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Opus, Valhalla, Siltech G5 Shootout....!

Posted by Bud (A) on July 24, 2002 at 09:22:50

I had the priviledge of being able to listen to these three cables in two very good audio systems. I thought I would offer some comments with perhaps some details to follow as time allows.
My real interest was in comparing the Opus to the other cables, since I have lived with Valhalla and Siltech for a long time. The following comments apply to my own system (Levinson electronics, Wilson speakers and Siltech G3 speaker cable):
1. Vallhalla interconnects are quite good compared to most others. I find them just slightly harsh sounding and not in the same league as either the Siltech or Opus.
2. Siltech G5 Compass Lakes are wonderful interconnects in my system. Emotionally engaging, dynamic, nuanced, timbrally accurate, with sweet extended highs (e.g. violins).
3. Opus interconnects in comparison to Siltech Compass Lake (keeping Siltech G3 speaker cable in place) sound very good in ways described below, but I definitely preferred the sound of the Compass Lakes. They are simply more musical and emotionally engaging and definitly have sweeter (but not rolled off) highs.
4. I was able to borrow from a dealer and all Opus system, two pair of interconnects and also the speaker cable. The sound of this cable system (all Opus) is the most stunningly beautiful I have ever heard, in all ways except two (remember I am talking my system only and system synergy is everything). First the good. These cables are the most transparent, timbrally accurate cables I have ever heard (yes including Siltech). They have an "otherworldly" quality which is unlike anything I have ever heard in a cable. It is addictive. If I wanted to be sarcastic I would call it the "Bose effect". I found myself wondering if Transparent hasn't found the sonic equivalent of heroin or was playing with phase or something to make the sound so extraordinary. Opus is extrememly fascinating to listen to..... most excellent. The only two weaknesses of these cables as heard in my system were they were not emotionally engaging to my ears (they were after a while a little fatiguing to listen to). Second, the highs were a bit edgy, particularly noticeable with violins. Now you could definitely say that this was my system or source (CD) and not the cables, but overall I preferred the sound of the Siltechs because they are emotionally engaging and have beautiful highs, this is even without the G5 (Emperor) speaker cable, with which I think the Siltech would sound much better. Having said that though. I found the sound of the Opuses so fascinatingly good, that if I could solve the problems of the highs and emotional engagement, I would prefer them to any cable I have heard, absolutely (including Siltech). I think I could possibly do this by changing my system all around (tube amps, power cords etc.) but I am not sure it is worth the trouble or expense.
I did hear the Opus (interconnects and speaker cables) on Mikel's system and they sounded great. I suspect he might like to express his thoughts in more detail about this. I found them emotionally engaging in his system. I am not sure about the highs (e.g. as expressed in violins) since we didn't listen to any worthwhile violin music during this audition. However, the caveat was that in our audition of the Opus with Mikel's system we listened to SACD, with my system it was CD only and this could have obviously accounted (at least in part) for the differences in emotional connection between the different systems. Also, Mikel's system is already tweaked toward Opus since he has had the speaker cable for some time. In his system though I have to admit the Opus interconnects bested both the Valhallas and the Siltechs by quite a bit.
5. The best sounding audio system I have ever heard was wired with FIM cable (which I think is nothing special but very heavy gauge copper). That includes my current audition of Opus. So to come back to my original point, with wire, system synergy is everything. In my existing system I preferred the sound of the Siltech cable as compared to Opus (forget about Valhalla). But, if I ever have the time and energy to voice my system properly with Opus cable (changing amps, power cords, tweaks etc., whatever is necessary), I do expect it may well be the best cable currently available in the world. If you consider buying it, I would think it is best to have an all Opus linked system (interconnects and speaker cables) otherwise you won't get the best from the Opus. Unfortunately the price of the Opus puts it out of reach of nearly everyone but corporate CEO's (Enron, Global Crossing etc.).

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