Cable Asylum: REVIEW: Ensemble Dynaflux Interconnects Cable by Noel Keen

Model:	Dynaflux Interconnects
Category:	Cable
Suggested Retail Price:	$850/meter; $1190/1.5 meter
Description:	Shielded interconnects
Manufacturer URL:	Ensemble
Manufacturer URL:	Ensemble

Review by Noel Keen on December 11, 2001 at 16:24:24
IP Address: 138.23.157.173

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I had lived happily for some two years with the excellent Harmonic Technology Pro-Silway MkII interconnects in my system, so it was with skepticism that I auditioned the Ensemble Dynaflux FSF interconnects. These are multi-strand cables with solid, locking terminals that are rather a work of art in themselves. I used the unbalanced versions since my amps only take such. I also tried the Ensemble Gigaflux digital cable in comparison with my reference Harmonic Technology Platinum cable. After burning the Ensemble products in for more than 100 hours, I went into serious listening and was surprised that the Ensemble products won hands down. Both the Ensemble Gigaflux digital cord and the Dynaflux FSF interconnects gave superior detail and resolution and provided a more at ease, musical presentation with better weight, particularly in the bass.
Now, before falling over, I remembered that Harmonic Technology had recently introduced new top of the line interconnects and digital cords, the Magics. Jim Wang at HT is a great and gracious person and generously arranged a set of the Magic cords for audition. After again breaking them in for more than 100 hours (generous use of the most recent Purist break-in disc when you are not in the house helps a lot to speed things along), another set of listening comparisons was embarked upon. The result was another win for the Ensemble digital cord in the context of my system. I won't cite specific pieces of music because the differences were noted irrespective of software used. The Ensemble Gigaflux digital cord opened up the sound, with better resolution, sound staging and bass rendition being the most obvious relative improvements. Voices, particularly female were cleaner and more real with the Ensemble digital cord. As is usually the case in these things, going back to the HT Magic digital cord led to a relative collapse of soundstaging, resolution and bass rendition. Clear win here for the Ensemble Gigaflux digital cord.
How about the battle of the interconnects? The comparison here was also clear and decisive-the Ensemble Dynaflux FSF I/Ces provided relative improvements to the sound similar to those observed in the digital cord comparisons. Soundstaging was expanded with a more open, airy presentation and instruments were more realistically located in the soundstage than with the Harmonic Technology Magic I/Ces. System noise was defeated yet another notch. A good comparison here was track 2 (Michelangelo) on the 'Red Dirt Girl' CD by Emmy Lou Harris (Nonesuch 79616-2). On this track, the HT interconnects performed well but did not provide the open and realistic soundstaging and accurate rendition of Emmy Lou's soprano voice experienced with the Ensemble I/Ces. Again, no contest in the context of my system. A big surprise, and one that I suspect will drive the Harmonic Technology people back to the drawing board. While the Magic interconnects are clearly excellent products and an improvement on the Pro-Silway MkII interconnects, the Magics did not yield that 'quantum leap' in performance over the Silways that we all hope for, especially when the tab is much greater. To my ears, the Ensemble I/Ces did provide a clear and significant gain over the Silways and as such they now reside in my listening room.

Product Weakness: None in my system, but could expose components tending to brightness
Product Strengths: Low noise, good resolution, provides excellent inner detail and tonality in my system

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	KR Enterprise VT8000 KR52BX
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	none--Placette passive attenuator
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	CD
Speakers:	Von Schweikert VR-8
Cables/Interconnects:	Ensemble throughout
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	mixed
Room Size (LxWxH):	40 ft x 35 ft x varies
Room Comments/Treatments:	Minimal
Time Period/Length of Audition:	two months
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	Shunyata Hydra/PS Audio P-300/Ensemble Isolink
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	None in my system, but could expose components tending to brightness
Product Strengths:	Low noise, good resolution, provides excellent inner detail and tonality in my system