Introduction
Continuing in the series of articles pertaining to the “Super-review” system I established in the second half of 2008, this month the suite of Wireworld Silver Eclipse and Silver Electra cabling is examined. I consider the suite of cables utilized in any rig to be a component; hence, as integral to the success of the system, the Wireworld cables are worthy of consideration on their own, hence this review.
The other components in the review series are: Legacy Audio Helix speaker system (published in a dual format review), Ayon Audio CD-3 two chassis tubed CD player, VAC Renaissance Signature Preamplifier MkII, and the Rowland MC-606 multi-channel Class D amplifier. This system was assembled based on previous experience with these manufacturer’s products, and the reader is urged to give special consideration to their use together. For those who want to approach the limits of high-end, without having to conduct demos, if the entire Super-review rig is purchased unheard, I can assure that one will experience SOTA (state-of-the-art) sound. (Usual caveats implied, such as fairly balanced room acoustics and decent music tastes. –Ed.)
It should be noted that four pair of balanced interconnects, necessitated by the processor’s inability to accept single-ended connections, and three sets of speaker cables are needed to operate the Helix speaker system. This is a significant sum which may factor into the selection of the actual Wireworld Cables used. Conversely, knowing the significant impact cables have on the sound of a rig, I intone that it is not wrong to spend 15% of the total system cost on cabling. The suite of cables here reviewed is in line with the quality of the system. There are good values with high performance-to-cost ratio, and cables which are quite the opposite. I consider Wireworld to offer very good performance relative to price.
Wireworld Silver Series
Wireworld Silver Eclipse 5² speaker cable
Can cables make or break a stereo system? More precisely, can seemingly negligible elements of a speaker cable, such as the dielectric, geometry or conductive material make or break the sound? It’s a question that presents a “slippery slope” as definitive evidence runs thin and passions run high. I will attempt to address these questions in as dispassionate a manner as possible.
This article is part of what I term a “Super-Review” conducted with components selected for suitability with each other. It is not the result of four pieces I happened to have on hand and jostled together to make a high-end arrangement. Rather, it was initiated as Bill Dudleston of Legacy Audio requested that I assess his flagship speaker, the Helix. This actively crossed, true full-range behemoth is no run-of-the-mill speaker, and it calls for top-tier equipment as well as exceptional cables. When it came to securing the cables the choice was not difficult. Being enamored of Wireworld’s mid-line Electra 5 Squared series, I was hopeful that its penultimate Silver Eclipse 5 Squared cabling would yield startling results.
Few people will ever be able to afford such a two-channel system, as it bears a price tag of near $100,000. However, to conclusively determine answers to questions such as the one I have posed, an audiophile must have exquisite equipment capable of a prodigious degree of resolution and finesse. This rig has what it takes to arrive at a solid answer to the question: Can seemingly inconsequential aspects of construction elevate cable performance significantly?
David Salz, the designer and owner of Wireworld, has focused on cable geometry as his “Holy Grail” of cable construction. His goal is to make his cables passive power conditioners by addressing inductive loss as a signal is transferred through a conductor. His solution involves the use of multiple packets of stacked small gauge conductors, grouped in a vertical array similar to ladder rungs, each with its own dielectric, and set parallel in groups. For interconnects, a “DNA Helix” design (coincidental naming to the Legacy Audio Helix speaker) uses a proportioned twisting of the conductors. I have more thoroughly discussed the geometry and practical usage of these cables in my Wireworld Equinox 5 Squared review, so I will direct your attention there via this link if you wish to delve into it further.
