Ultimate Cables
Roy Harris
Ultimate
Cables, a small Canadian cable company came to my attention while browsing
a cable forum. The name of the company peaked my curiosity. Several conversations
with Carl Barbieri and the slow and steady Canada Post led to 2 shipments
of interconnects, speaker cable and line cords. The first shipment contained
2 power cords, a pair of speaker cable and a one meter pair of interconnects.
The interconnect cable was terminated with Neutrik connectors and the
speaker cable had rhodium spades. I suggested replacing the connectors
with Vampire wire RCAs and Vampire wire gold plated spades. About two
weeks after the first shipment, I received a 1 meter interconnect terminated
with Vampire RCAs and a 6 foot pair of speaker cables terminated with
Vampire gold spades.
The cables used in the review include
the following:
1 meter silver series C4 interconnect with Vampire Wire gold RCA connectors
$60
6 feet silver series C4 speaker cable with Vampire gold spades $130
6 feet silver series C4 power cord x 2 @ $95 $190
---------
total $380
Note, the silver series c4 interconnect
is available, fitted with Neutrik RCAs at $45/meter. The above cable represents
the least expensive set of cables I have reviewed. In comparison to other
high-end cable products, the Ultimate Cables could be considered a good
value if their performance is competitive with other more expensive cable
offerings. Read on. I’ll report. Thereafter, you, the reader, can
decide.
Specifications
All cables are cryogenically treated.
The goal is to provide clarity and detail, and compete with more expensive
cable products, using as few materials and as simple a design as possible.
Interconnect cable: Wires are stranded. Twenty strands are used
for both hot and ground conductors. The result is 18 gauge. Each wire
is 50 % copper and 50 % silver. The geometry is a litz configuration.
A Teflon tube covers each conductor. A silver plated copper braided shield
is placed over the Teflon tubes and soldered at one end—the source
end. Another Teflon tube covers the shield. The outer covering is a nylon
wrap. The Vampire wire conductors are attached to the wires using 4 %
silver WBT solder. Speaker cable: Wires are stranded. Twenty
strands are used for each conductor. The ground and the hot each use two
conductors. The result is 12 gauge. Geometry and wire composition is the
same as described above for interconnect cable. A PVC tube covers all
4 conductors and a nylon jacket is the outer covering. Vampire wire spades
are crimped. A very small amount of 4 % WBT silver solder is used for
durability, but does not affect the sound. Power cord: The hot,
ground and neutral contain 20 strands, whose composition and geometry
were described above. Each conductor is 12 gauge and is covered by a Teflon
tube. Thereafter a PVC tube surrounds the three Teflon tubes. Conductors
are terminated to a Marinco plug and IEC with set screws. The outer jacket
is a nylon wrap.
Listening Sessions
The interconnect cable was fed a signal
from a CD player to a receiver for about 300 hours. Line cords were piggybacked
and connected to a cd player for more than two weeks. The speaker cable
was connected to a Hegerman Fry Baby for 5 days. I placed the speaker
cable in my stereo system before replacing my reference interconnect and
line cords. I auditioned the speaker cables without the Ultimate interconnects
and line cords to continue the break-in procedure, as a cable cooker by
itself is usually not sufficient to complete the break-in of a cable.
The speaker cable requires a musical signal in addition to white noise.
After I observed a period of stability,
I introduced the interconnect and line cords. Thereafter, the critical
audition period commenced.
I selected my sources to help expose
component flaws. TWO OF A KIND, BMG D102533, is a test of lower midrange,
upper midrange and lower treble frequencies. At the beginning of track
3, I perceived a cymbal strike coming from outside of and behind the left
speaker. The sound of the cymbal and the acoustic guitar emphasized articulation
over texture, a possible indication of the silver content of the cable.
The frequency response was balanced and the sound of silver was not objectionable.
While silver often creates an excess of treble harmonics, I did not observe
such an imbalance. Holly Cole, DON’T SMOKE IN BED, Alert Z2 81020,
track 1, features a close-miked female voice. Holly Cole’s voice
was free of grain and other sonic artifacts. The sibilance, while not
covered up, sounded natural and not exaggerated. All musical details,
especially vocal inflections and trailing consonants were appropriately
enunciated. The acoustic bass was controlled, both in the articulation
of the strings and the vibration of the wood body. Donald Fagen’s
voice, heard on AJA, MCAD 37124, track 3, was very clear. There was no
veil, slurring of consonants and no exaggeration of his lisp. There was,
again, no noise or grain riding on the voice. The tenor sax exhibited
a slight timbral inaccuracy. There was a small dip in the lower midrange,
rather than a peak in the upper midrange/lower treble region. While there
was no brightness, the tone of the instrument was somewhat alto-like,
the result of a subtractive coloration.
The last two sources are classic compositions
from the orchestral repertory. Offenbach, “Gaite Parisienne”,
track 1, JVC XR 224, is conducted by Arthur Fiedler. The string section
emanated from the left edge and behind the left speaker. The triangle
exhibited a sparkle, without sounding bright. The space between it and
a wood block was consistent with what I have heard when listening to this
CD using more expensive cable. The level of resolution enabled one to
hear each strike and release of the triangle, along with the brief decay
which followed each strike. The second orchestral selection was Ravel,
“Alborado del Gracioso”, London 414046. In terms of sonics,
this 1961 recording is one of the better representations of the sound
of an orchestra. The playing of a clarinet revealed the cables capabilities
of soundstage depth. The clarinet was positioned near the wall behind
the two speakers, in the center. The cymbal crashes evinced a slight hint
of dryness, which in its degree, while indicative of the presence of silver,
did not detract from the enjoyment of the music. Finally, the placement
of the bassoon solo, deep into the heart of the orchestra, conveyed the
ambience of the hall.
Conclusion
The most salient characteristics I detected
during my time with the cables included resolution, an absence of sonic
artifacts, wide and deep soundstage, an absence of veiling, and a spectral
balance which was ever-so slightly lean of neutral. Coloration was subtractive.
Frequency response was balanced except for an occasional dip in the lower
midrange. There was an emphasis upon focus rather than body. The bass
region exhibited clarity and control. The sound of silver was audible,
but without the usual excesses, i.e., additive coloration. It would seem
that these cables present audiophiles with the possibility of achieving
some of their goals at a very reasonable cost.
Associated Equipment
CD Player: Vincent CD S6
Preamp: Bent TVC passive
Amplifier: VTL Deluxe 120
Speaker: Magnepan 1.6
Interconnect cable: Soundstring Audio, Maple Audio Whisper cable
Speaker cable: Element Cable Signature
AC cords: Omega Mikro, Voodoo Cable Mojo, Element Cable
Signature, Clarity Audio double copper
Room treatment: Room Tunes, Eco tunes, egg crate mattress
AC treatment: PS Audio 300, PS Audio Ultimate Outlet, Chang ISO
6400, Noise Harvester, Alan Maher Power Enhancers,
Quantum Symphony—2, Blue Circle Sound Pillows
Nirvana Audio isolation transformer
Passive components: Sound Fusion Sound Busters, Enacom speaker filters
Manufactured by Ultimate Cables
Source of review sample: Manufacturer loan
E-mail: sales@ultimatecables.com
