Raphael C.
Sources: Michell GyroDec turntable with Audio Technica AT 1100 tonearm and Grado Reference 3 cartridge; Audio Research CD5 CD player.
Amplifier: Preamplifier Audio Research SP-10 MKII; Power amplifier Audio Research D300
Acoustic Speakers: B&W 805N Signature
Other: B&W DB3D subwoofer; Sansui TU-717 tuner; Systems & Magic mains filters; Listening room treated to directions from Applied Acoustics
The following review of Invictus Speaker Reference and Turntable cables 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 their impressions, in a completely free. We thank Raphael for his time.
My acquaintance with Ricable is rather remote, as remote as the time since I owned the previous power amp to speaker cables, and turntable cable. I still appreciate their sonic qualities, but you know, time is a tyrant, and from a technological point of view, it is inevitably felt. So I decided to take the path of renewal, veering toward the Invictus Speaker Reference and Invictus Turntable models, which are very current achievements instead.
and aesthetics of the product?
Here I am again busy testing some products Ricable. This always gives me such gusto, because whenever I review their products, all around, there is always an air of considerable upheaval.
If you want to track me down in the historian, you have to go back in time and grasp review number 46 (April 2021), where I happily tested the Invictus Signal cable on my digital player.
The products I ordered arrived, impeccably packaged, and protected from any shock. Once the boxes are opened they look extraordinary, I would say professional and regal. It really is a beautiful sight, believe me...it almost hurts to get them high...I said "almost."
This time I have the pleasure to bare all the qualities of the most titled speaker and turntable cables, built by the Oleggio-based company.
TheInvictus Speaker Reference is a revision of an already excellently made cable. After updating numerous parameters, we are in the presence of a conductor with state of the art characteristics, in all aspects, not only the aesthetic one, but especially for the high technology it contains inside. The same is true of the turntable connection cable, which sports the same technical and even external peculiarities.
Connecting these achievements always gives much, much pleasure. I am going to join the power amp and speakers together, but before that, I wanted to clean up the connectors thoroughly, to remove any traces of dirt. Then I also placed the turntable cable, with the exact same meticulousness. After the connection, I let the system play for many, many hours, to allow for proper break-in.
Finally, I definitely began to delight in the many details that, until then, I had not been able to notice with the cables I had previously had. The beginning of the listening began with reference voices, such as: Frank Sinatra, Karol Souza, Diane Schuur, Mina.
Then onward with artists such as Al Di Meola, Eric Clapton, Sting, Dire Straits, Steven Wilson, David Gilmour, Lee Ritenour, Fourplay. Historical groups like Pink Floyd, Queen, Genesis, Jethro Tull, of course with LPs, all reissued at 180 grams. That seems like the minimum...
listening impressions?
The parameters to be weighed, are different: dynamics, spatiality, depth, musicality. In direct comparison with the old cables, the thing that stands out immediately, to the ear, in my opinion, is in the transfer INTERCONNECT. The immediate feeling is that of having a power amp Speaker , which interfaces much better with the two speakers. Magic, alchemy......?
I think it is instead the new technical and geometrical features that have been applied to the cables. I believe they are the least subtractive conductors I have ever heard.
I think this feature is the most important, since a cable, in addition to adding nothing to the original sound, must take away as few harmonics as possible.
Your conclusions.
I recognize that the character of the system has changed irrefutably. In dynamic records, the transients are definitely faster. In short, at the same volume level, I notice more sound pressure.
Another very obvious parameter is the spatiality of the imaginary soundstage, much dilated. The depth of the scene, it increases. Detail detail is very noticeable and does not exacerbate with increasing volume.
Then by suppressing the work of the anti-noise devices, applied at the ends, you sense a little more quietness, in the moments of pause. You notice this even more with an all-valve preamp like mine. Between the cables compared, old and new, the micro and macro differences are there.
What did you like?
- Dynamics, spatiality and detail
- Aesthetics are remarkable, really professional-
- Excellent quality/price ratio
What would you improve?
- Nothing to report
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