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Good USB cables are known for their background cleansing action and the English leash complied in full. Less grain translated to higher resolution and the ease whereby we see things in virtual space. Audiophile blackness aside, this picture didn't feel artificially stripped by removing any organic tissue. With the Silver Diamond, the image was more orderly but also more moist, present and natural. On those counts, the throwaway USB cable fell over painfully to break both legs. With finely recorded music, the difference was at times nothing shy of grand. The printer cable was far grainier with that artificial metallic tint that can devolve into something most irritating. When the TQ was on, the music flowed more effortlessly and fluently, with no hint of excessive tension. These combined aspects made the sound far more enjoyable.
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Several changes in imaging were next. The Silver Diamond didn't expand stage width as something where my Swiss Boenicke speakers excel already. Instead, instruments were very finely separated one from the other. This made them more easily singled out which amplified my insight into a given recording. Front-row presence was better and more markers were visible as far as soundstage depth went. I could peel off layer by layer more effortlessly though the main winner was the first row. The outcome was more natural and a swap back to the regular printer cable made everything drier and flatter. It also was welcome to hear that the English performer was very smooth without diluting the sound. Its treble was brilliantly present without becoming explicit or boosted. Instrumental weights and decays checked out in proper balance. At this point I could go on about differences to the printer cable but that'd be pointless. At €85, the Forza AudioWorks Copper Series Twin USB was far superior in smoothness and grain removal without trade-offs. Still the British connection played in a different far higher league and that's what one pays for. This exceptionally smooth, coherent and transparent product performed in a class of its own on every count. All things considered, it should do the job in every system I can think of.
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Summary. My first encounter with Tellurium Q turned out to be unusually interesting. Their products had always been rumored to be special and able to keep up their guard during brawls against any competitor. Additionally, several local reviewers are happy with these cables. These types aren't easily smitten. They're picky. So I'd already suspected that the positive noise on Tellurium Q had to be grounded in something real. Now I knew for certain. Apologies for repeating myself but the Tellurium Q people know what they're doing. Their flagship USB cable has me think that there's no coincidence at work. Of course this is just my take. As such it should be taken with a grain of salt. But within my own four walls, the Silver Diamond Waveform hf leash performed not barely, mildly or even similarly to the manufacturer's on-site description but did so exactly and with great class.
Geoff Merrigan politely yet firmly manifested the 'I know it, trust me' attitude during several of our conversations. He explained his products easily and with no room to second guess as though these were well-known facts and indisputable truths. Now being fully aware of why he can be so confident, I can't blame him for being outspoken about it. Precisely managed expectations are what customers usually look for when it comes to cable talk. Here the man himself nails it. Trust me, I know! Of course any USB cable somewhere in the upper three figures is madness to many. Here Tellurium Q's Silver Diamond Waveform hf is no exception. Whilst built like a tank, it looks most plain. That's clearly not where the money went. Once listening commences, it verifies everything. Many naysayers would be surprised by what a very good USB cable can do. These cable changes are not subtle. It's heard rather instantly that something good is happening. That's self-evident. In the context of my reference system's value, a quality leap this pronounced meant that this flagship USB cable's pricing felt easier swallowed and justified. The more than two times pricier and differently voiced Eunoia by Polish StavEssence aside, the Tellurium Q has been the best USB Cable I've heard thus far. Highly recommended! |
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dawid @ hifiknights.com
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