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realysm42
28-10-2012, 14:39
I've had some TQ Black xlrs in my system for a few months (Dac to amp) they were a revelation for me compared to what I had in before. I love what TQ has done for my system.

So why did I try these?

I've tried one of the Ultimate power leads, was blown away by it, so curiosity got the better of me and I asked David at Mains Cables R Us if I could demo them:

http://www.mains-cables-r-us.co.uk/analogue-interconnects-/513-the-ultimate-balalnced-xlr-cables.html

What you're getting here are the best connectors in the game (within reason), connecting these together is (cryo treated) pure silver, which is all triple shielded. This is by David's own admission the best he can create. The cables are stiffer than what I'm used to but I'm not surprised, they are thick and well proctected (as a sidenote, the Furutech connectors are an incredibly snug and solid on both ends of the cable); build finish is top notch, here they are in my system:

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q153/realysm42/Image1306-Copy.jpg

So how do they sound?

When I first put them into my system, I wasn't too sure what to expect. Silver is known to be shouty/bright on some systems; so I had some trepidation about that. I ran through a couple of different genres of music, acoustic guitar, drum and bass, glitchy-ambient stuff and I soon realised I need'nt have worried; what I heard was quite a shock tbh (how much better can the really be, after all?).

New detail appeared in everything I heard; I'm sure I say this a lot when I get an upgrade so I don't want to be the boy that cried wolf but I really am quite staggered at the resolution jump I've experienced! Bass is thundering, but controlled and never overblown. Everything sounds bigger too; I think this is the soundscape increasing, there's a sense of freedom to the sound that's never strained, regardless of how complex the music is. Timing is bang on point, everything is toe-tappingly in beat; it's great to have such a new lease of life given to everything in this manner!


Would I change back? Never. These aren't cheap, there's no way around that, but it's the same with everything I've experienced from this seller, you get what you pay for :eyebrows:

Also, they're still burning in, so I'm sat here smiling enjoying the improving sound on them. I reckon I've got about 15-20 hours on them and they just keep opening up.

And yes, I'm aware they're worth more than the Dac they're plugged into and I'm okay with that, considering how damn good they are, cheers again David :cool:

realysm42
29-10-2012, 12:27
My brother is coming round tonight; we're going to put the TQ blacks back in and see what the deal is.

Should be interesting!

realysm42
31-10-2012, 19:25
Steven remarked after first hearing the Ultimates that he thought he remembered the TQ blacks sounding better than these (he's not heard the system in about a month for posterity).

So we switched back (first time I've done this actually) and we both agreed the Ultimates kicked them in every department.

They are a lot more natural and less forced/in your face than the TQs; the detail I'd been getting used to returned. He was shocked that the TQs could be beaten so comprehensively!

I'll stop writing about these now as no-one's replied all I can say is, if you're looking for possibly the last pair of xlrs you'll ever need, it's definitely worth auditioning the Ultimates; I was happy with the TQs until I checked these out!

clap
31-10-2012, 21:52
I've got a pair of the rca's. I can imagine they'd wipe the floor with the TQ black. I had the TQ black speaker cables and liked them.But, they seemed to filter some of the frequencies out of the sound. The Ultimates are definitely full range.

The ultimates are a different class. So are Mark Grants cables.

realysm42
01-11-2012, 09:42
I'd be interested to hear the TQ black and MCRU Ultimate speaker cables and compare them to my Ultra blacks.

Of course then there's the graphites too, maybe in a few years lol.

clap
01-11-2012, 11:17
I'd be interested to hear the TQ black and MCRU Ultimate speaker cables and compare them to my Ultra blacks.

Of course then there's the graphites too, maybe in a few years lol.

I've just replaced mb TQ black speaker cable with Analysis Plus Big Silver Oval. A different class, but also a much different price. Luckily I got a good deal second hand.