High Fidelity CT-1 vs Teo Audio liquid cable

02 july 2012

I have recently compared Ricks new High fidelity CT-1 cable to my highly regarded reference Teo MkI IC cable.
I thought I would share my thoughts on two stellar IC`s.
Please keep in mind this is my very first review/comparison - I am a newbie to this so please pardon the unsophistication/writing.

I shall do my best to simply convey what I hear. I have been playing with audio for about 20 years though. I shall post my full system in the near future. Been meaning to do it for a while now.

Other cables in system -

Firstly I use Spectrons own latest remote sense speaker cables(million years to burn in lol) on my upgraded(bybee,CUTF ,fuses,wiring etc) Spectron monoblocks.
On this note quickly - I must say that getting the AC and cables right are a MUST with these amps not to mention allowing the loong burn in time at moderate volume!
Also changing V-cap TFTF to CUTF(or Duelund) really changes these beasts for the better!
More on this in another post maybe as it has frustrated me a bit reading numerous comments on these amps(usually in single stereo mode) from those that clearly judge these amps prematurely or surround them with incompatible gear etc. I find these are superior very transparent amps and speaker cables.... also allot more.
IMO people that sell these amps before exploring their full potential are really missing out! So yea more on this later.

PC cables are a mix of latest Shunyata KC VX `i`limited edition(amps and player) and Elrod Gold Statement(passive conditioner).
I do not currently use a digital cable.

So the main focus for me has been my 2 main IC cables from source to Space Tech Labs tube buffer/rec to amps.
In buffer/rec I usually use big tubes such as WE300B & SV572-160 & Marconi KT66 etc & one of my smaller favorites - the GE 1951 6V6 silver plate.

I have auditioned/bought many high end cables over the years. Too many to list.

CT-1 interconnect with approx 200hrs play time. Teo MkI approx 7-800hrs.

Following = CT-1 compared to Teo MkI bypassing my big Space Tech Labs tube buffer and rectifier and running direct to amps.

I find compared to Teo the CT-1 has quite different presentation. Teo is definitely darker and has more thicker/weightier textural sound-stage... with really great detail considering.
With Teo you really hear the full timbre texture natural and accurate resonance of plucked strings and instrument body. Yes a more tubey `organic` sound but definitely nothing like typical warm Cardas Golden presentation.
Teo is a great cable no doubt! No blur! Firstly I find the CT-1 is faster more open cleaner extended and images better. Almost as smooth as Teo too if not equal.
Usually when I hear such a fast extended open cable there seems more emphasis on transient attack opposed to note development then release decay.
Often top end will sound a bit harsh and truncated.
I don`t notice this with CT-1. In fact transients seems crystal clear but not hyped and the rest of the notes develop release beautifully staying naturally smooth.

Harmonics are rendered in tact... same with Teo.
I notice less focus on attack with Teo.
Percussion instruments sound more `there` with CT-1 and I hear more enegry in general at upper most frequncies. Things seem more lit up, open, faster, more focused.
Teo has more weight in midband and down low albeit in a good way. With CT-1 voices are definitely coherent as I have ever heard. Once again harmonics do indeed sound well resolved and top end has that last bit of extension I was looking for but the extension also sounds very natural to me which is important.
I believe I have good hearing and I definitely notice a bit more ambiance reverb decay delicacy etc up top.
But hey that is apparently how my modified(Duelund caps, RWA battery PSU for custom clock) Accuphase player should sound up top. Hmmmm.... Anywayz CT-1 mids sound super clear sharp and very accurate never too forward or offensive.
Teo has more emotion texture dimensionality in mids akin to tubes. Both have very good air. Bass sounds simply accurate in every way with CT-1 and pretty much gone is that slight thickness I have noticed, although quite enjoyed for a while now, which was around the 200-400Hz. Bass with Teo surely sounds thicker more textured and equally as satisfying just in different ways.
Both equally impacting but quicker tighter and more detailed with CT-1.
CT-1 allows a very dynamic detailed sound-stage.
Yea I somehow hear more detail now, or it is more obvious rather, from top to bottom but still so smoooth!
CT-1 IMO sounds transparent and its hard to detect its own sound. CT-1 seems to just let the signal pass unhindered not editorializing the sound like most cables do to some extent.
So I hear great tone with both cables but is rendered in different fashion in accordance to my comments.
I really can see why, in some situations, some folk might not fully appreciate CT-1. Especially in early stages of audition. This cable seems to allows one to hear more of the source components instead of the cable itself.
It removes all distortion as Rick Schultz claims.
If Teo cable has distortion then its some of the best distortion I have heard!
Even though Teo MkI sounds a bit on the dark side it surely renders micros very well at the same time. I dont want to give the impression Teo is the typical dark sounding cable. It is not!
The much cheaper Jungson MRCA-1 Golden Dragon IC has a delicacy which most other much higher priced cables just could not match. Here both CT-1 and Teo match it.
I could go on and on how I believe both CT-1 and Teo resemble a bunch of other high end cables strengths all in one with no typical shortcomings.
I use upgraded(Xover caps and wire) Tonian labs ribbon super tweeters too btw and I can really hear these ribbons better than ever... so refined and smooth with Ricks cable more so than any other interconnect.
Teo is a bit more rolled off.

CT-1 and Teo together with STL tube buffer/rec re-installed =

I am now hearing a great clarity accuracy with such natural tone timbre that I knew my system was trying to convey for a while now but seemed just that last bit % restricted.
I feel I am hearing my components close to their best.
I can easily hear both these cables doin their thang together and I`m lovin it!
I have been listening with Teo and CT-1 both together in full system configuration for a little while now and I`m actually quite wowed!
They sound great together in my system! Best IC cable combo yet by a long shot!
Fritz Hauser drumming solos never sounded so real and impacting.
I can see why some may choose a part or full loom of either one... again depending on system.
Like if I didn`t have my big tube buffer/rec maybe I would go for more Teo and if I didn't have my Spectrons maybe I would go for more CT-1.

So to summarize I would say CT-1 and/or Teo will surely be main-stayers in many a system!
It seems Teo is voicing their cable to the `organic` natural side of things and High Fidelity is .... well.... high fidelity! - accurate to ones source.
I suppose there is good argument for both and neither is incorrect - just different. Talk about different technologies too... one liquid and one magnets.
What next anti gravity cable??
Man I just love hearing these both together in my system! I would say that CT-1 reminds me of my upgraded Spectron monos with RS speaker cable and Teo reminds me of the best tube amps with maybe Elrod gold speaker cable.
For me , in my system, if I had to choose either one, then I would currently choose CT-1.
Maybe my opinion will change after I send my Teo MkI to Taras for upgrade to MkII status.
They are both very different technology with quite different presentation but both EXCEL at what designers wanted to achieve IMO.
I have much respect for both Rick&co(High fidelity cables) and Taras&co(Teo Liquid cables). I have talked to both these guys and they both really seem to know their shit. Great to talk to also!
I look forward to trying more cables in the future from both these lines.
I am extremely happy recently purchasing the CT-1 as I was with Teo some months back.
I would also like to say that at the price Rick is asking - US1600 is absolutely a bargain compared to many so called high end cables out there with crazy high prices.
So for now will definitely keep Teo and CT-1.
In addition I think Teos higher price tag is also somewhat of a bargain due to what this cable brings exactly and the way it goes about it.
Seems other high end cable manufacturers try to voice their cables in a similar fashion to Teo but at much higher price tag with inferior results such as some `blur` etc.
So hats off to both Teo and to High Fidelity as far as I am concerned!
In the near future I look forward to hearing Teo MkII. Apparently it is a clear improvement over the already great MkI.
Also look forward hearing Ricks XLR in the future which he is apparently working on.