Cable Asylum: REVIEW: Acoustic Zen WOW Cable by zug

Model:	WOW
Category:	Cable
Suggested Retail Price:	$248 per meter
Description:	Unavailable
Manufacturer URL:	Acoustic Zen
Manufacturer URL:	Acoustic Zen

Review by zug ( A ) on July 06, 2002 at 11:17:55
IP Address: 209.109.240.59

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for the WOW

I was offered a home audition of the WOW when I asked a local dealer for an audition of the Truthlink. I had already heard the Pro Silway, but the dealer lent me the Pro Silway and and Wow. Both cables were competing against my long-time resident AudioQuest Diamond, a silver interconnect, which so far has bested all challengers in the role of carrying the signal from Dac to integrated amp. First I heard the Truthlink. Not bad, but after a short time I knew that they did not have the rythmic quality or overall balance of the Audioqest cables. Next up the WOW. Hey, big improvement. More detail, a very nice rendering of harmonics and tonal qualities. I did not hear the grain that another reviewer heard. But in all honesty I only listened to them for about 1/2 hour. On some of my few classical CDs, I heard a magnificent soundstage, and good detail as I said. Then I switched back to the Diamonds. Woosh! The sense of immediacy, power and charm was back.
For me the Diamonds just were there in a way that the WOW was (were) not.
The WOW is a little laid back in the dynamics department, while the Diamonds give the more immediate and captivating sound.
But overall, the WOW beat the the Truthlink handily, and for a sub-300 cable they have some excellent qualities only found in much pricier cables.

Product Weakness: Immediacy (slightly cool or laid back in my system)
Product Strengths: Detail, soundstaging

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Bryston B60 70 wpc
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	None
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	MSB Link Dac w/AA DTI Pro
Speakers:	Infinity QE 2 way
Cables/Interconnects:	AQ diamond, XLO Type 1, Straightwire Rhapsody speaker c.
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Classical/Brahms....Jazz/Getz 'Serenity'
Room Size (LxWxH):	20 x 12 x 8
Time Period/Length of Audition:	1 hour
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	JPS Labs pc, JPS Labs GPA
Type of Audition/Review:	Home Audition

Product Weakness:	Immediacy (slightly cool or laid back in my system)
Product Strengths:	Detail, soundstaging