High Fidelity Cables @ LOTUS HIFI

Lotus HiFi

Wammer
Wammer
Mar 4, 2012
1,054
29
0
Weybridge
AKA
Richard
I am very proud to have been awarded UK distributorship for Rick Schultz's incredible line of High Fidelity cables.

Many will remember Rick from his excellent work as designer at Virtual Dynamics. With High Fidelity Cables and his new pateneted magnetic conduction technology he has pushed the boundaries further and the beautifully crafted CT-1 line of interconnects have been making great waves across the pond, in Europe and Asia.

I personally have a strong dislike of wires and system 'dressing' but friend and global distributor for Allnic Audio David Beetles urged me to take a very close look. I was very sceptical, especially reading so many of the shining reviews and many of the very dramatic conclusions, summations and statements made about the product. When you mention cables to most folk you get lots of sighs and sucked air through teeth so I have always felt that any brand I ever invested in would have to make an irrefutable and dramatic improvement and at a real world pricing too. Since sampling the CT-1 with my own ears though I am completely convinced and it does just that. It's improvement is not merely a subjective 'seasoning' or 'EQ change' which some might prefer but rather, a very obvious lifting of the system performance in line with the fundamental characteristics that we all strive to achieve. I'ts biggest trump card is probably the way in which it greatly improves the clarity, timing, coherency of the music and removes blur and noise from leading edges, all whilst making the overall sound more natural that it was before. It also does not do this at the expense of soundstage, depth, timbre and texture either but rather improves those aspects too. At the projected UK prices these cables will be very good value when compared back not only to so many other mediocre cables but actual box upgrades too.

The CT-1 I have trialled has already comprehensively outperformed a number of highly regarded and popular interconnects such as CHORD Sarum and CARDAS Golden Reference. I have also found that the way in which it can elevate a system is just as pertinent, if not more so, in a Linn/Naim rig as it is in more 'round earth' setups whether they be valve or solid state.

The CT-1, CT-1 Enhanced and CT-1 Ultimate will be available for home loan in just the next few weeks. The speaker cable, tonearm cable and digital IC will follow. I will be conducting an extensive tour of UK dealers as well to showcase this new and exciting range of products. If you are a believer or sceptic this is an easy item to try yourself and just £5 to post to you; you have nothing to lose. So far though in other markets the hit rate is around 9 out of 10 for home demos and Rick's new company has grown exponentially over the past 18 months.

HFC_comp.jpg


"To my ears, in my system, the CT-1s are the first cables to have improved the quality of reproduced sound to the degree audiophiles associate with upgrading active components and speakers, where $1600 is not considered an unusual investment. "

"every once in awhile, along comes a cable that is no less than breathtaking, and my reaction is a modified wow, and this is that w-o-w!"

"It has been years since I thought interconnects made a really big improvement in my system. Yes, many have made changes that I would say refined the sound of my system; I thought the cables I had were so good that only small improvements would come from a change. I was wrong. I want to say it again, these cables eliminate noise that I had previously assumed was part of recorded music."

"these cables remove noise, sibilants, and splashy sounding strings and female vocals that I just thought was part of listening to recorded music."

"I cannot deny that the new High Fidelity Cables do something that others I have tried do not, they simply enable my system to reproduce music as well as I’ve ever heard in my room."

"I am keeping the review samples and will probably add phono, digital, and another set of interconnects later. I would strongly urge you to give them a listen"

"I have been in the high-end Audio business for the past forty years. I have seen a lot of things come and go and heard of incredible hype about products. The unfortunate part is that most of the products you hear so much about are just hype. And than there are the cables that you sent me. These are the finest cables that I have ever heard. I have never heard another cable for the initial listen to be as open and transparent as yours. The cables have a remarkable ability to focus and layer the sound stage and never be offensive to listen to. "

www.highfidelitycables.com

Audiogon user comments

Report vs. Chord Sarum Lotus Hifi

Review from Mono and Stereo CT-1

Review from Bruce Kinch CT-1

Review from Harry Pearson CT-1

Review from Jack Roberts CT-1

Review from Patrick Dillion CT-1

Review from Norm Luttbeg CT-1 Ultimate

Review from Jack Roberts CT-1 Ultimate

Review from Jack Roberts CT-1Enhanced

Review from Norm Luttbeg CT-1Enhanced

http://www.stereotimes.com/cable021813.shtml

 

Lotus HiFi

Wammer
Wammer
Mar 4, 2012
1,054
29
0
Weybridge
AKA
Richard
Hi Phil,

Yes a customer of mine has virtual dynamics with his CEC cd player and it's a very impressive setup.

I have not fully calculated the final UK RRP's and will hold off for a week or so until I have fully finished my evaluation against competitors. I want these to not only outperform market peers but be significantly cheaper at the same time. Saying that, and to give you a rough guide, the entry basic CT-1 1m RCA interconnect will likely be around the £1299-£1399 region but then only ~£200 per half metre extra length. The Enhanced and Ultimate will scale up from there.

 

Lotus HiFi

Wammer
Wammer
Mar 4, 2012
1,054
29
0
Weybridge
AKA
Richard
Another great review for the CT-1:

http://www.audiophilia.com/wp/?p=11798

"I noticed a thread on a popular audio forum whose subject was the High Fidelity Cables CT-1. The thread generated over 200 responses. As I read the posts, I noticed unanimous praise for the aforementioned cable products. At the time, Audiophilia had no plans for me to review another cable. However, the comments I read, piqued my interest.

...... the change in the sound of my stereo system accruing from introducing the ct-1 cables was the equal or greater, than replacing an amp, preamp or cd player."

 

nic10pin

Wammer
Wammer
Jun 22, 2009
163
0
46
Bristol, , UK
AKA
Nick
HiFi Trade?
  1. No
Hi Richard,

I hear that a balanced XLR cable is in the works.....any news on this?

Would be interested in a home loan of a 1m pair of CT-1's, when are you likely to have some available please?

BR: Nick

 

Lotus HiFi

Wammer
Wammer
Mar 4, 2012
1,054
29
0
Weybridge
AKA
Richard
Hi Nick,

Rick has been working on the balanced connector for almost a year now. They have a final prototype I understand and hopefully the finished item will be available very early 2014. It will be interesting to see if it improves at all on a single ended loom.

I can arrange a home loan of the CT-1 1m RCA pretty much immediately. Can you PM me your address and I'll get right onto it.

 

midband

Wammer
Wammer
Jun 12, 2008
82
3
0
London
Hi Richard

I'd like to listen to these CT-1's, please pm your bank details for the £5 post.

At the moment I'm using Antipodes Audio ics & spkrs cables which have shown the previous loom Audience cables a clean pair of heels.

regards

Peter

 

Lotus HiFi

Wammer
Wammer
Mar 4, 2012
1,054
29
0
Weybridge
AKA
Richard
Some HFC news. My inital stock has all gone but the second batch is on its way and should be here early next week and will include:

demo CT1 speaker cable, 1.5m

demo CT1e speaker cable, 1.5m

demo CT1U interconnect, 1m

I've not tried the Ultimate range yet myself so very much looking forward to seeing what they deliver over and above the E's.

Please just phone or call for more details and to book a home demo.

Also, thanks to everyone who has purchased so far. The success of these cables on the Wam has been most welcome. Customers in the midlands can of course stop in to John at Midland Audio who is also now a dealer with CT1 and CT1e on permanent demonstration.

 

Lotus HiFi

Wammer
Wammer
Mar 4, 2012
1,054
29
0
Weybridge
AKA
Richard
Demos of all 3 interconnects now, standard, enhanced and ultimate.

Demos of standard and enhanced speaker cables too.

- - - Updated - - -

HFC don't really need another review but here we go in any case

Six Moons Review - High Fidelity Cables CT1 & CT1-E

"The pricing of High Fidelity Cables places them beyond reach of the many but presented a true pain of a different sort when I saw them leave. In my mind they remain a personal reference for accuracy and pure listening pleasure .... They were the best cables I have heard thus far. They provide such openness that it was quite difficult to go back to other wires. Another reviewer wrote a while back that it would be better not to try these if you cannot afford them. I agree wholeheartedly.

_____

The CT1 Ultimate RCA-RCA are now here. I know one wammer has these on Loan and even before full running he he is pretty staggered by what they do, and that's over the CT1e which he has already trialled. Also very good value compared to the mindbogglingly expensive interconnects he has just diposed of.

10868962736_3b50233bfa_c.jpg


£3795

(£300 per extra 0.5m)

- - - Updated - - -

The speaker cables, both standard Ct1 and enhanced CT1e, are also now here in the UK.

I would say that their character is the same as the interconnects. i.e. they haven't got one ! Just greater precision, clarity, coherence, space, width, depth, timbre etc.. over whatever cables you care to put them up against. Absolutely no 'hifi' effect either, just a very very natural neutral sound.

10821893876_76b877cf5b_c.jpg


CT1 speaker cable - £1795 for 1m pair (then +0.5m = +£300)

CT1e speaker cable - £2995 for 1m pair (then +0.5m = +£500)

- - - Updated - - -

The regular CT1 and CT1e rca interconnects are still here of course ready for immediate home demo.

I have sold to every single person who has borrowed so far apart from one customer who said that they were the best cables he'd heard but he would need a little more time to be in funds.

 

Lotus HiFi

Wammer
Wammer
Mar 4, 2012
1,054
29
0
Weybridge
AKA
Richard
The CT1-Ultimate Tonearm interconnect is now here.

Rick started these new products with the Tonearm cable. It's no wonder as the signal is so small and precious here. What this thing does is quite staggering. Expensive yes, but then when you can't really upgrade the turntable, arm and cart much further and have found a combination you love, this will take it many steps further. On my Beat/Talea, the CT1u wire into an H1500 phonostage sounds like a regular toenarm cable into a £23,000 H5000 DHT phonostage !

The tonearm cable does of course come in far cheaper standard and enhanced guises. With a straight Din plug, SME owners might be particularly interested as its a very simple swap out.

11984807515_45e226a5dd_b.jpg


 

Lotus HiFi

Wammer
Wammer
Mar 4, 2012
1,054
29
0
Weybridge
AKA
Richard
STOP PRESS:

Alan Sircom borrowed the CT1 and CT1-E interconnects and like everyone else was massively impressed. £10k+ performance at £2k. Review in HiFi+ due out early spring.

An official Wigwam review will also be published soon of the CT1-E, CT1-U and the top of the line CT1-UR Ultimate Reference cable.

 

Thetiminator

Painfully Virile
Wammer
Nov 12, 2012
1,267
198
108
In the doghouse :(
HiFi Trade?
  1. No
Hi Richard

Let us know when the balanced version arrives. I'm due an upgrade but will hold off for a bit if they're in the pipeline. Cheers.

Tim

 

Lotus HiFi

Wammer
Wammer
Mar 4, 2012
1,054
29
0
Weybridge
AKA
Richard
Hi Tim,

The balanced version is a huge undertaking for Rick and it will still be some time, certainly nothing in 2014. Further to that, the cost will be a lot more and perhaps most interesting of all, the quality is unlikely to be better than using the existing single ended with a simple adapter. For these reasons Rick has been in two minds as to whether complete the balanced prototypes and it's almost for people's psychological reasons more than anything else.

My advice then is the same as Ricks, demo the single ended using single ended socketry in your system. Demo it against the best XLR's you care to mention. If your equipment is balanced only then demo the single ended CT range using adapters. Again, demo this against any balanced cable for comparison. Ignore or rather try to just get over the untidy idea of using adapters and just listen to what you are hearing and what these things do to your system.

This may well sound a little arrogant but these wires render the whole xlr/rca thing slightly redundant. That is what countless customers have found even with equipment that is truly balanced from the ground up (most isn't of course).

 

Lotus HiFi

Wammer
Wammer
Mar 4, 2012
1,054
29
0
Weybridge
AKA
Richard
Dagogo's jack robert's recent grading

a bit of fun but interenesting nonetheless:

100% – CT-1 Ultimate Reference

75% - CT-1 Ultimate

60% - CT-1 Enhanced

50% - CT-1

40% - Teresonic Silver Speaker wires with Gold Interconects, Shindo Silver cables

35% - Audience AU24 SEs, Auditorium 23 cables, Sablon Panatelas, Teresonic copper cables

0 to 29% – most high end cables

 

Lotus HiFi

Wammer
Wammer
Mar 4, 2012
1,054
29
0
Weybridge
AKA
Richard
from strength to strength

Rick's CT-1 Ultimate speaker cables

from £5500

Free carry on suitcase which you can use on your next hols in Spain !

_MG_3869a.jpg


_MG_3870.jpg


_MG_3871.jpg


 

Lotus HiFi

Wammer
Wammer
Mar 4, 2012
1,054
29
0
Weybridge
AKA
Richard
New low resistance version of Rick's CT1-Ultimate speaker cables have arrived. These are the best I've ever had in my demo room, bringing a new level of clarity and transparency to any setup here.

ct1u_home.jpg


 

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