Infection to perfection

Dear music lovers,

Today I would like to introduce you to my next step in the Subbase audio product range.

I am currently the proud owner of Echo LS, Ebony LS and Ponts, which are impeccably dedicated to music and already have their own report to read (report: Subbase and Piega 24.12.19). But today it's about expanding the stereo system by rewiring Refine Audio. First, a brief overview of my previous installation system. This consists of speakers from the manufacturer Piega (C8 LTD). The Devialet 440 Pro is used as an amplifier. The loudspeaker cable in my system is equipped with the Inakustik Reference 4004 Air. Since the Devialet is a dual mono system, the included standard AudioQuest digital cable serves as a communication/connection between the two amplifiers. The two devices are also powered by the included AudioQuest NRG-Y3 power cables. It is believed that this list should already meet most requirements. But time and again there were many various discrepancies in the sound image. There was no relaxed listening to music. Mentally, I was still looking for further improvement. In particular, live, classical and jazz recordings lacked the true sound presentation. There was no emotional connection between the music and the “being tied up” on the sofa. Just as language tries to translate thoughts (and there can be difficulties in doing so), the music system should be able to reproduce what has been recorded without its own sound interpretation and be able to represent every little detail of information faithfully.

In order to start in the correct order of extensions, just as the products arrived at my home, I start with the new“Speaker cable - Ultima Musica GP” : When the 4004 Air from Inakustik was replaced by the brand-new Ultima Musica GP and the first sounds rang out after the fresh wiring, one thing was immediately clear: Even when it was not played cold, the GP cable outclasses a top-LS cable from a well-known manufacturer - not just by an arm's length! And Refine cables don't like cable stress at all - so you can wait eagerly for “more”. Understated, the gain in timing and flow of information is huge. It is amazing what happens to the music when there are changes in frequency shifts in the loudspeaker cable within a few microseconds and nuances, or rather, simply no errors are added to the original music signal at this point in the system. Compared to the GP cable, the 4004 Air actually had problems displaying songs with a high level of information cleanly and clearly. “Clogging” or “braking” or overstraining the loudspeaker cable during the flow of information is best for the audio experience. The absolutely correct playback of the signal in the GP cable also means that there is more rest/black level between the individual tones and the music feels significantly slowed down. As a result, the spatial image was also massively improved. For the first time, the music also played half a meter further left, right or above the loudspeakers. The order of the stage/staggering can be described as phenomenal. With the Ultima Musica GP, you actually first hear what sound-giving characteristics the previous Inakustik cable had and how they have now simply been removed and you have come a great deal closer to true music again. After about three months, I received the two power cables and the digital cable. Up to this point, the loudspeaker cable was able to play in over time and be in top form!

‍“Power cable- Emotion TT”: After the loudspeaker cable had achieved spectacular results, I was all the more excited to optimize the power supply. Since the power supply is always a very big bottleneck in the hi-fi system and you usually turn on this component before the LS cables, you could of course look forward to great things after the Ultima Musica GP loudspeaker cables gained sound. This is where the biggest change lies in the sound of the cables that no longer exist. As if all controls on an equalizer have been set to “0”. The music now sounds neither sharp/shrill nor dull, but plays absolutely neutrally to the point. As if at the push of a button, the music system became acoustically more transparent and had significantly lost its original sound. As with the loudspeaker cable, I was also able to notice a noticeable slowdown in the music during this step. This “acoustic illusion” is also due to the outstanding black level. What is particularly remarkable - the regenerating peace in the music playback and the resulting massive! emerging room depth and reverberation information. The stage expands in all directions, particularly in the depths. Every piece of music can thus be experienced in a new way. It's amazing what was recorded acoustically in the available recordings. It should also be mentioned here that you can actually hear the recording process. The sound changes drastically within the first few hours of recording, as well as again four weeks later.

“Digital cable - Ultima Musica GP” : The communication between the two Devialets is a real secret for me. How is time-accurate, parallel sound reproduction possible with two physically separated devices? The physicist would say — not at all. But this digital cable makes some impossible things possible. Where do I start... In terms of sound, it can be said that the initial exchange resulted in a massive opening of the room. In addition, individual instruments were significantly heavier. I did not expect such an effect. My hi-fi system is on a sloping roof, which now almost disappears. Various sounds occur in the room, plus in a design/presentation... amazing! As pleasing as this improvement was, I realized at the same time that I had found another, new construction site. I was/am shocked that so much is lost at this point. Technically logical, as the Devialets tested their microprocessors or synchronous counters at different clock frequencies. For a completely parallel image to take place, of course, only one beat may work. With such an optimized chain, these differences unfortunately matter. In conclusion, I can only say that you are wasting a great deal of potential from your investment in many places and that you should not waste a great deal of effort in the wrong places. In the same way, I have said goodbye to the idea that a system can have its own sound. The more Refines in the chain, the more these products benefit from each other and show what “non - idiosyncratic” is in them. You really shouldn't miss out on such an honest and genuine music experience.

JP from A.