ATC "VENOM" - Review/Demo

dorokusai

Please refer to this thread before posting:

http://clubpolk.polkaudio.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=14424

DEMO # 7:

ATC/Zero "Venom" Interconnect.

This is a DIY design made from IXOS cable and Eichmann Bullet Plugs. Sean did a fine job on constructing these cables, and I am very happy to have them in the program.

Please take some time to sign up and demo this interconnect.

This is an honest, straightforward, and functional design.

The Cable -

HS606 (6007)
Gamma GeometryT 15AWG
The patented IXOS® Gamma GeometryT uses a unique Inductance Control Core
(ICC), which is woven between the positive and negative conductors to create
a cable that actually performs better than a parallel pair but rejects noise
and distortion like a twisted pair. The result is a new dynamic standard of
performance that was previously only available from professional cables
costing many times the price.

IXOS (UK)

dorokusai

Here is a breakdown of the Eichmann Bullet Plug:

The new Bullet Plug® connector solves the problems of standard and audiophile grade RCA plugs by providing a faster, cleaner signal of high purity and detail.

To achieve this we have designed the Bullet Plug® as a miniature cable - with high-conductive, gold-plated tellurium copper (CuTe) pins providing a rapid transfer of electrons to/from RCA sockets.

In our patent-pending design, the return pin of the Bullet Plug® makes single point contact with the side wall of an RCA socket - concentrating electrons to one point thereby reducing distortion. This is a similar approach to “star earthing” used in amplifiers.

Eichmann Technologies

gidrah

Let me start by saying that I am extremely sorry for the delay. I had some stuff going on that was (and still is) taking precedence. I also did a move during this time and hard a difficulty getting everything just right in order to do a full demo.


Okay that's enough for now. It's time to get back to work. I will do more soon, but don't have a computer at home.

gidrah

Equipment used:
Polk Audio Monitor 10B speakers
Altec Lansing Voice of the Theater speakers in homemade cabs
Bedini 25 + 25 amplifier (awesome class A amp)
Dynaco ST-70 amplifier
Pioneer SX-1010 receiver (rebuilt and modded)
McIntosh MA-6100 integrated amplifier
Klipsch Promedia DD 5.1 decoder
Toshiba 3960 dvd player
Audio Alchemy DDE v1.1 DAC
Audio Alchemy DTI+ jitter reducer
NEC 602(?) CD rom drive (used as transport)
14 awg speaker wire (unknown manufacturer)

When I first connected these interconnects (ICs) I put them between the DDE DAC and Klipsch Promedia thingy, using the SX-1010 receiver to drive the 10Bs. This was a new rig combination in a new room. While everything sounded okay something was missing. I then brought over the Altecs. Whoa, much better. The bass wasn't nearly as strong, but it seemed more natural. The midrange showed a major improvement as did the overall realism. Altecs it is.

I then tried the ST-70 in place of the Pioneer. While there was another improvement in the midrange and realism, bass dropped considerably. Acoustic jazz and vocals were good, but I just couldn't get past the lack of bass. Ixnay ST-70ay.

Bedini 25 + 25 goes in for the ST-70. Bass improves a little without any noticable degradation to the mids/highs and realsim. Possibility but wasn't sure yet.

I then brought the McIntosh over. Bam! That was the ticket. Very warm and full sound. The bass was extended and natural (I had the loudness engaged, so sue me). Mids were very good and realistic and highs were extended without being bright or harsh. Mac it is.


More to come!

gidrah

I bet you are. It's a good thing I am acclimated. I have limited computer access now though.


The Demo:
Once I knew it was going to be the Mac and Altec combo I pulled them and the Tosh 3960 DVD player out of the rack and decided to give these ICs a run against a pair of Signal Cable Analog 2s (Scosche plugs). I had originally planned to demo these up against some of my own DIY cables but it just wasn't possible at this time.

This cable sounded slightly better than the SCs. The bass was a little stonger, the highs were a little cleaner and the mids seemed to have not lost anything. One thing I found to be odd was the detail. On a jazz quartet the detail behind each note and the overall piece really improved with the Venoms in place. On a big orchestral or swing piece, while the detail of each tone was still strong, the detail and depth of the overall piece suffered. I could hear more things with the SCs. The Venoms seemed to compress the overall sound while not compressing each tone if that makes any sense.

I then decided that since I had gone this far I might as well hook them up to the AA/NEC combo and let it rip. This is something I was hesitant to do at first considering the warning I received from Organ about how delicate these pieces are and to make sure to unplug them before making any connection changes. I wish they had a power switch.

First up James Brown and the SCs. I popped in the disc and sat back. Wow removing that damn Klipsch promedia thing from the chain really helped things. I thought to myself it was a shame that this recording didn't sound so good. It sounded like the vocals and some instruments were recorded while a recording of most of the band played in the backgound. Oh well, it was still James Brown. I then swapped in the Venoms. At this time I noticed that I had reversed the cables last time and wondered if this may have been some of the problems I notice in regards to the detail. Oh well maybe I'll double check after I listen to some more James Brown.

I connected the cables, hit play, and sat back in my chair. My jaw almost hit the floor. It was amazing. Any improvement I noticed with the 3960 was now doubled. The biggest improvement was the detail and realism. Not only of each note, but of the overall presentation. This recording now jumped into my livingrom with an authority I had never heard from my system. Everything sounded better and went back through the demoing material I had heard on the 3960 and smiled every time. This set of interconnects is a definate winner in my book gentlemen.

beardog03

Doro,

I know it`s kinda late in the game, but...

Could I get a shot at the Venoms, and the SC`s ?
I am also curios about the Nordost..

I recently heard some Nordost speaker cables on some maggies and Theil amps..wow!
I`m not sure if it was the cables or the gear...
Either way, I would like a try if at all possible..


Thanks
beardog

beardog03

ya sorry about that...

got a little excited there for a minute..:D

I e-mailed Doro with my request...thanks

beardog03

First let me not make excusses for my late posting...

I went on vacation and when I got back and found that I was able to keep these cables a little while longer , I just kept them on my office rig....they are still hooked up..!!

I`m not much for doing professional type reveiws , so i`m not going to use big catch frazes like wide sound stage, pronounced yada yada., etc.

Equipment used;

Rotel RB-980BX amp
Parasound P/HP-850 pre-amp
Nakamichi ST-7 Tuner
Ah! Njoeb 4000 CDP (modded)
AQ King Cobra`s from pre to Amp
Polk RT35i`s
AQ type 4 speaker cable

This will be short and to the point...

They look cool !
They are a lot lighter than I expected..
The have the cool bullet plugs on the ends, which I like , and the are a tight fit....which I also like
Looks like someboby "polked" a hole in them to take a peek inside...

I compared them to Monster 400`s...

The bass is very full, the high`s are very tight and pronounced, and the mids are kinda laid back..
I found that the Monsters have all the sounds evenly spread out...nothing special, just a basic cable, with what I have come to know as average SQ.

When I hooked the Dodd tube pre up , it sounded kinda thin, but I have become used to the awsome sound of my Killer rig using MIT`s, so I `m kinda biased with the tubes..

Would I buy them...yes
they are very "do-able"
They are not the best I`ve heard, but they are better than others I`ve tried
I like them better than the Monsters because they have a warm, fully rounded sound, as where the Monsters have a kind of sterile sound.(imo)
Definately worth a try ....
I still have them hooked up, and they will stay there until I have to give `em up !
Thanks for the chance to check `em out..!!

Beardog

Spawndn72

See sig for test equipment used.

The cables are very well constructed and I love the length. They were perfect. I used them between the Nad pre-amp and the Adcom amp. Soundstage was fine. Bass, midrange, treble, was all fine. Instrument placment was fine. But for whatever reason these cables just sounded flat in my setup. It was like someone let all the air out of my tires. I think it was just bad chemistry. Sorry I could not give a better review and I am sorry I can't point to anything that was really "wrong" with the cables. This has been the hardest review I have had to write becasue I can't say why I did not like them, I just didn't.

Thanks for letting me try them though.

Todd