I wanted to add my thought on what I heard with the new High Fidelity CT-1 interconnects designed by Rick Schultz. I only had one pair of interconnects to use in my system and I placed them between the preamp and power amp. I let them break in continuously for two weeks before taking a real listen to them. I also used CD recordings that I am extremely familiar with. I build my own direct heated triode tube preamps with custom transformers and I have used these same CDs to listen to the changes to hear the effects of design changes I make. I also want to mention that the DHT transformer coupled preamp I manufacturer offers a more open, detailed sound than any other conventional preamp I know. Cables are not used as a tone control or to provide more detail, clarity or bass. Cables with this preamp just need to let the preamp do what it does best and that is to let the music flow and not get in the way.
Like what has already been mentioned about, the cables had a very open sound with more clarity then other cables I compared them to. Open does not mean bright or harsh sounding, they were just more open. To be honest I was worried about this since the preamp already offers this and I was afraid it would be too much. Soundstage was proportioned wide (outside my Meadowlark Nighthawk speakers) and the soundstage depth was in line with what my system produces normally, nicely layered also meaning accompanying backing vocals and instruments were placed as I imagined the recording to be. I am a musician so my statement of layering in based on my understanding of playing in a band and positioning of instrument and vocal placement on a stage. The upper mid-range to high frequencies was clearer and more open. For example, I could hear cymbals much better but they still remained in their space. The clarity of the cables while very open is also smooth sounding, meaning they did not add any brightness or harshness which other cables that I have tried in the past sometimes did. The resolution was excellent. The cables never sounded congested even on loud and complex passages providing a good amount of inner detail. The bass was a little different than what I am used to and comparing them to copper wire cables. The sound is faster, more defined, and the sound can lose some wood of a standup bass. This is normal for me to understand since the cable is so much faster, clearer and open sounding. It did not get in the way of the sound produced from my preamp or add anything to control the sound. It just let the music flow.
I would imagine in most systems using a conventional manufactured preamp, these cables would open up a world of clarity, resolution, speed, etc., that those preamps are probably not capable of producing.
Happy Listening, and give them an audition.
Like what has already been mentioned about, the cables had a very open sound with more clarity then other cables I compared them to. Open does not mean bright or harsh sounding, they were just more open. To be honest I was worried about this since the preamp already offers this and I was afraid it would be too much. Soundstage was proportioned wide (outside my Meadowlark Nighthawk speakers) and the soundstage depth was in line with what my system produces normally, nicely layered also meaning accompanying backing vocals and instruments were placed as I imagined the recording to be. I am a musician so my statement of layering in based on my understanding of playing in a band and positioning of instrument and vocal placement on a stage. The upper mid-range to high frequencies was clearer and more open. For example, I could hear cymbals much better but they still remained in their space. The clarity of the cables while very open is also smooth sounding, meaning they did not add any brightness or harshness which other cables that I have tried in the past sometimes did. The resolution was excellent. The cables never sounded congested even on loud and complex passages providing a good amount of inner detail. The bass was a little different than what I am used to and comparing them to copper wire cables. The sound is faster, more defined, and the sound can lose some wood of a standup bass. This is normal for me to understand since the cable is so much faster, clearer and open sounding. It did not get in the way of the sound produced from my preamp or add anything to control the sound. It just let the music flow.
I would imagine in most systems using a conventional manufactured preamp, these cables would open up a world of clarity, resolution, speed, etc., that those preamps are probably not capable of producing.
Happy Listening, and give them an audition.