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This is a good well-mannered sound, weighted slightly different than the most expensive cable but still within the same idiom. Dynamics, smoothness and energy are the characteristics that describe it best. Although it does not cost a fortune, in my system it performed very well and interesting.


SC Air.
The cheapest SC Air cable in this comparison turned out to be the most fascinating. On one hand it was apparent how this really was the least expensive model of the lot. Images were smaller and less refined, bass did not extend as low as with the more expensive cables. Yet I spent most my time with it. Why? Because for not much money one gets a very good well balanced sound. Its character mimicked to a large extent what I heard with the Centaurus A – smoothness, coherence and balance. The thing is, here I also obtained a sense of excitement. I cannot explain why but it was this model which made me reach for yet another disc to verify the what, how and when.


With the Air the sound was both dynamic and controlled. It didn’t feel overdamped, simply well controlled without being constrained. That combination of control without shackles resulted in an interesting sound. I repeat, the Centaurus A and Markarian 421 are superior and  clearly more refined (especially the latter). But it was the inexpensive Air which pumped as much blood through my veins as I needed to feel excited.


Conclusion.
These Norwegian cables have one clear common denominator: smoothness. This is audible in the cheapest and most expensive cable and defines how they will interact with electronics and loudspeakers. Paradoxically the most expensive cable seemed the most shy and least dynamic because it was the most well-mannered. In refined systems it will deliver depth, high sound mass and 3D imaging. In slightly lesser systems or those not as well calibrated, it will seem dull. There I would rather listen to the Centaurus A or Air. To me that last cable was the most interesting. It had all the main characteristics of the most expensive one—albeit in respectively smaller proportions—but it was simultaneously the most vivid, dynamic and energetic. I liked that!


Review conditions. The Skogrand Cables were tested in a sighted A/B/A sequence where ‘A’ was my reference and ‘B’ the review subject. The listening sessions were composed of 2-minute sound fragments after which the cables were sweapped. Besides this I also listened to  full discs with all the loaners.


All three models were evaluated with the Soulution 710 amplifier and Harbeth M40.1 loudspeakers as well as Hegel P-30 + H-30 combo which turned out to be very good partners. The Air cable was also used with the Castle Howard S3 loudspeakers for yet another very good match. All cables were playing in my system for two days before my evaluations began. Additionally they’d been delivered burnt in. I also had SPEC’s Real Sound Processor RSP-101 connected to the speakers to counteract voice coil back EMF.


opinia @highfidelity.pl

Skogrand Cables website