Cable Asylum: REVIEW: Cardas Audio Golden Presence Component Cable by Luminator

Model:	Golden Presence Component
Category:	Cable
Suggested Retail Price:	$150 termination + $180/meter
Description:	RGB component video cable
Manufacturer URL:	Cardas Audio

Review by Luminator on July 12, 2011 at 10:58:08
IP Address: 38.122.6.26 Add Your Review
for the Golden Presence Component

I'm sure that we've all played basketball: pickup, P.E., or organized.

When the participants split into two teams, it can be difficult to tell who is on which team. A common way to differentiate teams is to go "shirts and skins." That is, one team wears shirts, while the other team goes shirtless. But what if there are girls?

In high school, I remember my classmate Mavis pulling on her shirt collar, looking down her chest, and declaring, "I have a tube top. I can go skins." My friend Margaret always liked to wear a sports bra, so she could, if need be, go skins.

Another method is to have one team wear white, while the other goes color. To do that, players may have to exchange shirts. Understandably, some people don't like to do that.

It is with that kind of awkwardness, that I approach this review of the Cardas Golden Presence Component video cable. First of all, with the prevalence of digital video and HDMI, the component video connection is going by the wayside (kind of like the basketball teams I was on). Hardly any reviews of component videos exist. So we don't have a history, a template, and precedence. But first, for your viewing and reading pleasure, please click on these links for the GPC's product information:

Mike + The Mechanics
In Visible Silence
The Human Factor
Rocky IV

Because hockey is a bigger production, it is better-organized. All hockey players know that they should bring one white jersey, and one colored jersey.

Unlike some other component video cables, the GPC comes with color-coded leads. These clearly-marked red, green, and blue leads lessen the confusion, in hooking them up to video sources and TVs. Now, if only the TVs themselves were better marked!

A few years ago, one of my audio buddies had a GPC lying around, unused. I briefly used it, thought it was fine, then gave it back. More recently, I had the need for an additional component video cable. Not quite 100% happy with the ones I had on hand, I sort of missed the flexible, all-in-one GPC.

I'm sure we have all played basketball on outdoor asphalt courts. For many of us, it is better than not playing at all. But then imagine being able to play in a nice, well-maintained gym, with glass backboards, new balls, a scoreboard, and referees.

Sticking the GPC on the Audio Dharma Cable Cooker reduces grain, and allows colors to remain accurate. Not having a Cable Cooker is like playing basketball on crusty outdoor asphalt, with bent rims without nets. Cooking the GPC is like playing in a clean, state-of-the-art gymnasium.

Growing up, I used to play in basketball leagues in Honolulu. I absolutely hated late-afternoon practices on outdoor courts. Within ten minutes, your feet burned. The glare of the sun blinded us players. We needed frequent water breaks.

Hey, sometimes, you need a bright video cable. Out of the component video cables I've lived with, the Tara Labs RSC Component Video cable best brings out the whites.

I went up against teams whose rosters, over the seasons, hardly changed. Often times, these teams ran their plays with precision.

If you need a component video cable with utmost sharpness, try the Nordost Silver Screen HD.

In some gyms, not enough lights were turned on. The scoreboard did not operate. And the AC was turned on too high.

If you need to darken the picture, the various MIT component videos will do the trick, without sacrificing details in shadows, leather jackets, dark bodies of water, night skies, black-haired actors, et. al.

The Cardas GPC grew on me. At first, I was struck by what it did not do. It did not artificially brighten the picture. It did not artificially darken the picture. It did not add those "jigglies" artifacts around image outlines.

Over time, we began to feel less fatigued. And why is that? Color accuracy is one factor. On the show Ni Hao Kai-Lan , the cartoon colors were neither highlighted nor subdued. Motion is another factor. Details move without zip, stutter, jitter, lag, or hitch. Freedom from fuzz is another factor. I found that, with the GPC, I could more easily read scrolling text, weather maps, and scores.

The Cardas GPC's overall performance reminds me of certain basketball teams. They may not have the best athletes, most expensive uniforms, biggest thugs, or sexiest cheerleaders. But they have excellent attitudes, are well-coached, stay healthy, practice with structure and purpose, maintain poise and composure, work hard, play smart, show good court vision, hit their free throws, know their roles, are fundamentally sound, position themselves properly, don't curse the refs, display good sportsmanship, and strive to get better with each practice, film session, and game.

-Lummy The Loch Monster

Product Weakness:	some people won't like the brown outer jacket
Product Strengths:	all-in-one convenience; flexible; color-coded; RCAs fit into tight spaces; comes in a Ziploc bag

Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: numerous
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): numerous
Sources (CDP/Turntable): AT&T U-verse; Comcast digital cable; various DVD and Blu-Ray players
Speakers: numerous
Cables/Interconnects: Audioquest YIQ-3; Kimber DV-30; MIT; Nordost Silver Screen HD Component; Tara Labs RSC component
Music Used (Genre/Selections): various programming and videos
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner

Amplifier:	numerous
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	numerous
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	AT&T U-verse; Comcast digital cable; various DVD and Blu-Ray players
Speakers:	numerous
Cables/Interconnects:	Audioquest YIQ-3; Kimber DV-30; MIT; Nordost Silver Screen HD Component; Tara Labs RSC component
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	various programming and videos
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner