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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
splaskin

Showing 1 response by toren

toren
1 posts
 
Soundwise, I find them an improvement on my old Tara Air 1 cables. They have greater extension and air than the Taras. I felt I had removed something from my system, not added it--there was less "speaker cable" there. Of special interest is the more full and defined bass. I have had poor luck with silver cables in the bass and I felt I might need to go back to the Taras if the Testaments did not measure up in that area. Some discussion with other audiophiles leads me to believe that the less satisfying bass found in many silver cables is due to the makers using too thin a gauge of wire. This is often suggested as the reason for the perceived brighter highs, as well. Perhaps simply using a beefier gauge of silver wire is Brad's secret---I don't know! In any case, I'm pleased.
While the B&W802D is not considered a bright speaker, I did not hear any of the signs of "silver brightness" at all. (Frankly, I consider the whole "silver brightness" issue to be wildly overrated. Either that, or it's one of those things that some people are oversensitive to.)
I also note that while the Taras were very sensitive to outside interference (they really had to be up on cable elevators and dressed away from the steel stand) the Testaments seem, to my ears at least, to be pretty much immune. Again, this is impressive and speaks well to the effectiveness of his shielding technique.
Overall, I'm very happy with the biwire pair and consider them one of that rare species, the genuine audiophile bargain.
The Taras have since been sold via Audiogon. (^_^)
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