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Any knowledge on Zcable?

post #1 of 42
2/17/03 at 5:10pm
Thread Starter 
Anybody know anything about Zcable's interconnects, specifically the Live V5? They seem to have a straight positive record, which is making my wallet is getting itchy again. Searches on the Asylum have turned up sketchy info.

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post #2 of 42
2/17/03 at 9:25pm

Z cable

I have 2 Duet digital cables from Z cable. One going from my CD player to a GW Labs DSP and one connecting the DSP to an EVS Millennium Dac. I am very happy with the improvement. Arrowmark
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post #3 of 42
2/18/03 at 2:12pm
I use the zcable live V5 interconnect in my system and they are incredible. Clarity, detail, depth of soundstage all blows you away. I've tried a lot of interconnects (owned and auditioned) and none have come close to the sound I get with these. Mark Hampton is a really good guy to work with, very knowledgeable, and will talk to you indepth about his cables and others if you give him a call. 30 day money back policy so you really can't go wrong by auditioning. A word of caution though...don't audition unless you can buy, cause you won't want to send them back. You'll be spoiled by the sound.
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post #4 of 42
2/18/03 at 4:28pm
Thread Starter 
botchki, could you list some of the other interconnects you've tried before the Live V5? Thanks for chiming in, cool to know at least one Headfier has these.
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post #5 of 42
2/20/03 at 1:27am
Vertigo,

I had Analysis Plus copper ovals in my system for about a year, then started auditioning various cables. Tried interconnects from NBS (terrible opinion of them), AP solo crystal ovals, Mapleshade Clearview Excalibur plus (better but too bright), Empircal Audio, and then finally tried Luminous Audio Synchestra Signatures and thought they were really good. Stayed with them for a couple months and thought I was set but then ran across the Live V5 and decided to give it a try (that never ending quest for the perfect sound). To make this a little shorter I was floored by the Live V5 and still am and am no longer in search of cables. I thought the Luminous Audio was great but the Live V5 blew it away. If there's better out there, I haven't heard it and can't afford it if there is so....think I'm finally set. I'm really happy with the sound I'm getting, so I hope this helps you. If you do decide to give them a try, let me know what you think.
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post #6 of 42
2/20/03 at 2:13am
Thread Starter 
botchki,

I guess I still need a little more convincing. I tagged a used pair of Live V4s. If those are convincing enough, I'll springboard up to the V5s, which is well in excess of anything I've ever spent on a cable. It'd be a much easier buy for me if they came up used, but Zcables come up as often as blue moons as far as I've seen, so it looks like I have to go new for the V5.

I've been comparing a bunch of high end silver interconnects lately, and while I believe I have one favorite among the batch, I'm just not convinced it's THE one for my system. Zcable's description on their cables make the Live sound like it might be the one, as far as the direction I'm chasing in now. As you say, the search for the perfect sound never ends.

Will revive this thread with results in a week or two.
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post #7 of 42
2/20/03 at 2:30am
What's the price on those things?

And i'll release some designs (Note to mods: NOT release as in sell, release as in design plans on head-fi) for you guys to play around with. Also, for all you DIY'ers out there, i found a good source for cheap silver, almost all of it being below 50 cents a foot.

http://www.metalworks.com/SilverBG.htm

Uninsulated, but teflon isn't too expensive.

And props on the zu bullet plugs
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post #8 of 42
2/20/03 at 12:19pm
Quote:
Originally posted by botchki


...I thought the Luminous Audio was great but the Live V5 blew it away
Blew it away. What exactly do you mean by that?



Quote:
I've been comparing a bunch of high end silver interconnects lately, and while I believe I have one favorite among the batch, I'm just not convinced it's THE one for my system.
Vert,
What is it that seems to be lacking in your present array of cables?
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post #9 of 42
2/20/03 at 12:42pm
Quote:
pigmode said...

Blew it away. What exactly do you mean by that?
I'm also curious about this. Transparency, detail, bass, presentation style... could you be more specific, botchki?
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post #10 of 42
2/20/03 at 1:28pm
I'm also curious about this. Transparency, detail, bass, presentation style... could you be more specific, botchki?


Ok, I'll try. First off I don't want to offend anyone because I thought the LASS was a really good cable and the best that I had heard up until the Live V5. With the Live V5 you get more of everything...more detail, more transparancy, much more depth of soundstage, and the music just comes alive. More speed and excitement. Switching back and for between the two, the LASS sounded muffled and distant in comparison. LASS still had detail, openness, etc, and if I never would have heard the Live V5, I would have been happy with it. But once I heard the Live V5 in my system, I was spoiled and I couldn't go back. Thats probably not the best way to explain it but thats the best I can do.
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post #11 of 42
2/20/03 at 1:50pm
Is the V5 silver or copper?
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post #12 of 42
2/20/03 at 2:58pm
Vert, before you pay for that used V4 IC did you know they are selling them 40% off at Zcable website?

Zcable

I don't know anyone who has used them and can't ever remember seeing a review for V5.......what leads you to believe these are top contenders?
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post #13 of 42
2/20/03 at 6:12pm
Thread Starter 
DA, too late, already paid for it. Actually the used price was a good chunk lower than Zcable's 40% off price. Compared to the cables I've been trying lately, this could be considered a relatively "cheap" trial. Getting the V4 first is me being skeptical, so unless it convinces me, I wouldn't be trying the V5. I've actually been curious about this company's cables ever since seeing them nearly a year ago, just haven't gotten around to trying them.


pig, I'll get back to you on that one with a comparison writeup when I get some spare time. It's really a case of "this cable is almost perfect except that cable is better in that element" and vice versa. Which is what's been making choosing a keeper miserable for me so far.

Is the V5 silver or copper? We may never know. They're pretty mysterious about even the conductors used in their cables.
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post #14 of 42
2/20/03 at 9:12pm
Quote:
Vertigo-1 said...

Is the V5 silver or copper? We may never know. They're pretty mysterious about even the conductors used in their cables.
Maybe you should follow jude's lead, in the interests of science.
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post #15 of 42
2/20/03 at 11:12pm
Zcable apparently uses some sort of copper conductors in their cables. I'm going to play around with some copper-silver designs in the near future, i'll post my findings when i'm done with everything
Quote:
Conductor Material - some power cords use special conductors, such as silver, to alter the sound of the component. Again, as the conductor alters the electron flow, it also alters the sound. Silver usually sounds brighter than copper. In some systems, more detail is welcomed; in others it is not. Some companies use specialized copper in an effort to improve the sound of the power cord. We have found greater improvements from the ZCable optimization of the conductor, connection, and the ends all together; therefore the entire power cord creates a more coherent conductor path.
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