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| Model: | Platinum Eclipse Interconnect |
| Category: | Cable |
| Suggested Retail Price: | $400 termination + $2600 meter |
| Description: | line-level interconnect |
| Manufacturer URL: | Wire World |
| Review by Sterlo on November 03, 2009 at 21:40:50 IP Address: 121.45.221.39 | Add Your Review for the Platinum Eclipse Interconnect |
Hi all,
This is my first review here on AA so, hopefully it turns out OK :)
I currently own Wireworld Silver Eclipse (5.2) interconnects (RCA) and speaker cables. I took the plunge on the SE cables as a result of a recommendation. I find them to be very neutral, without brightness or harshness.
I enjoyed the Wireworld sound so much, that I decided to investigate their higher end models. The same friend who recommended the Silver Eclipse cables to me stated that, if I really liked Wireworld and wanted to hear all they could achieve, I just had to hear the Platinum Eclipse.
So, unheard, I sprung for an RCA version of the Wireworld Platinum Eclipse.
I should clarify at this point that I own the Audiodharma Cable Cooker and my Silver Eclipse cables had been fully cooked and well used prior to my acquisition of Platinum Eclipse.
I should preface this review by stating that I've used many different cables over the years (XLO Signature being my cables prior to Wireworld Silver Eclipse) and I've found often, that changes in cables can "change" the sound (ie, the tonality/neutrality) often enough, but I've rarely found altering cables to effect an absolute 'revelation' in improvement, ie, to the extent that a change in speakers, source, or amplifiers may achieve.
After a quick listen however, I would put the move from the Wireworld Silver Eclipse RCA interconnect to the Platinum Eclipse RCA interconnect in the revelation category. This isn't something I've ever said before about an interconnect.
What is even more eye-opening about the Platinum Eclipse interconnect is that my Silver Eclipse cables were fully cooked on the Audiodharma Cable Cooker, but the Platinum Eclipse RCA I just took out of the box brand new, and hooked it up.
The comments below are based on my thoughts brand new straight out of the box.
First things that come to mind:
1. Substantially more emotional involvement in the music: Although the Silver Eclipse is a great cable, at 5x the price, the Platinum Eclipse makes the Silver Eclipse sound dry, uninvolving, and quite stilted. (In the SE's defence, what do you expect for a cable at 5x the price? For comparative purposes however the SE is my existing interconnect, so it is referenced as a point of comparison..) The Silver Eclipse sounds quite neutral, but the honesty of the PE just blows the SE away. I found myself singing along to the music and being so involved in the emotion of the performance - something that I just have not previously done with SE.
2. Soundstaging: The PE produces such a wiiiiiide soundstage. I'm so used to all my previous cables (XLO Signature, Cardas, Wireworld Silver Eclipse) dead-centering and focusing the images between the speakers. The Platinum Eclipse makes the centering-characteristics of those other cables (image-wise) sound almost mono-like. All of a sudden you get this very wide display of the music beyond the width of the speakers. The sound becomes much larger, more realistic and encompassing.
3. Transparency: I would say this cable is almost perfectly neutral. My Silver Eclipse was probably a little on the hot side by comparison (I won't say bright because the SE isn't - the treble is perfectly smooth on SE, but the overall character of SE is more forward and eager. The PE by comparison is more refined, and the music, and its emotional core just comes through and you're at one with the performances in your room. You don't have to think about the treble, bass, mids etc of the cable. All these terms become irrelevant and you're left alone with the music. A wonderful experience.
--
In summary I'd have to say that moving to the Wireworld Platinum Eclipse RCA interconnect is one of the best upgrades I've ever made to my system. It is in the realm of upgrades I've made previously to components such as cd players, preamplifiers and amplifiers. As advised above this is a statement I've not yet made about any of the previous cabling I've owned, but this interconnect is quite a revelation.
For the money, the Wireworld Silver Eclipse is still the giant killer, and is my favourite cable at its $700USD price point. (The Wireworld Silver Eclipse replaced XLO Signature 2.1 and 1.1 interconnects respectively - another couple of outstanding interconnects at the $700 retail price point.) Still, the Platinum Eclipse is the best interconnect I've yet heard, and I'm ecstatic to now have it in my system. It lays the emotional core of the performances bare. In terms of its sound characteristics I believe it can best be described as dead-on neutral, honest and of the utmost faithfulness to the recording, and as transparent as can be.
The PE is on the Audiodharma Cable Cooker as I write this and I shudder to think how much better this cable will sound in a few days. (Keep in mind the comments above are based on a quick listen straight out of the box brand new, not burned in, and un-Cable Cooked :)
I will post a follow-up shortly once this cable has spent 4 days or so on the Cable Cooker.
In summary, the Wireworld Platinum Eclipse interconnect is an incredible product. I thought my old cables (Cardas Golden Reference, XLO Signatures, Wireworld Silver Eclipse) were reference quality, but they aren't even in the same stratosphere as this. (And for the price you shouldn't expect them to be.) At $3000 for a 1m run (or $1700 for a 0.5m) it can hardly be considered an inexpensive interconnect, but it has wrought an upgrade in sound to my system akin to that of a new cd player or amplifier. I urge you to check it out for yourself if you are a fan of Wireworld cables, or if you just want to own a reference quality interconnect.
Highly recommended.
| Product Weakness: | Nil |
| Product Strengths: | Transparency, transparency, transparency. Highly emotionally involving. Not analytical or dry in any way. Terms such as 'treble, midrange and bass' become irrelevant, leaving you at one with the performance. Spot-on neutral. |
| Amplifier: | Proceed BPA-3 |
| Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): | Meridian 568.2mm |
| Sources (CDP/Turntable): | Meridian 598 DVD/CD Player |
| Speakers: | Sonus Faber Grand Piano Home |
| Cables/Interconnects: | Wireworld Silver Eclipse/Platinum Eclipse |
| Music Used (Genre/Selections): | Rock, Pop |
| Room Size (LxWxH): | 17 x 15 x 10 |
| Room Comments/Treatments: | Acoustic dampening (behind system) |
| Time Period/Length of Audition: | 20 mins |
| Other (Power Conditioner etc.): | Black Diamond Racing Shelves, Pucks, Cones (Mk4) |
| Type of Audition/Review: | Product Owner |
They're SO expensive!! You can't have heard substantial improvements in just 20 minutes!! You must be getting paid by Wireworld!!Then again....
Bumblebees can't fly, Obama was born in Kenya (Orly has the proof!!), and all audiophiles have open-minds and are gentlemanly and gracious in their commentary.
Edits: 11/04/09
But hey, that's still 20 minutes longer than everyone else!
Edits: 11/04/09
haha!
Thanks for the link.
Er... yeah... note how my review was for the interconnects only :) (ie, something a typical audiophile might actually be able to afford.. :)
Regarding the item in your link I'm now thinking of that Beach Boys song..
"Woouldn't it be nice....."
Maybe one day when I win the lottery.. :)
Cheers!!
Actually, that was the first song played at my wedding banquet.
As many of you have seen on my blog, the cables happen to cost more than the equipment itself. Just's just how the die rolls. In many audiophiles' homes, the equipment costs more than the cables. But in a few I've been to, the cables, FWIW, cost more than the gear. What matters is that the system as a whole gels.
I agree.
I think in reality speakers are so subjective - meaning, whether the speakers are B&W Nautilus, or the inexpensive Paradigm Atom or NHT Superzero, people 'fall in love' what whatever speaker they prefer.
From there, regardless of the cost of the cabling, the most neutral cable that lets you hear what your beloved speakers are capable of, is the best cable for the system! I think nothing of the cabling costing as much as the speakers. This is just a means to ensuring the speakers and components in your system that you love sound as good as they are capable of sounding.
A
Great group. Finally got to see them live a couple of years ago. They were on tour, and sounded incredible.
hahaha!
Hi Alan! As you can see by my review I continue to use and abuse your Cooker pretty much daily. With $3000 interconnects such as Platinum Eclipse being without the Cooker isn't really an option anymore.
Wait.. I guess by my saying that, I must be paying you! Or, I must be building the Cable Cooker myself on your behalf, here in Australia, and selling it! (They're so easy to make too I just made one myself all while writing this message! :)
=)
Cheers
/
This is absurd, stupid, dumb, and plain irritating excess.
WTF?
Did I leave anything out?
D
/
That's the correct price alright.
I think his comments were more in frustration and disbelief at the cost of speaker cables like this :)
Cheers
A
N/T
“ Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination. ” -Michael McClure
considering Andrew's missive a "snapshot", rather than a review? Those were his immediate impressions, after all, and he did say he would revisit things after getting more time on the cable. But what he heard, apparently, was profound in comparison to another model from the same manufacturer. That should count for something, and benefit the rest of us, no?
I have to admit I'm impressed with his "snapshot" (even if it is posted as a review) and look forward to an actual, full on review.
The 20 minutes thing just struck a nerve and seemed some sort of... injustice? ... as time spent with a component for review, though he was quite honest about the circumstances.
But then I also know 20 minutes can be more than enough time to know "That's it!" in these situations.
I suspect his "That's It!" enthusiasm will only increase as his cables get prepped and he spends even more time hearing what they have to offer.
“ Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination. ” -Michael McClure
Guys,
Thanks for the comments.
Hm.. I'm surprised people feel that 20 mins isn't sufficient time to get an impression of a cable's qualities.. (Would 45 mins or an hour really change things?)
The only thing that would change would be the character of the cable after it had been burned in, but (without the Cable Cooker) that would take a few hundred hours. So, 20 mins.. 45 mins.. even an hour.. the cable isn't going to change substantially in that time out of the box.
Alan's right - the quality of the component was immediate upon listening to this cable. Yes, in reality, a 'proper' review (that I will follow-up with post-Cable cooking) is required once burn-in is completed, to properly (and fairly) evaluate a cable's true performance.
What I heard obviously wasn't the true capabilities of the cable (given it was brand new out of the box), but given it couldn't sound any worse as time went on, I felt compelled to note the qualities of this cable immediately. So many cables sound simply awful out of the box - I thought it was important to note quickly with the Platinum Eclipse how good it sounded even without burn in for those people who hate waiting :)
Yes you're right.. I did have the "that's it!" feeling as soon as I plunked this cable in. It was simply awesome. While the comparison with the Silver Eclipse is hardly fair in terms of price (although, it is the 3rd top of the line cable from Wireworld) at least it was a point of reference in the WW lineup.
As I said I was typing up the review on my laptop in front of my system straight after my listening session :)
There.. I think I've probably said enough :) (There's that 100wpm typing speed showing through again haha)
Follow-up review forthcoming soon!
Cheers
Andrew
Nah.. I type at over 100 wpm, so the review was just a spill onto paper :)
As I said I'm planning on posting a follow-up once the cable is fully cooked/burned in. Yes my audition was quick but the effects were immediate enough that I felt compelled (in light of the fact the cable would be sounding at its worst straight out of the box) to provide my thoughts..
Cheers
Well, you type much faster than I and certainly seem able to discern, analyze, articulate and report the results of a component change possibly as quick as you type.
“ Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination. ” -Michael McClure
You can listen at 100 WPM? I'm impressed. ;)
"Apparently, people now believe that mental telepathy is the foundation of communication and magic is the source of daily events. Consequently, we no longer have to participate in our own lives."
Heh heh
Yea.. typing speed does help.. I can just sit here on my laptop as I listen and just pour the words onto the paper (keypad) :)
Well the Platinum Eclipse has been on the Cable Cooker for almost 2 days now.. Will post followup comments on the PE in a couple days...
As always, give the cable some time to settle in post-Cooking before you do your serious listening....and typing. :--]
Alan,
You make a good point. Thanks for reminding me.
Yes, as you've said I've generally found a couple of days of playing time helps the cable settle down into its true character after cooking.
Thanks. I will do that!
A
Couldn't agree more :)
There, that covers it.KP
Edits: 11/04/09
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