HF cables well.
The article mentioned an old adage ,"Don't listen to them if you can't afford them". Sounds funny but true of audio auditions.
I didn't think I could afford HF cables until I heard their unbelievable
transformation of my sound. How much is it worth to be in an undiscovered realm of magical sound?
At this point, I have more money in High Fidelity cable products then the rest of my system. I am thrilled by the newly discovered major upgrade to Reference Quality Sound and adjust my system to improve it further.
Happy Listening
DD |
Calloway, I hope to move up to UR series in time, selling my Ultimate
interconnects( 1M) and speaker cables ( about 9.5 feet).
At this point this is a future dream as I have new speakers being built
and hope to buy about 20 sets of Stillpoints. So, unless I receive an unexpected windfall, It would be 2015. By Then, who knows, I may be wanting some newer series of HF cables. |
Tsushima1, Great that you are getting UR interconnects! I also have the CT-1 U interconnects and I'm interested in how the UR compare.
Enjoy!! DD |
Ultimate Reference improved
Friends, I am so fortunate to have received the final version of the UR waveguides for my HF Wave Guide Power Conditioner. These are the same waveguides that come in the UR Speaker cables.
I had an earlier, prototype version of the waveguides in my WGPC and it, along with my all Ultimate cabling, was AMAZING.
The improved UR waveguides are a WHOLE NEW WORLD in realism.
also in bass extension, soundstage width- depth- solidity- air- texture, naturalness, involvement, effortlessness, dynamics, wow factor and more. And that is with less than 100 hrs on them.
I can hardly wait for more hours!
I will report back in time.
The eval team was shocked that this stellar system could sound so much better - in every way. The sonic presentation was so improved,
we heard it right away but, had to listen for several hours just to get a handle on the new sound. (having never heard a system sound that good).
Rick, you are a genius!!
I will now have to sell my Ultimate cables (and everything I own) ;-)
and get UR cabling.
Hoping to get a UR digital cable soon to try out.
Boy! Are we having fun now!!
D |
Calloway, yes a very nice article that does an excellent job of describing what I'm hearing. That's why Jack Roberts is a reviewer and I'm not.;-).
What is really noteworthy, is that I am hearing those huge improvements with Ricks UR Power Filter.
There is a Ultimate version as well, I hear.
Friends, there is a whole other
world of improvement if you do the power also..
The production model of the HF UR power filter is just about here
so check with Rick (and you financial advisors)
IMHO - ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!! |
Audiolabyrinth, I do have a "full Loom" of Ultimates in my signal path but in my system that is 1 digital and spk cable. My new amp will require trading the one digital for a set if IC's. My plan is to move up to UR when my funds equal my desire. selling ultimates.
Having run test on all iterations of HF CT-1, E, U.. I got a UR digital in today and I'm excited for this weekend.
I don't have a "full loom" on power just the UR power filter.
Everyone who has one of these UR power filters is raving about the
unbelievable, never before experienced, not thought possible presentation. |
HF UR Waveguide Power Conditioner makes a bigger improvement than Ricks' cables.
Shocking to us testing the upgraded UR WGPC. But the agreement is that the big, Ultimate Reference WGPC ($16K) made a bigger improvement
that my full loom of Ultimate cables. and also deemed more critical in
other high end systems with UR cables.
Shocking because the HF cables are FAR better than all other cables I have tried in 35 years.
Hard to believe?
Only one way to tell.
Caution: do not listen if you have to give it back because that will prove impossible.
I'm looking forward to the first official review in this amazing piece.
It is surely one of the most significant improvements I've ever heard. |
Tsushima1,Greetings from Austin ( other side of the pond) about a month ago you reported getting a Ultimate Reference interconnect in London and I was wondering what your thoughts were so far?
Dave |
leicachamp, I my experience, the HF cables do somethings that all other cables do not, so, according to that theory, your speaker cables are the limiting factor because they don't have the control or the bandwidth to show what the IC's are really doing.
Also true is that each successive line in the CT-1 series is SIGNIFICANTLY better than the next….SIGNIFICANTLY!!!
the Ultimates are a way bigger improvement over the E than the E is over the 1 and the improvement from U to UR is unbelievable.
So really, you can't go wrong with either move.
I have enjoyed every level of HF cables but will tell you that the U is really when it gets super magical.
Maybe you can find someone selling their Ultimates. (hint)
IF money is an issue as it is with me the IC is half as much as the speaker cables so you could start there. |
Ultimate vs. Ultimate Reference cable, my first comparison.
I believed that I was in for a real treat with UR cables after reading
Jack Roberts review on the Ultimate Reference cable.
And I recently got a sense of the UR with my UR power filter.
But I was not ready for what I heard.
I have had an Ultimate digital in my system for 6 months and it was superb and, by far, the best I've ever heard, a huge and amazing improvement over the Enhanced. i had reached Nirvana with my UR. power filter and could not imagine how my system could improve even though i knew it would.
I installed the UR digital for 24 hours then replaced it with the Ultimate digital. I was dumbfounded ….
The UR had made the best cable I have ever heard sound like a dime store toy.
I had already enjoyed a sound that was totally outstanding.
The new UR sound was so much more advanced that it sounded like a different system altogether. So much more ALIVE and real sounding
it seemed to transcend music reproduction altogether.
I'll let the reviewers wax poetic about the improvements in this song or that and just echo my golden eared friend response….
"IT'S WAY BETTER…… AT EVERYTHING!!!" |
I have to agree with TGB and Charles about accessories.
I discovered over 30 years ago that I could achieve a better sound with cables that cost more than the other equipment. Also that a lot of proper damping and shielding can create wonderfully smooth and surprisingly detailed sound with great bass.
And that the room is a component of the sound and should be afforded the amount of time and money as other components.
Ricks HF products, for me, make the most monumental improvement of all the stuff I've tested since 1972. i think maybe Stillpoints might be 2nd. they both allow micro detail that was previously impossible.
and therefore, create a "previously impossible to achieve" soundstage.
My mind still boggles at how it could sound so "real". |
Bill, congrats on the UR speaker cable. I'm definitely going to get some UR speaker cable after hearing my UR digital cable totally alter perception. Making the choice is easier that coming up with the money.
On the Ultimate Reference Wave Guide Power Conditioner, which Norm, Rick and I have.
UR WGPC has three large UR speaker cable waveguides ($16K)
The UR power cord has 3 UR interconnect waveguides. ($10,900. 1M, + $675 for each 1/2M added.)
I have not heard the power cords yet.
I'm sure the power cords are as great as all Rick's other products, but I don't think they would replace the UR WGPC. I'll never let go of mine.
FYI: there are also Ultimate WGPC and power cords.
Dave |
