IN-AKUSTIK Referenz NF-1603

MJ09.12.2013

Interconnects

The Referenz range of InAkustik is a brilliant example of German legendary precision. It starts with packaging - each single connector is protected by a special plastic cover in a fabric bag. Plus there are white gloves provided with the set. This should assure the buyer that he gets something like a Porsche with the purchase.

Function and form

76%

Ease of use

62%

Sound

100%

Appearance

The Referenz NF-1603 is quite thick (ca 1cm in diameter) and practically weightless. It is the first interconnect cable which, leaned against a wall, just stays upright. It is very rigid and do not coil - to shape it you need to bend it, no shape memory here. The most of the cable's internals represents air, closed in quite a complicated system of hollow tubes.

Bass management

Weight

Slam

Articulation

The In-Akustik Referenz NF-1603 uses copper strands and polyethylene tubes. The OFC copper strands are spirally wound around the PE tube in a "triple-symmetric" arrangement. Each individual wire in the NF-1603 has a lacquer coating. This coating insulates the wires from each other which creates a larger effective conductor surface. It also prevents eddy currents between the wires. The hollow tube + wires assembly is encapsulated in PE dielectrics. This conductive core is again surrounded by spirally wound 16 hollow foamed polyethylen tubes, covered by an outer mesh. The result is the aforementioned superlight and superfirm product.

Clarity & delicacy

Detail

Air

Transparency

During this test I also had other two excellent interconnects on hand – Cardas Clear and AudioQuest Wild Blue Yonder - and the In-Akustik Referenz NF-1603 actually kept up with them. When I was listening to Club Descarga (The Body Acoustic), the NF-1603 provided me with the weightiest bass, which was not slower or more bloated - just weightier and more punchy at the same time.

Tonal accuracy

Timbre

Dynamics

Temporal resolution

The In-Akustik had very open top end, with fast, resonating and nicely textured highs and no sizzle. On some recordings the top end was a bot more prominent than it should be but it was clean and helped the sound be attractively voiced. This extra spark gave a lot rather muffled recordings a new life.

Spatial resolution

Holography

Soundstage width

Soundstage depth

The open top end facilitated the cable's transparency and good dynamics. I could not detect any smear or temporal delays. The transfer of energy was fast so tranzients were sharply defined with lightning fast attacks and natural decays, with no overhanging. Thus the cable did not mask the ambience of the recordings and let me hear more into the mix. A symphonic orchestra catharsis was a big thing through the InAkustik, with fantastic micro and macrodynamic contrasts, with all the drama and power, and with all the resolution and focus. True Referenz.

Price as reviewed:19 000,- Kč

Recommended resellers

Eurostar Ostrava, Dobřejovice u Prahy, tel. + 420 323 606 877

Jasyko, Brno, 541 210 108

Manufacturer's website: http://www.in-akustik.de

Associated components

Sources: Aaccuphase DP-78
Amplifiers: Accuphase A60, Accuphase A70
Interconnects and speaker cables: Krautwire Fractal, Audioquest WBY, Audioquest Redwood, Cardas Clear
Loudspeakers: Bowers & Wilkins 802 Diamond
Power cables: Nordost Valhalla, Block Snakeblock
Power conditioning: Nordost Thor (modified)

Gallery

89%

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