Trying something new - Snake River Audio

.....sneak preview of the Snake River Audio changes.....



Tom

I will speak with Jonny about that. This time, the IC (maybe the prototype). I do know that they will be in a different price bracket and based upon what I hear in my system? The man will be very busy.

I do know that they will not be launched/available to the public for some time and that I know I will be ordering some. I have ready told him as much. Holy smokes, do they sound fine!

When he gives me the word, I can release some photos. It will be a stint though. All I can say foe now it that he freakin' NAILED it one these....

Tom

RCA's.

Tom

UPDATE since Oct. 2024-

Since the Takshaka's have been released into the wild? So far? So good. Time will tell.

There are some major hitters out there that praise the Takshaka's.

"Oh, dang" by me? Well, oh dang......That's when you know that words can't really express what it is that hits these ears. You all know (At least that follow) what my observations are. I have been silent on this forum, because I know that this forum may not be privy to the latest and greatest, when it comes to the advancements of audio.

I just so happen to know that these cables *could* be the end all to what it is you are looking for. I know that they are for me. At the price point they are offered at, and given the quality/metallurgy offered?

Once you get an ear on them? That's all she wrote.

Tom

Yes sir and no sir. It depends on the length of said cable. Could be more. Could be less.

I'm somewhat done. All of the critical cab;es within the system are in place. That allowed me to place the other cables I had in their spot to be placed in other areas that were not so critical......little did I know?

Dang. They were critical.

Tom

Tony, these may be considered expensive cables to some but I invite you to read this write up. This is comparing the SRA Takshaka PC to a 17.5K Masterbuilt Ultra.

https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/a-diamond-in-the-rough-snake-river-audio.40102/post-1023415

Now, I'd say that you are definitely getting some outstanding "value" when it comes to the Takshaka's. There are more reviews out there that also praise what folks are observing with these cables. Jonny really did hit these out of the ballpark.

That said, the materials used in the SRA Takshaka's are Red Copper, Gold and Pure Silver. Try finding out what is in Shunyata cables. I know but I won't say. Yet, the costs are the same, if not multiple times more expensive. I know of folks who have sold off all of their AQ top tier cables, and went with these. This, for some, is a case to where the most expensive, does not necessarily mean the cash outlay offers you the best outcome. That's where the true "value" comes in.

Yes, if one is unaccustomed to uber expensive cables, they can make some folks rear their head back when they first hear about the cost but when compared to other cables at 2X to 6X the cost? These are a flat out bargain within the audio world.

One of the biggest pleasures I have now when listening to my system is that, even when the music is playing, the sheer quietness of the background makes it to where you can still whisper a conversation in the room. While the system is playing loud. The dynamics are not thwarted and it is quite measurable. For me to have a 50 to 55dB swing in sound levels throughout a song is not uncommon anymore. This makes the dynamics and sheer emotional connectivity to the music much more impactful to me. The goose bumps are back baby!

I just love experiencing the music, getting completely sucked into said performance, instead of just (*sigh*) listening to a reproductive effort. I have heard Madonna whisper into my left ear (as if she was in the room, leaning over to whisper). Now, with that said, that was a Q-sound recording, so that's kind of cheating but that's also something that had never happened before with any cable/gear I have had. The cables are what made this possible, as the only other things that have been introduced into the system as of late is the Snubway and Master Class A/C line conditioner. Nothing else has changed.

If you hadn't ever have listened to Janelle Monáe's, "Make Me Feel" before? I invite you to check it out. The video of the exact song I am talking about is below. When I listen to this song, it literally sounds like there are two more speakers to the L and R of me. The sounds are room enveloping and the song (although not really my preferred style of music) makes it seem as if you are "in" the music. From the visceral impact, to the tone of instruments, to placement and palpabilty? It is just an experience. A repeatable one, no matter the time of day or what my mood is at the time.

Please keep in mind, some of the words in this song are, shall I say, "adult" - so please don't play it around your kids. Also, this song sounds TOTALLY different on the big rig, than it does in this video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGRzz0oqgUE

If you or anyone else is interested in reading any further on some of my thoughts/observations, even though I rarely post on the 'Gon, I did sound out about my observations with the Takshaka's (a couple of posts down from this link) >>> https://forum.audiogon.com/posts/2731718

I highly recommend them for even the most demanding/top tier systems out there. FWIW, Steve's system is easily in the millions of $$$ and he is playing with all of the cutting edge technologies. I was just curious to see how they sounded in a system the caliber of which he is playing with.

Tom

Just following up with the new Takshaka. For those of you who subscribe to the Absolute Sound, they have just released a review of the Takshaka IC's and PC's. This time, from a "professional reviewer". By now, it is a crystal clear reality that everyone who has tried these cables out, are all observing/saying the same things. It is also becoming clear that the observations are the same, regardless of the gear or system they are used in.

Unfortunately, you have to be a subscriber to the Absolute Sound to actually read the review. If you are interested in the review, you do have the option to "purchase" the one magazine. That link is here >>> https://www.zinio.com/publications/the-absolute-sound/39073/issues/662347

I knew as soon as I put the first Takshaka in the system that Jonny had hit a home run with these cables. I liked the first cable so much, I actually told Jonny that I didn't even want to try out the second cable. I liked the sound that much! But, I did tell him that I would check them both out and reluctantly unhooked the IC and plugged in the PC. I was immediately smitten with the change in my system and both had the same sonic ability to seemingly not restrict anything but noise from entering the amplification stage. Turned out that I absolutely loved both cables. At that point, only myself, Jonny and his wife had ever heard them.

Now that I have a full loom (other than SC's) in all of the critical paths of the rig? I can say with complete certainty that each additional cable allowed the system to get more and more of that sweet Takshaka sound. Gone are the 6 Sons Audio cables, the Shunyata cables, the Transparent References, the Audiolund and every other cable that was holding the system back.

I am hearing reports that people are replacing their AQ Dragon and Transparent Opus cables with the Takshaka's. That's rather impressive, and once again proves that $$$ spent doesn't necessarily equate to an increase of sonic attributes. Heck, one person even admitted that the Takshaka bested his $17K Masterbuilt Ultra PC. That makes the Takshaka truly stand out amongst the crowd, and once again proves that dollars spent don't necessarily match up with the ROI (sonically speaking).

One of the reasons (I spoke about this at the very beginning of this thread) that made me really consider Snake River Audio to begin with, other than the metallurgy mix, was the amount of cables available on the used market at the time. It was rare to see more than 3 on the used market, after 10 years of sales. In the case of the Takshaka, they are coming up on close to a year since they were introduced to the public. I have only seen one used Takshaka IC put up for sale, and this was from a guy who goes through cables like a fat kid with candy. He's not interested in staying with the same cable. Eh, to each his own. The last time I spoke with Jonny, there have also been zero returns of any Takshaka. That, to me, is a very good indication of whether or not people like a certain product. It simply speaks volumes IMO.

Tom