Vinyl Asylum: REVIEW: Silversmith Audio Silversmith Phono Cable Cable by the analog kid

Model:	Silversmith Phono Cable
Category:	Cable
Suggested Retail Price:	$1,400
Description:	Pure Silver Ribbon Phono Cable w/Air Dialectric
Manufacturer URL:	Silversmith Audio
Manufacturer URL:	Silversmith Audio

Review by the analog kid ( A ) on April 22, 2002 at 20:41:37
IP Address: 35.9.8.153

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I am fortunate enough to be the first owner of a one-of-a-kind product: a custom-made Silversmith Audio right-angle DIN to RCA phono cable. In writing a review of this product, I really need to "start at the beginning" as they say. After cruising the cable asylum for several months, two cables were mentioned again and again as the current state-of-the-art: Nordost Valhalla, and Silversmith Audio. Having owned various models of the Nordost over the years (and not particularly caring for their sound), I decided to acquire a pair of Silversmith speaker cables. My experience with them is documented in my review, posted in the Cable Asylum. Suffice it to say, my personal experience with the Silversmith cables suggests that they are TRULY groundbreaking, in terms of design, level of craftsmanship, and (most importantly) sonic quality.
Following this experience, I got to thinking about my phono cable(s). It seems to me (IMHO) that phono cables are (arguably) THE most important cable in the chain, given that they transfer the lowest (often miniscule) wattage signal. And yet, many people (myself included) tend to treat this "link in the chain" like any other. So, I decided to try and obtain the "state of the art" phono cable, and contacted Jeff Smith at Silversmith. For the record, Jeff is an EXTREMELY friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful guy. He talked with me at length about the project, and expressed great enthusiasm. Although he had not yet attempted applying his interconnect design to a DIN/RCA phono cable, he was up for the challenge. He also embarked on the project without any form of payment up front, despite my protestations (I wanted to pay up front, to cover his project costs, but he refused, saying he wanted to make sure it worked out first). After several weeks (and many email updates), he announced completion, and shipped me my new cable.
Now I should note at the outset that for many folks, dropping $1400 on a phono cable seems excessive (that amount exceeds what many people drop on a TABLE). OTOH, I've been convinced for some time (and my experience with this cable bolsters this belief) that other than internal tonearm wiring, the phono cable wire is the single most important piece of wire in your analog system (I know I know, if I was a TRUE purist, I wouldn't ever allow a "break" in the chain with the DIN, but oh well).
So, my cable arrived safe and sound, looking GORGEOUS. Jeff's level of craftsmanship is superb. The DIN is Cardas, and the RCA's are custom-ordered that he gets from an Australian company (I believe) - they are the same as with his IC's. The RCAs provide an exceptionally snug fit, and the cable was/is unbelievably light-weight. Please see the Silversmith Audio website for technical details: Jeff uses a very thin pure silver ribbon design, with (primarily) air dialectric.
And now (FINALLY!) for the sonics. As points of comparison, I've heard Origin Live cables, Kimber, Rega (stock - yuck!), Cardas Golden Cross, and Hovland. But the Silversmith completely redefines the notion of "phono cable." I hate to sound like such a ridiculous advertisement/gush (and I certainly don't routinely gush over cables - see my recent negative review of Pro-Silway), but this cable is SUPERLATIVE. The first thing that hits you is a complete sense of NATURAL TONE and CRYSTAL CLARITY. Not warmth or pleasing coloration (ala Cardas). Not phony (steely) transparency ala Harmonic Technology. But natural, open, unhindered sound. I know it's a cheezy metaphor, but you instantly feel like veils have been stripped away from your system. I have never heard ANYTHING like it, except when I added the SS speaker cables. There is an incredible increase in low-level information, and apparent bandwidth. Highs are pristine and seemingly limitless. The highs fit my ideal of what a "pure silver" cable SHOULD sound like (unlike what many DO sound like). But - interestingly - this high-frequency reach is not at the cost of midrange richness. Female vocals (my standard reference being the fantastic Classic Records pressings of Sarah McLachlan) sound rich, full, and THERE. And the bass has new strength and presence - deep, punchy, without a hint of congestion. I could go on and on about the soundstaging, imaging, etc. But the bottom line here is that this cable completely redefines the "state of the art," and beats every other cable I've ever heard by an order of magnitude. I feel like I'm now, for the first time, REALLY hearing what my system is capable of, and REALLY hearing what's in the grooves (i.e., I had no idea my old, trusty AI L1 could sound so great!).
Bottom line: if you have the scratch, give Jeff a call. Even if you don't, make the call anyways, and assume the debt. Life is short!

Product Weakness: none - I've owned it for several weeks now, and still can't find a flaw with it (though being a hyper-critical audiogeek, it's not for lack of trying).
Product Strengths: Redefines state of the art for phono cable performance; superlative highs; incredible natural tone to midrange; unrivalled high and low frequency extension

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Pass Labs Aleph 60 monoblocks
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Audible Illusions L1/ARC PH3SE
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Basis 2001/Silver 250/Grado Statement
Speakers:	Snell XA60
Cables/Interconnects:	Cardas Golden Cross/Silversmith Audio
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Rock, Female Vocal, Jazz
Room Size (LxWxH):	22 x 11 x 9
Room Comments/Treatments:	RPG Diffusors
Time Period/Length of Audition:	3 weeks
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	Monster HTS5000
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	none - I've owned it for several weeks now, and still can't find a flaw with it (though being a hyper-critical audiogeek, it's not for lack of trying).
Product Strengths:	Redefines state of the art for phono cable performance; superlative highs; incredible natural tone to midrange; unrivalled high and low frequency extension