@chris_launder. I think you should at least go up to the ultimate. The high fidelity ultimates sound good as well. They would probably make you weary happy. The high fidelity ultimate reference speaker cables and interconnects are astonishing in my system. I think you owe yourself the ear joy. @Ddraught. I just ordered a duke Pearson cd "Right Touch". I can't wait to get it. It's going to sound amazing with the veloce and high fidelity ultimate reference.
High Fidelity Cables CT-1designed by Rick Schultz
In December 2011,I wrote that High Fidelity cables led by cable designer Rick Schultz was putting together a new cable.The cable came to market as CT-1.The CT-1 has FINALLY made it into my system!I had obtained a version of the prototype that Rick had been working on.It blew my previous reference Genesis by Virtual Dynamics.I thought I had finally found my end with this cable.This prototype delivered to my ears "Nirvana".Could I be at the end of my quest for the ultimate sound?
No. I received two pairs of CT-1 to replace my prototypes.They went into the system this past Friday.Unable to dedicate time until Sunday listening,I stole a few moments,ducking away from company with anticipation.My guest could tell even with the music set for"ambiance"something was intriguing and I was in for a treat!
The experience:
First off,CT-1 was very user friendly.Installation was simple;the cable is very nice and light.The female RCA fit beautifully unlike any I had found in other cable.It was secure and reliable.It seemed much thought was dedicated to developing a designer fit to an aesthetically stunning RCA connector.Install entailed a few wiggles to ensure what seemed like a compression fit on my RCA.
It was 2-3 hrs. for the 1st step of break in to be complete.At that point I had something different!Today,although they only have 10-12 hrs. on them,I can`t put into words how much my system has transformed.Believe me,I loved my prototypes.However....there is simply no comparision.
The clarity and sound is so natural.
The soundstage is like nothing I ever heard.Resoulution is breathtaking and inner detail is simply hard to believe possible.
The sound has transended and now it simply does not seem as thought I have speakers.
My system is musicians playing music.
I am told with time they will improve and I trust that as it was revealed with the prototypes.I wanted to share my thoughts with you that now.
Unequivocally,a testament to High Fidelity,as the name declares.
High Fidelity Cables for me,the last word on it,after 12 hours!
Truly Amazing
Al
No. I received two pairs of CT-1 to replace my prototypes.They went into the system this past Friday.Unable to dedicate time until Sunday listening,I stole a few moments,ducking away from company with anticipation.My guest could tell even with the music set for"ambiance"something was intriguing and I was in for a treat!
The experience:
First off,CT-1 was very user friendly.Installation was simple;the cable is very nice and light.The female RCA fit beautifully unlike any I had found in other cable.It was secure and reliable.It seemed much thought was dedicated to developing a designer fit to an aesthetically stunning RCA connector.Install entailed a few wiggles to ensure what seemed like a compression fit on my RCA.
It was 2-3 hrs. for the 1st step of break in to be complete.At that point I had something different!Today,although they only have 10-12 hrs. on them,I can`t put into words how much my system has transformed.Believe me,I loved my prototypes.However....there is simply no comparision.
The clarity and sound is so natural.
The soundstage is like nothing I ever heard.Resoulution is breathtaking and inner detail is simply hard to believe possible.
The sound has transended and now it simply does not seem as thought I have speakers.
My system is musicians playing music.
I am told with time they will improve and I trust that as it was revealed with the prototypes.I wanted to share my thoughts with you that now.
Unequivocally,a testament to High Fidelity,as the name declares.
High Fidelity Cables for me,the last word on it,after 12 hours!
Truly Amazing
Al
Showing 50 responses by calvinj
@tbg I agree with you on the BLUES person. Just a Debbie downer in every way. Always putting people down. All the threads I look at. I just ignore it. I am glad that you review things and let us know about different products. I trust your reviews as being pretty spot on. The better the high fidelity stuff gets is up the Chain to the ultimate reference. It adds more body weight and even more naturalness. I got my Duke Pearson the "Right Touch" cd yesterday. He is a 50s and 60s jazz pianist. This cd was amazing yesterday through my parasound cd1. The high fidelity ultimate reference gave it liquidity but in a natural way. The speed of the cable on this kind of jazz allows it to excel on busy complex jazz passages. It also allow them to layer properly. |
@tbg. Were you a Political Science professor. That was my major at Howard Payne University. Did you ever know a professor named Henderson Lee Cravens. He was my mentor and one of the greatest checker players in the History of Texas. @tbg@Ddraudt the essence of music stuff is really good I've tried it on a couple of CDs. I'm going to take my time and make my system the best I can. Thank for the good advice fellas on the tweaks |
@ chris_launder. @ Petieboy 12003 Thanks for your observations. We all have different systems and different tastes. I all depends on what on what a person likes. Any posts I have made I made to let folks know what high fidelity ultimate reference did in my system. Different systems maybe different things. It's good to take our time and have long listens. I hope y'all like the ultimate reference if you try it. Cheers. |
@yping. I have also been demoing the best of the high fidelity cables ultimate reference series. It is up there with the best of the best if not better. It has a great realism and natural sound. We put it on the veloce ls1 and the veloce saetta monoblocks today. Vienna acoustics speakers. Natural transparency was off the charts good. We had a really great listening session. Brad mehldau trio. Hailey lauren. Cecile Salvant. Ahmad Jamal. Jazz and vocals with a lot of instruments. We also tried it on kendrick Scott oracle. It was fast transparent and very musical. The vocals were some of the best we heard today. These cables are very special. Ddraudt is right when he says you have to hear them to understand why we say they are so good. When you try cable after cable and you hear these. You know it's special. Try them out. I been trying cables almost non stop for the last 4 or 5 years and this stuff is on another level. |
@jafox. I totally understand your comments. However, audio for me is being able to get the the best possible sound out of my system. I also wanted to have as much knowledge as possible on systems and cables and what synergy they have with equipment etc. The reason I am so impressed with the high fidelity ultimate reference series is that they are truly special. I put a power cord on an integrated amplifier yesterday and it improved the sound so much that it transformed the whole component. That's why I'm so impressed. The speed is unmatched. The natural sound is off the charts. I mentioned what I tried before because it is the truly different from all the other cables I have heard. My system has changed and I have demoed high fidelity on different cables speakers amps CD players etc. It flat out delivers the performance. |
I have been on a journey to find and listen to the best equipment and cables at different price points and levels. My audio journey has been nonstop for the past four years. I have been blessed to hear so many different cables, speakers, amps,pre amps etc. I have enjoyed every minute of it. When I hear a cable or component that is very special I will let everyone know about it. The high fidelity cables are that thing for cables. I used them on the veloce amp and pre amp using my parasound cd1 and I heard a level of detail, delicacy, transparency and musicality that I thought was not possible with my system. High fidelity ultimate reference will be part of my system for a long time to come. |
@yping I'm using the high fidelity ultimate reference. @jafox. What you call lunacy. I call it Innovation . Rick is doing something completely different that works. A lot of audiophiles will do whatever it takes as long as they get performance. These are point blank the fastest most natural cables I have ever heard. I've had ten different audiophile friends of mine listen and say they agree. You are entitled to your opinion about cables etc. All I know is that high fidelity will be part of my system in some shape form or fashion based on the speed and prat alone. I've stopped cable searching and going to settle my system in based on what I'm hearing through these cables. I find myself buying more music to listen to instead of changing cables. That's a sign for me. I understand jafox. I was dismissive until I heard them in my system. |
I will put something in perspective. I was a video and audiophile at one time. When i was into video I bought an outrageously expensive television at the time. It was the best in the market and it's picture and performance was amazing. 5 years later I'm still happy and I think I can get another 5 out if it without losing a lot. That television was the pioneer elite. I still own it today. I don't desire another television now and I won't for a while. High fidelity ultimate reference cables are that audio thing for me. It's next level and I think I can truly be happy with its performance for a very long time. If you get it and keep it for a long time. Then you enjoy it and it's worth it !!! |
@DDraudt since I have installed ricks cables I am ordering more music than ever. I want to see how much better it sounds and how I can hear more. I'm so happy with the cables that I look for more and more CDs to play. I rush home to listen after work and I get at least an hour in every night before I go to bed. This hobby is about the joy of the music and how it helps put me in another place after a long hard day. I spent so long chasing that now I really enjoy the music more. All I know is that I hope I can continue to enjoy my set up as long as I can and that high fidelity ultimate reference has put me in a happy musical place. Lol. The ear canal don't lie. Lol |
@everyone. I love this thread. I love my cables. It's 11:30 and I will be up till 3:00 am enjoying my high fidelity ultimate reference. A.K.A. "The Game Changer". Pianos are real the speed is unmatched. The natural decay is the bomb. I just got the brad mehldau trio album "ode". I have been at this cable thing nonstop and I have arrived. Look I have heard the high fidelity stuff on pre amps of all different levels. I have hear on amps and different speakers etc. @tbg@Ddraudt. You guys are right. These cables are truly a find. @ those who haven't heard them. If you haven't heard them why comment on the cables or the cost. They have them at all levels of cost. If you want speed, naturalness and clarity. This is your cable. Look I have a saying. "You get it done or you don't". High fidelity ultimate reference gets it done. I have had a long demo of these cables and as time goes on they are getting better. I have been specific as to why they sound good. I'm not a system snob. I tell it like it is. These cables are the truth!!! |
@audiolabyrinth. I saw that amp. Huge. @Ddarudt. We had an amazing listening session Friday. 8 hours. 2 pre amps and a couple of cable switch outs. Amazing session. All kinds of music. We used the invicta dac. It's pretty good. One of my friends got a dose of that high fidelity ultimate reference power cable. He was impressed. |
@audiolabyrinth. The raidho system that I listened to was before I got the hear the entire loom high fidelity ultimate reference cables. It was before I got to listen to these cables for an extended session. Also the raidho system consisted of more than 250,000 worth of equipment and cabling. Also it was in a sound treated 2 channel stereo home theatre cottage. It was measured by professional sound technicians. I judge the sound by the set up as a whole. I also heard another great system locally that consisted of yg acoustics and mit. It was also very expensive in a sound treated room with its own power supply. I also have listened to about 8 different set ups using the high fidelity ultimate reference cabling. It seems to perform no matter what system you put it with. I'm not saying that all other cables are bad. I'm just saying that my experience with these high fidelity ultimate reference means that they will part of my system for a long time. Dave Ddraudt has also welcomed me to go listen to his system and I will be doing so the next time that I am down that way which should before the end of the year or in the the next couple of months. At the end of the day I will treat everyone I can with respect as much as I can. I will talk to anyone and I will let people I get know listen to my system. I have no doubt they will be impressed with these cables. I am as I am listening to them right now. Lol. Keith once you hear these high fidelity ultimate reference you are going to have to change your Pom poms from tara labs to high fidelity. Happy listening. Lol. |
@audiolabyrinth. Hey if they are good. They are good. Hey, I have heard good Tara Labs. They sound good. I would never call tara labs the dark side. I respect good cables and cable makers. If it gets the job done I respect it. I'm not just a high fidelity fan. I love what they do. I think you can build a system around their qualities. I think that if you haven't heard the best cables you can't really know if they are the dark side. Hey, you are ok. If you ever hear these ultimate reference you are in big trouble Mr. Tara Labs. Hey man, don't worry about what people say. You know you only like tara labs. So when people see you only like tara labs on a thread for high fidelity then they are going to say that you are going to like tara labs no matter what. When you haven't heard the best high fidelity you can't say that the best tara labs beats them. I wouldn't say that but I can say that I'm finally satisfied with a cable that will be a mainstay in my system. You are fine with me. But realistically you know you will never give another cable credit. I guess that's why the others on the thread get upset. I would not worry kieth. It's America speak your mind. But if you will never try the best high fidelity ultimate reference why compare it to tara labs why comment on what they don't do. Remember we are good with each other kieth. I just wonder. Lol. |
@audiolabyrinth. High fidelity cables are popular and doing well because they are flat out great!!! People buy them and are happy because they deliver. If they didn't you would see a lot if people complain or say they don't like them. You don't see it because they sound different in a good way. Performance is essential. I'm trying another pre amp on them and I will report out soon. |
@albertporter. I agree Rick is straight up. Has been a great source of information in audio and knows a lot about sound. Also understands the importance of a number of different factors in sound of audio. Great guy. Gives advice and answers questions as well as great individual customer service. I could not agree with you more. |
@audiolabyrinth. Hey there is nothing wrong with liking tara labs. They are great cables. If they make your sound like you want. I wouldn't worry kieth. You are always good with me. Say what you want. No worries. I have heard the tara labs the one. Those are really good. So I could imagine the better ones are really good. Hey, I want you to be happy with your cables. If you are I wouldn't worry as long as you are happy. I'm in a listening session right now listening to a used lsa statement I bought off agon. I put the high fidelity ultimate reference power cable on the gato fm 6 on a dac. It's is a splendid session. We been listening for 3 hours. @tbg. You are spot on. The lsa statement is great with this high fidelity ultimate reference power cord on it. Once again it is producing great results. Thanks for your information on it. Genius. @Ddraudt. How are you. The high fidelity journey is a good one. These cables are special.. |
I just put veloce back in while the lsa is being tube rolled. High fidelity ultimate reference interconnect is amazing on vocals. The is a soul singer named KEM from the title album II. His voice is soulful with full of emotion. The high fidelity ultimate reference voices are on a whole other level. Some of the best voices I have heard in my life on any equipment period. I will be trying some other interconnects tonight. But this is pretty good. I just put in Donnie Hathaway in. Sounds great even on a recording that's not top notch. Veloce ls1. Parasound cd1. Vienna acoustics beethoven baby grand se. Cd cleaning fluid applied to cd called Essence of music got more detail after I applied this stuff. I didn't think I would believe it if I didn't hear it myself. Happy listening. |
Almost forgot I am using a rel 528 subwoofer for my corner because of my room conditions. I had never had the sub hooked up with the veloce and I know most folks are straight two channel folks but in my room I get just the right amount of the low end to add to my Viennas. The veloce with this stuff mentioned before is good. Great line stage. Great match for the high fidelity cables as well. |
@tbg. Definitely, the ultimate reference stuff takes equipment and takes it to another level. When I talk to people about it they give me the "Yeah Right" look and then when they hear it they go wow. I at first thought that cables couldn't make this kind of difference but now I see things in a whole new light. I can now try to settle down and get a dac. Thanks happy listening. |
@tbg I put the NOS telefunkens In today and wowww. The more high fidelity ultimate reference I put in the better the LSA performed. It was open detailed strong and powerful. It opened up the midrange. It gave voices a great full sound. Voices were natural and throaty. The speed on the trio stuff was once again on display. The treble decay was once again sweet and extended with great decay. The lsa statement exemplar super mod is a great match for high fidelity ultimate reference. Turns it into a whole other integrated amp. Thanks for your input. I'm thinking about trying a dac the resonessence audio invicta mirus. I will make a decision soon on whether I'm going to try that. @Ddraudt how is it going for you. @ audiolabryinth a I hope we didn't run you off with that tara labs tail between your legs. Lol. Happy listening everyone. Also veloce leaves this weekend. Great piece expensive and worth every penny but I won't be continuing. The demo was great. The veloce ls1 pre amp is world class. |
@Ddraudt wow some people are really out there. I just know that every since I put these cables in my system that they are special. The SOUND is the key. It's all about the sound not some test tube. All I know is that the audio I use it on sounds better. Some Dealers would just love to see High Fidelity Cables go down. They don't like the heat that they bring to the table. I'm using the High Fidelity Ultimate Reference Speaker Cables. They are staying in my system with the LSA statement amplifier. For the record I have had experience with more that 25 different kinds of cables. THe High Fidelity cables AKA "The Game Changer" are special. I guess when you come on the scene and people love the sound this type of stuff happens. It's interesting how HFC is willing to demo cables out on a regular basis because he knows they are good. These cables are faster, clearer and more natural than anything I have ever heard in the cable industry period. Wowww I guess this is what happens in this industry when you have a great sounding successful cables. Challenge paper reports all you want. I want to challenge the only part that matters. YOUR EARS. Uh oh here come the haters. Hater alert. Hater alert. I pray for those who try to attack the blessing. |
@agisthos. You made made some great points. I have had extended demos with high fidelity equipment from the regular ct1s all the way up to the ultimate reference. I know what I am hearing. The more high fidelity the lower the distortion gets. I have listened on different equipment amps, pre amps, sources etc. The cables clearly have prat that is I approached by any of the 25 or 30 different cables I have tried. They are also very natural and the get better the higher up the line you go. I have had all of them in systems that I have tested or demoed. I'm not looking at white papers when I'm listening to music. I trust my ear!!! Audiophiles don't look at papers and go wow this level is .00123456789 off. We trust our ears and how it sounds. Lol. If someone did that at a listening session with me I would put them out. Lol. Go back to my sweet spot and keep listening. |
@badman. It comes from somewhere right? Why not him. Ideas come from somewhere. All I have to say is I really wish you well. It's seems like there is a lot of anger in your posts. I guess when someone is sent to try to kill JOY. They really work hard to get it done. I if you are right or wrong I don't think those who are in it for the music really care about a sheet of paper. I looked at your post and I don't understand the math part. I just understand the sound part. This thread is for those to share experiences with the cables. Have you tried them? I think I can speak for most of us on the thread. You made the point you wanted to make. Or you believe you made. We want to get back to the joy of our listening impressions and experiences. I hope that you can find peace now let's get back to why we post. Do the cables sound good or they don't !!!!!!!! |
Hey fellas, I am trying the the luminance amplifier direct to the the resonessence invicta dac. Using the high fidelty ultimate reference cables. It's sounds great. We will be modding my speakers and doing some tweaks to my equipment to get it sounding even better. We have some brass points under the speakers and we will be adding a little device on the tweeter. I'm going to try to get it to sound even better. This has been a great experience. Rick has consulted with me on my audio system and some of the smallest changes can make huge improvements. I now understand why a lot of you guys on this forum have customized equipment. I totally understand. One more thing. This Dac is really good!!! the luminance amplifier is very open and powerful with great detail. Really surprised me. No pre amp in the chain going straight to the dac. |
@audiolabyrinth. Hey I'm no mathematician but maybe we can get us one so I can understand what in the world he is talking about with them numbers. You know I can't count too good. Lol. Hey the thread is about the music. The sound. Not the numbers. Right or wrong about numbers who cares. I don't think any of us who have high fidelity care about the numbers we got them based on sound not numbers. We are not going to say wowww the numbers are off .0000000001%. We got to get rid of them cables. You either like the sound or you don't. Period. One more thing what if the numbers are right? I look at numbers at the store. We listen to cables for the sound. Cool I understand. Well when the cables sound good lets look at the numbers so we don't use our ears to listen. Happy counting oh sorry my bad "Happy Listening". Now Keith now don't you go getting all hyped up on me. You know we are good with each other Mr. Tara Labs. Know remember we are good with each other. I'm listening to lightnin Hopkins right now. My friend robert spence played it on the resonessence invicta dac through high fidelity cables and it sounded great. |
@tbg@ddraudt. Yup. You have to wonder when a person rants and they never one time mention if they like the sound or they even talk about sound. Well that's telling. Anyway. I am listening straight from my dac to a luminance amplifier. I got some brass points under my speakers. It helped ground them better. I also got my speakers positioned properly. The headroom on my sound is really good. I put in an album called Two Shade by piano player Gerald Clayton. He comes from a family of successful musicians. He has some great musical arrangements. There is a lot of speed up and slowing down of drums, cymbals and piano. The piano has a rich deep earthy tone using the amplifier. The high fidelity cables are also starting to sound better the longer they are in. This album showcases the speed of the cable. The drum and pianos are playing at frenzy all at the same time at different speeds and these cables play it perfectly. It's bursting fast when it needs to be but also melodically slow when the musicians pace slows down. There is also a three dimensionality when I'm sitting in the sweet spot listening. Cymbals are telling on this album. They are rapid fire fast with proper decay. They give you a metal shimmer without being glassy. When there is a lot lot going on in a song this cable and amplifier catch it all. I been listening for the last 2 hours. Happy listening!!! Do you guys have any music suggestions that were recorded well I will listen to anything. It's about the music to me. |
@audiolabyrinth. We are not high fidelity fans we are lovers of sound. Lol. When you HEAR the truth you repeat it for all to hear lol. I'm not in it to say I have this cable and that gear. I love the music. From the time I heard "Me and Mrs Jones" by Billy Paul when I was four till now. It's all about the music of course "In High Fidelity" Lol. |
@agisthos. Yes it is the kst 150. The invicta dac is amazing on the kst 150. This is the best dac I have ever heard period. Smooth and detailed while being musical. I am happy with the combination. This one is on loan until my invicta mirus arrives next week. It is the version without the headphone amp. Highly recommended. No pre amp no problems. Lol. @[email protected] get back on topic. The guy has precisely done what he originally set out to do. That is to get us to talk about everything except for actually how they sound and perform. Look as a lawyer when I can't win an argument I talk about something else. People want to know if they sound great. They do sound great. Are they faster than any cable I have heard? Yes they are. Can they handle complex passages with multiple instruments? Yes they do. Do they do voices well. Yes they are exceptional in this area. Are the natural sounding? Yes they are. Do the get the timbre of the instrument right? Yes the do. Does it all come together to make beautiful music? Yes. Let's get back to the music. Let him look in the mirror and argue with himself. I run into a lot of clients who think they know what they are doing and no matter what you do you can't change their minds. Some learn automatically. Some learn eventually. Some never learn. We have to accept that he will never learn and move on. Happy listening please!!! |
Well once again back to the music. Lol. @Ddraudt. I'm going to order the Benoit freeman/project 2. Thanks for the suggestion. I'm going to check it out. The High fidelity ultimate Reference is special. I'm amazed by the speed and decay of notes. Very special. I will let you know when I'm out your way. The luminance amplifier is doing a great job coming straight from the resonessence mirus dac. Rick made a great suggestion on this set up. It's the little things that can make the difference. No CD player no preamp no problem. Lol. |
@tbg@ddraudt@jazzonthehudson. I have been guilty of always switching cables in and out. Rick asked me to keep the cables in so they can settle. The system is really starting to open up even more. More fuller I have not moved the cables out of the system for a week straight. I been playing my system a lot. I think the resonessence dac and the high fidelity ultimate reference is a perfect match. The system has more heard room the more I let it play. I'm listening to hailey Loren. She is an excellent female vocalist with a great band and really good material. I was just told by my dealer that my mirus dac just arrived from Canada just now. I will pick it up today to listen to it and start breaking it in. I can give him the loaner back now. I think it's going to take a couple of weeks to burn it in. The voices with this dac and the high fidelity ultimate reference cables sound lovely. Lol. I'm going to try to pick it up tonight. I'm pretty amazed with sound and no pre amp in the chain at all. I'm going to do some tweaks and see if I can get it better. I don't know how it measures but it SOUNDS GREAT!!!!! Lol. @ddraudt did you hear Kendrick Scott Oracle "Cycling into Reality" song on his "Conviction" album. There is a live performance of him doing it on youtube. The guy is an amazing percussionist. |
Well I see we will keep trying to convince those who might never learn. Listened to my new resonessence Invicta Mirus Dac tonight. It works perfect with Rick's cable. I got it on a suggestion from Robert Spence. It sounds great. I never thought I would go to a dac. This has made me a believer. I was listening to blues artist lightnen Hopkins. A True blues Texas Legend. Blues Hoot is the album. Love the sound of my system. Settling in Dac and amplifier with no pre amp. I usually like tubes but this amplifier within tubes. Is really starting to grow on me. I have listened to system about a total 5 hours today. Love the harmonica on this album. Well I think my cable search has ended with The high fidelity ultimate reference. It's been a long search. I love the music and what cables do to help it naturally be produced. I guess I will let the technical guys battle it out. While I listen stand back and smile. Lol. Ddraudt I will be in Austin next month. I want to stop by and listen. |
@agisthos. I know I'm using this dac to fot to the kst150. It may not work in all applications with this dac and other amps. This one just allows me to do so. I'm trying something different. I have more to do on my system. I'm starting a process that will allow me to get to where I wanna be. High Fidelity ultimate reference stuff will play a huge part in me getting there. It's a keeper in my system. The resonessence mirus dac is a keeper as well. |