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Reviewer: Joël Chevassus
Sources: Audio Analogue Grand Maestro CD, Luxman D-06 [on loan], Apple Imac, Trends UD-10.1 USB
Amplifiers: Vincent SV-238, Luxman L-590 A II [on loan]
Loudspeakers: JLA Acoustique Perspective 2 signature + Stand 80, McIntosh LS360, Venus Acoustique Caldeira signature [on loan]   
Cables: Naturelle Audio XLR cables Live 8 and Live 4 interconnects, RW Silver series RCA interconnect Mogami cables, Lintek digital cable PSV- 063 [on loan], AudioArt sc-5 se loudspeaker cables, Naturelle Audio Loudspeaker cables, AudioArt Power one se
Review Component Retail: € 59.90 RCA-CS, € 54.90 RCA-CT

Context: Lintek is a French newcomer that specializes in the design, development and distribution of cables and accessories dedicated to audio and video. Specifications and particular design features are defined in France, production is in China. The local subcontractor is known as Ningbo Prosound and has been specialized in manufacturing audio and video cables for almost twenty years even if the core business remains car audio accessories. Established in 1989, Ningbo Prosound is the typical Chinese company designing its own range of products and trading various OEM/ODM products for an international audio clientele. The company is not working at the artisan level but employs a workforce of 400 employees in a factory area of 15,000 square meters and annual sales still grow at a two-digit rate. Ningbo Prosound adheres to high quality standards and most of its products are manufactured under ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and RoHS certification. Their range of cables is truly broad and there are almost 50 items directly available from their website. From among these, Lintek has chosen the most sophisticated to distribute in France at the extremely reasonable price of €50 for the top interconnects. Lintek also offers a complete range of accessories like adapters, RCAs, XLRs and banana plugs, which appear to be well made with 24k gold plating for contact optimization.

At first glance, it’s all very common to predict a very boring assignment. And it certainly could be. But at times it is clearly useful to investigate what the market has to offer and everyone will agree that cables are an immensely broad territory. What was the particular appeal to pursue this review you ask? To compare budget cables with costly high-end interconnects? No – even if in certain cases it could be very helpful to keep in mind just how expensive a 1-meter set of cable can become.

But I do believe in the importance of cables. We must succeed at preserving from our CD or LP all the information which has to pass through a rather hostile electromagnetic environment with plenty of chances for interference and loss. The most interesting aspect of this review could be the comparison between industrial cables mostly designed for professional uses but which have become trusted references for many cable-sceptic audiophiles. I am speaking of Mogami or Sommercable for example.

Could a very affordable Chinese product compete with established pro-audio stuff? I had no firmly rooted notion but perhaps a small bias toward professional cables and their legendary neutrality. Still, I also remembered the good performance and quality of Xindak interconnects I had acquired for the family three years ago. Such a match could definitely be interesting.