Perfect Stranger
Talking about cables is talking about controversy in the world of HiFi. It makes no sense to me, but that's the reality, the absurd reality, let me tell you. Even the most novice among us, if they have been into it for more than a year, will have come across heated discussions on this subject.
I never feel under any moral obligation to make my postulates clear from the outset, letting the reader discover them little by little over time by reading my articles, my reviews or my comments on social networks. I'm in no hurry at all, not even for that. But on a subject where categorical and categorical maximalisms are spreading everywhere, I think it's interesting to synthesize mine so that haters, detractors and holders of the Authentic Dogma are willing, even if it only takes a little of their time, to LISTEN to someone other than themselves and consider what part of the reason they think they have. Most likely none. I wasn't born yesterday.
- Every element in the musical chain contributes something, for better or for worse, but something, in my opinion.
- Only a transmitted signal integrates through NOTHING, nothing would add to or subtract from the original signal. This technology does not currently exist, as wireless transmission is conditioned by many protocols and signal interference that is too high, in my opinion.
- Cables add or subtract a series of characteristics to the sound that we could clearly define as passive equalization, in my opinion.
- Their assessment is extremely complicated, as they provide a small improvement or impairment to the system and require much more attention and dedication than other more decisive elements such as speakers-amplification-source, in that order. But only the correct wiring between these elements will make them truly shine. You know, people applaud the goalscorer and pay little attention to the one who makes the last pass, as I understand it.
Sorry for writing the above, sorry for being necessary.
Wires4Music is a Spanish company with a craftsman's vocation. There are few greater compliments for me than this. Being a craftsman gives you the possibility of ordering your exact cable, both in terms of measurements and materials. They have a catalog of standard products where you can choose which cable best suits your budget or need. But it is not a closed box, you can customize the conductors and their terminations within a wide range of available materials.
Lorenzo Sánchez is the visible face of the brand and in order to provide more information for this review I phoned him so that he could tell me in person the vocation with which they had developed the different product lines. His passion is contagious, you have been warned. Talking to someone who is so passionate about the world of audio is very inspiring. And if I have time, we can sit and talk for hours.
Although I was offered any series for review, I opted for the EVOLUTION 2. As a magazine, I always have to prioritize new releases, and now we have the EVOLUTION 2 as the brand's new benchmark. But there is another issue, and it is no minor one. We are talking about a mid-range of cables with affordable prices for almost any budget, which makes it realistically possible for a considerable number of enthusiasts to acquire them.
First contact
Before being able to check the sound of any element, we have the physical impressions that denote the brand's commitment to the presentation and quick assessment that any customer can make of the product. In a large-scale production, it is almost mandatory to personalize the packaging and its correct first visual impact. In small-scale production, this level of detail is not expected. It is forgivable and excusable for its absence for purely economic reasons of production. But, oh surprise, Wires4Music have made up for the lack of resources with ingenuity and deliver their product with an elegant and very dignified presentation. Honestly, it is above my previous expectations and I am guilty, in my case, of prejudices that usually do not help much and in this case, they do not help at all.
The cables received at the editorial office were the following:
- Evolution 2 Power Cord
- Evolution 2 LS
- Evolution Interconnection
Within the same series, they also have the Evolution 2 Digital in coaxial and AES/EBU, but at the time of the review I did not have any components available to use it with and so I did not use it. I do not review based on other people's comments or what I have heard, either I can test it myself or I explain it naturally. In this case, the logistics made it impossible for me to test all the cables and it was not the responsibility of the company, which did make them available to me.
How did I carry out the tests?
When you've been on this Earth for a long time, you learn life lessons along the way. One of them is that we get used to the best very quickly and find it harder to adapt to something inferior. It happens to all of us. We are more sensitive to loss than to gain, if the gain is small. And the differences that a few cables can make to a system are small but substantial if you find the right combination. Therefore, the most attentive are already realizing that my way of analyzing a component from which I hope to get only a nuance is by downward substitution (theoretically). The original cables of my system are: the power cable is the original one from the device; the speaker cable is Taga Harmony Platinum 18-16C and the RCA interconnect is a basic Ixos.
Configuration of the equipment used: EMT 948 turntable, PS Audio DirectStream DAC, Daphile music server, Bow Technologies Wazoo XL and RadioTehnika Giant FS-100N.
Evolution 2 Power Cord
The model tested is a product with few hours of life, as is the Evolution 2 LS. They were assembled and sent to the editorial office without any running-in period. This worries the person in charge of the company and not me. He doesn't know me well. The power cable is initially connected to my Bow Technologies Wazoo XL amplifier. It is a wonderful amplifier, but it eats up electricity at a furious pace. 70 watts/hour at rest, almost 800 watts in operation. And it operates many hours a day. As I said, cable burn-in, no problem.
The Evolution 2 Power Cord is a hefty cable, both in size and weight. The cable has a diameter of about 17 mm and a soft Techflex outer mesh finish. Its high-quality carbon fiber Schuko/IEC connectors with rhodium finish give it that sumptuous and elegant presence. The inner cable is made of 6N (99.9999%) pure copper.
With cables of these characteristics, you have to bear in mind which devices you want to connect them to, because if they are not big and heavy enough, they can literally be lifted off their base.
Solid and robust in appearance. I couldn't find any drawbacks in the finish. And this is important because we are all going to start telling the truth. Cables are by far the ugliest part of our music systems and if it were really possible we would eliminate them at the root. But they are necessary, so if they also provide a little extra beauty, everything counts. In top systems, where the separation from the rear panel is religiously respected for acoustic necessity, everything is visible. And the sum of some sources, amplifier, DAC, preamps, speakers, etc., makes you enter the most terrible abysses and absolutely zero WAF. Now do you understand why a little beauty, beyond its acoustic functionality, is well received?
And how does using it affect the sound?
In previous experiences with high-end cables, I could notice their influence on the sound clarity of a French Jadis valve system connected to a Proac in a way that was indisputable to my ear. That same cable connected to a Meridian offered almost no improvement to the sound and I am being generous. At this point my memory is playing a trick on me and I am unable to remember the brand of the power cable. Sorry.
Well, I'm going to get my head kicked in here, but I'll tell you what I noticed. On the magnificent recording of Leonard Cohen Live in London |Buy now| , there is a marvel called If it Be your Will. It was on this track that I heard the background noise for the first time. As it was new to me, it caught my attention. I swapped the PowerCord for the standard cable and could hear how Mr. Cohen's voice became a little huskier, the background noise disappeared and the crystalline sounds of this track became clearer, but not that much clearer. I put the PowerCord back in and repeat the same experience, but now with more details that I can appreciate. The volume seems to increase a little. It doesn't make sense, as the equipment has been connected and disconnected and on the Bow the potentiometer remains static and does not vary. The crystalline sound becomes a little brighter and clearer and it is easier for me to understand Cohen's diction. In the case of his female choir, at no time and with no cables have I had any problems. The soundstage is equally maintained. Is it worth the expense for these improvements? It depends on your system and your level of demand and ability to afford it. If you can, do it.
Evolution 2 LS
Interconnection cable between amplifier and speakers. These cables were also shipped without any break-in, so we are using their banana connectors for the first time. They are 2.5 meters long and have an external diameter of 12 mm, which makes them very discreet cables, with a very good flexibility that makes them usable in practically any situation. The connectors have a rhodium-plated steel and carbon fiber base. A double PVC dielectric is used for the insulating part.
These cables have directionality, which is marked with their respective labels at each end. In my case EV2002A (Amplifier) and EV2002S (Speaker). Respecting the directionality of the signal is important and allows the cables to give their best.
And how does their use affect the sound?
Compared to the reference Taga Harmony, there are few but significant nuances in my opinion. The soundstage is a little smaller, but it softens the excess brightness that some recordings can produce in my room. It is a more "muted" cable but it brings out the vocals beautifully, giving them a naturalness, charm and warmth that have stolen my heart. The cut-off of the high end fits perfectly with my equipment. I also want to highlight a recurring but always live issue. The price of these cables is double that of their previous tenant and they don't achieve even 5% improvement. Fine-tuning a system, passively equalizing a sound is this and it is not cheap.
I almost forgot, I've been having a great time listening to Lhasa de Sela with this setup and I can't help but get excited about her music and thank Pati Difusa for introducing me to it.
Evolution MKII RCA Interconnection
These cables arrived in our hands during the shoot and could be evaluated immediately in optimal conditions. Manufactured using 99.99998% high-purity copper and with Furutech connectors. The outer sheath is made of Techflex and the conductors are individually insulated with 4 mm Teflon and cotton. The manufacturer's label is on one end of the cable. This end is the one that always has to be connected to the source according to its specifications. Obviously we followed its instructions, since respecting the directionality is important. Perhaps at the communication level it would be necessary to indicate the correct way to connect it with some small printed or explanatory graphic. In the version we received, none of these things existed and we had to consult about it.
Unlike the Power Cord or the LS from the same Wires4Music, the visual appearance and the feel are not as nice as the previous ones and they are a step behind in this respect. I'm demanding when it comes to what I ask of products, I know. But if we want to play with the big boys, or rather, against the big boys, we have to take care of everything in an almost obsessive way. Does this affect the sound that has to be transmitted between the components? Not at all.
And how does its use affect the sound?
Sincerity above all. Due to lack of time, instead of testing the cable in a strictly isolated way and checking it with all the previous basic cables, replacing only the Ixos; I did the following: Evolution2 PowerCord and Evolution2 LS with Ixos interconnect. One hour of music and without a break, replacing the Ixos with the Evolution2 MKII interconnect.
At the moment I can only really talk about the Evolution2 set applied to the amplifier, speaker connection and interconnection of the magnificent PS Audio DirectStream DAC with the Bow Technologies; not about the interconnection cable individually, but I think the overall results speak for themselves.
The whole has given the system an extra degree of clarity with a clear but not excessive "punch" in the bass. For me this point is very interesting, as I don't like excess in this field at all, nor its absence. It has to be just right, obviously "my right" which may be different to yours. I want the bass to be "round", smooth, not rubbery. In professional electronics the bass is rubbery. I hate it. In Vangelis's 1492 |Buy now| , at a certain point a bass with these characteristics sounds and I use it frequently to "see" how "round" the low end of the system is.
The synergy of the components is a kind of magic potion that sometimes happens and sometimes doesn't. On this occasion the stars have aligned to give me a few hours of glory that I plan to enjoy to the full.
At the time of writing this article, there is an exclusive offer for all readers and friends of Amigos Hifi for the purchase of products from Wires4Music in general. When you go to make your purchase, enter the promotional code AMIGOSHIFI in the shopping cart and you will automatically receive a 10% discount on your purchases.