Interconnects for the SR009
There doesn't seem to be much discussion of interconnects at head-fi, but a few months ago I realized that the ICs I was using with my DIY triode amp (unbalanced inputs) were the weak link in my system so I started reading reviews and discussion forums to see what people were saying. Since then I've listened to quite a few ICs, but the ones I'm keeping are the top of the line HIgh Fidelity Cables CT1-UR (Ultimate Reference). For those who don't know, the High Fidelity cables work on a different principle that owner Rick Schultz calls magnetic conduction. He's patented it and their website describes it so I won't repeat that here. For a couple of months I've owned the CT1-U, their 2nd best cable, but based on a review, word of mouth and Rick's own recommendation I decided to trade up to the UR. I'm not one to rave, but yesterday I received them, and I can say with confidence that these are by far the best interconnects I've heard, and that their resolution has transformed my system. And they're not broken in yet, though thoroughly cable cooked. (According to Rick, after 100 hours in your system they will be pretty well broken in.)
You can read that review of the UR here:
http://dagogo.com/high-fidelity-cables-ct-1ur-ultimate-reference-speaker-and-interconnect-cables-review
There's also a High Fidelity Cables thread at Audiogon.
Now, there may be better ICs out there, but there are no comparative reviews to go on, and expensive as they are the UR are far less expensive than for example the new Tara Labs Air Evolution.
If you are happy with the 009 sound you're getting - and I mainly mean if you're enjoying their tonal balance and resolution with your amp, and you're got a high quality source and good power conditioning - then you really should give the UR a try.
Here are the other ICs I've listened to in my system, roughly in descending order of transparency, realism and overall satisfaction:
HF CT1-U - a very nice sounding IC, but lacking resolution, body and impact compared to the UR (note: the Us are not yet fully broken in either - but the differences between the U and the UR are not at all subtle).
Shunyata Anaconda - nice, but not as resolving or as natural-sounding in the highs as the U in my system. Also bettered by low capacitance DIY silver/cotton ICs made by a friend.
HF CT1-E - did not hear these at the same time as the Anaconda so cannot make a direct comparison. However the Es sounded significantly bass shy - I'm told that the bass improves with more break-in (up to 200 hours?). With that one possible caveat, they might be a good choice in a "budget" 009 system - there is a family resemblance to the Us, just not as much of everything. (Did not have them at the same time for a direct comparison.)
Synergistic Research Tungsten, Audience AU24-se, Dave's Cables D3, Grover Huffman ZX+ - not resolving enough to be worth considering with the 009, IMO.
Summary judgement: if you listen to a lot of classical, jazz or other mainly acoustic music, the 009/UR synergy can be amazing. The UR's ability to uncongeal info buried in less-than-good older recordings (e.g. CDs recorded with early digital technology, or older analogue transfers, even mono) is unparalleled by other cables I've heard. For example, on David Zinman's beautiful Dvorak Legends CD (Nonesuch, recorded in 1983 on Sony gear), orchestral detail that even with the Us sounded dulled down and blended in now stands out in bold but believable relief - suddenly there's space around everything, a delicacy of articulation in the winds that wasn't there before, and better string sound. The URs sound great with rock too - bass is full, textured and dynamic. I'm pretty sure these cables will make any kind of music you throw at them more vivid, involving and fun, assuming the rest of your system is up to it.
There doesn't seem to be much discussion of interconnects at head-fi, but a few months ago I realized that the ICs I was using with my DIY triode amp (unbalanced inputs) were the weak link in my system so I started reading reviews and discussion forums to see what people were saying. Since then I've listened to quite a few ICs, but the ones I'm keeping are the top of the line HIgh Fidelity Cables CT1-UR (Ultimate Reference). For those who don't know, the High Fidelity cables work on a different principle that owner Rick Schultz calls magnetic conduction. He's patented it and their website describes it so I won't repeat that here. For a couple of months I've owned the CT1-U, their 2nd best cable, but based on a review, word of mouth and Rick's own recommendation I decided to trade up to the UR. I'm not one to rave, but yesterday I received them, and I can say with confidence that these are by far the best interconnects I've heard, and that their resolution has transformed my system. And they're not broken in yet, though thoroughly cable cooked. (According to Rick, after 100 hours in your system they will be pretty well broken in.)
You can read that review of the UR here:
http://dagogo.com/high-fidelity-cables-ct-1ur-ultimate-reference-speaker-and-interconnect-cables-review
There's also a High Fidelity Cables thread at Audiogon.
Now, there may be better ICs out there, but there are no comparative reviews to go on, and expensive as they are the UR are far less expensive than for example the new Tara Labs Air Evolution.
If you are happy with the 009 sound you're getting - and I mainly mean if you're enjoying their tonal balance and resolution with your amp, and you're got a high quality source and good power conditioning - then you really should give the UR a try.
Here are the other ICs I've listened to in my system, roughly in descending order of transparency, realism and overall satisfaction:
HF CT1-U - a very nice sounding IC, but lacking resolution, body and impact compared to the UR (note: the Us are not yet fully broken in either - but the differences between the U and the UR are not at all subtle).
Shunyata Anaconda - nice, but not as resolving or as natural-sounding in the highs as the U in my system. Also bettered by low capacitance DIY silver/cotton ICs made by a friend.
HF CT1-E - did not hear these at the same time as the Anaconda so cannot make a direct comparison. However the Es sounded significantly bass shy - I'm told that the bass improves with more break-in (up to 200 hours?). With that one possible caveat, they might be a good choice in a "budget" 009 system - there is a family resemblance to the Us, just not as much of everything. (Did not have them at the same time for a direct comparison.)
Synergistic Research Tungsten, Audience AU24-se, Dave's Cables D3, Grover Huffman ZX+ - not resolving enough to be worth considering with the 009, IMO.
Summary judgement: if you listen to a lot of classical, jazz or other mainly acoustic music, the 009/UR synergy can be amazing. The UR's ability to uncongeal info buried in less-than-good older recordings (e.g. CDs recorded with early digital technology, or older analogue transfers, even mono) is unparalleled by other cables I've heard. For example, on David Zinman's beautiful Dvorak Legends CD (Nonesuch, recorded in 1983 on Sony gear), orchestral detail that even with the Us sounded dulled down and blended in now stands out in bold but believable relief - suddenly there's space around everything, a delicacy of articulation in the winds that wasn't there before, and better string sound. The URs sound great with rock too - bass is full, textured and dynamic. I'm pretty sure these cables will make any kind of music you throw at them more vivid, involving and fun, assuming the rest of your system is up to it.
excellent and with a lifetime warranty
