Ethereal Audio - XLR - Review/ Demo

dorokusai
dorokusai Posts: 25,577
edited August 2005 in 2 Channel Audio
Please refer to this thread before posting:

CABLE DEMO PROGRAM - GUIDELINES

Ethereal Audio - XLR Interconnect - 1M

The Cable-

Our in-the-trenches experience led Ethereal to completely rethink cable construction. Instead of spinning intricate theories about the most effective way to send audio/video signals and data streams down a wire, we've corrected the major design flaw that has prevented optimal performance – be it consistent 75-ohm impedance or near-total noise rejection.

No matter how high the quality of the cable materials and construction, the greatest amount of signal loss and distortion occurs at the cable termination point. Here, the solder gap creates an FM antenna effect that pulls in distortion, defeating the performance features of even the most expensive cables. Ethereal's exclusive compression method eliminates this gap by making a firm, seamless connection between cable and termination for optimal unimpeded signal transfer and accuracy. Manufactured to our strictly supervised specifications, Ethereal cables deliver the full performance potential of home theater equipment.
CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
Post edited by dorokusai on
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,641
    edited March 2005
    Alright folks...

    Heres the shootout/demo/review

    Ethereal Audio XLR vs Signal Cable XLR

    http://www.eandr.biz/Vr3_Home_Theatre_Projects_EtherealSignalShoot.html
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • TheGrayGhost
    TheGrayGhost Posts: 196
    edited March 2005
    Originally posted by Vr3MxStyler2k3
    Alright folks...

    Heres the shootout/demo/review

    Ethereal Audio XLR vs Signal Cable XLR

    http://www.eandr.biz/Vr3_Home_Theatre_Projects_EtherealSignalShoot.html

    Sid,

    Did you burn-in the Ethereal XLR cable are was it the same as the Signal Cable out-of-the-box?
    Best Regards, Cliff
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,641
    edited March 2005
    I burned them in for the final thoughts deal, as for the first impressions, both were out of the box, but I switched to after burn in...mainly because I was really excited...

    Both sounded the same out of the box, it was more so the entire chain, instead of just one cable...

    For instance, no matter what cable I plugged up, I only would get 1 or 2 improvements as long as I had the radioshack and IXOS stuff...

    Once I got the Signal Cables all in the loop, nothing was really making a difference because everything improved times 3...in every aspect...

    Absolutely sick...

    The Ethereals are great cables...as are the Signals.
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • Brent McCall
    Brent McCall Posts: 63
    edited March 2005
    Trey:
    Thank You for the kind words.
    It is always good to know that my cables are in fine company.
    Just to clarify.
    1. Sound quality was improved to the same level by either XLR cable set.
    2. Burn in did make a difference.
    3. You felt that overall the sound improvment was audible.

    Are the above correct?
    Last question.
    The Ethereal 2m XLR cables sell for around $50.00 pr.
    Do you feel that is a good value for the price?

    Thank You
    Brent McCall
    Brent McCall
    Ethereal Home Theater
    (386) 846-7264 Cell
    (866) 839-9187 #203

    My Gear
    Living Room
    Parasound Halo C1 (processor)
    Parasound Halo A51 (amp)
    Pioneer 568A (DVD)
    Panamax 5300
    XBOX
    CATV HD PVR (Bright House)
    B/G Z7 (fronts)
    B/G Z5 (center)
    B/G ZSub (Subwoofer)
    Celestion C1 (rear)
    Crestron ST1700C
    Crestron CP2
    Infocus X1 (I'm cheap)

    Sun Room
    Pioneer PDP5040
    Pioneer DV59 (HDMI)
    CATV HD PVR (Bright House)
    HDMI Rocks!
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,641
    edited March 2005
    1) Yes, the sound quality was at the same level in this review, plugging one up and unplugging the other yielded no different results, neither altered/bettered/worsened the sound... each seem to be pretty equalied matched...

    2) Honestly, burn in on these particular cables, I couldnt really tell you made a large difference, because there was such a large jump on the entire system around 40-50 hours.

    Now, assuming everything broke in together, then yes - break in occur on these....

    3) I havn't really had a cable yet that didnt offer some type of improvement and these cables were no different. Plugging the Ethereals up before I got the Signal Cable, I was getting very similar results that I got with the 110 dollar Nordost...except the Ethereals werent NEAR as bright....

    Usually when I just switch out ONE wire, the high end will clear up, gain a tad bit of clarity...but thats about as far as it goes...

    When I changed all the wires, everything improvements wise tripled...was great!

    4) At TWO**** meters for 50 dollars. These cables are excellent. But like I said in the review, the build quality isnt near the Signal Cables, I dont know how much the things Signal Cable did differently cost, but it might be worth looking into adding, just the lil extra seal between the jacket and connectors for a better feel of strength...stuff like that...

    Sound quality wise, these things are a steal...excellent cables...I would be interested in doing a complete system of Ethereals against a system of Signal Cables...


    Excellent cables, was glad to demo them!
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • Brent McCall
    Brent McCall Posts: 63
    edited March 2005
    Trey:
    Thank You.
    I will get with Mark about a full cable set (RCA, XLR & Speaker).
    I think that would be interesting.
    I will call it the Ethereal PDK (Polk Demo Kit).
    Kit to contain:
    4 ea. 2m XLRs
    4 ea. 2m Analog RCAs
    1 ea 2m Digital Coax.
    2 ea. 3m Speaker Cables


    Mark, what do think?

    Thank You
    Brent McCall
    Brent McCall
    Ethereal Home Theater
    (386) 846-7264 Cell
    (866) 839-9187 #203

    My Gear
    Living Room
    Parasound Halo C1 (processor)
    Parasound Halo A51 (amp)
    Pioneer 568A (DVD)
    Panamax 5300
    XBOX
    CATV HD PVR (Bright House)
    B/G Z7 (fronts)
    B/G Z5 (center)
    B/G ZSub (Subwoofer)
    Celestion C1 (rear)
    Crestron ST1700C
    Crestron CP2
    Infocus X1 (I'm cheap)

    Sun Room
    Pioneer PDP5040
    Pioneer DV59 (HDMI)
    CATV HD PVR (Bright House)
    HDMI Rocks!
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,641
    edited March 2005
    Hey,

    If you want to ship an RCA cable (1m) with the speaker cables, I can demo that along with the XLRs...

    Just a thought...
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited August 2005
    CLOSED

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14424&page=22&pp=30
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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