Biggest Baddest Audio Cables


Whether they actually sound better or not, I don't really care but I have a fetish for beautifully made, anaconda sized audio cables, especially with unusually well made connectors. Any ideas here especially where 2nd hand is a deep discount would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
cwlondon
There are a number of audiomarts that are recognized in Osaka, Tokyo, etc...that pop up on hifishark dot com. In Japan, the demo and lightly used after-market is quite high and populated with good stock from what I've been told for cables, components, etc.....Some of the more tenured auctioneers (100s of positive feedback) do a good job of verifying and stocking valid product from what people have shared with me and I have seen when browsing online.....ironically a number of them show up on Yahoo Auctions Mart in Japan. FWIW, proceed with the usual cautions.
Hi Colekat, assuming there are no territorial issues (ie: where a given product is not already represented in your area), Boris at Absolute Hi End is a good guy to talk to. I have known him for 6 years.
Hey Melbguy1, Wow, would I like to have a dealer like yours. I wonder how competitive he would be with cables? I trying to get a proposal right now from a dealer in Germany on the Acrolinks, but with the ancillary cost of all the fees and levy's, not to mention issues with customs, they may not be feasible direct to me. So I am on standby, but hopeful it works out. I wonder how Australia would work out? You think your dealer would be willing to give me a price on Acrolink 6300II's? Or the Jorma's?
My guy is great, but no audition of new stuff, only second hand stuff he has on trade and in his inventory!
Colekat, yes i'm from Melbourne, Australia. I'm lucky in that my Dealer gets a lot of nice high end gear in, including Jorma, TL, Crystal cables etc, Siltech, Acrolink etc as well as Magico, Vitus, YG etc.

I agree in your case the Acrolinks sound like the safer option, and if you can later swing an audition of Jorma or see a good deal on AG, you could always add a Jorma later and just sell the loser. Good luck!
thankyou colekat, the Zero Evolution I/c is were they put their best sound into, said to be alot better than my Zero gold, but the speaker cable is a 20% difference from what Tara told me on phone over my omega gold cable.
Hey Melbguy1, Only a guess, but are you from Melborn, Australia? As for your comment of the TL Evolutions inability to be trained, you are on the money! I am currently looking for the right opportunity to pounce on new ICs for my rig. I have WW Platinum Eclipse 7 between DAC and transport, and DAC and preamp. My Ypsilon preamp is unbalanced, therefore RCAs for DAC to Pre, and on course 110 ohm XLRs for the transport to DAC . I am leaning toward the Acrolink 6300IIs, as Eelii8 says they are great together. I also have clock to deal with, so it gets expense. Fred has me looking for Jorma Primes on his recommendation, as we both have the same digital source. I have only once seen them in the second hand market and they were gone second day. The Acrolinks are easier to come by, and Esoteric uses them to voice thier players, so seems like the right match. Even brand new I can snatch them up at half the price of the Jormas, and they also sell easy, so if I grab the Jormas, I can sell the Acrolinks. I have not auditioned either cable in my system, which always makes me nervous, but as we know, impulse is the main contributor to our audio rooms being full of boxes! And it's good business for Audiogon too!
Colekat, yeah i've got a lot of time for Fred who is a very knowledgeable and interesting guy. As far as reviewers go, he is refreshingly honest. I agree he is objective and has integrity. I now have the best of Jorma being the Prime xlr's and Statement sc's. I also plan on upgrading 3 of my Prime pc's with cryo'd Oyaide M1/F1 connectors which will take my Prime pc's to another level. And I have a highly skilled high end Audio Engineer who can re-terminate my cables. That should be a great combination with my Furutech GTX-D(G) wpo & Vitus gear. The TL Evo's are very nice, but heavy and ungainly to work with. Siltech are super nice, but not quite as good value as Jorma imho (atleast in my neck of the woods).

Yeah it's easy to let this hobby become a serious pursuit. I'm guilty as charged, but can see light at the end of the tunnel. When my current system plans are finished, the only thing I may change many years into the future is my speakers if the the right opportunity comes up. But i'm definitely in no rush.
Hey Melbguy, yes , Fred has had a lot of influence in my decisions, he is clearly a reviewer of objectivity, and once you develop a personnel dialog he can convey his experiences very well. He is a huge fan of Jorma and Stage III.
As for me, Like I said, I had the opportunity to audition the Tara's, and once I heard them in my system, I just couldn't let them go. The Kraków Sonic guys from High Fidelity love the Tara's too, although the Siltech's have made a huge impact on them as of late. I try to stick to my decisions a couple of years at least, or this becomes a persuit instead of fun and pleasure.
Colekat, I have the Tara zero gold, Omega Gold, Cobalt power cord, I am in love with the sound, you said something about a dark sound?, well, The furutech GTX-D Rhodium outlet's, takes 700 hrs to full break-in,this is a good fit for the Tara so called dark sound, does not light up the sound, just does not bring attention to any dark sound, more or less, a so called normal picture of the sound.
Better not listen to a system capable of graceing the Tara lab's Grandmaster Evolution cable's, all audio nerversa will kick into over drive, likly re-morgage the house to want them, all of you are talking about the Zero evolution cable, which is a fine cable, the grandmaster speaker cable's is where the real girth is, 000 gauge 85,000 milimeter's per channel of girth, talking about the wow factor, BTW colekat, please come to the cable thread called, Tara lab's and share your impression's, many have been asking who has these cable's to answer question's etc..., Happy listening.
Colekat, yeah Marten use Jorma to internally wire thier speakers. For example, the Bird 2's are internally wired with Jorma No.2 cable, hence it's not a surprise Jorma cables have such good synergy. I was using Jorma Origo biwire cables with my previous Coltrane Alto's with great success.

Yes, as far as the "Biggest, Fattest, Heaviest" cables go, yes TL are in the mix, as would be PAD. But interestingly Jorma Kosky found that using the least amount of the insulation that surround the conductors results in the best sound. If they were to use more than is absolutely necessary to make the finished product strong, safe, and long lasting, it would degrade the sound.
Colkat, I agree with your description of the Tara Labs Evo cables. They sounded very smooth, had good flow and are very quiet, but on the dark side of neutral and seem to make the music sound bigger like horns. I was very impressed, but I don't think i'd part with my Jorma cables. The Prime xlr's & Statement sc's are his best work. I am happy with the pc's, but plan on upgrading the connectors later this year with Oyaide M1/F1's which will take them to the next level & likely match the Stage III's. Btw, is your friend Fred Crowder? We've had a few chats about the Prime cables (that was before the Statement sc's came out). The Statements are much better than my previous Prime single wires.
Oh Melbguy1, There is definitely a connection with the Jorma Primes and Marten speakers, see Dagogo, a friend visits, making my point clearer. It is so hard to say "best", but much easier to say "best with " . There is to many variables to this stuff, like I'm not stating the obvious. But, it's certainly fun talking about our stuff and how good it is to us. Some people just seem to get too excited, and when we get emotional about things, it's more difficult to be genuine and objective. But again, Biggest, Fattest, Heaviest, Thickest, the Tara's are in that conversation... And they sound pretty damn good too.
As far as Biggest, Baddest cables go physically, these are the Champs. They are huge and very heavy, 18 lbs.total shipping weight, I have an audio friend how swears by Jorma Prime cables, he runs ICs and speakers, all his PCs are Stage III. He lives in Texas, so it's not a stone throw for me, but every so often I have business in Houston, so the door is open. I was in negotiation for Primes, which are never on resale market, that tells you something, when I got a call and an offer to audition the pair of Evolutions I have now. They were issues with grounding, thought to be a cable problem so my dealer called and the rest is history. The Tara's are something to get used to, but they, I believe live in the " Best in the World" neighborhood.... But like I say, to many others to hear in many different set-ups to crown them king, and they are a bear to handle, which as you say, can cause issues. Don't bother if you don't have King Kong binding posts, and be sure to torque them every week or so. I have Ypsilon amps, and all amps should have their posts. And lastly, I'm not sure these cables are the last word for all people, as in my set-up, they tend to be "fat" , dark, but I have tried to build a system with a lot of mid bass, so I'm probably not the best word either. Though they definitely let the music flow. I love there effortlessness and ease. And if you like things in your system that "stand out" these are for you!
Colekat, I also like the Tara Labs Evolutions, but not cheap & they are heavy cables. The previous version were known to snap binding posts! If you're playing in that territory, see if you can get an audition of Jorma Prime cables. Jorma also make a custom-ordered speaker cable called Statement which they designed for the Marten Coltrane II. Jorma cables sound natural/organic, musical & well balanced top to bottom.
These are only opinions, and to get on the old system to system, person to person, music taste to music taste, genre to genre soap box... How can anyone hear enough combinations of this stuff to call anything best of anything. Now... Really good, in my system to me listening to my kind of music in my room with the lights on and the dog in the corner behind the left channel opinion... I like Wire World Platinum 7 Eclipse, and love the Tara Lab Evolutions, but there's a hundred other cables out there to try in my system. So, maybe the best!
No skinny fly leads on these!

http://www.vandenhul.com/products/cables/the-revelation-hybrid-halogen-free

or these
http://www.vandenhul.com/products/cables/speaker-cables/single-lead/the-third-r-mk-ii-metal-free-and-halogen-free

three quarters of an inch diameter per wire, 2 required per channel
JPS LABS - Alluminata or Super Alluminata.
Also all other models. Each line is designed to a price point with the Alluminatas at the top.
All models hand made, ultra fine craftsmanship and beautiful.
All lines have superb audio performance.
Good Luck
12-19-14: Calvinj
@audiolabryinth. Hit us with another one keith. Lol
...and remember, brought to you by Audiolabyrinth!
12-18-14: Calvinj
I'm done. It's quite apparent there there is only one cable on earth and the universe. Lol.
Yes, it's not brain washing. Tara Labs cables are the ONLY, the BEST, the most AMAZING, PHENOMENAL, INCREDIBLE, STUPENDOUS, INCREDIBLE CABLES IN THE UNIVERSE. Didn't ya know?? They, according to Dr Tara Labs will TRANSFORM a lowly pair of $690 speakers into WORLD CLASS REFERENCE towers! and lift your system into an ULTRA REFERENCE audiophile system! And that's just their entry level cables! Wow!
I'm done. It's quite apparent there there is only one cable on earth and the universe. Lol.
Not going there anymore. I don't put other brands down. Man when people look at your comments they probably go wow. This is exactly why I'm glad that I don't have to search anymore. Just about had it with the crazy comments you make about tara labs. Good luck with that. Everybody else if you want to hear high fidelity in your system set up a demo and hear for yourself. Call the cable co. I doubt others will let you demo their brands. I know 15 people with high fidelity in their systems right now and they all are happy. People who sell their high fidelity are usually doing so to upgrade to the next level of high fidelity. It's a shame how a certain person is obsessed with putting these cables down in particular. Oh well I guess I shouldn't expect different.
Hi TBG, I have seen many discontinued Tara labs cables sold quite alot here on Audiogon, I have seen my model that is being sold currently by Tara Labs, The Zero Gold I/C sale at least 7 times on Audiogon in 3 years, but the speaker cables I have, The Omega Gold, not to be confused with cables that say omega only, I have only seen Omega Gold speaker cables on all sites in 5 years to be 3 times ever, their is a pair on audio asylum trading post for nearly $10,000.00 for a few years old used mint condition Omega Gold cables, But never have I seen on any sales site The Tara labs Zero Evolution I/C and matching Omega Evolution speaker cables, or Grandmaster Evolution cables, likly, one might not see that happen for a few years to come, also TBG, Not all Tara labs cables are the best, that is why Tara labs now makes cables that are 2 different classifications, called, controlled Band width and extended Bandwidth, Tara labs just started that in 2014 to better suite all systems synergy.
Audiolabyrinth, I have only know one person who had Tara Labs cables and he was willing to send me a pair to listen to. I heard nothing notable from them and dropped further interest in them.

Perhaps you don't see many Taras for sale as few have been sold.
@audiolabryinth. The market is not flooded with high fidelity at 75% off retail. Man you are making a lot Of not well informed statements and you always talk about the reviewers like they are gods. Good luck with your tara labs mission. Everybody knows you on a tara labs diet. It's cool. Just be who you are don't minimize your tara labs love fest. Lol. Lol. Lol. I'm staying away from this conversation with you. Lol.
calvinj, why have you said that?, there is many cheaper alternatives to buying the best available, I talk to many that use different brands of cables other than Tara labs, it does not matter to me what others use on their system!, I make my statement's based on media reviews and listening test, and individule impressions from others, the used and new market is flooded with High-fidelity cables for 75% off retail, although they may be decent cables, this speaks volumes!, have you ever saw any new top tier Tara labs cables like the Zero Evolution or Grandmaster Evolution cables on the used market?, LOL, NO!
Everyone. Lol. Yup they are going to pick you up in that white truck audiolabryinth. I'm so glad I found my cable of choice. High Fidelity. If someone doesn't like tara labs they can go jail for that. Lol. Man I have never seen such brand loyalty in my life. Keith show us your tara labs tattoo. Lol.
@audiolabryinth. I wasn't talking about your mighty tara labs. I haven't heard their top of the line cable so I don't know what they do or don't do. All I know is the high fidelity works for me and that's good enough for me. I'm done this is where I get off my cable ride.
How can you buy the customer?, the customer's word of mouth is all the proof needed, I said, quote above, The new Tara Labs cables have been deemed best available at any cost BY EVERYONE.
Better not have tell Audiolabyrinth what large marketing budgets buy you, or how the game worlks...ignorance is bliss as they say.
Do you really believe that the media publication's around the world have not listen to high-fidelity's best cables?, you would be sadly mistaken if you thought other wise, that said, The new Tara labs cables have been deemed best available at any cost by everyone, including the world wide media, would you call the entire world wide media a hoax?, that would be foolish to do.
I agree on that. There a lot of expensive cables out here that don't get it done. I just don't cable search anymore. I've changed a lot of equipment but these cables are not going anywhere. It's all expensive really. All I can say is that if you pay the money they have to deliver. The high fidelity is cheaper than its high end competition and to me it gets it done way better than the high end cables 3 times its price. I'm in a happy place.
Yeah Calvin, Taralabs really has no answer to the superior patented magnetic conduction technology which is technically superior. The best Taralabs could do is a version of that technology, but they'd just be playing catch up. Here you have a relatively affordable cable which embarrasses the big boys. Yep they've got a slam dunk.
MF's system benefited yet further from an enormous addition of lushness, texture, and warmth, along with major extensions of air, detail, and transparency, I've heard nothing like it," he declares, adding "a genuine breakthrough, though hideously expensive, while continuing to produce faster attacks, longer sustains, and deeper decays, said Michael Fremer ."Stereophile Magazine 2014 Recommended Components Fall Edition, The Tara Labs Zero Evolution I/C and Omega Evolution speaker cables matched combo.
Omega Evolution - “the best speaker cable I've ever heard”– Y.K. Chan /”Audiophile” Hong Kong, 2014
I was mistaken, the Skogrand speaker cables are the Tchaikovskys. They are still very fast.
12-14-14: Calvinj
High fidelity ultimate reference. I no longer cable search.
Yeah, I heard the High Fidelity Reference cables were better than Taralabs Omega Evolution cables.
Hi TPG, Interesting quik review post here, where can I read your full review's of these cables?, who makes them and what country?, Skogrand is the brand name?
I just yesterday got a pair of Skogrand Beethoven speaker wires. They were on all day and last night were wow! In 2011 on Dagogo I reviewed the Skogrand SC Air Reference Solid Copper Core speaker cables. I remember being quite impressed with their openness and dynamics. I am anxious to hear what the Beethovens do when broken in. The family resemblance suggests that these speaker cables sets the present sense of liveness and low resistance. Volume was greatly increased with them in my system.
I second Koloft. I own all Stage III cables and they have no sonic signature and are made like audio jewelry with Palladium Silver Ribbons in various configurations. I own the Mantikor Speaker cable, Gryphon interconnect, and the baby brother to the Kraken cord....the Triton. Praise the Lord for the inventor of these wonders.
Stealth Audio Royale speaker cables should be checked out.
http://www.stealthaudiocables.com/products/Dream/dream_Royale.htm
When I first unpacked them I thought there was a Anaconda snake inside - they make their Dream cables look smallish in diameter. The fit and finish is stunning and what they offer sonically is very nice indeed :) I really like their Sakra V12's XLR IC's also.
@AL, yeah Jorma makes his Prime and Statement cables in a similar way using hundreds of conductors of extremely pure gold and copper, only wound with hundreds of ultra thin ceramic glass fibres, along with the purest, non-colored teflon and heavily shielded, tin-plated copper shielding. Jorma Statement can compete with TL Grandmaster Evolution sc's, but not the Prime ic's which is to be expected given the very large price disparity. But for the money, Prime is very good. I rate it above Nordost Odin.
correction, 85,000 SQUARE mili-meters per channel on The Tara Labs Evolution Grandmaster speaker cables.
Check it out, The Tara Labs Evolution Grandmaster interconnect and Speaker cables, The Grandmaster speaker cables has 288 conductors per channel, 000 gauge speaker cables, that is 85,000 mili-meters per channel, The inteconnect is Huge, has more girth than my Zero Gold interconnect, and Has the Brand new Generation 3 conductors in the interconnect with teflon film dielectric, new re-designed flexible air tube inside of both cables are more flexible than any cable Tara Labs has ever made, an accomplishment to say the least!