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AudioQuest Hawk Eye, Part 1

As my college career was coming to an end in late spring 1993, I was looking forward to (a) getting back with my ex-girlfriend, KJ, and (b) returning home, where I could delve further into high-end audio.



I don't know about you, but I never wanted to go alone to concerts, movies, and shows. While still a penniless college student, I bought two tickets to a Phantom Of The Opera show, which was still more than half a year into the future. I had in mind, to bring KJ. In 1993, most rock concerts were $20-something each. But mezzanine (I liked these seats) Phantom tickets were $65 - before fees! For those monies, you could have gotten, for example, a digital cable :-)

After I graduated from UCSC, I returned home to San Francisco, where my main stereo system comprised an NAD 5000 CD player; B&K Pro10MC preamp; Muse Model 100 power amp; AudioQuest Lapis ICs, and Type 4 SC; and Paradigm 5SE speakers on Target stands. Since that NAD 5000 had a coaxial digital output, I spent the summer of 1993 shopping for affordable DACs.

I ordered a Theta Cobalt 307, which had been the subject of review in the April 1993 Stereophile, but did not arrive until September. In the mean time, I armed myself with various coaxial digital cables. To my ears, on my gear, the best all-rounder was the AudioQuest Digital Pro ($150). It was forgiving, with good PRAT.




However, in the November 1993 Stereophile, Dick Olsher was only so-so about the AQ Digital Pro. He wrote: "The AudioQuest Digital Pro ($150/m) is designed for wide bandwidth and uses pure silver conductors. My first impression was of good rhythmic drive and strong bass lines. The soundstage was quite accessible, though image outlines were pushed a bit forward and were not materialized with full 3-D palpability. There was some treble hash in evidence. The AQ's biggest liability, however, was in the upper mids, where it failed to conjure a satisfying harmonic tapestry. Soprano upper registers sounded bland. Not only were sheen and sweetness lacking, but it was difficult to follow changes in harmonic colors."



In the Bay Area, Fall 1993 was warm and dry, with orange-yellow skies. The Pet Shop Boys' new album, Very , came in an orange plastic case. A deep album cut is called "The Theatre." In my weak mind, I had always pictured KJ going with me to that 12/15/93 Phantom performance. I would years later go with her, to see Phantom, but not the '93 show. I actually went with Tram, a junior at UCSC, whom I should have dated, but didn't.



Being a mentally weak audiophile, I let DO's words creep in, and I went down the rabbit hole of digital cables. The last time I used an AQ Digital Pro was in 1995, between a CAL Delta and that Theta Cobalt 307. I have no idea what I did with it, or to whom I gave it. Ever since, I've lived with myriad digital cables, but have always regretted letting go of the AQ Digital Pro. Kind of like Tram being a good all-rounder, I have always missed the AQ Digital Pro, and have tried, with varying degrees of success, to find something which sounded similar.



Because of DO's lukewarm review, the AQ Digital Pro did not sell well. In the 2000s, AQ had a digital cable called Hawk Eye (above, two words, $350/m). It could be ordered with RCA, BNC, or a combination thereof. An AES/EBU version with XLRs was also available.



The Hawk Eye is directional. Notice that, on this RCA, the word "Hawkeye" is one word. But everywhere else, including packaging, literature, and the AQ website, the name is two words.



The RCA's outer barrel may be shiny, but it is not slippery. You will have no problems, gripping it, or fitting it into cramped quarters.



The AQ Digital Pro came with a sticky bronze-colored rubber jacket. The Hawk Eye has a woven fabric outer covering. The cable itself is relatively lightweight and flexible, but does hold its shape. Do not kink it, or bend it at sharp angles.

It's been 25 years, since I last used the AQ Digital Pro. We shall see how the Hawk Eye, which was discontinued a few years ago, (a) compares to my memories of the Digital Pro, and (b) performs in absolute terms.

-Lummy The Loch Monster



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Topic - AudioQuest Hawk Eye, Part 1 - Luminator 15:53:10 09/25/20 (1)

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