Cable Asylum: REVIEW: AudioQuest Jaguar Cable by JakeG

Model:	Jaguar
Category:	Cable
Suggested Retail Price:	350
Description:	Entry Level DBS Interconnect, PE Air-Tubes, PSC+ Copper
Manufacturer URL:	AudioQuest
Manufacturer URL:	AudioQuest

Review by JakeG ( A ) on August 29, 2005 at 16:36:40
IP Address: 207.179.73.145

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for the Jaguar

After looking for a interconnect upgrade from my Cardas Quadlink 5C, I went to Signal Cable's Analog 2 cable. I still felt I was missing something. Signal Cable opened the sound a bit from the Cardas. I went into my local stereo shop and looked through thier demo bin and found a pair of Audioquest Ruby's. I bought them and took them home. The Ruby's were quite the upgrade from the Signal Cable. I wondered how much better Audioquest's new stuff is. So I went back in to the stereo shop and looked around. I asked if I could demo the Jaguar interconnect. It is the entry cable in Audioquest's DBS line. It has the 36v DBS with PE air-tubes and Perfect Surface Copper + (PSC+).
I was skepical of the DBS feature. I couldn't figure out why a battery hooked up the cable would make a different. So I had to hear for myself. My dealer plugged them into a setup consisting of B&W 803's, Rotel 300 wpc amp, Rotel Pre-amp, and CDP. We played a variety of music from, BB King " Blues on the Bayou" (Track 1), Pink Floyd "Division Bell"(track 10), and Dave Matthews Band "Under the Table and Dreaming" (track 1,2).
We tried with both the DBS plugged in and the DBS unplugged. With the DBS unplugged the cable sounded great. It had great detail, excellent smooth and detailed midrange, and tight bass. The cable was transparent and neutral. After the songs we did the same thing this time with the DBS plugged in. The music sounded louder was the first thing I noticed that was different. The music seemed to flow more easily. What was open and neatural before is even more open and neutral with even more subtle detail in all recordings. I couldnt beleive that the battery actaully made a difference. We compared it to the King Cobra, which is almost the same cable without the DBS. The King Cobra sounded like that Jaguar without the DBS. And it was the only difference I could hear.
I bought the cable and brought it home. I was tearing through my CD collection trying to listen to all my favourite songs. This cable is a perfect match with my current system. My system opened up and the midrange is so realistic. Voices coming out of my speakers sound very real and natural, acoustic music like DMB "Live at Luther College" is great. I can hear the strings really vibrate on the guitar. Absolutly amazing.
So I am keeping this cable and the Ruby's are now for sale.

Product Weakness: Price.
Product Strengths: Excellent build quailty, very open cable, excellent midrange, tight bass.

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Jolida 1701
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	none
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Sony ES
Speakers:	B&W 602S3
Cables/Interconnects:	AQ Jaguar, Signal Cable Speaker cables
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	DMB, BB King, Pink Floyd
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	Price.
Product Strengths:	Excellent build quailty, very open cable, excellent midrange, tight bass.