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HiDiamond Digital IC

Seems to be a popular theme these days.

I received the aes/ebu version of the HD Digital Carbon cable today in the mail. I was enticed by the glowing remarks posted elsewhere and have been bored while awaiting a Varidig Sextet to show up. With a few hundred bucks burning a hole in my pocket I figured I'd take the plunge.

First let me dispell concerns posted elsewhere regarding dealing with the north American distributor, Robert of worldwide wholesales. From my first communication with him he's been responsive, pleasant, professional. My standards for these qualities is unusually exacting and my tolerance for any bs below nil. Our interaction resulted in an order, which he made easy, and the cables were shipped virtually instantaneously and arrived quickly.

On to the soundy bits....

Straight from my mailbox cold into my system went the cable. Fit and finish, fine, no issues.

Some comparisons to my Marigo Apparition 5.8, a cable that has bested all comers to date and served me well for years.....

Realism and presence. Edge to the HD. Small margin.
Air around instruments. Edge to HD. Medium margin.
Instrument placement. Edge to HD. Small margin.
Resolution. Edge to HD. Medium margin.
Soundstage depth. Edge to HD. Small margin.
Soundstage width. Even.
PRAT. Edge to HD. Small margin.
Frequency extension - highs. Even.
Frequency extension - lows. Even.
Bass control. Edge to HD. Very small margin.
Black background. Even.

Overall these cables are more similar than different. But there are noticeable improvements with the HD. This is cold, no break-in, both on the cables and on the aes/ebu connections on transport and dac.

Also, keep in mind the Marigo is an $1100 cable, the HD is half that.

The $100,000 question: which is more musical, which will I keep?

I'm going to reserve judgement and see how this breaks in a bit, get more listening time under its belt. Go back and forth some.

Initial impression though is extremely favorable. If they keep trending in the direction shown, I'll try the interconnects sooner than later.

(for the cynics: I am in now way related in business or otherwise to HD or Worldwide wholesales. I live in Florida and work as a technology executive.)
joncourage
sabai
2,027 posts
 
Knghifi,
Thanks -- all in good fun. I am all for whatever makes your system sound better.
ie
38 posts
 
@ Musicallyinclined re: agreeing with audiofeil...

my personal opinion is that a dealer has no place with his opinion in a discussion as he/she has a vested interest in the product they represent

furthermore, i did own 2 of the cables that audiofeil represents, the STEALTH varidig for over 3 years and the STEALTH sextet for 1 year and as excellent as they are...the Hidiomends digital cables do what they do and much more for less money. end of story
joncourage OP
185 posts
 
As far as flavor-of-the-month "it has that feel" comments.

I fail to see the logic. Every brand starts somewhere, including the ones we consider famour and/or reputable today. Who is anyone to say this isn't a future Nordost or Kubala Sosna or Stealth?

These cables are the real deal. Among current users, the cables have been compared against high end cables from several reputable manufacturers including Stealth, Audioquest, Kubala Sosna, Synergistic Research and others.

I won't consider anyone's dismissal or criticism - nor should anyone else - until the critic has actually tried the cable in a system they're familiar with.
bacardi's avatar
bacardi
663 posts
 
@Joncourage, i agree with you 100%.
worldwidewholesales
132 posts
 
There will be a very detailed review coming out on the D7 interconnects and XLR 2 from a major US magazine in Aug 2012; the reviewer purchased and replaced his reference cable with the D7 interconnect.
HiDiamond cables will be exhibited at the following shows;
Toronto audio show called TAVES in the Parklane room from Sept 28-30). We will also be at the Venetian for C.E.S. Luxury suite 30-220 on Jan 8-11 2013 and there will be several other rooms using our HiDiamond Cables at CES.
Cheers and thank you for all the support.
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