Tellurium Q Black Phonos modded with WBTs

[MartinT]

I finally re-fitted my 0.8m TQ Black Phono interconnects, now sporting WBT0110Ag plugs, into my system. This cable links my SUT (step-up transformer) to the phono preamp. It is therefore a very critical interconnect running at high impedance and susceptible to noise and hum pickup. There is absolutely no hum and no noise pickup, and only a very small amount of phono preamp hiss coming though at my normal listening level. The shielding is very effective.

I always knew the TQ was a good cable, but Marco made a comment that he could hear the cheap plugs in action in my system and I agreed despite liking their overall sound. So this was an experiment to see how much more sound quality the Blacks would yield. What would replacing the standard plugs with WBT 0110Ags achieve? The answer is: a lot.

I have just been listening to Rickie Lee Jones' Danny's All-Star Joint, a particularly good test track as there is so much going on. I can hear a ride cymbal deep in the mix that I hadn't really noticed before, together with fabulous impact with the bass drum and great dynamics throughout the frequency range. Treble is detailed and extended. There is no harshness, a signature of TQ cables, and no emphasis of sibilance. The overall sound is very rhythmic and exciting, and makes me want to play more.

I can't recommend these in any meaningful way as they are a custom one-off. However, they are the best single-ended interconnects I know (the rest of my system uses balanced TQ Black XLRs), easily beating the old Kimber KS-1011 that I used to have (which, by the way, uses very similar plugs to TQ).

I had some time ago asked Tellurium Q (via my dealer) if they would sell me another 0.8m Black with my choice of plugs, either Eichmann Silver Bullets or WBT 0110Ags. They refused, with the reply below from Geoff:

We chose the plugs that we use for a number of reasons, not least of which is that they work well with our cable and the processes we use.

Fair enough, TQ, and I understand that you use a high temperature soldering process which is difficult to manage. However, if you haven't ever tried WBT 0110Ag plugs with your cables then I urge you to try them. You could always sell an elite line using these plugs, side by side with the standard versions.

[Wakefield Turntables]

interesting post. I was going to get some of the TQ ultra blacks but I have decided against them. Would be interesting to hear some feedback from TQ regarding your post here, considering we got absolutely nowhere when we questioned him on the subject .

[MartinT]

interesting post. I was going to get some of the TQ ultra blacks but I have decided against them. Would be interesting to hear some feedback from TQ regarding your post here, considering we got absolutely nowhere when we questioned him on the subject .

Hi Andrew

Yes, I'd love to hear from TQ and await with interest. Don't get confused between their speaker cables and interconnects: the Ultra Blacks are speaker cables and are quite superb. They simply destroyed my previous Kimber KS-3035s, some £5.5k worth of cable.

[Marco]

I always knew the TQ was a good cable, but Marco made a comment that he could hear the cheap plugs in action in my system and I agreed despite liking their overall sound. So this was an experiment to see how much more sound quality the Blacks would yield. What would replacing the standard plugs with WBT 0110Ags achieve? The answer is: a lot.

I'm glad that upgrading the stock RCA plugs has worked out well, and has resulted in a notable sonic improvement. I was convinced that this would be the case, as I now know from experience the sound associated with the use of heavy metal plugs, and can pretty much detect it instantly

Fair enough, TQ, and I understand that you use a high temperature soldering process which is difficult to manage. However, if you haven't ever tried WBT 0110Ag plugs with your cables then I urge you to try them. You could always sell an elite line using these plugs, side by side with the standard versions.

+1 (with knobs on). I would urge them to do so, as I think they're missing a trick!

In the meantime, Martin - enjoy!

Marco.

[hifinutt]

be interesting to know how these would affect noise pickup

http://www.oriton.co.uk/hifi-highend.../blackbullets/

[MartinT]

Never heard of them, Phil. Have you tried them? I'd be concerned at the load the weight of the cables would exert, especially as they are not themselves locking plugs.

[hifi_dave]

They look like adaptors ? Plug your RCA incon at one end and then plug the Oriton into the socket. Seems like a lot of extra connections in the way..

[Marco]

Those things are bullshit, and simply a way to fleece the gullible from their hard-earned...

Like Dave says, you're simply adding more unwanted connections, the effect of which will be more sonically detrimental than the problem that the 'bullets' were designed to remove!

Far better to simply fit better plugs in the first place to a cable, such as Eichmanns, Furutechs or WBTs, which actually address the problem properly!!

Marco.

[YNWaN]

I agree

[prestonchipfryer]

Those things are bullshit, and simply a way to fleece the gullible from their hard-earned...

Marco.

+ 1. Too much weight, not a good idea.