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REVIEW: Anticables - Cable


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Model: -
Category: Cable
Suggested Retail Price: $100
Description: Speaker cables
Manufacturer URL: Anticables
Model Picture: View

Review by tangojim on October 15, 2007 at 23:12:07
IP Address: 75.84.103.219
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These speaker cables are only $100 for a 10 foot pair but yet they have almost somewhat of a cult following. The reviews and feedbacks from professional reviewers and users are very positive and sometimes a bit hard to believe since they are being compared to other cables with prices in the four digits.

Before purchasing these cables, I've had the chance to audition a few other cables in my home: Kimber Monocle XL, Kimber Select 3033, Goertz AG2, MIT 750 Shotgun. These were all pretty impressive cables, especially the Kimber Select, which was very special in that it allowed me to hear details and resolution that are not obvious with the other cables but with a very natural smoothness. Since I couldn't convince myself to swing the $2000 plus for the Select, I ended up purchasing a demo set of MIT Shotgun which were well balanced and relatively more affordable.

I recently bought a pair of Tyler Linbrook Monitors with the Seas Millenium. These Linbrooks are very sweet and natural sounding so I figured they should work well with cables that have a revealing nature. I originally wanted to pick up the Audience Au24 based on it's reputation but stumbled upon the interesting Anticables ads on Audiogon. I purchased a pair about a month ago and thought I share my experience with them.

The Anticables are definitely very special in that they have great resolution but without any obvious edginess or glare typically associated with revealing cables. These Anticables are usually sold with spades or bananas termination but I really believe it's best to go with the bare wire option. It is crucial that they get a strong and tight connection with your equipment terminal posts, otherwise the sound may be compromised. I ordered mine with bare wires and used my fingers to tighten the binding posts at both my integrated amp and speakers. The performance was not bad and actually quite impressive for a $100 cable but it wasn't anything close to some of the reviews I've read. I then read somewhere that they have to be connected tight, so I went back and tighten my amp terminals with a plier and my speakers terminals with a wrench. The improvement after this was simply amazing, as in almost like night versus day. In fact, the amount of details I was now hearing was very close, if not equal, to what I heard with the Kimber Select but maybe not with the same level of smoothness. I definitely don't recall this level of details or resolution with the Goertz AG2, MIT Shotgun or the Kimber Monocle.

If I had tons of money but didn't feel like giving to charity, then I definitely go for a pair of Kimber Select. Since I still work for a living, I think these Anticables are just a marvelous offering.


Product Weakness: Do need to be connected very tight using unterminated bare wire option.
Product Strengths: As detailed and resolved as any cables I've heard for under $1000.


Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: Arcam A90
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): none
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Sony ES changer
Speakers: Tyler Linbrook Monitors
Cables/Interconnects: Anticables/Audioquest Python
Music Used (Genre/Selections): jazz, scores, classical, vocals
Room Size (LxWxH): 22 x 17 x 9
Room Comments/Treatments: none
Time Period/Length of Audition: 1 month
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): VH Audio flavor 4 PC
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner



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