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Reviewer: Edgar Kramer Financial Interests: click here Source Digital: Metronome T-1i CD player with DAISy HE Remote Control Preamplifier: Supratek Sauvignon with NOS RCA and Bendix tubes; NuForce P9 Amplifier: NuForce Reference 9 V3 Special Edition monoblocks Speakers: Wilson Audio Specialties Sasha W/P Cables: Digital - Cerious Technologies; Harmonic Technology Magic; NuForce digital cables; analog Interconnects - Bocchino Audio Morning Glory; Cable Research Laboratory (CRL) Gold with Bocchino XLR and RCA; Cerious Technologies; DanA Digital Reference Silver; Eichmann eXpress 6 Series 2; Harmonic Technology Magic and Truthlink Silver; MIT Giant Killer MPC; PSC Audio Pristine R30 Ribbon; NuForce IC-700; speaker cables - Cerious Technologies; MIT Giant Killer GK-1 loudspeaker cables; NuForce SC-700; power cables - Cerious Technologies AC; Eichmann eXpress AC power cables; Harmonic Technology Fantasy; PSC Gold Power MKII; Shunyata Research Diamondback Stands: Finite Elemente Pagode Signature equipment racks Powerline conditioning: PS Audio P-300 Power Plant (digital equipment only) Acoustic treatment: Fonic Designer panels and StudioCel bass traps Sundry accessories: Burson Audio Buffer, Bright Star Audio IsoRock Reference 3, Bright Star Audio IsoRock 4 isolation platforms and BSA IsoNode feet; Bocchino Audio Mecado isolation diodes; Black Diamond Racing cones; Stillpoints ERS paper in strategic positions, Shakti On Lines; Densen CD demagnetizer; Auric Illuminator CD Treatment; ASC Tube Traps Room size: 17' w x 35' d x 12' h in short wall setup, opens to adjoining kitchen Review component retail: $42.000/1m/pr, custom lengths available upon request
Hiyo Silver!
I’m not one to generalise. Yet silver has not been my best friend when it’s come to cable components within my system. I’ve tried all manner of interconnects and speaker cables. Anything containing silver always has had a tad of sheen or bleach to it. The worst examples were downright bright; the better ones punchy and very detailed but a modicum of the aforementioned sheen to the upper mids and highs remained a stumbling block to personal long-term usage. It’s with such past experience that I approached with some trepidation the new über interconnect from Australian cable company PSC Audio. But first some preamble.
The scene was a gorgeously sunny and mild Sydney winter afternoon in a local coffee shop run by a seasoned barista. An excited and always passionate Mark Mosgawa representing the PSC Audio design team met a deadline-fearing yours truly representing the association of seasoned and fatigued audio journalists.
"Marco, silver just doesn’t work in my system! It’s always bright and etched!" in anxious tone cried I.
"No Edgar, please try it. This cable is no average silver cable. And it’s the way the Monolith is designed that makes the difference," he affirmed as he handed me a cute silver-stained faux croc zip pouch.
"Is this your new handbag? Wow. Do you like… keep makeup in there?" was the smart-arsed comment from a product-weary reviewer.
Without response Marco unzipped the pouch and pulled out a gorgeously clad 1.5m RCA interconnect with silver crocodile-stamped leather sleeve screaming "expensive". As I wiped whoa like pooling sweat from my forehead I grabbed the purse for a peruse."This is our new flagship and it’s got some design elements that we think are unique. I’m very proud of this design. It sells for 42 grand." After rehinging my jaw, I managed a meek "do tell then. It better be good".
Marco proceeded to tell me that their new cable took over 15 years of accumulated experience to develop. Within the last three years PSC Audio invested in a CNC machine that might—or not—serve double duty machining panels for Marco’s speaker company WHT. PSC Audio claims that some of its manufacturing methodologies are unique to the industry. Their pure silver ribbon conductor is first annealed in a multi-step process then shaped into the connector’s center pin with a proprietary technique. Common sense suggests that this method of connection ought to be best to interface two components without connector/solder junctions at either ends to alter the signal conductor’s resistance and impedance. This configuration and construction process to maximize signal transfer are PSC’s declared coup.
