Anyone had a play with Tellurium wires?

[Effem]

My new listening room (AKA "coal bunker" :lol:) is a lot smaller so will need a shorter set of speaker cables. Seeing as like wot they are going to be so short now I was wondering whether to get a pair of Tellurium blue or black cables to play with, but as usual I am reading between the lines of hype surrounding these and would prefer the honest opinions of folks that have bought and lived with them for a while :eyebrows:

[realysm42]

I'll second that, funnily enough I 've been reading about this stuff today.

I don't mean to hijack the thread but as well as opinions on the cable, can anyone objectively compare it to the "good budget stuff" that always seems to get recommended here?

[hifi_dave]

I've tried a couple of the Tellurium Q cables and they are very good indeed, amongst the best I've heard. The Blue is good value as these things go. IMO

I don't know how you can quantify the sound against a budget cable but to my ears it's a lot better than generic 79 strand. Best bet is to borrow a length and hear for yourself.

[Effem]

I'll second that, funnily enough I 've been reading about this stuff today.

I don't mean to hijack the thread but as well as opinions on the cable, can anyone objectively compare it to the "good budget stuff" that always seems to get recommended here?

That really is one heck of a quandary to solve :eyebrows:

The biggest issue is where any marque or model of cable fits into the great unseen league tables of all wires wanky because it is so subjective in nature, with one person's "revealing" being another person's "screeching", while "smooth and mellow" are somebody else's "flat and lifeless".

The recommendations you might see from the likes of myself and others on this particular forum are ones we have owned ourselves or have auditioned. One or two inexpensive cables have surprised us in the price/performance stakes as being great value or have embarassed some well known brands, but that does not mean to say they are "giant killers" in any sense of the word.

We have a broad scale to work from too, starting from QED SA which isn't even good enough to make a decent dog lead with let alone connect to a hi-fi system, right up to Kondo at left arm/right leg sort of prices.

I was rather hoping someone could pipe up and say something like "Close to Acoustic Zen with a tad more this or that added" which means something to someone like me who has been around the block when it comes to cables. I am still running a pair of Sterling Black Mambas which are not the bee's knees of speaker cables, but I can easily live with them because they don't offend or annoy by the same token - which I do appreciate

Hifi Dave's comments about a comparison with QED 79 strand torpedoed his first sentence a bit in that respect :lol:

[realysm42]

I just did a google on the 79 stuff, one review is outstanding:

6/10: quality is ok and it works

I'm sold!

[Ali Tait]

Tony ( Wee Tee Cee) has both blue and black runs of this, so he's the man to ask. He brought them over when he came for a sesh and I thought they were very good.

[wee tee cee]

Ok chaps, a no nonsense assessment based on my motorcycle ravaged ears.
I have a run of both blue and black. Both terminated with z plugs the black done by the factory, the blue by the seller on e bay.
I run the black on my treble the blue on my bass.
for comparison ----
I have the excellent belkin terminated stuff. about £20
the flat ribbon belkin stuff. about £9
van damme blue 2.5 mm about £2.50 pm
atlas equator about £8 pm.
I had the chord odyssey 2, I think.....

The blue is very good straight out of the packet, my main bugbear with music is sibilance...The blue really removed a degree of harshness from my previous system without throwing the baby out with the bath water.

The blue sounds very neutral, It doesn't colour the sound one way or the other...in comparison to the two belkins its far more revealing but not as harsh treble wise and overblown/ baggy bass wise.
The van damme is brighter and far more bass laden....great for the money but not very honest and a good candidate for using a cable as a tone control .
The atlas stuff again emphasises the frequency extremes....not much cop really.
The chord stuff it replaced was more expensive than the blue but for me was far more coloured treble wise.
I borrowed the blue from my dealer in glasgow, loud and clear and must admit the biggest shock was trying it in my sons system- my cast off CA dac /cyrus 1/ruark swordsman. feck... there's life in the old dog yet.

The black.....Shit......If you're happy hearing a demo set of the blue dont do it to yourself.
I had a naim cd player to trade in...needed a dac and some cable.
I brought the black demo set home tried it out and was Impressed enough I paid the difference.
Like the blue but....lovely and neutral but even more revealing.
Worth 3 x the money plus the cost of factory termination...depends what you want.
I view the tellurium stuff in a very similar fashion to mark grant interconnects the sound signature is very neutral but once you start going up the range it just gets more revealing.

No bull shit...If I hear a budget cable that gets near what I have,
I will sing its praises.
Both blue and black are excellent, I know swapping from bass to treble there is a significant upgrade to the black.

Ali tate on here is vastly more experienced than myself...he heard them at his place...in his set up...they held they're chin up proudly .
Hope this helps.
Regards Tony.

[Effem]

Thanks Tony, it does help to give a clearer picture of their capabilities and in the great scheme of things they are not too exhorbitant for the wallet either

[Ali Tait]

Aye, as Tony says, the Blue is good. The Black is very good. In fact I was impressed enough to be thinking about buying some Black for myself. :D

[Mark Grant]

Interesting.

Anyone tried the Ultra black.

http://www.telluriumq.com/page14.html

[Ali Tait]

I think Tony has heard some. It's seriously expensive though.

[wee tee cee]

Nah, I drew the line at the black.
From what I've read the ultra stuff is better again.....
I just could not justify the cost......
I dont want to risk listening to it either....

[MartinT]

I've been sufficiently interested to order a 1m XLR Black set of interconnects and will try them against my Kimber Select and Paul Hynes cables. Is anyone using their interconnects?

Mark - is there any advance yet on production of the G1000HD balanced cables?

[icehockeyboy]

How much is the black per metre?

Cancel that! For anyone else wondering......the shop in Cambridge is selling it terminated for £47 a metre.

[hifi_dave]

TQ Blue is £16.50/mtr plus termination.

TQ Black is £47/mtr inc termination

TQ Green is £149/mtr inc termination

TQ Ultra Black is £255/mtr inc termination

[MartinT]

I received the Tellurium Q Black XLR interconnects and have been comparing them with my expensive Kimber Select KS-1121. They are as good in every respect with wide open transparency but without the slight edge that the Kimbers exhibit. I'm very pleased with them and have ordered another pair.

[wee tee cee]

Martin,
have you listened to the speaker cables...Id be interested to hear your opinion on them......just out of interest have you compared the interconnects with mark grants.
I know what the blue and black did for me....more so inserting them in my sons system.
A great deal of sweary words flying about.......

[MartinT]

Tony - I haven't heard the speaker cables but I'm intrigued. I think it would take the Ultra Blacks to beat my Kimber KS3035 cables but they would certainly be cheaper.

I can't compare the interconnects with Mark Grants because he doesn't yet have a balanced version of the G1000HD series.

[wee tee cee]

Martin,
It would be very interesting to hear your take on the speaker wire....I know what my mates face looked like when we inserted the black in his system replacing chord signature.....

[MartinT]

Tony - if I could borrow a set of Ultra Blacks I would try them out instantly. My Kimbers have a current list price of £5k and they would take some beating, so it shows how impressed I am with Tellurium. The phase coherence they strive for makes a great deal of sense to me.

[Effem]

I bought some unterminated blue and had a short play last night with them. All I have at the moment to compare them against is my set of Black Mambas which I am very familiar with and the Belkins, which to be honest won't put up too much of a fight.

I cannot say there was a jaw dropping moment to be honest, but my initial perception is that they seem rather good at "untangling" music into it's individual strands, so bass is distinct and easy to follow note by note, so the timbres and harmonics shine clearly through. While treble per se is clear and crisp, it seems to have lost the air, space, ambience and depth in the recordings which I did apparently have with the Mambas. This isn't an absolute appraisal though, merely a snapshot of the cable as immediately installed and less than an hour at that.

Tonight I will have a longer head-to-head session with the Mambas plus several other cables that David Brook has kindly sent me to play with.

[Ali Tait]

Yes, I thought similar when I heard Tony's,though it may be it's just more accurate.

[DSJR]

The blue is very good straight out of the packet, my main bugbear with music is sibilance...The blue really removed a degree of harshness from my previous system without throwing the baby out with the bath water.

The blue sounds very neutral, It doesn't colour the sound one way or the other...in comparison to the two belkins its far more revealing but not as harsh treble wise and overblown/ baggy bass wise.
The van damme is brighter and far more bass laden....great for the money but not very honest and a good candidate for using a cable as a tone control .
The atlas stuff again emphasises the frequency extremes....not much cop really.
The chord stuff it replaced was more expensive than the blue but for me was far more coloured treble wise.
I borrowed the blue from my dealer in glasgow, loud and clear and must admit the biggest shock was trying it in my sons system- my cast off CA dac /cyrus 1/ruark swordsman. feck... there's life in the old dog yet.

Regards Tony.

A late reply and please don't chuck me out with the bath water, BUT..... it could fairly be argued that the no-nonsense Van Damme and Atlas cables were "correct" and the Blue you use is rolling off the frequency extremes, although this suits your ears and system better. More likely that the expensive cables are acting as tone controls because they've been designed that way? I agree about Chord Odyssey. I sold seemingly Km of the stuff, and it works a treat with Spendor S series and other spreakers with a slightly soft tone (and polypropylene bass units?). Into "faster" speakers with a snappy treble, it sounds very coloured and OTT I found...

I'll stick with my "Microphonic" baby Naim A5 cable I think. It's white, fits under the carpet around the fireplace and doesn't draw attention to itself.....;)

[quadsugdenman]

I bought some unterminated blue and had a short play last night with them. All I have at the moment to compare them against is my set of Black Mambas which I am very familiar with and the Belkins, which to be honest won't put up too much of a fight.

I cannot say there was a jaw dropping moment to be honest, but my initial perception is that they seem rather good at "untangling" music into it's individual strands, so bass is distinct and easy to follow note by note, so the timbres and harmonics shine clearly through. While treble per se is clear and crisp, it seems to have lost the air, space, ambience and depth in the recordings which I did apparently have with the Mambas. This isn't an absolute appraisal though, merely a snapshot of the cable as immediately installed and less than an hour at that.

Tonight I will have a longer head-to-head session with the Mambas plus several other cables that David Brook has kindly sent me to play with.
I also bought some unterminated Blue and new z plugs about a week ago and have compared them to my Mambas. My intitial impression is extremely favourable in terms of clarity, focus and musical timbre. I also agree with Frank, Tony and Ali in that they seem to be very accurate in unravelling music into its component threads. However I am begining to hear some depth and space the more I listen, but it is still early days. I would love to hear the Black and Ultra Black at some point but that is one for future.:eyebrows:

[DSJR]

Don't all these wires come from BICC and use exactly the same copper these days? :D

I'll get me coat.........

[MartinT]

I had a good chat with Divine Audio yesterday, ordering another XLR Black pair of interconnects. I asked him about the Ultra Black speaker cables and he is going to send me a loan pair of them and the Greens. Looking forward to comparing them with my £5k Kimber Select KS-3035 (which I would love to sell due to their increased value).

[Macca]

Handy if you can upgrade your cables and actually gain money at the same time :)

[MartinT]

Here's hoping. All proceeds to go to my next upgrade fund.

[Macca]

Here's hoping. All proceeds to go to my next upgrade fund.

Martin check your sig you've got practically no where left to go ;)

[MartinT]

:lol: I'd like to replace my Powerplant Premier with a Perfectwave P10.

[Ali Tait]

I also bought some unterminated Blue and new z plugs about a week ago and have compared them to my Mambas. My intitial impression is extremely favourable in terms of clarity, focus and musical timbre. I also agree with Frank, Tony and Ali in that they seem to be very accurate in unravelling music into its component threads. However I am begining to hear some depth and space the more I listen, but it is still early days. I would love to hear the Black and Ultra Black at some point but that is one for future.:eyebrows:

Tony brought both blue and black over. The black is immediately noticeably better than the blue.

[Effem]

The black is immediately noticeably better than the blue.

Ah well, I will have to polish up on my busking skills for the extra dosh :lol:

[Ali Tait]

Aye, don't listen to the ultra unless you can afford it!

[quadsugdenman]

Tony brought both blue and black over. The black is immediately noticeably better than the blue.

No Ali, please no. Don't tell me that. I must resist or the Feuhrer will go spare!!:donk:

[Ali Tait]

Sorry but s'true!

[wee tee cee]

The blacks 40 odd quid a metre, salty in anyone's money. The blue I tried out initially, was a revelation for me ...very little colouration.
Depends what you want...honesty is the best policy?
I have already intimated- in my limited experience the tellurium cables are very similar and work very well in harmony with mark grant interconnects.
They dont colour, dont act as tone controls....just let the music flow.
Both In my limited experience improve as you move up the range.
All about the music really.......
Tony.

[DSJR]

They dont colour, dont act as tone controls....just let the music flow.
Tony.

Yes they do, they remove bass and treble that cheaper cables reproduce ;).........

[wee tee cee]

Yes they do, they remove bass and treble that cheaper cables reproduce ;).........
Dave,
I respect your vast experience, In things audio. How do the cables sound in comparison to the budget cables, I compared them to. You're much more experienced ears might cut through some of the hype......
Maybe its just me and everyone else that listens to them....

[quadsugdenman]

The blacks 40 odd quid a metre, salty in anyone's money. The blue I tried out initially, was a revelation for me ...very little colouration.
Depends what you want...honesty is the best policy?
I have already intimated- in my limited experience the tellurium cables are very similar and work very well in harmony with mark grant interconnects.
They dont colour, dont act as tone controls....just let the music flow.
Both In my limited experience improve as you move up the range.
All about the music really.......
Tony.

Thanks Tony. I read your review and response to Frank's initial post and decided to take a punt on the Blue. I am so glad I did as I have been really impressed by the Blue and will try the Black soon when funds permit. I'm sorry David, I disagree regarding your view re- the removal of treble and bass you normally hear with cheaper cables. Not in my experience!! I have tried the cable with my modified Croft SMA/Series7 and with my Icon Audio LA4/MB 90's and there certainly is no discernable loss of bass or treble.
I like the music they help make and thats all that really matters to me;)

[MartinT]

I now have a special order 0.5m pair of the phono Blacks coming, for my SUT to phono preamp run (the only unbalanced run I have). They should arrive soon, together with the loan Ultra Black and Green speaker cables. Looking forward to trialling them.

[wee tee cee]

Martin ,
I look forward to hearing your impressions

[MartinT]

Very odd. This is what I've just written to Divine Audio. Has anyone else experienced the same issue? My XLR Blacks did not do this.


Listening to the 0.6m Tellurium Q Black phono cables for the first time tonight, I’m scratching my head. They’re quieter than the Mark Grant G2000HD cables I’ve been using. Not by a small amount, but about 4dB quieter (on my Pass Labs calibrated volume control). I can’t work out what’s going on except that this is the high impedance run from my step-up transformer to the phono preamp (set to 47k load). Are these cables either high capacitance or particularly low effective impedance across the cores?

There’s nothing wrong with the sound, they are very focussed but perhaps a little reticent dynamically compared with the MGs. Do they need a very long period of burning in? This I can understand, but the lower volume is puzzling. Perhaps Tellurium could shed some light?

I will swap back to the MGs at some point to double-check, but for now I’ll keep putting hours on them.

[MartinT]

I was so puzzled that I took them out and measured them with a meter. They measure 10k across centre pin and shield, rather than open circuit!! So I wasn't going mad. Can anyone with TQ Blacks please measure theirs and verify?

This means I was loading my SUT with 8k2 rather than 47k Ohms. No wonder they sounded quieter!

I shall be getting back to Divine sharpish.

[The Black Adder]

I'm just auditioning the Belkin 14awg cables but would love to try the Q Blacks... £20 or £380... hmm.

I'm a little skeptical if the degree in dosh is worth the sound to be honest. Slap meh if I'm wrong... OW!.. Hit meh!

[MartinT]

Tellurium Q are making me a replacement pair. Curiouser and curiouser.

Could anyone with a pair of Blacks please measure them with a meter for me? I'm dying to know whether my samples are unique or whether they are made that way as standard.

[Mark Grant]

I'm just auditioning the Belkin 14awg cables but would love to try the Q Blacks... £20 or £380... hmm.

I'm a little skeptical if the degree in dosh is worth the sound to be honest. Slap meh if I'm wrong... OW!.. Hit meh!

That's nothing :)

I am sending some terminated Van Damme 4mm to a Customer to home trial against a 5 metre pair of Ultra Black speaker cables he has on home loan from his dealer, that's about £60.00 compared to £2295.00 cables, should be fun :)

[Darren]

That's nothing :)

I am sending some terminated Van Damme 4mm to a Customer to home trial against a 5 metre pair of Ultra Black speaker cables he has on home loan from his dealer, that's about £60.00 compared to £2295.00 cables, should be fun :)

Gosh! I can't wait to hear the results of this one. Do please keep us informed....

[littlest hobo]

Been waiting over a week now for a set of tellurium blue to arrive and looking forward to trying them - getting impatient, plumped for the blues following great reviews on here - so thanks.

[hifi_dave]

You could have had them the next day if you'd asked me..:rolleyes:

[MartinT]

Dave - I didn't know you sold TQ, otherwise I'd have gone to you.

[littlest hobo]

As a newbie, it's hard to know who does what! I'll bear you in mind for next time Dave - will need some TQ jumpers to replace the copper connectors but that will have to wait until next month. Just wish the cables would hurry up and get here, I'm itching to try them out.

[wee tee cee]

Been waiting over a week now for a set of tellurium blue to arrive and looking forward to trying them - getting impatient, plumped for the blues following great reviews on here - so thanks.

Let us know how you get on with them and how they compared to what they have replaced.
My son keeps planting subliminal messages for me, (ie talking to me when I'm pished) to buy another run of the black, so he can inherit the blue.
Tony.

[hifi_dave]

Dave - I didn't know you sold TQ, otherwise I'd have gone to you.

My product range isn't huge because I can't find many products I like and not running a conventional high street shop anymore, I don't need to keep products which don't sell.

It's always worth asking me though.

[littlest hobo]

My Tellurium Blues have finally arrived and were well worth the wait. They have replaced a weedy set of Ixus 609 flat fours that were thrown in when I picked up the speakers i'd won on ebay. They've only been playing for twenty minutes so far, so a while to go before they've settled in, however the improvement is significant and immediate but not unexpected. Very nicely made and the plugs fit nice and tight in the speakers.

I'm not qualified to do a review and I took a video to compare the new with the old, however the difference isn't significant when played back through the computer - it's a shame because they are so much better. I can hear instruments - snare drums, cymbals and bass that isn't presented as one piece of mush and Norah Jones doesn't sound quite so much like she's being suffocated (which is a good thing). Everything sounds more airy with better detail and with a much stronger sound. My Castle speakers are light on bass, for which I'm sure my neighbours are grateful and the telurium's help tighten it up.

A great investment - given that people have talked about the noticeable detail between blue and black, I wish I'd splashed the extra cash and gone for the blacks, but these will do nicely for now and I hope to hear improvement in sound over the next week or two.

[hifi_dave]

Those TQ cables sure are good and I'd like to know what they put in them. I can't believe it's actually Tellurium because, apparently, Tellurium is a dangerous material..:scratch:

[MartinT]

I'd like to know why my pair measure 10k Ohms across but TQ will send me another pair which will apparently solve my problem. They say there are no loading resistors. If so, does the cable itself have such low insulation resistance, and if it does how can they be making me another pair which doesn't? :scratch:

[hifi_dave]

It can't be much of an insulation at 10k !!! Maybe they melted the insulation but I can't see why they could do that with a pair :scratch:

If I get time tomorrow, I'll measure my demo pair.

[MartinT]

If I get time tomorrow, I'll measure my demo pair.

Thanks - that would be much appreciated. Mine are black single-ended phonos.

[hifi_dave]

The inner of the plug has heatshrink over it, which I assumed covered a resistor because it is neatly done and no chance of a s/cct occurring without it there..:scratch:

[littlest hobo]

Those TQ cables sure are good and I'd like to know what they put in them. I can't believe it's actually Tellurium because, apparently, Tellurium is a dangerous material..:scratch:

I don't know but they've got patent pending stamped all over 'em, maybe its kryptonite!

[hifi_dave]

No, Lex Luther patented that - it's definitely Tellurium.

[MartinT]

I received the replacement TQ Black phono cables today. A quick test with the meter shows them to be open circuit across the cores - much better! Interestingly, they have been finished with purple sleeving that says 'Phono' so I guess they've either just realised there was a problem or they were already making a variant unknown to us?

Much more importantly, and very pleasingly, they sound magnificent. Over and above the Mark Grant G2000HD cables that they replace, they have more precise focus, a very impressively extended bass and more lower-mid slam. The shielding is fine - no hum at all even with the high gain and high impedance run from my SUT to phono preamp.

So, with relief, my migration to Tellurium Q is progressing well. Apparently the loan Ultra Black speaker cables will arrive soon. I have high hopes.

[Ali Tait]

Good stuff Martin. I have a pair of Black speaker cables coming next week.

[sq225917]

Curiously a Wammer found his interconnects to similarly shunt signal to ground....Which would go someway to explaining how they sound different and why some people think they sound quieter. It's also not an unknown way to fiddle with the reactance of the cables.

I'd be keeping my eyes out for small smt resistors guys....

[Effem]

Curiously a Wammer found his interconnects to similarly shunt signal to ground....Which would go someway to explaining how they sound different and why some people think they sound quieter. It's also not an unknown way to fiddle with the reactance of the cables.



Methinks the person who builds these cables hasn't quite learned the black art of soldering correctly :(

[MartinT]

Methinks the person who builds these cables hasn't quite learned the black art of soldering correctly :(

Curious, though, that both cables in the pair measured the same? Divine Audio, who have sold them to me, are equally puzzled and said that there has never been a 'phono special', like the replacement they sent me, offered before. I think SQ is right and there are small SMD resistors in the standard pair, although this has been denied.

It would really help if someone with a Black phono set could measure them with a meter?

[wee tee cee]

Martin,
Very interesting regards the interconnect, shame its quite a bit out my price range.
I'm just hoping the ultra black isn't as good as I suspect it might be. Look forward to hearing your thoughts.
Ali,
Are you getting two runs to bi-wire the OBs or is this for the electrostatics.
Regards Tony

[Ali Tait]

Tony, just one run, which I'll use for the B200's, which do from 200Hz up. Got it from a member here who was selling a secondhand pair. The statics will require high voltage cable when the amps are done, as there will be about 2500v running through them!

[quadsugdenman]

Why Oh Why did I not resist the temptation :mental:

I did not heed the advice from Tony and Ali and borrowed some Tellurium black speaker cables :doh: My set arrives on Wednesday!!!!!

[Ali Tait]

:lol:

[wee tee cee]

Why Oh Why did I not resist the temptation :mental:

I did not heed the advice from Tony and Ali and borrowed some Tellurium black speaker cables :doh: My set arrives on Wednesday!!!!!

Because you're worth it.......

[The Black Adder]

Any more verdicts on TQ Black speaker cable?

There seems to be an awful lot going second hand recently on other forums... Is it that good that you need to sell it?

[Ali Tait]

Mine's been in for a while now. A big improvement over the Belkin I had in before IMHO. I am using mine on the B200's though, which means they are only carrying signal from 200Hz up.

[MartinT]

I'm still waiting for the loan Ultra Blacks to arrive.

[hifi_dave]

Any more verdicts on TQ Black speaker cable?

There seems to be an awful lot going second hand recently on other forums... Is it that good that you need to sell it?

It's selling steadily here and not had anyone wanting to move on their cables.

[Ashmore]

I've twice been second in the queue for second hand sales this week. Frustrating!

[MartinT]

I've just received a heavy box with TQ Ultra Black, old Green and new Green (no, I don't know the difference) speaker cables. Going home now to have some evaluation fun against my Kimber KS-3035 runs :)

[realysm42]

Let me know how you get on Martin, I've got my eyes on this stuff.

Anyone had experience with any of the graphite range?

[MartinT]

A very interesting evening, listening to just the 'old' Green and 'new' Green cables. Can't say much at the moment as I need to let the new ones run-in overnight. More tomorrow.

[MartinT]

What a strange thing: two products with the same name, new replacing the old but, as you will see below, quite different from each other.

Here are my observations (compared with my Kimber Select KS-3035 cables). There are no arrows but I confirmed that direction is to the right when reading the Tellurium Q sleeves. The plugs are less than a tight fit into my amp’s WBT sockets and could do with slightly expanding (which I’ve not done with these loan cables). At the speaker end I have locking WBTs which make a good connection. I am still using my Kimber jumper cables from bass to mid/treble terminals as I do not have a loan set of TQ jumpers.

TQ ‘old’ Green: this cable has a green sheaf with white text. They are well used so no running-in required. A little soft and dynamically a tad off par. Rolled off treble gives a mellow feel but I found my concentration wavering. Deep bass not as impactful as the Kimbers. This is essentially a ‘dishonest’ cable that rounds off and warms the sound in the manner of vintage valve amps. Great, I should think, for bright transistor-based systems to take the edge off. Not for me.

TQ ‘new’ Green: this cable has a black sheaf with green text. Ah now, that's much better than the old Green. Punchy dynamics that pretty well match the Kimbers. Highly focussed vocal midrange. Deeper, very authoritative bass. Treble highlights sibilance when present (an honest cable). Great, insightful, soundstage but everything is set slightly further back, towards the plane of the speakers, compared with the more forward presentation I’m used to. This is the only significant difference I can hear. I had it confirmed that these were brand new, not yet run-in (I seem to be able to hear this in cables). My experience with cable running-in is that the soundstage will expand in due course, so I left the system running all night and during the day to get some hours on them.

Now we're really cooking. The soundstage has acquired that vivid, real feeling of a sense of space and venue. The dynamics are simply knockout. The sense of individual strands of the music being separate and easily audible, as well as nothing swamping anything else, makes for insightful listening. The system will go louder without seeming to sound too loud, yet I'm peaking at 107dB listening to Kraftwerk and being solidly punched in the gut.

These new Greens have the measure of the Kimbers, which is a fantastic achievement considering the price differential. I'm leaving them in circuit for a goodly while as I play different music to fully understand what they're doing.

[wee tee cee]

Oh dear.....I must resist.....must resist....
Martin, thanks for that- great write up.
Tony.

[quadsugdenman]

Yes great write up Martin. Sounds like I'd better start saving for the 'new' Green. Also I learnt something regarding directionality of both the Black and the Blue cables, as I had them connected the wrong way around! :rolleyes:

[MartinT]

More tonight when I finally hook up the Ultra Blacks.

Meanwhile, I've enquired with TQ as to whether they produce a tonearm cable, or intend to.

[MartinT]

TQ Ultra Black: this cable has a black sheaf with white text. The difference from new Green to Ultra Black is smaller than to the old Green, so I'm discarding the latter from further discussion (and it doesn't suit my system anyway). What I'm hearing from the Ultra Black is, however, very interesting and not quite what I expected. It is in no way more 'hi-fi' than the new Green, in fact it is very musical indeed, so much so that my attempts to listen to it keep getting sidetracked by how good the music sounds.

There are two aspects that make themselves known very quickly versus the new Green: it has the most edge definition I've yet heard from my system; not 'edginess' but more definition in the leading edge of transients and in fact all notes. This combines with lower sibilance than from the other two TQ cables and my Kimbers. Lower sibilance also manifests as upper mid/lower treble purity and I'm hearing it in everything I'm playing.

The obvious hi-fi parameters are all there: bass power and extension; lack of colouration; treble purity and extension; soundstage width and depth; exceptional dynamics. The trouble is, the moment I try to focus on these aspects, the cable is directing me back to listening to the music.

If you can imagine a cable that has more detail, excellent edge definition, great dynamics and overall superb extension at the frequency extremes, you might instantly think of a silver cable. Yet this copper cable from TQ sounds more 'silver' in the best possible aspects than my silver Kimbers!

More later as I'm going to continue listening to more material. This is way more enjoyable than it should be :)

[MartinT]

Holy-Friggin-Moley! I've just been playing 'Tied Up' from Yello's Flag. Ever seen a cat's behaviour when you wiggle torch-light against a wall? That was me, aurally - I simply didn't know where to listen!

Then I turned it over and played 'The Race'. Seriously, I thought I had heard everything there is to hear in those grooves but boy was I wrong. There were moments when I was terrified as the Ultra Blacks coupled all 350W+ of power from my Chord into the speakers with seemingly zero hindrance.

Methinks an order is going to TQ and my venerable Kimbers will be retired.

[hifi_dave]

Did an expensive Kimber incon v TQ Black last week and it wasn't a close call.

[MartinT]

Which Kimber was it, Dave?

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

Martin, I wish you'd pack it in. You are driving me nuts and I'm now getting to the point where I'm considering selling a kidney to buy some if these damned cables. Bi-amped set up two five metre runs. Better add a remortgage to that kidney sale.

[MartinT]

Bi-amped set up two five metre runs.

Ouch! At least my run is a single wire 2.5m pair with jumper cables. I learned from Kimber some years ago that spending all your money on the best cable possible, using jumpers made from the same cable, is always better than bi-wire runs of lesser cables.

However, with bi-amping you don't have a choice. The only consolation I can offer is that these cables are less expensive than much of the high end stuff, including my very own seriously pricey Kimbers.

[Effem]

I have been running the Blues for a while and sort of got used to their sound, so I decided to revert back to the other cables in the drawer the other night and by heck that was a revelation.

Without exception, all the other cables sounded slow and offbeat, the leading edges of notes blurred into a homogenous mush and the treble lost it's clarity and lustre. Now all these cables I had thought very highly of in the past and cost a shilling or two to boot, with some well known names printed on them, but they haven't got that magic "X Factor" that keeps you wanting to listen to more and more music, plus appreciate the musicianship buried in those recordings.

BUT, and this is a significant but, they don't mask any deficiencies in the recording, so ones that were just about bearable to hear with other cables are no longer so. Are they worth it? No doubt about it.

If this then is what the Blues can provide, I suppose I will have to polish up my busking skills to pay up for the Blacks :lol:

[hifi_dave]

Which Kimber was it, Dave?

I'm not familiar with their range but it had a thick brown/gold fleck nylon outer cover and a wooden block. Might have been 'Select' ?

[MartinT]

If it was any of the Select range then it's pricey. I only have one of my Selects left and it will get swapped out for a TQ in due course.

[hifi_dave]

According to the customer, it was pricey and he was surprised at how much better the less expensive TQ Black was. Didn't need to do the comparison twice..:)

[YNWaN]

Is this the revelation that Kimber isn't that good........to be honest, that's not all that revelatory.

[MartinT]

I don't agree with that, Mark. Kimber have been leaders for years but their development rate is slow (for instance, the Select range have been around for many years in the same models). It's simply that the TQ cables I have tried so far are extraordinary.

[realysm42]

I learned from Kimber some years ago that spending all your money on the best cable possible, using jumpers made from the same cable, is always better than bi-wire runs of lesser cables.

Can you tell me why that is please?

[MartinT]

Can you tell me why that is please?

That's a good question, Martin. I know the common feeling is that if you have dual terminals on speakers then you should bi-wire. However, in most cases the runs are short and even poor cable has enough current capability that you're not going to need to 'double-up' for any current sharing duties. So what you are left with is the sound characteristics of that cheaper cable, despite one feeding the bass and the other feeding the mid/treble.

Now double your outlay on a single run of better cable and some matching jumpers to connect the speaker terminals together. What you hear is the sound characteristic of that better cable.

I have tried it both ways in the past and the better cable in a single run always wins for me. My current Usher speakers sport dual terminals but I have just proven to myself how good a single run of TQ UB can sound - and I'm still using my Kimber jumpers as I don't have any TQ ones to try. I can only assume that the mid/treble will sound slightly better again once I have the full monty TQs installed. My previous speakers, JM Lab Mezzo Utopias, only have single terminals because Jacques Mahul dislikes bi-wiring so much that he removes the option for his customers to wire them up that way!

One final point: I always wire the cables to the bass terminals (for lowest possible impedance to the bass drivers) and then jumper them to the mid/treble terminals. This means that the jumper cables carry very little proportion of the overall current.

[YNWaN]

Hmm..I have to say I've tried 4TC and 8TC cables in the past; I've also tried some kimber interconnect - none of it impressed me in the slightest.
___________

I don't really agree with your thoughts on bi-wiring. In my experience it is best to use the bi-wire option and wire both with thick, multi-strand, copper cable.

[realysm42]

That's a good question, Martin. I know the common feeling is that if you have dual terminals on speakers then you should bi-wire. However, in most cases the runs are short and even poor cable has enough current capability that you're not going to need to 'double-up' for any current sharing duties. So what you are left with is the sound characteristics of that cheaper cable, despite one feeding the bass and the other feeding the mid/treble.

Now double your outlay on a single run of better cable and some matching jumpers to connect the speaker terminals together. What you hear is the sound characteristic of that better cable.

I have tried it both ways in the past and the better cable in a single run always wins for me. My current Usher speakers sport dual terminals but I have just proven to myself how good a single run of TQ UB can sound - and I'm still using my Kimber jumpers as I don't have any TQ ones to try. I can only assume that the mid/treble will sound slightly better again once I have the full monty TQs installed. My previous speakers, JM Lab Mezzo Utopias, only have single terminals because Jacques Mahul dislikes bi-wiring so much that he removes the option for his customers to wire them up that way!

One final point: I always wire the cables to the bass terminals (for lowest possible impedance to the bass drivers) and then jumper them to the mid/treble terminals. This means that the jumper cables carry very little proportion of the overall current.

Thanks for taking the time to answer; for once something cheaper being better :eyebrows:

I plan to get the Graphite stuff (or atleast demo it against some Ultra Black) and the thought of bi-wiring (cost wise) isn't a pleasant one!

I'd love a go with the Grpahite XLR's too; anyone have experience with this stuff?

[ursus262]

I learned from Kimber some years ago that spending all your money on the best cable possible, using jumpers made from the same cable, is always better than bi-wire runs of lesser cables.

That's what I do, with positive results. Mind you, I use Naim NAC 5A cable, which is pretty much the best cable I've heard.

[realysm42]

That's what I do, with positive results. Mind you, I use Naim NAC 5A cable, which is pretty much the best cable I've heard.

Sorry to sound like a snob, but have you demo'd anything more expensive/bling?

I only ask as I've not experienced anything too out of this world (so frankly don't know if there is a difference). I googled the cable you mention here as a point of reference.

[ursus262]

Well, the Naim cable works well with Naim kit, as their amps are set up to work with them. I won't spend a fortune on speaker cables because I think they're poor value. I do like value for money and will always try to get a good deal. Some of the Kimber cables are about £20k, which is utterly ridiculous! Who has got that sort of money to waste on something like speaker cable. It's obscene

[realysm42]

I was just wondering if you'd heard the more expensive stuff and had an opinion on it in comparison to say the Naim stuff you're happy with. Is it purely the price that puts you off or do you think there's no difference? Or does the difference not justify the price?

[MartinT]

Naim amps traditionally left out the zobel stability network at the output stage of their power amps. The NAC A5 cable acted as that stability network, which is why Naim recommended only their own cable and why some other cables caused Naim amps to become unstable and overheat. This may have changed in more recent models, but explains why Naim users are stuck with NAC A5 cable.

[wee tee cee]

Dave,

I had a naim amp and cdp when when I first tried the blue. loud and clear in Glasgow let me demo a run, as I had a problem with sibilance. The TQ cable worked really well in that set up I think you would get a pleasant surprise trying them at home against the naca 5.
Tony.

[wee tee cee]

Martin,
Great to hear the ultra lives up to its reputation. Another great write up. Having checked out the prices I may have to hang on till that elusive lottery win happens.
Tony.

[MartinT]

I plan to get the Graphite stuff (or atleast demo it against some Ultra Black) and the thought of bi-wiring (cost wise) isn't a pleasant one!

I'd love a go with the Grpahite XLR's too; anyone have experience with this stuff?

Martin - make sure you borrow a set of UBs and Graphites if you want to go that route, since the latter are twice as expensive. Seriously - the UBs and Black XLRs will take some beating so you may not need to spend as much as you're thinking of.

[hifi_dave]

Naim amps traditionally left out the zobel stability network at the output stage of their power amps. The NAC A5 cable acted as that stability network, which is why Naim recommended only their own cable and why some other cables caused Naim amps to become unstable and overheat. This may have changed in more recent models, but explains why Naim users are stuck with NAC A5 cable.

Early Naim amps needed the inductance provided by their own cable but also Cable Talk, Linn and other cables with a similar configuration.

Later Naim amps, those made in the past 12 years, are no more fussy than the majority of amps. They work with practically any cable on the market except some of the 'stranger' designs with high capacitance.

[YNWaN]

I've used a number of cables with older Naim amps and never experienced any stability issues. The whole cable 'problem' is overstated in my opinion - you certainly don't 'have to' use Naim cable. Certainly there are cables that are not suitable for use with older Naim amps, but many are.

[wee tee cee]

I have been running the Blues for a while and sort of got used to their sound, so I decided to revert back to the other cables in the drawer the other night and by heck that was a revelation.

Without exception, all the other cables sounded slow and offbeat, the leading edges of notes blurred into a homogenous mush and the treble lost it's clarity and lustre. Now all these cables I had thought very highly of in the past and cost a shilling or two to boot, with some well known names printed on them, but they haven't got that magic "X Factor" that keeps you wanting to listen to more and more music, plus appreciate the musicianship buried in those recordings.

BUT, and this is a significant but, they don't mask any deficiencies in the recording, so ones that were just about bearable to hear with other cables are no longer so. Are they worth it? No doubt about it.

If this then is what the Blues can provide, I suppose I will have to polish up my busking skills to pay up for the Blacks :lol:
Frank,
I'm glad the blue has worked out for you. If you can get a loan of a run of black you will no doubt take great pleasure in what they do. I find the black opens things up more and really lets you enjoy whatever you throw at them. I hope to eventually run get another run of black to run on bass as well as treble.
Regards Tony.

[MartinT]

I've now ordered a 2.5m pair of TQ Ultra Black speaker cables, a couple of UB jumper cables and another XLR Black interconnect cable. That will complete my system with TQ throughout with the exception of my tonearm cable.

My loan cables will be going back to Divine Audio. If you're interested, give Tim Chorlton a ring as he has been very helpful in all my dealings - a true gentleman.

My thanks go to Frank (Effem) for pointing me in TQ's direction with his O/P. I am mighty impressed and won't even be out of pocket, such are the prices I've been getting for selling my Kimbers on e-Bay.

Guess I'd better update my sig :)

[Effem]

Frank,
I'm glad the blue has worked out for you. If you can get a loan of a run of black you will no doubt take great pleasure in what they do. I find the black opens things up more and really lets you enjoy whatever you throw at them. I hope to eventually run get another run of black to run on bass as well as treble.
Regards Tony.

My mind is made up that I will buy a pair of Blacks and that's where I will stop methinks :eyebrows:

[icehockeyboy]

My mind is made up that I will buy a pair of Blacks and that's where I will stop methinks :eyebrows:

Frank, I have been around the block a few times with various cheap to expensive and then back to cheap wires, and like many guys here are now wondering about installing some Tellerium wire, Blues for me cos I can't go for Blacks as my dosh is needed for hose improvements! :( Shall we make that house improvements? Don't wan't you to think I have a fetish!) :whippin:
As we have both used the excellent ( as of yet!) Belkins, can you describe how and why the Blues are superior?

Ta! :)

Should say Anyone else that have had both Belks & TQ Blue, please tell of your experience¬

[Effem]

Frank, I have been around the block a few times with various cheap to expensive and then back to cheap wires, and like many guys here are now wondering about installing some Tellerium wire, Blues for me cos I can't go for Blacks as my dosh is needed for hose improvements! :(

As we have both used the excellent ( as of yet!) Belkins, can you describe how and why the Blues are superior?

Ta! :)

I didn't truly realise just how good the Blue is Craig until I did some reversion to the old speaker cables I still have the other night.

Bass seemed so sluggish and almost a beat behind, where the Blue unwraps all the harmonics in the bass mix, the "thump" of a kick drum and the "crack" from a snare is clearly delineated with a firm start and instant stop to the notes, whereas the other cables sounded like they were wading through mud with the bass and it was so distinctive, so obvious and so unmistakeable. Now in the past I have had cables through my hands that certainly impressed me enough to put my hand in my pocket, but those "improvements" in sound were small fractional measures rather than significant percentage wise, but the Blue stood so much head and shoulders above them all.

Treble too with the Blue has a clarity and refinement the other cables came nowhere close to and all the nuances, ambience and depth I get with the Blue simply isn't there with the others and it was that reversion process that quantified just how much better the Blue is.

So, if I can answer your particular query in full detail, that expensive prototype cable I bought from you a while back would sound positively broken up against the Blue and the Belkin while good that it is at it's lowly price bracket just has no class or refinement compared to the TQ Blue. Simple as that.

[MartinT]

Bass seemed so sluggish and almost a beat behind, where the Blue unwraps all the harmonics in the bass mix, the "thump" of a kick drum and the "crack" from a snare is clearly delineated with a firm start and instant stop to the notes

Yep - that seems to be the Tellurium Q signature, preservation of dynamics and leading edges of notes. It vindicates the graphs published on their website of how the signal leading and trailing edges are better preserved.

[icehockeyboy]

Thanks for that guys! And Frank< I had forgotten it was you that I sold the Chord prototypes to! At the time I thought they were the dogs danglies, weeing all over their own Odyssey's from a great height.

So, despite telling myself, (and the wife!) that I would not be swapping cables any more, I can feel a purchase coming on!

[icehockeyboy]

Frank, having been so mightily impressed not only with your generosity, but also with the pure silver jumpers you gave me, what would be the favourite to buy.... the Blues, or a similarly priced silver ic?

[Effem]

Frank, having been so mightily impressed not only with your generosity, but also with the pure silver jumpers you gave me, what would be the favourite to buy.... the Blues, or a similarly priced silver ic?

I don't know what i/c's you are currently using Craig to offer a meaningful recommendation. My money would be on the speaker cable first, assuming of course you may still be using the Silver High Breed wires for your interconnects :eyebrows:

However, I will say that once you get a taste of the "TQ sound" you will probably want both the i/c and speaker cable - I know I probably will.

Bear in mind too that my Blues will be up for sale pretty soon. They are a 2 metre pair.

[Welder]

You're pissing me off Frank. :lol:
I can see I'm going to have to try a set for myself. :doh:
At the moment I struggle between a set of fairly high capacitance hand woven Cat5e 14 gauge self built wires and a set of 14 gauge Belkins.
The Exposures according to their designer may fare better with a higher than usual capacitance cable so I was wondering if anyone had measured (oops, sry, said that word again :eyebrows: ) the capacitance of the Tellerium Blues?
A per metre measurement or a four metre run would be handy.

Given these cables seem rather popular atm if they dont suit my system I doubt I'll make that great a loss on resale so I can probably afford to indulge my curiosity.

[Effem]

Sorry John :lol:

Here are the specs per metre:

Inductance/Metre 20uH

Capacitance/Metre 26pF

[Welder]

Cheers Frank.
I did have a look on da webz but couldn't find any info bar de hype. ;)

Thanks again 26pF looks like a goer I reckon.

(hmm, wallet has pissed orf behind the cooker again.........)

[icehockeyboy]

I don't know what i/c's you are currently using Craig to offer a meaningful recommendation. My money would be on the speaker cable first, assuming of course you may still be using the Silver High Breed wires for your interconnects :eyebrows:

However, I will say that once you get a taste of the "TQ sound" you will probably want both the i/c and speaker cable - I know I probably will.

Bear in mind too that my Blues will be up for sale pretty soon. They are a 2 metre pair.


PM sent! :) Hurry and reply!!!!! :D

[icehockeyboy]

I don't know what i/c's you are currently using Craig to offer a meaningful recommendation. My money would be on the speaker cable first, assuming of course you may still be using the Silver High Breed wires for your interconnects :eyebrows:

However, I will say that once you get a taste of the "TQ sound" you will probably want both the i/c and speaker cable - I know I probably will.

Bear in mind too that my Blues will be up for sale pretty soon. They are a 2 metre pair.


Frank

New PM sent! :)

[realysm42]

Pm sent.

Not really :eek:

[Effem]

Pm sent.

Not really :eek:

Why not? :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::ner:

[Effem]

Incidentally, how are you other folks connecting your TQ wires?

Forgot to mention that I bought a set of Tellurium plugs to go with the cable but I found they impacted slightly on the sound, so I took them off smartish and used them as bare ended straight into the terminals.

[realysm42]

I wouldn't want to push in the queue and I think I'll take the bullet and get Ultra Blacks straight away tbh; good luck with the sale though!

[MartinT]

I've ordered the UBs with TQ's 4mm z-plugs (or whatever they call them) as that is how I evaluated all their cables, i.e. terminated.

[realysm42]

I thought all of their stuff was terminated and not off the reel as that's how they produce part of their sound?

[MartinT]

I think the lower end of the range is available off the reel.

[anthonyTD]

hi all,
Just thought i would mention my findings, i actualy purchased a 2 mtr pair of the tellurium black a while ago as i had read so much about it and was curious to find out what it was that everyone seemed to be raving about with these cables, well i can tell you that i was quite shocked at the diffrence/affect these cables have on the clarity and speed of the high frequencies, but i was equaly impressed at how tunefull and accurate bass rifts and frequencies became,however,,,
i would also like to add that after an initial burn in time i have decided to use them just on the high frequency units in my Tannoys [for now anyway] as i feel they dont quite have the midrange body of my long term speaker cables in my system, it may not be the same in other systems as is with most things its a synergy thing, and not nesessarily a product trait, never the less, like many others have found, i could quite easily live with the tellurium long term as the benefits clearly out weigh any negatives they may or may not have.
Anthony,TD...

[ColinWonfor]

hi all,
Just thought i would mention my findings, i actualy purchased a 2 mtr pair of the tellurium black a while ago as i had read so much about it and was curious to find out what it was that everyone seemed to be raving about with these cables, well i can tell you that i was quite shocked at the diffrence/affect these cables have on the clarity and speed of the high frequencies, but i was equaly impressed at how tunefull and accurate bass rifts and frequencies became,however,,,
i would also like to add that after an initial burn in time i have decided to use them just on the high frequency units in my Tannoys [for now anyway] as i feel they dont quite have the midrange body of my long term speaker cables in my system, it may not be the same in other systems as is with most things its a synergy thing, and not nesessarily a product trait, never the less, like many others have found, i could quite easily live with the tellurium long term as the benefits clearly out weigh any negatives they may or may not have.
Anthony,TD...
I am glad you liked the cable, more coming soon.

[MartinT]

Hey Colin, great to see you here. As you can read above, your cables are really making a stir around here. More power to your elbow!

Meanwhile, could I ask you to pop over to the welcome area and introduce yourself please?

Cheers :)

[ColinWonfor]

Hey Colin, great to see you here. As you can read above, your cables are really making a stir around here. More power to your elbow!

Meanwhile, could I ask you to pop over to the welcome area and introduce yourself please?

Cheers :)

Sorry that was rude of me, I will now.

Best Col

[icehockeyboy]

I think the lower end of the range is available off the reel.

I just wish the wife was not making me spend MY money on stupid house dooey uppy crap, and then I culd have had some TQ Black!
:steam:

However I really do not think I could justify Black Ultra even if MY money was actually controlled by me! :)

Interesting point made by Effem about how the TQ plugs had a negative effect on the cable.........as we all know Frank to be a knowledgeable cable geezer, I am taking his word, but just wondering if anyone else has found similar?

Frank, another pm is sitting waiting for you....................all sorted! ;)

[ColinWonfor]

I just wish the wife was not making me spend MY money on stupid house dooey uppy crap, and then I culd have had some TQ Black!
:steam:

However I really do not think I could justify Black Ultra even if MY money was actually controlled by me! :)

Interesting point made by Effem about how the TQ plugs had a negative effect on the cable.........as we all know Frank to be a knowledgeable cable geezer, I am taking his word, but just wondering if anyone else has found similar?

Frank, another pm is sitting waiting for you....................all sorted! ;)

Hi we solder them with high temperature lead free and only Blues can be soldered with out special tools, a nightmare as we eat soldering irons and tip at a alarming rate.
So it should sound not bad but trying to run Black un-terminated would be silly, and we would never supply it.
Best Col

[MartinT]

Colin - I know Tim at Divine has asked on my behalf, but would you ever consider making a tonearm cable from your 'Phono' version of the Black?

By the way, my Phono Black is sounding fab between my step-up transformer and phono preamp.

[ColinWonfor]

Colin - I know Tim at Divine has asked on my behalf, but would you ever consider making a tonearm cable from your 'Phono' version of the Black?

By the way, my Phono Black is sounding fab between my step-up transformer and phono preamp.

Hi Martin, we do but it is not on the site call Geoff on Tuesday, he is in New York at a show this weekend.
And I only do R&D and play music, still recovering from heart bits replacement so not at TQ everyday.
Best Col
:sorry:

[MartinT]

still recovering from heart bits replacement

Sorry to hear that, Colin. All the best for your recovery.

[icehockeyboy]

Hi Col, could you define " It should sound not bad" a little more please? :)

[ColinWonfor]

Hi Col, could you define " It should sound not bad" a little more please? :)

Why? It is all relative.
:nocomment:

Blue, Black, Green,Ultra Black, Graphite at which point is not bad, Blue to wet string is good, Blue to Black is not bad, Blue to Graphite is relative. And never forget ears, room, gear etc.

[Effem]

Hi we solder them with high temperature lead free and only Blues can be soldered with out special tools, a nightmare as we eat soldering irons and tip at a alarming rate.
So it should sound not bad but trying to run Black un-terminated would be silly, and we would never supply it.
Best Col

I'm baffled why adding plugs is deemed a beneficial move, unless your plugs are NOT made from brass :scratch:

[ColinWonfor]

I'm baffled why adding plugs is deemed a beneficial move, unless your plugs are NOT made from brass :scratch:

Plugs are Beryllium Copper (BeCu) nickel then gold plated .To solder on to Gold normal solder becomes in brittled so you need special solder in the pass we use cadmium based solder that is now illegal and not RHoS. The Lead migrate into the Gold with the old solder, silver solder is good but higher melting temperatures are required, now Gold plate on to copper does the same thing after awhile the gold is adsorbed into copper.

Beryllium Copper is very spring like and keeps a tight tension in the socket, soft copper become loss and the contact is then very poor.
Does this help?

best Col

[Effem]

Plugs are Beryllium Copper (BeCu) nickel then gold plated .To solder on to Gold normal solder becomes in brittled so you need special solder in the pass we use cadmium based solder that is now illegal and not RHoS. The Lead migrate into the Gold with the old solder, silver solder is good but higher melting temperatures are required, now Gold plate on to copper does the same thing after awhile the gold is adsorbed into copper.

Beryllium Copper is very spring like and keeps a tight tension in the socket, soft copper become loss and the contact is then very poor.
Does this help?

best Col

Yes it does Colin, thanks :interesting:

[hifi_dave]

Colin,
Is that a pic of your younger brother ? You don't look any different to when I last met you in the 80's..:scratch:

[ColinWonfor]

Colin,
Is that a pic of your younger brother ? You don't look any different to when I last met you in the 80's..:scratch:

Hi Dave, Yep still ugly and well preserved.
How are you long time since we last met at Radlett, are you still writing reviews?
It also been a long time since I have seen Paul (Celef) .

Take care.

[hifi_dave]

No reviews any more. I got shoved out to make way for the in-crowd. I now spend my days selling a bit of Hi-Fi for fun and chipping in on various forums.

David

[ColinWonfor]

No reviews any more. I got shoved out to make way for the in-crowd. I now spend my days selling a bit of Hi-Fi for fun and chipping in on various forums.

David

That sound safer.

I try it he he:lol:

[hifi_dave]

Well, it's a pretty friendly place here and well managed, so there's rarely an argument.

[Marco]

Great to have you here, Colin. Just thought I'd say so! Stick around if you can, as our members will benefit from your experience :)

Marco.

[ColinWonfor]

Great to have you here, Colin. Just thought I'd say so! Stick around if you can, as our members will benefit from your experience :)

Marco.
Will there be free cookies ??:lol:

[Marco]

The Jaffa Cakes are on me :D

Marco.

[hifi_dave]

Ane there's me thinking it's an unfortunate birthmark..:scratch:

[anthonyTD]

Ane there's me thinking it's an unfortunate birthmark..:scratch:
:lol::lol::lol:

[MikeMusic]

Ane there's me thinking it's an unfortunate birthmark..:scratch:

:lol:

[MartinT]

So, back to TQ. As I continue to listen to the Ultra Blacks (my loaners are over-length 7m pairs, so I'm hoping the 2.5m set I've ordered will give me a little more again), I continue to hear more of what I posted in posts #84 and #85. The over-riding impression I'm getting from listening to a variety of music is that they successfully combine detail and transparency with non-harshness. Sibilance is also lowered. This is a wonderful combination of attributes! I also don't hear the lack of midrange tonal colour that Anthony alluded to, but I think he was running Blacks.

I'm looking forward to taking delivery from Divine Audio and running them in. Then I will be back to a state of decorum rather than the four different runs of thick cables I have straggled across my floor.

[MikeMusic]

Which made the biggest difference/s interconnects or the speaker cables ?
Do both together take it up another level ?

[MartinT]

To be honest (and somewhat to my surprise) the speaker cables made a bigger difference than the interconnects - although all contributed to better sound. I found the single-ended interconnects made a bigger difference than the XLRs, less surprisingly.

[MikeMusic]

Thanks
Any thoughts of digging into any of your kit and rewiring with TQ ?
(semi serious question)

[MartinT]

How do you mean - opening up components? Nope, and anyway only Blue is available off the reel.

[MikeMusic]

Yes. Wondered how far one could/would go.
Your SL-1210 is heavily modded.
Are all of those 'bolt on' rather than open up the case and go ripping out and soldering ?
Russ Andrews offers to mod Sky boxes and seemingly gains worthwhile improvements
Blue sky dreaming from me perhaps of taking everything to bits and rebuilding - the next logical step there being to start making kit to sell !
:-)

[MartinT]

The SL-1210 is definitely a deep piece of surgery, including removing the PCB, cutting tracks and reworking it.

However, that's different from the idea of dismantling my lovely Pass or Chord components :eek:

[MikeMusic]

Suppose its down to the accessibility, ease of change and how worthwhile.
Naim stuff is easy to take apart and there it is. However for someone like me to go in and change wiring or components would be a 'brave decision' or more like stupidity given my 'talent' with a soldering iron.
Don't think I ever told you I made my first amp. !
I was so glad to have a man at Henry's (?) redo it for me. Can't remember if I was in London or Birmingham at the time so it could be a.n.other. I was so grateful to get a working amp. Wish I could go back and tell him

[ColinWonfor]

The Jaffa Cakes are on me :D

Marco.

Jaffa Cakes, no thanks can't eat them.
Here is a link to Graphite review on Inner World compared to UB.

http://www.inner-magazines.com/inner-audio/

We will be making cable also to re-wire speaker maybe later this year.
Now back to my tea and biscuits.

Best Col:cool:

[ColinWonfor]

Suppose its down to the accessibility, ease of change and how worthwhile.
Naim stuff is easy to take apart and there it is. However for someone like me to go in and change wiring or components would be a 'brave decision' or more like stupidity given my 'talent' with a soldering iron.
Don't think I ever told you I made my first amp. !
I was so glad to have a man at Henry's (?) redo it for me. Can't remember if I was in London or Birmingham at the time so it could be a.n.other. I was so grateful to get a working amp. Wish I could go back and tell him

Is Paul Quick on this forum, he is good at reworking amps, very good.

[MikeMusic]

[QUOTE=ColinWonfor;317030]Jaffa Cakes, no thanks can't eat them.
Here is a link to Graphite review on Inner World compared to UB.

http://www.inner-magazines.com/inner-audio/

So why's he sitting on the fence ?
:-)

Hmm. Seriously impressed. I need to look at my speaker cables.
Heath Robinson designed set up from the dealer, maybe Linn approved
If you don't know the later Isobariks...
One set of bananas into 3 coming out of the power amp then 3 stereo cables into the crossover at the base of the speakers - then, there's more - 3 cables going out from the crossovers to the back of the speakers
And with my current layout loads of spare cable

[MikeMusic]

Is Paul Quick on this forum, he is good at reworking amps, very good.
Temptation !!!

[icehockeyboy]

As you may have sussed, I bought Frank's (Effem) TQ Blue cable, apart from him being an all round great guy, as I say in the feedback section, I am well pleased with the wire.

I have to resist even trying the Black, cos of funds going elsewhere....house improvements, 3 at Uni etc, oh, and did I mention eating? :rolleyes:

[MCRU]

Well I have to say to Frank, thank you very much. His praises of the TQ cables and suggestion I become a dealer for them prompted me to investigate and after 2 long converstaions with Kog Audio (Fraser is such a nice guy on the phone) I will be adding this prestigious brand to my already impressive product portfolio shortly.

I did hear the speaker cables a while ago at a customers house and I had to look behind the system as I could not believe what I was hearing, I don't know what they use for the cables but they have got it so right. I am eagerly anticipating what the mains lead may do!

[ColinWonfor]

Well I have to say to Frank, thank you very much. His praises of the TQ cables and suggestion I become a dealer for them prompted me to investigate and after 2 long converstaions with Kog Audio (Fraser is such a nice guy on the phone) I will be adding this prestigious brand to my already impressive product portfolio shortly.

I did hear the speaker cables a while ago at a customers house and I had to look behind the system as I could not believe what I was hearing, I don't know what they use for the cables but they have got it so right. I am eagerly anticipating what the mains lead may do!

Yes Fraser is a very nice guy, thank for your investigation-al work :eyebrows:
KOG has distributor have done us proud, thanks guys.:gig:

[icehockeyboy]

VERY pleased with the TQ Blue, although to my eyes it isn't blue, more like purple! :eyebrows:

I won't (can't!) describe in a technical way, all I will say is that it is a very fine sounding cable, and if you are in the market for something that won't break the bank, this surely is the one to go for.

I appreciate aural memory cannot be relied upon, but this cable sounds way superior to the likes of Chord Odyssey and VDH which I have had previously.

Put me down as a happy TQ Blue user! :)

[icehockeyboy]

Yes great write up Martin. Sounds like I'd better start saving for the 'new' Green. Also I learnt something regarding directionality of both the Black and the Blue cables, as I had them connected the wrong way around! :rolleyes:

I, and a fair few here do not believe the direction thing!

Who is in my camp (Effem agrees on this!) and who goes along with quadsugdenman?

Can you really hear a difference? Some clever techie type person will be along soon to explain why it cannot make any difference which way the cable runs. :)

[Ali Tait]

I suspect any perceived difference is down to unplugging and replugging cleaning the contact of plug and socket.

[realysm42]

Oh God, here we go again :eek:

[Ali Tait]

Fun isn't it? :lol:

[MartinT]

Can you really hear a difference?

Simple experiment. Reverse only one of your speaker cables. Hear any difference? Now you can put yourself in the relevant camp.

[realysm42]

Once upon a time, the Earth WAS flat.

Back on topic, I can't wait to have a blast on these badboys!

[icehockeyboy]

Whatever happens I am more than pleased with the Blues!
As well as trying to sort out my overdue tax affairs, I have been trying a lot of my favourite tracks, and am hearing detail I had no idea was there, so if the Blues do that, I wonder........actually I won't wonder what the Blacks would do, otherwise it will cost me! :)

[Ali Tait]

No don't! I've heard both and know what the Black does compared to the Blue. You're better off not knowing..

[ColinWonfor]

No don't! I've heard both and know what the Black does compared to the Blue. You're better off not knowing..
Was it that bad sorry mate.
Wet string is available at B&Q, go on tell us it worth the feedback please.

Best Col

[Tarzan]

Whatever happens I am more than pleased with the Blues!
As well as trying to sort out my overdue tax affairs, I have been trying a lot of my favourite tracks, and am hearing detail I had no idea was there, so if the Blues do that, I wonder........actually I won't wonder what the Blacks would do, otherwise it will cost me! :)

Thought you liked the Belkins:)

[ColinWonfor]

I, and a fair few here do not believe the direction thing!

Who is in my camp (Effem agrees on this!) and who goes along with quadsugdenman?

Can you really hear a difference? Some clever techie type person will be along soon to explain why it cannot make any difference which way the cable runs. :)

It does make difference but the longer it is left in one direction the bigger the change is when reversed, have you worked out why?? Think dissimilar metals and batteries. And ion migration of metals cool stuff.

Best Col

[Ali Tait]

Was it that bad sorry mate.
Wet string is available at B&Q, go on tell us it worth the feedback please.

Best Col

Bad? no, I think you misunderstand, I liked both, but the Black more. I have a pair of Black.

[ColinWonfor]

Bad? no, I think you misunderstand, I liked both, but the Black more. I have a pair of Black.

Phew:doh:

[quadsugdenman]

Bad? no, I think you misunderstand, I liked both, but the Black more. I have a pair of Black.

I have both and they do sound quite different, but the Black just shade it. However the Blue are very very good for the money.

[Ali Tait]

Yes agreed.

[wee tee cee]

I have a run of both blue and black. The black is a noticeable upgrade from the blue when swapped between the treble and bass. Both are very good cables....I might add that being the selfless soul that I am, I would be willing to review green and ultra black 4m runs in my modest system free gratis.....maybe some of the interconnects as well, if you twist my arm hard enough.
My dedication to the AOS cause sometimes surprises even myself....
I hope you all appreciate my self sacrifice.
Tony.

[icehockeyboy]

Thought you liked the Belkins:)


I did (do?) they were the bargain of the year, well, those and the Belkin mains block I got new for £12!

These are a different ball game, theoretically at a similar rrp, ( I recall the Belks were first on sale for about £80?) the Blues for a 2m pair very similar in price, but the TQ's just outshine them in every way.
I suppose a bit like the car analogy, if you have only ever experienced a Ford Fiesta, you don't appreciate how much better a Merc is for example, until you try it. That may not be the best way to compare the two cables, especially as I have had other higher priced ones in my system prior to the Belkins, but I'm sure you get my gist!
;)

I noticed the early comment about the pairs of Black being sold on another forum, and perused them, and thought if I had jumped on the bandwagon sooner, I might have had the Blacks now as there was a pair at a very reasonable price, too late now though!:doh:

[icehockeyboy]

Just spent a lot of time looking at stuff about the Black........and I am on air and should be concentrating on other stuff.......damn you Tellurium!!!!!!!

[Tarzan]

I did (do?) they were the bargain of the year, well, those and the Belkin mains block I got new for £12!

These are a different ball game, theoretically at a similar rrp, ( I recall the Belks were first on sale for about £80?) the Blues for a 2m pair very similar in price, but the TQ's just outshine them in every way.
I suppose a bit like the car analogy, if you have only ever experienced a Ford Fiesta, you don't appreciate how much better a Merc is for example, until you try it. That may not be the best way to compare the two cables, especially as I have had other higher priced ones in my system prior to the Belkins, but I'm sure you get my gist!
;)

I noticed the early comment about the pairs of Black being sold on another forum, and perused them, and thought if I had jumped on the bandwagon sooner, I might have had the Blacks now as there was a pair at a very reasonable price, too late now though!:doh:


Oh no got a feeling this could cost me........................................

[ColinWonfor]

Just spent a lot of time looking at stuff about the Black........and I am on air and should be concentrating on other stuff.......damn you Tellurium!!!!!!!

Whoops sorry, listening to new baby amp nice for 1.5in * 5in * 6 inch 35W/ch

[clap]

This thread needs more direct comparisons to other cables. I am just deliberating either the blacks or chord signature. Bought some Belikn on the recommendation of this forum. Good value but massively overrated. Loads of bass but no detail.

[Wakefield Turntables]

I'd like some new XLR balanaced interconnects to replace the ones I have which are currently of the Nordost variety so i could do a comparison if someone would lend me a pair :ner:

[hifi_dave]

This thread needs more direct comparisons to other cables. I am just deliberating either the blacks or chord signature. Bought some Belikn on the recommendation of this forum. Good value but massively overrated. Loads of bass but no detail.

Obviously, you need to try them yourself but I had a customer trade in his Signature for TQ Black.

[Effem]

This thread needs more direct comparisons to other cables. I am just deliberating either the blacks or chord signature. Bought some Belikn on the recommendation of this forum. Good value but massively overrated. Loads of bass but no detail.

My money would be on the TQ Blacks, given that choice.

In fact I wouldn't swap them for Audio Notes - I jest not :eyebrows:

[MartinT]

I'd like some new XLR balanaced interconnects to replace the ones I have which are currently of the Nordost variety so i could do a comparison if someone would lend me a pair :ner:

I've already compared the Black XLRs with my own Kimber KS-1121. No contest.

[MCRU]

I've already compared the Black XLRs with my own Kimber KS-1121. No contest.

You seem smitten with TQ Martin, glad it has done the business for you. :)

Most TQ dealers will loan out cables for listening in the comfort of your own home, I will post my own comparisons shortly for anyone who is interested, I have compared the blue (borrowed from a friend some time ago in the isle of man) and the ultra black against kimber, silver sounds, black rhodium and some atlas I had (forgot which one it was), also when Frank sends me the cables I lent him perhaps they can be listed too as I believe the TQ blue beat those as well.

Next week I go to a customers house who actually has chord signatures so that should be interesting. He has not asked to hear new speaker cables but I know him well enough to fit some and we can both have a listen.

Thanks

[realysm42]

Got some Ultra Black on order now; I must say I'm very excited :eyebrows:

Recently got some Black Rhodium Empror DCT++ to demo (which I like a lot), so it's one vs the other. I've got a preconception of the outcome having read what people have said on here.

I'll try to keep an open mind though :eek:

***EDIT*** Just had a read up on this stuff (the ultra black) and reviewrs have said it's extremely revealing and can highlight issues in your systems setup... Anyone had this 'issue' with it?

[Griffy]

Got some Ultra Black on order now; I must say I'm very excited :eyebrows:

Recently got some Black Rhodium Empror DCT++ to demo (which I like a lot), so it's one vs the other. I've got a preconception of the outcome having read what people have said on here.

I'll try to keep an open mind though :eek:

***EDIT*** Just had a read up on this stuff (the ultra black) and reviewrs have said it's extremely revealing and can highlight issues in your systems setup... Anyone had this 'issue' with it?

Your really gonna spend £1500 on some speaker cable?
Thats more than the price of your speakers!
Surely its not gonna turn your nice speakers into world beaters?

I'm not mocking, I'm just confused with your logic :scratch:

[realysm42]

Your really gonna spend £1500 on some speaker cable?
Thats more than the price of your speakers!
Surely its not gonna turn your nice speakers into world beaters?

I'm not mocking, I'm just confused with your logic :scratch:

I've got it to demo, I may not purchase it (although I have a feeling I will, if it's as good as people say it is). I'd like cable I can keep for years and not have to worry about if there's something better in the price range.

I never said the speakers are going to stay :eyebrows:

[Macca]

No way to ask this gently so I will come right out with it - Does the price really have to be so stupidly high?

[realysm42]

I know I can't speak directly for the manafacturer, but if it's seen as a desirable and effective item that people are willing to pay for, why not? And in the grand scheme of things (price wise) it's not the most expensive by a long shot...

[Griffy]

No way to ask this gently so I will come right out with it - Does the price really have to be so stupidly high?

Thats kinda what I was thinking.

I'm guessing its copper cable, and there is only so much you can do with it or how special it can be, then you add in some insulation and banana plugs.

All of a sudden you somehow end up with a price at around £1500 for a 3metre pair! :stalks:

I can't understand (without actually trying them for myself) how it can be so expensive/offer good value for money.

[Macca]

Last time I spent that much money in one go it was for a week at a 5 star hotel in the Caribbean...

I would need at least 2x3 m plus links...and I know it is possible to spend 10 times that on cable but that IMO is meaningless. Lets face it this is not one for the budget-concious enthusiast :lol:

[realysm42]

Martin - I hear what you're saying, there's a lot more reasonable priced versions in the range though.

[Griffy]

Tellurium Blue looks very reasonable. Tempting.....

[Effem]

I'm guessing its copper cable, and there is only so much you can do with it or how special it can be, then you add in some insulation and banana plugs.

I can't understand (without actually trying them for myself) how it can be so expensive/offer good value for money.

I don't think it's quite as simple as that :scratch:

I have owned and handled more cables than I would care to recollect and not given to hallucinations or preconceptions, all manner of cables ranging from a mere hair thickness to the size of my wrist, solid and stranded cores, copper, silver and hybrid metals of all sorts. Every type of insulation, spacing and weave you could imagine too, but NONE have come close to what I experienced with the TQ Blue and that is at the bottom of the Tellurium range, so goodness knows what the top of the range is like.

I will therefore confidently state that the TQ cables are not "just copper" and I am also confident that the maker isn't going to let on what they are made of either. To be honest I don't care much what the secret recipe is, because I treat it like eating a superb meal at a top class restaurant and I don't ever interrogate how the chef created that wonderful taste, I just enjoy it for what it is and admire the skill and ingredients that went into it. It may have been dog poo for all I know but it sure tasted great :eek:

[realysm42]

Frank, do you use the Z plugs with yours? I've not seen cables terminated with it before.

Having said that, I've not seen a great deal of speaker cables before lol :lol:

[Effem]

Frank, do you use the Z plugs with yours? I've not seen cables terminated with it before.

Having said that, I've not seen a great deal of speaker cables before lol :lol:

I used the Blues unterminated. I did buy a set of Tellurium locking bananas but they were too large anyway and I felt the sound degraded a fraction, so I took them off again. I am still waiting for my Blacks to be delivered and they will be factory fitted with the Z bananas, apparently made with Tellurium. I like Z plugs anyway because they fit so snugly in a 4mm socket and they can be easily adjusted to fit under/over sized sockets.

[icehockeyboy]

Tellurium Blue looks very reasonable. Tempting.....

'Tis indeed a wonderful wire! ;)

My only problem with it is wondering how much better TQ Black is! :scratch::doh:

I really can't believe this, I've only had it in my system 5 days and more or less even before Frank had posted it to me was thinking about the Black.

I suppose it's like that saying....." once you've had black......"!!!!!!! :lol:

[icehockeyboy]

So Frank, can you explain exactly what shines out in the Black over the Blue please? :)

[realysm42]

This is my logic with my stereo (if you can call it that); I I didn't want to buy into the Tellurium range at the bottom end only to agonise over "how good the next step would sound"; after reading people's experiences on here, I thought I'd cut the pain out and get the best I can (in my budget).

If I like it, I'll buy it and be glad that I didn't do so at every step along the way, if I don't, I've got alternative options.

[icehockeyboy]

This is my logic with my stereo (if you can call it that); I I didn't want to buy into the Tellurium range at the bottom end only to agonise over "how good the next step would sound"; after reading people's experiences on here, I thought I'd cut the pain out and get the best I can (in my budget).

If I like it, I'll buy it and be glad that I didn't do so at every step along the way, if I don't, I've got alternative options.

Actually my thoughts entirely, problem is, having more or less retired from the always swapping and adding "bandwagon" having once spent £600 on a one metre Black Rhodium ic, I told myself no way can I justify a couple of hundred on cables, so when Frank sold me his Blues, I thought that would be the end of the story.

But unfortunately it isn't! :stalks::eek::doh::eyebrows::D

[realysm42]

Actually my thoughts entirely, problem is, having more or less retired from the always swapping and adding "bandwagon" having once spent £600 on a one metre Black Rhodium ic, I told myself no way can I justify a couple of hundred on cables, so when Frank sold me his Blues, I thought that would be the end of the story.

But unfortunately it isn't! :stalks::eek::doh::eyebrows::D

Audiophiles anonymous eh, I feel your pain :lol:

[Effem]

So Frank, can you explain exactly what shines out in the Black over the Blue please? :)

Would love to tell you Craig but I haven't got it yet :lol:

Been hovering round the letterbox for days now waiting for the postie and hoping to have had it for this weekend. The delay apparently is waiting for the terminations to be fitted.

[MartinT]

Just had a read up on this stuff (the ultra black) and reviewrs have said it's extremely revealing and can highlight issues in your systems setup... Anyone had this 'issue' with it?

I was warned about this and that was why I was sent the Green as well, which is a little forgiving. Well, my system is extremely resolving and I had no trouble preferring the Ultra Black. I would advise anyone considering it, however, to try the Green too.

Another way of saying it (and I've said this before) is: don't even think of buying serious cable for your system until everything in the chain is just right and your system already sounds good. If it doesn't sound good, a cable is not going to be a sticking plaster. If you system sounds excellent, a good cable will improve things.

[icehockeyboy]

Ta Frank, I actually thought you had tried some, sorry!

Martin, I'm loving how my system is sounding, especially with the Blues, so obviously (?) wondering how it would sound with the Black..........

[Effem]

Ta Frank, I actually thought you had tried some, sorry!



It's not often that I part with something until I have the replacement item in place, but the bloomin' bathroom is vying for the finances at the moment so now listening to the system with cables I know don't sound as good as the TQs :rolleyes:

After that comes the kitchen to be totally refurbished so that has put the kybosh on my aspirations to upgrade for a while :lol:

[icehockeyboy]

It's not often that I part with something until I have the replacement item in place, but the bloomin' bathroom is vying for the finances at the moment so now listening to the system with cables I know don't sound as good as the TQs :rolleyes:

I know wot U mean 'Arry!

The wife has me buying Laura Ashley wallpaper and paint, which is the Tellurium Green of the decorating fraternity, I could more than easilly had some TQ Ultra Black with that money! :steam: And I just shelled out on a new tyre for her car which would have bought me 3m of Black! :doh::(

PS, I just found my old WBT banana plugs that I had on that Chord prototype we had, they are big buggers which would mean I had to fold the Blues wire to make them thick enough to hold, do you think as you found with the Z plugs, it would be detrimental? Stupid question really as I know the only way is to try it.....but I can't be arsed stripping and terminating hence the question! :D

[Effem]

I know wot U mean 'Arry!

PS, I just found my old WBT banana plugs that I had on that Chord prototype we had, they are big buggers which would mean I had to fold the Blues wire to make them thick enough to hold, do you think as you found with the Z plugs, it would be detrimental? Stupid question really as I know the only way is to try it.....but I can't be arsed stripping and terminating hence the question! :D

I would use them bare wire Craig because the best connector is no connector and shortening the Blue even by a small amount means affecting the resale value come upgrade time. Ooops, didn't meant to say that :lol:

[realysm42]

Martin, I'm loving how my system is sounding, especially with the Blues, so obviously (?) wondering how it would sound with the Black..........

Fair enough; I didn't mean to sound condescending in what I said, more that I've got faith in people's experiences here and so don't want to tread that path myself (I hate selling things on, call me lazy).

[icehockeyboy]

Fair enough; I didn't mean to sound condescending in what I said, more that I've got faith in people's experiences here and so don't want to tread that path myself (I hate selling things on, call me lazy).
You are the wrong Martin! This reply was for MartinT. :)

[Griffy]

What dealers are offering trials of these cables then?

Blue, green or black, not the ultra black!

[realysm42]

You are the wrong Martin! This reply was for MartinT. :)

There are too many of us on here :lol:

Cheers for the advice (MartinT). It's difficult to gauge how 'good' my gear sounds, personally I love it but I'm no veteran and have nothing to compare it to, should be interesting if nothing else :eyebrows:

[Macca]

Cheers for the advice (MartinT). It's difficult to gauge how 'good' my gear sounds, personally I love it but I'm no veteran and have nothing to compare it to, should be interesting if nothing else :eyebrows:

I found my trip to the Scalford show quite educational in that respect.

[realysm42]

I found my trip to the Scalford show quite educational in that respect.

Can you tell me more?

Did you leave feeling happy with what you own, or feel you've been missing out?

Did it give you a direction to persue?

[Macca]

Can you tell me more?

Did you leave feeling happy with what you own, or feel you've been missing out?

Did it give you a direction to persue?

Other than some dems at dealers I did not have anything to compare to as my friend's systems consist mostly of my cast offs. Did assume that what I had was not that great in the overall scheme of things although I was reasonbaly happy with it.

Some of the systems at Scalford were truly awesome, the majority were around about the same SQ I have - which surprised me, especially as they were for the most part composed of more expensive kit. There were a few systems I would 'swap' for, not as many as I thought, though. Although there is the caveat that these systems probably sounded much better in their home environment, that must be considered.

On the whole the vinyl based systems sounded better than those fed by CD/PC.

What else?

Active ATCs are awesome, big Tannoys can sound vary variable (from 'not for me' to 'must have') and Behringer A500s can be made to sound good.

How's that?

[realysm42]

I'll give you a b+

Nah, thanks for letting me know :cool: It's difficult to know how much I should look at what others have got. If I don't know 'better' then I'll remain happy, but then I'll never know what I'm potentially missing out on; is ignorance bliss?

I'll pop along to one sometime.

[Macca]

Well, being in a position were I could spend more money but don't want to I thought, on the whole, that the experience actually made me happier with what I have, as did the dealer dems, curiously enough.

[MartinT]

Martin, I'm loving how my system is sounding, especially with the Blues, so obviously (?) wondering how it would sound with the Black..........

More of the same: more edge definition, fantastic detail, tonal neutrality, non-harshness.

[MartinT]

Nah, thanks for letting me know :cool: It's difficult to know how much I should look at what others have got. If I don't know 'better' then I'll remain happy, but then I'll never know what I'm potentially missing out on; is ignorance bliss?

Can you get out to Basingstoke one evening, Martin? If so, you're welcome to hear what the Ultra Blacks can do. I should have my proper pair this week.

[MartinT]

You seem smitten with TQ Martin, glad it has done the business for you. :)

It very much is and, as I said earlier, I'm grateful to Frank for pointing me in their direction.

[realysm42]

Hi Martin, you're not a million miles away from me as it goes; I've got some on order to demo but it would be good to hear a proper high end system for a number of reasons anyhow (and also see how this stuff works in yours).

Thanks for the offer, we should arrange something :cool:

[MartinT]

Thanks for the offer, we should arrange something :cool:

Taken to PM.

[MikeMusic]

Silly question ? - I specialise :-)

Do we know/have feeling that Tellurium cables will stay the same or could there be some degeneration due to the magic ingredient in the cables ?

[ColinWonfor]

Silly question ? - I specialise :-)

Do we know/have feeling that Tellurium cables will stay the same or could there be some degeneration due to the magic ingredient in the cables ?

No Magic ingredient is the cable, but there is in the music. And that is how it should be.

[Marco]

Thanks for the offer, we should arrange something

In terms of Martin's system, you'll be in for a treat! I can't comment on the TQ cables, as I haven't heard them yet. I'll look forward to that when Martin and I have a T/T sesh soon :)

Marco.

[MikeMusic]

No Magic ingredient is the cable, but there is in the music. And that is how it should be.

Thanks Colin
So the cables will remain giving of their best then ?

[ColinWonfor]

Thanks Colin
So the cables will remain giving of their best then ?

I hope so if not used as tow rope or fishing for sharks.

[MikeMusic]

Thanks Colin

[icehockeyboy]

I hope so if not used as tow rope or fishing for sharks.


What about as a washing line? I reckon it would really clean up and untangle the.........erm..........clothes! :lol:

[Macca]

I used to have a washing line made from a 3 metre guitar lead. It attracted some comments...

[The Grand Wazoo]

........ a 3 metre guitar lead

A curly one?!

[Macca]

A curly one?!

Nope. But with the jack plugs still attached.:)

[Effem]

Received the Blacks this morning and giving them a spin right now. They say that "aural memory" can be deceptive, but I am not finding a huge difference between the Black and Blue (Not that I expected them to be) but in my system the Black sounds a tad "untidy" at the moment with some brashness on the tracks I am listening to, plus I don't think the bass is quite as articulate as I had with the Blues.

Bear in mind as you are reading these words this is straight out of the box they came in and a stone cold amp to boot, so will give them some stick for a couple of hours tonight and see how it all unfolds. I don't remember much variance from new with the Blues, but what does a senile old fart like me know anyway? :lol:

[Reid Malenfant]

Well you know that XTZ is going to take a while to warm up at least :eyebrows:

[Effem]

Well you know that XTZ is going to take a while to warm up at least :eyebrows:

Spot on Mark :eyebrows:

[icehockeyboy]

Received the Blacks this morning and giving them a spin right now. They say that "aural memory" can be deceptive, but I am not finding a huge difference between the Black and Blue (Not that I expected them to be) but in my system the Black sounds a tad "untidy" at the moment with some brashness on the tracks I am listening to, plus I don't think the bass is quite as articulate as I had with the Blues.

Bear in mind as you are reading these words this is straight out of the box they came in and a stone cold amp to boot, so will give them some stick for a couple of hours tonight and see how it all unfolds. I don't remember much variance from new with the Blues, but what does a senile old fart like me know anyway? :lol:

The outcome of your findings COULD save me a wodge of dosh........:eyebrows: But pray tell....why did you not expect them to be that different to the Blue, when just about everyone else says " oh yeh, lots better"? I trust your judgement implicitly! :)
FWIW, the Blues sounded amazing straight out the box, but had been "run in" by your good self Frank, keep us posted! :)

[Effem]

The outcome of your findings COULD save me a wodge of dosh........:eyebrows: But pray tell....why did you not expect them to be that different to the Blue, when just about everyone else says " oh yeh, lots better"? I trust your judgement implicitly! :)
FWIW, the Blues sounded amazing straight out the box, but had been "run in" by your good self Frank, keep us posted! :)

As I wrote last night Craig, the very first track I put on to evaluate the Blacks was "Walking in Memphis" by Mark Cohn which has a kick drum around a minute into it that had a crisp deep powerful thud with the Blues that was in my opinion softer and with less attack in the Blacks. His voice too was a bit harsh and prominent which could be what the original sound actually is for all I know and the Blacks are more "truthful", but the Blues presented it with a much cleaner tidier less ragged sound. Normally I don't make snap judgements with ANYTHING fresh out of the box, much preferring to give it a quick whirl to make sure nothing got broke in transit, then going back to it a day later when the excitement of unwrapping has diminished.

After about 45 minutes the amp had finally warmed up and the second CD I played was "Hope" by Hugh Masekela which sounded crisp and airy I must say, but then I revisited Marc Cohn again and that kick drum was pretty much the same as earlier although the voice was less shouty and harsh this time around. Amp or cable? Dunno, but will leave that track to the end of my session tonight after the amp is up to temperature and the cable has some more hours on it.

Harking back to my time with the Blues, they were unterminated when I bought them and they sounded best that way as the Tellurium connectors I used did that cable no favours at all, so off they came. The Blacks though have come terminated and Mr Wonfor insists that is how they perform best, but I am not convinced.

[icehockeyboy]

Interesting that Frank!

I bet Mr Wonfor will be along shortly with his opinion. :)