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Transparent Opus Speaker Cables - mini review

Posted by vinyl_mike on November 27, 2001 at 09:02:37

Welcome all. I am new posting to this forum although I have been lurking for about a year. The information and discussions are fascinating and helpful. A quick summary about my system and listening biases. Full information is in theinmate systems. I have slowly built my system during the past 25 years and today my system consists of Wilson X1 Speakers, Levinson electronics with the Walker turntable. I have traded long hours at work for large and small improvements in my system. My goal is the 3D holographic presentation of music. That for even a small amount of time, I can suspend reality and believe that that the performers exist in real space before me. Certainly an elusive goal. I favor speed, detail and transparency over warmth and romantic lushness.

With that said, I had the extraordinary opportunity to extensively listen to the Transparent Opus speaker cables in my system. Let me restate another inmate's comment – this cable is profoundly different and better, than any other cable I have ever heard. If this cable is right -- all others must be wrong. Every perceivable sound characteristic was improved by an order of magnitude over my Transparent reference. We are talking about the difference from going from my 10-yr. old Classe 25 amp to Levinson 33h’s. I believed my previous soundstaging and imaging to be outstanding. After inserting the Opus, my current soundstage seemed , two dimensional and muddy. I know it is a cliché, but the Opus removes not just one but multiple veils between you and the music. The music appeared brighter (which I like). I don’t know whether the Opus was brighter or my Transparent references were filtering the highs. Speakers truly disappeared and at times I lost track of reality and in a darkened room actually perceived that I was listening to real instruments. Details emerged that I have never heard before. The soundstage increased 50% both side to side and front to back. But the size of the instruments did not increase – no 10-foot trumpets. The individual instruments were more detailed and focused in the holographic soundstage. Voices floated in space as if the singer was in the room (Ella Fitzgerald Clap Hands Here comes Charlie). The deep bass was staggering (opening notes of Hotel California – Eagles Hell freezes over), but with incredible definition (Duets). Classic rock came alive like never before (Classic reissue of Zeppelin)

The only possible negative, courtesy of my wife, was that during a few recordings, which we were intimately familiar, notable MOFI Touch, the sound was too detailed, transparent, and startling. If you enjoy or prefer a flowing homogenized sound, these might not be your cup of tea for certain records.

While I have not heard some of the new contenders for sate of the art i.e. Valhalla, NBS etc, I have owned and auditioned many types of cables including MIT, FIM, Purist, Harmonic, Walker Omega, and others. It was always fascinating to listen to the differences and tradeoffs between cables. For me now there are two groups, Opus and everything else. Back to the original question –if Opus is correct are all other cables wrong? IMHO, yes. I hated to return these cables. Beg, borrow or steal (well, don’t steal) a pair of these to hear what is possible from your system. Then there is the issue of the absurd pricing, but who said the life of an audiophile is easy or inexpensive?

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

Kimber Kable

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