Synergistic New Tesla Line...Any comments?

Joeyboynj,
I use a combination of Designer Ref and Resolution Ref X2s and have been very happy with them. Previously I had used Nordost Valhalla, which I found airy but slightly lean.

Where can I get information on the Telsa line (SR Telsa website is under construction), what does it cost to upgrade at the factory to the equivilent Telsa version? What changes do they make?

I assume you can use the Quattro with the Telsa line, do they have a new power center for them?

Thanks for the info.

Rb99

Spoke with SR today - the Telsa website should be up next week. The price for the 1 meter Apex (top of the line)ic is $3400, $4000 for the two meter. The performance of these cables exceed the old Absolute Ref which cost $4750 for the 1 meter.

Even the next in to the top of line Precision Reference's performance exceeds the old AR according to my dealer and is less then half the cost, $2200 for the 1 meter ics and $2800 for the PR spker cables!

If the performance claims are true these will be a huge hit and a run away seller.

It'll be interesting to hear the reviews. The Absolute Sound Editor Jon Valin has given the old AR cable a steller review, better then the Valhallas and just a notch below the incredible Tara Ones'. Stereo Review has always given the SR cables high ratings.

"By applying a two million volt signal to a cable at a specific pulse modulation and ultra high frequency for an exact duration of time we transform the entire cable at a molecular level through a phenomenon called Quantum Tunneling."

Now that's what I'd call a cable burner!

Leica_man: "I don't bealive "Stereo Review" has ever reviewed cables "when" they were in publication"

You are right I meant Stereophile - wow I am really dating myself with that reference.

I stand corrected.

I don't put alot of weight on those reviews - but they can create a buzz. To be fair I did get the orginal idea of trying the SRs after reading about them there...and my Dynavector XV1S from Absolute Sound (outstanding cart).

Have any of the Webzines reviewed the Teslas yet?

Scottyw - thanks for the review.

Just sent in my Designer Ref X2 ics and Spker cables to be upgraded to Apex. It'll take a couple of weeks - I will post the results. The upgrade for the ics is a $1000 for a 1 meter pr. The speaker cable upgrade are priced according to length - around $2000.

What other cable company honors their customers like these guys?

Spoke with Ted Denney - great guy! The new break-in process really makes a difference. Crazy stuff - they send a 2 million volt LIGHTNING STRIKE into the cable, which is ground to a copper pole sunk 6 feet deep into the ground!

Their website had 4,000 hits over the weekend, crashing it for a while.

He has demo'd these cables against everything out there, they beat the pants off everything he has heard. The old Absolute Ref are not even close.

Installed the Tesla Apex ICs and Speaker cables today. I had been running DR X2 and RR X2 prior to the upgrade. The factory had burned in the cables for 72 hours before shipping them out. After letting them settle in for a few days I will write a more detailed review.

But here are my first impressions: Natural, organic, incredible detail (a tough combination to get in one cable), and the best attribute is the superbly realistic micro dynamics. This adds to an uncanny sense of realism, unlike any thing I've heard before. I previously had a complete complement of Vahallas prior to moving to the X2s (after going through many brands). The two cables had remarkable similarities, both being fast with a nice airiness, although the Valhallas excelled in transparency, I loved the midrange substance and mid-bass relative richness of the SRs.

The Tesla Apexs are in a completely different league, the naturalness and easiness are the best I had heard (this is right out of the box!), but with detail and lifelike dynamics. Until now I thought it would be impossible to get a cable that does both well. A wide and deep soundstage, but most impressive the bloominess of the voices and instruments. Combine this with the incredible speed and micro dynamic snap and shading, they produce the most holographic and realistic images and effect I have yet experienced.

More to come after a few days listening - highly recommended!!!!

System:

Talon Firebirds
Response Audio moded ASL Hurricanes (NOS tubed)
Conrad Johnson Act 2
Exemplar 5910 balanced
VPI Super Scoutmaster Signature/Dyna XV-1s
Valhalla PC and Thor conditioner, Richard Grays on the ASLs

Tesla Apex update:

These cables definitely need extensive break-in, even after the factory treatment.

They are great out of the box, but start to close in at around 75 hours. This lasts until the 150 hour mark where they begin to open up again...then they start to improve significantly.

The sound stage opens up and expands beyond the original sound...at 200 hours it is still improving.

The biggest difference is in the detail, the fine grain is starting to come out. Old recording (listened to thousands of time) reveal new sounds (or sounds that where there were a bit blurry). I use the analogy with digital photography - it's like going from 4 mega pixels to 12.

Everything improves - the soundstage becomes circular versus flat staggered cutouts. In other words the sounds seem to emanate in concentric circles from the instruments vs. front to back projection. The sound wraps around the room. Images are defined in shape, firmly anchored, and of realistic size and shape. All adding to the realism. Bells and triangle strikes hang in midair and radiant in 3-D space.

The growing fine detail lets you "hear" the resonance of the wood like never before (striking on acoustic guitar and piano). It gets hard to explain the effect. Sounds fade into a deep dark background. The tones are very neutral and natural, never pitched one way or the other.

One thing to note, the amount of information on 30 yr old Redbook recordings ( especially remastered editions) are still beyond our systems ability to retrieve. I'm hearing faint background vocals and instruments I never heard before.

The best of all - ALWAYS completely relaxed and unfatiguing, and more so as the break-in evolves. You can listen for hours on end without wanting to stop.

I love the way you can turn the volume up as loud as your system will permit and never feel a pinch in the ear, in fact more details continue to emerge. Everything from acoustic vocals to alternative sound silky smooth. If you love to play alt and emo LOUD, you will love these cables.

I get the feeling they will take several hundred hours of playing to fully breakin.

Updates to follow...

Scottyw: Thanks for the feedback on the review! It's hard to put into words what your hearing with these cables sometimes.

Leica man: I think you are on to something - I have noticed the settling-in issue with the old SR cables I was using. This will make it hard for folks who attend Audio shows to really hear what they are capable of.

They are still settlingin/breakingin - now exceeding 250 hours - and still getting better in almost every way.

What a blast!!! I'm pulling cds out that I haven't heard in months - it a revelation. It's not just new details - but a new lense to view the whole show. The soundstaging, plus the incredible detail and the new level of micro dynamics - make for a new experience.

Just finished Steely Dan's Aja - chills! Fagens Nightfly on DVD-A freaking amazing! The syns where wrapping around the room..

Lifehouse - No Name Face, what bass! Jason Wades voice just hangs in the air, as real as can be imagined.

Chopin - Polonaises the Vanguard Classics reissue on SACD . the emotion expressed by Brendel piano deeply stirring.

Rise Against - The Sufferer and the Witness. Driving, the growling guitar riffs perfectly captured - Bass you can feel in your chest. Always controled and never fatiguing.

I would love to hear these cables compared to the Tara Zeros, I can't believe they could be that much better. I wonder if they would lend me a set for a few days? Delivered by Brinks of course!

Enjoy the great sounds!

BTW: Absolute Sound latest issue has a preliminary review of the PRs. The slightly closed in sound was attributed to the speaker cables not the ICs. I hope they give them a chance to settle-in before the formal review.