Review: Revelation Audio Labs Testament, Paradise, Precept Speaker cable

Category: Cables



Revelation Audio Labs: A System View

I would like to share my experiences with the Revelation Audio Labs cables including their Precept power cables, Paradise RCA and XLR interconnects, Paradise phono cable, and Testament speaker cables.

My first exposure to Revelation Audio Labs began with the purchase of a Precept AC cable in December of last year. I wrote a review of this cable and compared it to two other well-known and respected AC cables.

http://db.audioasylum.com/cgi/m.mpl?forum=cables&n=102112&highlight=Revelation+Audio+Labs+Mercman&r=&session=

This was the finest AC cable I had ever heard due to its revealing midrange; great speed and power in the bass, and a detailed, but non-fatiguing high end.

Three months latter, I purchased a Graham Phantom tonearm and decided to replace the Graham IC 70 cable I was using with a RAL Paradise phono cable.

Here are the results of that experience:

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?eanlg&1101318888&openflup&8&4#8

I was so impressed with the phono cable, that I ordered speaker and interconnect cables from Brad at Revelation Audio Labs. I am using two sets of XLR interconnects and one RCA set that runs from my preamp to my Wilson Watchdog subwoofer. I was using Silversmith Silver speaker cables and Cardas Golden Reference XLR interconnects.
Compared to the Silversmith Silver speaker cables, the Testament speaker cables were faster with far greater resolution from low to high. High-end details were simply something else; a Martin guitar sounded like a Martin; a Gibson mandolin sounded like a Gibson. On the other hand, the Silversmith speaker cables were slower and darker in comparison. Most of all, the dynamic qualities of the Testament speaker cables were simply the best I have ever heard. The Testament bass was very fast and defined with great power and slam.

The Cardas cables have been reviewed by a number of Audio sites recently, but the most accurate review in my opinion was that of Robert H. Levi of Positive Feedback Online:

http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue18/cardas_golden_reference.htm

The Paradise cables were faster with a greater sense of blackness to the background than the Cardas. The bass was not as prominent, but more detailed. The highs were also more detailed and had a greater sense of ease or speed, but were less prominent than the Cardas Golden Reference. Both cables had a wide and deep soundstage.

In summary, I heard the same qualities in the speaker and interconnect cables that I heard in the Precept AC cables. I did notice a synergistic effect when all the cables were Revelation Audio Labs. The first thing that struck me was the degree of enhancement of background silence. Very small details emerged from this silence that was previously obscured by the other cables. The natural beautiful midrange of the RAL was enhanced and had almost a “tube-like” midrange quality. The third enhancement was to the soundstage width and depth. It became huge. Two other audio enthusiasts have e-mailed me their impressions of RAL cables. The common thread that seems to run in everyone’s impression is the uncolored and engaging quality to the midrange most often described as “musical”.

Given the cost of high end cables today, the Revelation Audio Labs cables are truly a bargain.

The Revelation Audio Labs Web Site: http://www.revelationaudiolabs.com/

My system and pictures can be found at Audio Asylum under Mercman.

Steve



Associated gear
Levinson 32 Preamp, Levinson 33H Amps, Wilson 7, Wilson Watchdog, Basis V Vacuum, Graham Phantom Koetsu Jade Platinum, Esoteric UX-1. PS Audio P1000, 300, Walker Audio Velocitor, Audience adeptResponse

Similar products
Silversmith Silver Speaker Cables
Cardas Goldn Reference XLR