Kees van V.
Sources: QUAD Artera Play+ Preamp CD player; Denafrips Avatar reading mechanism; Reavon UBR-X200 Blu-ray player; Panasonic DP-UB9004 Blu-ray player.
Amplifier: Marantz SR5015 preamplifier; 2x QUAD Artera Stereo power amplifiers; 2x QUAD II Tube power amplifiers
Acoustic Speakers: QUAD ESL63.2 QA; QUAD ESL57 QA
Other: 2x QUAD Subwoofers; Central Mission M3C2; Smart TV LG OLED77C9PLA
The following review of HDMI cables, Dedalus and Invictus is the result of the "Ricable Review" initiative. Ricable Review is the program designed by Ricable, created to collect feedback from audiophiles, in order to lead to continuous improvement of the products in the catalog. Last but not least, those who join the program receive a certificate at home, with the purpose of certifying how the customer has become to all intents and purposes part of the " Ricable" family.
The following Feedback was created on the basis of a predefined questionnaire to which the user returned his impressions, in a completely free. We thank Kees for his time.
First I have to state that I'm not a technician, don't have very much knowledge how everything works, just a guy who writes a review based on his own seeing and hearing and experience for many years. I don't have any personal or financial involvement in Ricable at all. I'm writing this review out of my own free will and also because Ricable has asked me very nicely if I would like to write a review and to become a member.
Before I start my review that made me choose Ricable something to say to my personal opinion and experience in general.
Does a perfect sound system exist? What is a perfect sound system? How does it sound like? When are you satisfied what you want to achieve? Wouldn't that be all a matter of personal taste? And last but not least what do you want to spend on your hi-fi sound system?
When you’re lucky and got tickets for a live concert you have a reference what music sounds like. Especially listening to classical music in a concert hall is a good experience how an orchestra sounds performing a symphony with all the finesses and timbre of the individual instruments and when the full orchestra is playing. All so balanced, refined, crisp and clear.
Then you start thinking would it be possible to achieve the same in my living room? Simple answer: No. Would it be possible to come some closer to the original sound: Yes.
It all starts with the source: The recording of music. When a recording is good the music sounds good on your loudspeakers whether the recording is put on a vinyl record, a CD or a (Blu-ray) DVD. When the recording is bad the output of your loudspeakers sounds also bad. I’m still wondering how it’s possible that there are highly respected record label firms who exist more than 70 years one makes excellent recordings from the beginning and the other one, even with the nowadays technical possibilities, is still able to make recordings which sound like the microphones were placed behind 2 layers of velvet curtains. Strange.
Then your hi-fi equipment e.g. amplifiers, loudspeakers, CD and Blu-ray players, DACs. There is so many to talk about and to choose. And yes one and the other could make a great difference, even more affordable equipment could still sound better than highly priced components. One aspect I didn’t mention yet, the acoustic in the room you are listening to your music and the placing of your loudspeakers could make a hell of a difference. Apart from some loudspeakers the majority of the loudspeakers require space at the rear for reflection. You create more depth. So don’t place your speakers directly to the wall. The distance between the placing of your loudspeakers as well as the angle may bring a lot of more balance to the sound. Also your furniture. curtains and a carpet on the floor or a wooden floor have influence on the acoustic.You need to try out and listen carefully what suits you best.
Now I come to my review on the Ricable cables. Although I’m absolutely satisfied and enjoy my hi-fi components very very much, I still miss the balance and the finesses of the real sometimes. It always looks like that the left channel is a bit louder than the right channel, not in balance. Honestly I was never interested in hi-fi cables because I had some bad experiences with quite expensive HDMI cables which were highly recommended by lots of enthusiastic music lovers. Well I bought 4 cables. First of all I couldn’t hear or see any difference compared to the cables of EUR 20,00, moreover all these 4 HDMI cables broke down completely between a period of 14 to 20 months. Useless and a waste of good money.
Surfing on the internet web my attention was caught by a man who spoke highly of Ricable HDMI cables which made a great difference to his hi-fi system. I’d never heard or read about this Italian firm. Being curious though I consulted the website of Ricable. I was interested immediately. What a great choice of cables, very well accomplished with information and for me important a lifetime warranty and very good buying conditions. However I was a bit shocked by the prices and scratched behind my ears, should I buy these cables? Quality may have its price. I had a nice chat with Dario and Sergio and got excellent advice.
Well the top best industrial and technical products are made in the northern part of Italy. Being a bit reluctant still I decided to buy the Supreme HDMI. After all, the Italian people have a great taste in designing, wining and dining and the proof of the pudding is in eating. I received the cable within the expected time frame of 2-3 days. It was very well packed. After unpacking I connected the HDMI cable directly to the Apple 4K TV and the Marantz SR5015 amplifier to start and experience with.
Within a second I was overwhelmed by the sound and video. Wow what an improvement this HDMI cable makes. This decided me to buy the top of the range and more expensive HDMI cable, the Visus HDMI.
After receiving, unpacking and connecting the Visus cables to my Panasonic Blu-ray player, the Reavon Blu-ray player as well as the LG television to the Marantz amplifier I was even more amazed. Is this really possible with hi-fi cables? Yes and even better in sound and video than the Supreme cable. Would there be more possible? After reading about speaker cables, reviews of other customers and chatting with Dario I decided to buy the Invictus Speaker Reference to connect my QUAD ESL63.2 QA electrostatics and the QUAD subwoofers as well as the Invictus Signal to connect the QUAD Artera stereo amplifiers to the Marantz pre-amplifier. Yes another improvement to the sound, which I’ll explain in chapter 3 and 4 of the questionnaire. Then I bought the Invictus Coaxial to connect the Denafrips Avatar CD player to the Marantz amplifier. Again a great improvement in sound. What could be possible more? The cable I hadn’t changed yet was the power cable and really these cables cost a fortune. Ricable also sells used and guaranteed cables. There was a Invictus Power VP35 available of half the price, just the one I wanted to buy. The results were amazing, which you can also read about in chapters 3 and 4.
Since my setup of the QUAD Artera Play+, the QUAD II Tube amplifiers and the QUAD ESL57 QA electrostatics is a stand alone I started with the Dedalus Signal to connect these amplifiers to the Artera Play+ pre-amplifier/CD player. I decided for the Dedalus instead of the Invictus because of the length of the cables I needed which were not available in the Invictus series*. I can only say: The results in sound improvement were also amazing, again, it sounds a bit dull, to be explained in chapter 3 and 4 of the questionnaire.
*Note: On special request and additional costs longer cables can be made.
On the website of Ricable the photos of the cables look great, yet it is still a photo. In reality the aesthetics are beyond my expectations. I like the different kind of colors Ricable is using for the different quality ranges of the cables in the series of products. When you're not so fond of different colors Ricable also offers to provide all your cables in the same color.
The cables are so well constructed, I've never seen this up till now. The pure golden connections are so well built, solid and very nicely put into the outer layer of the cable. The materials are great.
The cables weigh quite something and are stiff, however have some flexibility at the same time, very solid. Special attention I give to the Invictus power cable. This cable weighs a ton and is so thick you can moor an oil tanker at the quay.
Due to the power cable I needed to re-arrange some of my hi-fi components in the in and outside of the hi-fi furniture. Keep that in mind before buying. The cables are very nicely packed in a box, especially the speaker and power cable boxes which look like a jewelry box. Don't throw the boxes away. It would be a waste and a pity. You might be needing the box whenever you decide or need to return the cable to Ricable in Italy. When not needed you can always keep your jewelry in it.
As I wrote in chapter 1 my first amazing impression in sound and video improvement was the Supreme HDMI cable which I connected to the Apple TV and Marantz amplifier. Then I tested this cable on the 2 Blu-ray/CD players. Same results in quality improvement of sound and video. For testing I always use the same Blu-ray DVD's, a DVD and CD's. These are respectively:
- Johann Sebastian Bach: Brandenburg Concertos Nos. 1-6 performed by the Orchestra Mozart and conducted by Claudio Abbado
- testing: concerto no. 1, 4 and 6
- Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 2 by the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra conducted by Daniele Gatti
- testing: part I > Allegro maestoso and part IV and V > Urlicht. Sehr feierlich. Aber schlicht / "Auferstehn"
- Hector Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique by the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra conducted by Daniele Gatti
- testing: part IV > Marche au supplice and part V > Songe d'une nuit du Sabbat
- Claude Debussy: Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune and La Mer
- Igor Stravinsky: Le Sacre du printemps; both by the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra conducted by Daniele Gatti
- testing: parts of the Préludes of Debussy and parts of Le Sacre of Stravinsky
- Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphonies 1-9 by the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, conductor Mariss Jansons
- testing: Symphony no. 7 and 9
- Fryderyk Chopin: The Piano Concertos, performed by the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, soloists: Nikolai Demidenko (No. 1)
- Evgeny Kissin: Piano Concerto No. 2, conductor Antoni Wit
- testing: Concerto no. 2
- Johann Sebastian Bach: Brandenburg Concertos Nos. 1-6 performed by the Freiburger Barockorchester
- testing: concerto no. 1, 4 and 6
- Georg Friedrich Händel: Concerti Grossi, Op. 3 performed by the Händel & Haydn Society, conducted by Christopher Hogwood
- testing: concerto no. 1 and 6
- Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 2 performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Sir Georg Solti
- testing: part I, IV and V
- Jean Sibelius: 7 Symphonies by the Oslo Philharmonic, conducted by Klaus Mäkelä (a very recent recording)
- testing: Symphony no. 1
Compared to my old HDMI cables the quality improvement of the Supreme HDMI cable in sound is the balance, and the music is more crisp, clear and detailed; the improvement of quality in video is the brightness, sharpness and colors.
The Visus HDMI cables go beyond this all. Better in all the aspects I mentioned. The Invictus Reference loudspeaker cable, the Invictus Signal RCA cable and the Invictus power cable give the extra boost to the closest approach to the natural sound.
The Invictus coaxial cable and the Dedalus Signal RCA cables also give you the balance and transparency of the music. Such a great improvement. So nice to listen to.
Some parts I already explained in general in chapter 3. Now the details of the improvement of quality in sound and video.
For testing I always start with the Blu-ray of the Brandenburg Concertos of J.S. Bach. The video part is literally quite dark you can hardly see how the concert hall and audience look like. The authentic horns could sound too sharp sometimes, likewise the piccolo and recorder.
The 2nd test is the Blu-ray of Mahler's Symphony No. 2 for the huge dynamic in this music and the beginning of the first part when all the double basses start to play. Then followed by the other parts of this symphony with the choirs and percussion.
The 3rd test is part IV and V of the Symphonie Fantastique of Berlioz also for its dynamic and the majestical music as a whole.
I test the latter ones especially, because I was in the audience during these live recordings in the Amsterdam concert hall. This concert hall is famous for its very special acoustic. That is a real good reference how classical music sounds. To get this in your living room, well.............?
These 3 tests are followed by the other music mentioned in chapter 3, old and recent recordings to compare using the Ricable cables.
The video part.
In one word: WOW! So much brightness and clarity, it looks like a whole bunch of spotlights were put on stage and in the concert hall. Now the concert hall and audience are visible during the performance of the Brandenburg concertos, amazing how the hall is decorated with golden colors. This brightness and clarity apply for all the recordings. During close ups of the musicians e.g. you can see the difference of the fabrics of the clothing. Most of the time they wear black. And one black of a dress or a tailcoat is not the same as the other black, more like 50 shades of black.
It's all so bright and refined, it almost looks like 3D, yet in a real complete natural way. Regular TV broadcastings, movies, nature films, whatever you mention it doesn't matter. People can step out from the screen directly into your living room, so clear, refined and natural.
The sound part.
In one word again: WOW! The balance is so good, the deepness, the acoustic of the concert hall, the finesses and timbre of the instruments are amazing, whether it's a solo instrument or an orchestra.
Now the horns, piccolo and recorder of the authentic instruments on the Brandenburg Concertos sound absolutely wonderful. So great to listen to the 2 horns and clarinet together in the 1st concerto.
Listening to the Mahler symphony, I was flabbergasted how these doubles basses sound, the alto and soprano, the choirs so clear that you can hear what they are singing. The huge dynamic to the music is thrilling and breathtaking. Wow.
Then part IV and V of the Symphonie Fantastique of Berlioz. Listen to all the pizzicatos of the violins, all the other strings, the full set of all wind instruments in combination with the bombastic percussion, the bells and than the little piccolo that rises above it all. The music itself might be a little bit bold and grotesque to someone perhaps, however marvelous when you hear it all together and hear every detail. Goosebumps.
At the other tests of the cables the same results. Transparency, depth, acoustic, balance, finesses and timbre, all is there even on the old recordings of the selected CD's.
But not just the selection above. The CD's of Ella Fitzgerald's Song Books and The Reprise Years of Frank Sinatra e.g., incredible how these sound. The timbre of the voices so wonderful and warm. Love it.
Your conclusions.
I'll try to keep it short this time. All depends how you would like to listen to your favorite music or want to view your favorite movie. It is a combination of personal taste, acoustic in your living room, the money you want to spend, the goal you want to achieve and all the hi-fi equipment together. An absolutely perfect sound system doesn't exist whatever amount of money you're putting into it.
Whenever you doubt about your equipment consider to buy the Ricable cables. It might save you for spending a lot of money. You'll be astonished what these cables are capable of. This specialized company offers a great variety of cables all in a different price range. Consult the webpages of Ricable and ask for information. Chats are answered by instant, they give great advice and it's a joy chatting with these people.
The conditions are wonderful, the state of deliveries are to be followed by the weblink of the courier you're provided, their kind of service is a reference.
My final conclusion.
To keep it to the dining, the HDMI cables, the Coaxial and the Signal RCA cables are the whole cake and the Loudspeaker cables and Power cables are the icing of the cake.
I can only say from the bottom of my heart: Thank you, thank you, thank you, you great people of Ricable for bringing so much joy into the (hi-fi) world.
What did you enjoy?
- Audio and video performance
- Aesthetics
- Construction of the cables with top materials
- Value for money
- Conditions, lifetime warranty, service
What would you improve?
- Nothing
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First I must state that I am not a technician, I don't have much knowledge of how everything works, just a guy who writes a review based on his vision, his hearing and his experience for many years. I have no personal or financial involvement in Ricable. I am writing this review of my own free will and also because Ricable asked me very nicely if I would like to write a review and become a member.
Before I begin my review that made me choose Ricable I have something to say about my personal opinion and experience in general.
Is there such a thing as a perfect sound system? What is a perfect sound system? How does it sound? When are you satisfied with what you want to achieve? Wouldn't it all be a matter of personal taste? And last but not least, what do you want to spend on your hi-fi sound system?
Quando sei fortunato e hai i biglietti per un concerto dal vivo, hai un riferimento su come suona la musica. Soprattutto ascoltare musica classica in una sala da concerto è una bella esperienza di come suona un’orchestra che esegue una sinfonia con tutte le finezze e il timbro dei singoli strumenti e quando suona l’intera orchestra. Tutto così equilibrato, raffinato, nitido e chiaro.
Quindi inizi a pensare che sarebbe possibile ottenere lo stesso nel mio salotto? Risposta semplice: no. Sarebbe possibile avvicinarsi un po’ al suono originale: sì.
Tutto parte dalla fonte: la registrazione della musica. Quando una registrazione è buona, la musica suona bene sui tuoi altoparlanti, sia che la registrazione sia su un disco in vinile, un CD o un DVD (Blu-ray). Quando la registrazione è scadente, anche l’uscita dei tuoi altoparlanti suona male. Mi chiedo ancora come sia possibile che esistano case discografiche molto rispettate che esistano da più di 70 anni, una fa registrazioni eccellenti fin dall’inizio e l’altra, anche con le possibilità tecniche odierne, è ancora in grado di fare registrazioni che suonano come se i microfoni fossero stati posizionati dietro 2 strati di tende di velluto. Strano.
E poi la tua attrezzatura hi-fi, ad esempio amplificatori, altoparlanti, lettori CD-Blu-ray, DAC. Ce ne sono tanti di cui parlare e da scegliere. E sì, l’uno e l’altro potrebbero fare una grande differenza, anche apparecchiature più economiche potrebbero comunque suonare meglio di componenti costosi. Un aspetto che non ho ancora menzionato, è l’acustica nella stanza in cui stai ascoltando la tua musica e il posizionamento dei tuoi altoparlanti potrebbe fare una differenza incredibile. A parte alcuni altoparlanti, la maggior parte degli altoparlanti richiede spazio nella parte posteriore per il riflesso del suono. Crei più profondità. Quindi non posizionare gli altoparlanti direttamente sul muro. La distanza tra il posizionamento dei diffusori e l’angolo possono portare molto più equilibrio al suono. Anche i tuoi mobili. Le tende e un tappeto sul pavimento o un pavimento in legno influiscono sull’acustica. Devi provare e ascoltare attentamente ciò che ti si addice meglio.
Vengo ora alla mia recensione sui cavi Ricable. Anche se sono assolutamente soddisfatto e mi piacciono molto i miei componenti hi-fi, a volte mi mancano ancora l’equilibrio e la finezza del reale. Sembra sempre che il canale sinistro sia un po’ più forte del canale destro, non in equilibrio. Onestamente non sono mai stato interessato ai cavi hi-fi perché ho avuto delle brutte esperienze con cavi HDMI piuttosto costosi che sono stati altamente raccomandati da molti entusiasti amanti della musica. Beh, ho comprato 4 cavi. Prima di tutto non ho potuto sentire o vedere alcuna differenza rispetto ai cavi da 20 euro, inoltre tutti questi 4 cavi HDMI si sono rotti completamente in un periodo di 14-20 mesi. Inutile e uno spreco di soldi.
Navigando su internet la mia attenzione è stata catturata da un uomo che parlava molto bene dei cavi HDMI Ricable che hanno fatto una grande differenza per il suo impianto hi-fi. Non avevo mai sentito o letto di questa azienda italiana. Incuriosito però ho consultato il sito di Ricable. Mi sono subito interessato. Che grande scelta di cavi, molto ben realizzata con tante informazioni e, per me importante, una garanzia a vita e ottime condizioni di acquisto. Tuttavia sono rimasto un po’ scioccato dai prezzi e mi sono chiesto… dovrei comprare questi cavi? La qualità può avere il suo prezzo. Ho fatto una bella chiacchierata con Dario e Sergio e ho ricevuto ottimi consigli.
Ebbene, i migliori prodotti industriali e tecnici sono realizzati nella parte settentrionale dell’Italia. Essendo ancora un po’ riluttante, ho deciso di acquistare il cavo Supreme HDMI. Dopotutto, gli italiani hanno un grande gusto nel progettare, nel bere e nel mangiare e non puoi dire gatto, se non lo hai nel sacco.
Ho ricevuto il cavo entro il periodo di tempo previsto di 2-3 giorni. Era molto ben confezionato. Dopo aver disimballato il tutto, ho collegato il cavo HDMI direttamente alla TV Apple 4K e all’amplificatore Marantz SR5015 per iniziare e sperimentare.
In un secondo sono stato sopraffatto dal suono e dal video. Wow, che miglioramento apporta questo cavo HDMI. Questo mi ha convinto ad acquistare il cavo HDMI top di gamma e più costoso, il Visus HDMI.
Dopo aver ricevuto, disimballato e collegato i cavi Visus al mio lettore Blu-ray Panasonic, al lettore Blu-ray Reavon e tra il televisore LG e l’amplificatore Marantz, sono rimasto ancora più stupito. È davvero possibile ciò con i cavi hi-fi? Sì e anche meglio in audio e video rispetto al cavo Supreme. Sarebbe possibile fare ancora meglio? Dopo aver letto dei cavi speaker, recensioni di altri clienti e chiacchierato con Dario ho deciso di acquistare l’Invictus Speaker Reference per collegare le mie elettrostatiche QUAD ESL63.2 QA e i subwoofer QUAD oltre che l’Invictus Signal per collegare gli amplificatori stereo QUAD Artera al preamplificatore Marantz. Sì, un altro miglioramento del suono, che spiegherò nei capitoli 3 e 4 del questionario. Poi ho acquistato il cavo hi-fi Invictus Coaxialper collegare il lettore CD Denafrips Avatar all’amplificatore Marantz. Ancora una volta un grande miglioramento del suono. Cosa potrebbe essere possibile di più? Il cavo che non avevo ancora cambiato era il cavo di alimentazione e in realtà questi cavi costano una fortuna. Ricable vende anche cavi usati e garantiti. C’era un cavo di alimentazione Invictus Power VP35 a metà prezzo, proprio quello che volevo acquistare. I risultati sono stati sorprendenti, di cui puoi leggere anche nei capitoli 3 e 4.
Poiché la mia configurazione del QUAD Artera Play+, degli amplificatori QUAD II Tube e del QUAD ESL57 QA è indipendente, ho iniziato con il Dedalus Signal per collegare questi amplificatori al preamplificatore/lettore CD Artera Play+. Ho deciso per il Dedalus invece dell’Invictus a causa della lunghezza dei cavi di cui avevo bisogno che non erano disponibili nella serie Invictus.* Posso solo dire: anche i risultati nel miglioramento del suono sono stati sorprendenti, ancora una volta suona un po’ noioso, da spiegare nei capitoli 3 e 4 del questionario.
* Note: Longer cables can be made upon special request and additional cost.
On the website of Ricable the photos of the cables look great, yet it is still a photo. In fact, the aesthetics are beyond my expectations. I like the different types of colors that Ricable is using for the different quality ranges of cables in the product series. When you don't like the idea of having different colors, Ricable even offers to provide you with all the cables in the same color.
The cables are so well constructed that I have never seen it until now. The pure gold connections are well constructed, solid and inserted very well into the outer layer of the cable. The materials are very good. The cables weigh a lot and are stiff, yet have some flexibility at the same time, very solid. Special attention I give to Netzkabel Invictus . This cable weighs a ton and is so thick that you can moor an oil tanker at the dock.
Because of Netzkabel, I needed to rearrange some of my hi-fi components inside and outside the hi-fi cabinets. Keep this in mind before you buy. The cables are very well packaged in a box, especially the speaker and power cable boxes that look like a jewelry box. Don't throw away the boxes. That would be a waste and a shame. You may need the box every time you decide or need to return the cable to Ricable in Italy. When not needed, you can always keep your jewelry inside.
As I wrote in Chapter 1, my first outstanding impression in improving sound and video was the Supreme HDMI cable that I connected to the Apple TV and Marantz amplifier. I then tested this cable on the 2 Blu-ray/CD players. Same results in improving sound and video quality. I always use the same Blu-rays, a DVD and the same CDs for testing. These are respectively:
- Johann Sebastian Bach: Brandenburg Concertos Nos. 1-6 performed by the Mozart Orchestra and conducted by Claudio Abbado
- test: concert nos. 1, 4 and 6
- Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 2 performed by the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and conducted by Daniele Gatti
- test: part I > Allegro maestoso and parts IV and V > Urlicht. Sehr feierlich. Aber schlicht / "Auferstehn"
- Hector Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique performed by the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and conducted by Daniele Gatti
- test: part IV > Marche au supplice and part V > Songe d'une nuit du Sabbat
- Claude Debussy: Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune and La Mer
- Igor Stravinsky: Le Sacre du printemps; both performed by the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and conducted by Daniele Gatti
- test: parts from Debussy's Préludes and parts from Stravinsky's Le Sacre
- Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphonies 1-9 performed by the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, conducted by Mariss Jansons
- test: Symphony Nos. 7 and 9
- Fryderyk Chopin: The Piano Concertos, performed by the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, soloist: Nikolai Demidenko (No. 1)
- Evgeny Kissin: Piano Concerto No. 2, directed by Antoni Wit
- test: Concerto No. 2
- Johann Sebastian Bach: Brandenburg Concertos Nos. 1-6 performed by the Freiburger Barockorchester
- test: concert nos. 1, 4 and 6
- Georg Friedrich Händel: Concerti Grossi, Op. 3 performed by the Händel & Haydn Society, directed by Christopher Hogwood
- test: concert no. 1 and 6
- Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 2 performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Sir Georg Solti
- tests: part I, IV and V
- Jean Sibelius: 7 Symphonies performed by the Oslo Philharmonic, conducted by Klaus Mäkelä (a very recent recording)
- test: Symphony No. 1
Compared to my old HDMI cables, the quality improvement of the Supreme HDMI cable in sound is balance and music is sharper, clearer and more detailed; the quality improvement in video is related to brightness, sharpness and colors.
Visus HDMI cables go beyond all that. Better in all the aspects I have mentioned. Speaker cable Invictus Reference, RCA cable Invictus Signal and Netzkabel Invictus give an extra boost to the closer approach to natural sound.
The Invictus coaxial cable and the Dedalus Signal RCA cables also give you the balance and transparency of music. Such a great improvement. So good to listen to.
Some parts I have already explained in general in Chapter 3. Now for the details of audio and video quality improvement.
For rehearsals I always start with the Blu-ray of J.S. Bach's Brandenburg Concertos. The video part is literally quite dark, you can hardly see what the concert hall and the audience look like. The horns may sound too high-pitched at times, as do the piccolo and recorder.
The second test is the Blu-ray of Mahler's Symphony No. 2 for the enormous dynamics of this music and the beginning of the first part when all the double basses start playing. This is followed by the other parts of this symphony with the choruses and percussion.
The third test is parts IV and V of Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique also for its dynamics and majestic music as a whole.
I especially try the latter, because I was in the audience during these live recordings in the Amsterdam concert hall. This concert hall is famous for its very special acoustics. This is really a good reference on how classical music sounds. To have it in your living room, well.............?
These three rehearsals are followed by the other music mentioned in Chapter 3, old and recent recordings to be compared using the cables Ricable.
The video part.
In a word: WOW! So much brightness and clarity, it looks like a lot of spotlights were put on the stage and in the concert hall. Now the concert hall and the audience are visible during the performance of the Brandenburg concerts, amazing how the hall is decorated with golden colors. This brightness and clarity apply to all recordings. During close-ups of the musicians, for example you can see the difference in clothing fabrics. Most of the time they wear black. And one black of a suit or tailcoat is not the same as the other black, more like 50 shades of black.
Everything is so bright and refined, it almost looks like 3D, but in a really complete and natural way. Regular TV broadcasts, movies, documentaries, whatever you say doesn't matter. People can come out of the screen right into your living room, so clear, refined and natural.
The sound part.
In one more word: WOW! The balance is so good, the depth, the acoustics of the concert hall, the finesse and timbre of the instruments are amazing, whether it's a solo instrument or an orchestra.
Now the horns, piccolo and recorder of the authentic instruments of the Brandenburg concerts sound absolutely wonderful. So nice to hear the 2 horns and clarinet together in the first concerto.
Listening to Mahler's symphony, I was amazed at the sound of these double basses, the choruses so clear that you can hear what is being sung. The huge dynamic of the music is electrifying and breathtaking. Oh.
Then part IV and V of Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique. Listen to all the pizzicati of the violins, all the other strings, the full set of all the wind instruments in combination with the bombastic percussion, the bells, and then the tiny one that rises above it all. The music itself might be a little bold and grotesque to some perhaps, however wonderful when you hear it all together and listen to every detail. Goosebumps.
At the other cable tests the same results. Transparency, depth, acoustics, balance, finesse and timbre, everything is there even in the old recordings of the selected CDs.
But not only the selection above. The Ella Fitzgerald Song Books CDs and Frank Sinatra's The Reprise Years for example, amazing how they sound. The timbre of the voices so wonderful and warm. I love it.
Your conclusions.
I will try to be brief this time. It all depends on how you would like to listen to your favorite music or want to watch your favorite movie. It is a combination of personal taste, acoustics in your living room, the money you want to spend, the goal you want to achieve, and all the hi-fi equipment together. There is no such thing as an absolutely perfect sound system, no matter how much money you are investing in it.
Whenever you have doubts about your equipment consider buying cables Ricable. It may save you money instead of spending a lot of money. You will be amazed at what these cables are capable of. This specialized company offers a wide variety of cables all in a different price range. Check out the web pages of Ricable and ask for information. The chats get instant responses, they give great advice and it is a joy to chat with these people.
Condition is great, delivery status is followed by the courier web link you are given, their type of service is a reference.
My final conclusion.
The HDMI cables, coaxial cables and INTERCONNECT RCA cables are the whole cake and the speaker cables and power cables are the icing on the cake.
I can only say from the bottom of my heart: thank you, thank you, thank you, people at Ricable for bringing so much joy to the (hi-fi) world.
What did you like?
- Audio and video performance
- Aesthetics
- Top materials
- Value for money
- Commercial side and lifetime warranty
What would you improve?
- Nothing to report
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