CRYSTAL CABLE Ultra Diamond

MJ03.11.2012

Speaker cables

With the purchase of a Crystal Cable’s cable the owner receives ´an authenticity card´ that provides a lifetime guarantee and acknowledges the purchase. Normally are similar certificates hardly used as cables come and go, however, with the CrystalConnect Reference Diamond I feel that such a guarantee is not a nonsense – it may be the last interconnect you will ever buy.

Function and form

100%

Ease of use

73%

Sound

95%

Appearance

The most striking aspect of Crystal Cable’s cables is their appearance. Rather a string than a cable. Then, depending on a model, you can decide whether you prefer a simple string (like in Piccolo Diamond series), a thicker string (like in Reference Diamond series) or two twisted strings (like in top-of-the-line Dreamline). More romantic natures can call the string a silver necklace to justify its purchase to a wife more easily.

Crystal Cable does not rely on the WBT standard and employs its proprietary terminations that are made of the similar alloy like the conductors. This helps to eliminate any distortions that are induced at the boundary of two incompatible metals.

Bass management

Weight

Slam

Articulation

Rather than on a unique topology is Crystal Cable’ s philosophy based on advanced metallurgy. They do not braid conductors in complex ways, they do not employ air as dielectrics, they do not clamp heavy machined rings on their cables- the conductors of any Crystal Cable are made of gold-injected silver. The alloy combines crystallic grids of both the materials to complement each other and to achieve optimum homogenous structure that exhibits superior electrical and mechanical properties.

Technically, the CrystalConnect Ultra Diamond is a simple coaxial design in a dual Kapton dielectric, shielded with a braided silver foil that also serves as a negative conductor and encapsulated in a thin layer of trasparent Teflon. It may seem trivial but one has to consider that the materials that were used are technologically superb and applied in unusual manner with precisely defined ratios, which also means an increase in production expenses.

Clarity & delicacy

Detail

Air

Transparency

Let’s stop listening to sound and let’s play some real music instead. Diana Krall’s live performance on Live in Paris (Verve) should be in any serious CD collection. Cole Porter‘s I´ve Got You Under My Skin with a small symphony orchestra reminded me of good old vinyl through the Crystal Cable. The strings were so sweet and relaxed, the sound fluid and stress free, yet resolved. The cables positioned Diana correctly slightly off-axis right with the piano further to the right and Jeff Hamilton’s rhythmic section in the back. The soundstage was presented from the perspective of the fifths to sevenths row, being laterally limited only by the walls of my listening room. The Diana’s contralto was presented with rich ethereal delicacy and excellent microdynamics.

Tonal accuracy

Timbre

Dynamics

Temporal resolution

Another real piece of music: the closing Eclipse from The Dark Side of The Moon (Pink Floyd, SACD) as it was recorded by Alan Parsons in Abbey Road Studios and remastered for the SACD in 2003. The sound of Pink Floyd is once again delicately refined, smooth and liquid, with fantastic articulation of vocals and long decays that provide a sense of aliveness and throw extra light on the piece.

Spatial resolution

Holography

Soundstage width

Soundstage depth

Actually, it is the very relaxing and sweet delicacy that makes the Ultra Diamond depart from strict neutrality. Then it depends on a listener and his or her preferences. It is not unlike the difference of listening to your favorite music with lights fully on or in a dimmed room. Though there is no objective change to the audio set-up, your senses will process the music differently. The same happens with the Crystal Cable. There is no change to objective sonic parameters, yet there is a subtle difference that moves the cable into the same territory like, let’s say top models of Cardas or Audioquest. As euphonic as it is the Ultra Diamond brings the hilarious sound of vinyl with the expansive soundstage and dynamics – who would resist?

Price as reviewed:145 000,- Kč

Recommended resellers

SK: Kohut Audio, Košice, tel. +421 905 642 156

CZ: Navrátil Audio, Havířov, tel. +420 737 821 360

Manufacturer's website: http://www.crystalcable.com

Associated components

Sources: Van Medevoort CD transport CT460 and DAC DA466, Accuphase DP-78, Accuphase DP-700
Amplifiers: Van Medevoort PSQ/CAQ/PAQs, Accuphase A-70, Luxman L-590AX
Interconnects and speaker cables: Tara Labs ISM The 2EX, Stealth Dream Petite, Krautwire Fractal, Nordost Valhalla V2, Cardas Clear, Audioquest Wild
Loudspeakers: Bowers & Wilkins 802 Diamond, KEF LS-50
Power conditioning: Nordost Thor (modified)

Gallery

39%

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