This is Part 2, continuing from Recommended RCA Cables Part 1: Entry-Level, Classical & Jazz.
KIMBER KABLE HERO
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The HERO is a long-running, established RCA cable from American manufacturer KIMBER KABLE. The bass has a somewhat generous body to it, yet there is never any sense of looseness or sluggishness in the response — it delivers a sound full of vitality and drive. A cable with a distinctive depth and richness of reproduction across the full frequency range. Where separation is called for, things part cleanly; where things should blend, the result is a beautifully achieved harmony.
EINSTEIN ALLEGRO SUPERIORE
The EINSTEIN ALLEGRO SUPERIORE from Germany. An RCA cable with a distinctive tonal character centred on a rich, dense midrange. The frequency range is not especially wide, but it delivers a lustrous, sensuous sound with a quality that seems almost to carry a fragrance. Rather than tempo-driven J-Pop and the like, it would seem to suit music that unfolds with quiet, heartfelt expression. A cable that brings out the full appeal of a vocalist.
HARMONIX HS101 Imprived
If high resolution and high speed were the only criteria, there are any number of products with a similar character — but what the Combak HARMONIX HS101 Imprived RCA cable does is add a genuine sense of energy to that sound and make it genuinely enjoyable to listen to. Its expressive range is wide, handling everything from a brooding, shadowy vocal style through to punchy, powerful tracks with ease.
SILTECH SQ-28 Classic MK2
Dutch manufacturer SILTECH has something of a strong image as a brand suited to classical music — but for rock, and particularly if you want a bold, powerful presentation, this cable is an absolute recommendation. With lower-priced products of this type, that kind of sound tends to be expressed through an exaggerated, scooped-and-boosted approach that emphasises certain bands to compensate for what is missing elsewhere — but this cable achieves it through sheer, relentless power. Less a case of harsh peaks at the frequency extremes, more a sense of being overwhelmed by raw sound pressure. And yet the reproduction is never crude; there is sufficient resolution on hand, so even more understated pop material comes across with greater precision and a lively, energetic quality.
FOSTEX WAGC 102
The WAGC102 is a high-grade RCA interconnect cable from Japanese manufacturer FOSTEX. Its distinctive richness of colour and tone allows the energetic qualities of music to come through with a remarkable sense of immediacy. Resolution is high, and the bass in particular gives the impression of being built up in multiple layers, with a considerable sense of weight. Well balanced and high in density — for punchy, hard-driving rock and live recordings, this would seem to be an ideal choice.
SAEC SL-3030
The SAEC SL-3030, a popular RCA cable from a well-regarded Japanese cable brand. Rather than pursuing an analytical direction, the sound here is one that prioritises expressive richness. The core of the sound is well-defined and highly resolved, but layered over that are a beautiful sense of decay, lustre, and a moistness that makes for an altogether attractive presentation. It is also a good recommendation for those who feel a slight over-emphasis in their current equipment, or who find their system’s sound lacking in expressiveness. The frequency range is wide and the overall character is elegant.
Ortofon Reference 8NX
The Ortofon Reference 8NX. An RCA cable with exceptionally good balance across the frequency bands. One might describe it as taking a Hi-Fi-style sound and weaving in those extra elements one tends to want — a sense of energy, smoothness, a certain moistness to the tone. There is nothing showy about it, but it is a model-pupil kind of cable that earns a passing mark in every area.
ACROLINK 7N-A2070
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The ACROLINK 7N-A2070 is a cable that seems to have taken Hi-Fi sound to its absolute limit — not merely within its price range, but one could argue including products a step above it. The frequency range is extraordinarily wide, reproducing everything from pianissimo to fortissimo with remarkable fidelity. Resolution is very high and a genuine sense of scale comes through. In the best sense of the phrase, it is the kind of cable that exemplifies what Japanese high-end cable manufacture is about — a standard interconnect that holds itself up as a textbook example of what faithful, realistic reproduction should be. ※ At the time of the review the original version was evaluated, but through subsequent minor revisions it has become the Ⅱ → Ⅲ → 7N-A2070 Leggenda.
FURUTECH Audio Reference RCA
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A transparent, taut sound quality. Across the full frequency range the lines feel slightly slender, yet the core is firm and the sense of density is high. Wide-ranging, with excellent spatial reproduction and a superb sense of depth and perspective. Rather than pursuing pure energy, the appeal here lies in a precision of reproduction that feels almost mathematically calculated. ※ At the time of the review the original version was evaluated. It has since been updated to the MK Ⅲ.
ESOTERIC 7N-A2500 MEXCEL RCA
The finest domestic Japanese RCA cable, combining musical enjoyment with a high degree of artistic integrity. The underlying character of the sound is one of lucid, analytical precision — but the addition of freshness, lustre, and warmth seems to have stripped away any photographic coldness, leaving something full of vitality and life. The speed is remarkable, too, but what strikes one even more is the sheer volume of information that appears to be transmitted without a single detail being lost — a quality that is, I think, genuinely difficult to find in any other cable. ※ At the time of the review the original version was evaluated. The revised model became the ESOTERIC 7N-A2500 Ⅱ MEXCEL RCA.
～ Summary ～
My sincere thanks once again to Mr Fujii of Fuji Record, who so kindly gave permission for the reprinting of material from his newsletter. Outside of magazine impressions confined to a set format, presenting impressions of this many RCA cables in one place on a blog — spanning from entry-level through to expensive high-end — is something that is nearly impossible for an individual Hi-Fi enthusiast to manage, and the reviews and angles taken here were enormously informative. In particular, compared to this author — a small-world pure audio enthusiast who is all too liable to be biased towards idiosyncratic foreign products — the analysis here is, as one would expect from a professional involved in the audio industry, admirably balanced, and the way of expressing things is quite different from that of the usual critic, which makes it easy to follow and feels genuinely refreshing. I hope this page may prove to be a blessing for all those out there agonising over the choice of audio cable.
Recommended RCA Cables Part 1: Entry-Level, Classical & Jazz
Category: Interconnect Cables
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