New Arrival - LH Labs AES/EBU Lead

At the same time I crowdfunded my Lightspeed USB lead I funded an AES/EBU lead from them as well.

It has taken a long time and I have become frustrated by LH Labs because of their continual notification of new products and perks whilst seemingly not fulfilling their existing commitments.

I also despair the fanboy bell-ends lurking around their forum talking drivel and being condescending in the most facile way.

Anyway enough of this below the waterline stuff - lets talk about the lead - it replaced my Acoustic Revive AES/EBU and on first introduction to the system I was completely underwhelmed - it really didn't have anything to offer straight out of the packet - totally unlike the Lightspeed USB which came out of the traps like a tiger.

I have let it burn in for a few days and it is starting to develop nicely - more treble, more bass, clearer definition of leading edges.

It also allows more definition in the knotty middle section - The Faces / Stay with Me more definition of the organ played by Ian McLagan (RIP) and Gimme Shelter more definition between the voices of Jagger and Merry Clayton. 

After an initial disappointing start I think we have something very nice developing - anyone in the market for and Acoustic Revive AES/EBU cable? 

Light Harmonic Lightspeed USB

You know this feeling - something is attracting rave reviews and you have gone and bought something else that has also reviewed well but there's that nagging doubt that the other thing is better.

Having recently bought the Tellurium Q Black Diamond USB and watched it best the Tellurium Q Graphite USB and the Acoustic Revive SP-1.0 USB I was happy but still fascinated by the stellar reviews of the Lightspeed USB.

The only UK price I could find online was £1,000.00 for a 0.80m length - it might be world class but £1,000.00 for a USB lead - I also needed the 1.60m lead so my fascination was snuffed out as I settled into life with the Black Diamond USB.

Then in December 2013 an audio friend notified me of a crowdfunding site called Indiegogo where LH Labs (the affordable arm of Light Harmonic) had placed 100 Lightspeed USB cables as a perk for $999 for the 1.60m length.

It seemed to good to be true so I immediately put my name down and ordered one and a AES/EBU cable that will be with us later on in the year.

After paying Parcelforce £139.00 for customs duty, VAT, handling charge? I was the proud owner of a Lightspeed USB cable 1.60m for £750.00 - it felt like a bargain but did it live up to the hype?

Much is written about the 2 week burn-in period required for this cable - I am one week in so these are only initial views - it is a fantastic cable besting the Tellurium Q Black Diamond without any burn-in on first listen in every facet of musicality, detail, timing, soundstage and the sense of 'right' that you only get with the very best kit. 

I have listened since at the weekend and it is opening up to reveal hidden nuances and subtleties that lie deep within the music especially when playing complex and dense tracks by Radiohead or excellent DSD rips such as Exile on Main Street.

We can only hope that this week reveals more of this wonderful cables capabilities - having a critical listen tomorrow so will keep everyone posted.

To be continued......................

Nina Simone - Little Girl Blue - 2006 Fuel 2000 Records

I enjoy the long drawn out internet discussions about remasters, original pressings, validity and the best sounding version of particular albums.

Just recently a 24/192 version of Nina Simone - Little Girl Blue has appeared on some digital download sites and debate has flowed about the quality and origin of this high resolution download.

I am not particularly fond of digital download sites and always try to purchase hard copy as my first option. I'm sure this is down to my age but I like to have a proper back-up if I lost everything in a catastrophic failure.

Reading the debate regarding Nina Simone - Little Girl Blue a number of contributors alluded to the fantastic sound of a 2006 licensed re-issue of a remastered special edition by Fuel 2000 Records Inc.

After a quick search around Amazon I purchased the 2006 Fuel remaster from America and am delighted with the results.

Nina Simone's recordings are never short of emotion and evoke that feeling that you are sitting in a smoky jazz club but this version transfers you there immediately - it is fundamentally 'right' and delivers far more character and personality to the recording.

Thoroughly recommended.  

Head to Head - Acoustic Revive USB-1.0SP v Tellurium Q Black Diamond

Didn't take long to stage the first shootout and it really was quite painless!

Music chosen for comparison:

Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here - Have A Cigar - DSD Rip

The Rolling Stones - Exile On Main Street - Sweet Virginia - DSD Rip

The Faces - Greatest Hits - Stay With Me - Redbook XLD Rip

Muddy Waters - Blues Singer - My Home Is In The Delta - 24/192

The two cables demonstrated the same characteristics through each track which was really unexpected and aided a very swift conclusion.

In my opinion the Acoustic Revive USB-1.0SP has a leaner presentation with less high and low level frequency extension than the Tellurium Q Black Diamond.

The other key factor was the ability of the Black Diamond to provide more clarity and space to the 'confused middle section' especially on Sweet Virginia where the vocal harmonies were far more persuasive and on Stay With Me where the organ could be more clearly defined throughout the track.

On Have A Cigar the organ notes were much more strident through the Black Diamond and on My Home Is In The Delta the guitar of Buddy Guy sounds more vibrant with greater body and weight.

Needless to say the Acoustic Revive USB-1.0SP is now on Audiogon for $475.00 - it is in excellent condition and is a very high-achieving cable for this money.

I also have for sale an ifI usb with a Teradak U9 linear power supply - I am looking for £120.00 for both + postage. All in excellent condition - please contact me on petegburrows@gmail.com if interested. 

    

Complico - It Suddenly Hits You - December 2013

I always remember a Peter Serafinowicz sketch Complico where everyday items are sold with complicated formulas - it's ludicrous but highlights when sometimes you have lost the plot.

 

Around Christmas I have re-evaluated my system and have removed the ifi usb, TeraDak U9 power supply and Acoustic Revive USB 1.0-SPS so that I am now directly linking the Macbook Pro to the Berkeley Alpha UBS by the Tellurium Q Black Diamond USB.

The main reason for this was the slightly lacklustre performance of the Tellurium Q Black Diamond USB compared to my previous Tellurium Q Graphite USB. Was the Black Diamond not up to scratch or was it being choked by the downstream components?

After removal of the ifi usb, TeraDak U9 power supply and Acoustic Revive USB 1.0-SPS there was a definitive improvement in bass tightness, separation and fine detail - the Black Diamond USB was being choked.

Having recently bought the Light Harmonics USB and AES/EBU cables it's going to lead to evaluation between the Acoustic Revive 1.0-SPS, Tellurium Q Black Diamond and Light Harmonics USB leads and the Acoustic Revive and Light Harmonics AES/EBU cables - the USB shootout will be fully detailed in the future with two leads for sale. The Light Harmonics AES/EBU will not arrive until April 2014 so a little while to wait for that contest.

Hence Complico - from now on it's one in one out - that's a promise.

Chord Chameleon Silver Plus Interconnects - February 2004 - Part 4

The words kept ringing in my head "you really should try some Chord interconnects" and early in the new year buoyed with the success of my new Spendor floorstanders I found myself again in Gloucester Hifi.

I am advised to look at the Chord Chameleon Silver Plus interconnects and purchase 2 No - 1m pairs for between the NAD C520 CD player & Quad 34 preamplifier & preamplifier to Quad 306 power amplifier.

These are handsome cables - bright blue and incredibly thick compared to my bog standard wire leads with silver connectors - very excited to hear the difference they will make to my system.

The first connection is between cd player and preamplifier and yes there is an improvement in the sound but not anywhere near what I expected - disappointed. 

Next connection between preamplifier and power amplifier - absolutely amazing - the largest transformation I have ever heard by introducing a new component into a stereo system still to this day.

What can I say - it's night and day better - I play all my favourite cd's for hours and discover instruments, percussion and bass lines that I have never heard before - I am totally hooked - these interconnects are fantastic.

The audio bug was now in my bloodstream - hours after the euphoria of the Chord Chameleon's I was starting to plan my next purchase................

Spendor S5e - December 2004 - Part 3

My first trip to an audio dealership had left me completely bemused - did I have dodgy hearing or was the sales guy a knob?

I decided that the sales guy was indeed a knob and that this time I would do more background reading regarding suitable speakers so bought a copy of What HIFI and off I went to peruse the speaker section.

After a few days I noted some speakers that I would want to trial and dealerships that stocked them - one of the speakers was the Spendor S5e and they stocked them at (the sadly defunct) Gloucester Hifi in Three Cocks Lane which is near where I work.

A lunchtime visit immediately presents a more caring and supportive environment - no hurried demo here but a lot of questions concerning my listening preferences, room size, speaker placement positions and list of existing equipment - and they like Quad kit!

A demonstration is arranged and the Spendor S5e's sound mighty fine - Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here and The Rolling Stones - Exile on Main Street have great spacial presentation, detail, tone, timing and clarity - these are my new speakers without doubt.

As I prepare to shell out the cash the owner Phil casually asks that I may like to try out some Chord interconnects which should make a massive difference to my system - I didn't realise it then but the hook was already in my mouth and I didn't feel a thing..........