Cable Asylum: REVIEW: Audio Art Cable IC-3 SE Cable by sbrians

Model:	IC-3 SE
Category:	Cable
Suggested Retail Price:	$199.00
Description:	Silver/Copper Stranded Interconnect w/ Eichmann Silver Bullets
Manufacturer URL:	Audio Art Cable
Manufacturer URL:	Audio Art Cable

Review by sbrians ( A ) on March 04, 2007 at 18:44:52
IP Address: 68.111.180.127

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for the IC-3 SE

Audio art cables (IC-1 and IC-3 regular) blew away the pretty good Z-cables that I was using along with the Transparent MusicLink plus. The Z-cables are now in the bedroom system and the Transparents for sale. I wanted to replace the Transparents if I found something better because they were a 15 foot pair for monoblocks that I no longer have (Monarchy) and I did not need the length. I initially just ordered one pair of AA cables but since they blew away the much more expensive cables that I had, I immediately ordered more to try.
The IC-3 SEs have the Eichmann silver bullets as connectors rather than the standard Audio Art connectors. Thus, the SE. They do not appear on the web site yet,and the price is a little less than I wrote above I believe, but I forget exactly how much under $200 they were. At nearly twice the price as the regular IC-3s (best $100 cables by far and better than some $500 cables), these are not quite as good a value, but are better. I cannot describe the difference. I do highly recommend the IC-3 regulars as being a best value in audio as they blow away anything for below several times their price from what I have heard. (The IC-1s have a less open top end and less tight bass, and are warmer and would be preferable for some systems). The regular IC-3s seemed very neutral with a flat frequency response and I could not identify any aspect that was lacking in any way unlike other cables that I have tried. With every other cable that I have heard, if they did something well, I had to give up something else. But not with the AAs. They have deep and tight bass. I can hear every bass note now. Cymbals are clean. Soundstage is great. They are detailed. They are dynamic. They never seemed to get congested.
To the IC-3 SEs: upon receipt (no burn-in), I could not clearly identify large differences compared to the regular connectors my system, but they were better. After burn-in, I did not go back and compare directly. At the same time, I obtained a new and a used pair (that I coincidentally came across when selling some of my older cables at jeffssoundvalues.com) of Mapleshade Excalibur Pluses (new, over 50% higher cost at $335, than the IC-3 SEs). Othewise, I would have had only AA cables in my system. Direct comparisons between the IC-3 SEs and the Mapleshades were then done from the source components. I did prefer the more expensive Mapleshades between amp and pre-amp. I preferred the Mapleshades between DAC and pre-amp for DCR (digital cable radio). I would say that both cables sounded similar in general. The Mapleshades made words in songs slightly more intelligible, but were maybe a bit less neutral otherwise. The Audio Art cables may have had slightly more sibilance than the Mapleshades at times, but are not sibilant cables. The Mapleshades may be very slightly more detailed. In the end, it came down to synergy and preference. The IC-3 SEs may be a bit more musical than the regulars.
I am now using the IC-3 SEs from my SACD player to my CJ pre-amp and preferred them slighly over the Mapleshades there; that was difficult to decide, but the price difference definitely made the Audio Art a much better value. The AAs may have been a bit more musical there. I am using the Mapleshades from GTX-1 DAC to pre-amp and from pre-amp to power amp.

Product Weakness: Shrink wrap used on connectors when new new can be very difficult to remove for use.
Product Strengths: I know of no cable for its price that can even come close to the sound of this cable. It seems to get everything right.

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Anthem Amp 2 SE
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	CJ PV10bl
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Philips 963SA
Speakers:	Magnepan 1.6
Cables/Interconnects:	Audio Art IC-3 SE, Mapleshade Excalibur Plus
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	smooth and cool Jazz, classical, 70s, country, acid jazz, etc.
Room Size (LxWxH):	15' x 20' x 8'
Time Period/Length of Audition:	30 days
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	Shrink wrap used on connectors when new new can be very difficult to remove for use.
Product Strengths:	I know of no cable for its price that can even come close to the sound of this cable. It seems to get everything right.