Christmas pressie from myself

Hi Pete,



just my experience and opinion here but if you like the TQ 'sound' (subjective of course) I would urge you to seek out a set of the original TQ Ultra Black I's (1's). By many accounts the II's (2's) are miles behind (probably something to do with Colin leaving the company but that’s a discussion for another time).



They may sound good but I have heard from a lot of people that they don't get near the originals. Horrendously expensive too for what they are . . . . . Try them by all means as TQ make great cables but at the risk of being accused of recruiting you to 'follow the herd', I would really recommend you try some Triple C stuff too from the likes of Acoustic Revive and SEAC. Again only my experience but superior in every way and magnitudes cheaper.



Just my advice.

I have the Black 2 in my living room system.
Now.. there was only one reason for having these was that needed something as stealthy as a stealthy thing. They HAD to run under the carpet and also needed 4.5 metres to get round a chimney breast. So a pair came up for £250 and I jumped at them.
Sound really really good. Natural and not hiding anything.
Tripe c will no doubt be better, but the only way to make that work for me would be to route it under the floorboards.
Now.. there’s a thought.

I will not be "jumping in with both feet". I aim to try a few cables, inc some from Mark at Missing Link" and others. I know that a lot of cables tend to be fitted and not seen again for a while, so taking my time before any outlay. My reason for going down the TQ route tho, is because I bought a set of Black II's a few months ago, and it was likened to a different speaker nearly.
As far as the original Ultra Black goes, there are many reviews (including Hi Fi Pig, who I do trust) saying the new II is much more superior to the original.
will have a look at EWA

Major difference between "Black (II)" & "Ultra Black (II)" . . . . it's confusing I know, but quite important in this case . . . .

I have completely lost the will to live (joking), as there are so so many speaker cables and combinations to try and suss out... note to self, just buy one, hook it up and regret it later, ha ha ha

Here's the thing Pete (and this is purely my opinion as others will disagree).

Speaker cables (and most cables actually) can make a difference. Some appreciably so, BUT think of it as a fine tuning or icing on the cake of a system. If your system overall is not giving you what you want, then a cable is not really going to fix things.

If you are likely to change speakers imminently then it's also not what you want to be spending money on.

Most on here have walked the same path you're treading now and many have come to their own conclusions. If you want to try loads of different cables and can do so for free (if your dealer is willing to lend out etc) then by all means go for it, can be fun and indeed rewarding, but equally tedious and tiresome. Depends on how much 'fun' you have doing that sort of thing.

However I would urge you also not to spend the dealer prices. Again I'll mention it, but a certain cable already referenced here has ended a lot of peoples search for 'that' cable. It's not 'cheap' (relative term) but it's certainly miles ahead of what most dealers will recommend or supply you with (that I've heard). Some will scoff at £200 for speaker cables when similar can be had for £20, but different systems show different changes in speaker cable types (again, just my opinion).

It's reformed my perspective of value on speaker cables, I'll say that. In a nutshell it outperformed my TQ Ultra Blacks (RRP £800+) by some margin, as well as being that far ahead again of the usual 'budget' offerings.

Like Oli says, we're just trying to save you money really. Okay so you could argue that cable is cable etc and we'd be better of recommending any OFC 2.5/4.0mm cable that 'does the job' if we were trying to save you money, and it would be a valid point, but if you're looking for a 'performance' (again relative term) cable, it's where the value is at.

I won't mention it again as of course it's your decision and who am I to dissuade people from trying things they wish to try!

Let us know what you decide and how you get on!

I read somewhere the TQ cable is high capacitance and that's why it can sound a little different. Certainly there's no magic in it, same with any cable, and the prices are absurd. No wonder the dealers are pushing it, I bet they have 100 percent mark-up.

I have a cable graveyard that is testimony to my ignorance. Yes I hear differences in cables too, but it's either in my mind or simple matter of inductance and/or capacitance. Don't fall for the fairy stories, save the money or spend it on something more fun than some wire.

I'm fairly sceptical when trying cables and have refused to pay big bucks for speaker cables but I have to say that SAEC tripple CCC is probably the best that I have heard. Weirdly, I've tried with bare cable on binding terminals and with it terminated with WBT silver banana's and I have to say preferring the silver terminations. What does that tell you? It's a weird hobby but fun, just try loads of different stuff and see what works best in your system!!

Yeah, the triple C is excellent, whether speaker cable or interconnect.  I changed speaker cables and phono cable to SAEC triple C at the same time and was gobsmacked at how much the noise floor dropped. As a result I'm awaiting termination of some triple C for amp to phono, to match things there, and expect only more improvement in sq and I have triple C interconnects for cdp duty awaiting termination as well, all will have KLEI Perfect Harmony silver plugs.

Then I'll be making up a pair of powers cords with SAEC triple C power cable, which I'll be fitting with Missing Link EPS 500 silver plated plugs (the plugs I have fitted on my amp, tt and cdp), and IeGO 8095ag IECs, which will be for amp and phono stage duty - Cant wait til all this is done and plumbed in so I can get some hours on, evaluate and then give a full and extensive detailed update on, in the Gong Blog, I'll make it clear the difference I'm hearing over other cable /. since changes.  wont be til after the Christmas / New Year time though     

The higher the number, the bigger the rip-off.

You know this for a fact, having heard them all! 

I know of someone who changed a full loom of SAEC Triple C for EWA cables.

If there's one thing Colin Wonfor could be accused of, ripping people off IS NOT one of them, in fact quite the opposite 😉

A little in the defense of Colin,

Making a cable from scratch is not cheap.

Especially when you are asking a company to make something specific.

There is a little truth in Phase shift etc, but it's incredibly debatable as to whether it is even audible at the frequency HiFi uses.

Colin isnt a rip off merchant IMO, certainly not in the category of certain other HiFi thieves out there. He is charging an audiophile type premium price for his cable, but that's his right.

At least its HIS design.

I've tried quite a few of the low to mid range TQ speaker cables. Mainly focusing on the Black and Black 2.

I do regard them as a tone control, to my ear they do sound warm and full. If that suits you and your system, then that might be what you want.

But I must admit they do seem to have a sound beyond being a tone control and it's a bit odd to my ear. Not keen.

My best experience was with Silver 2. That had least subjective treble rolloff and was quite an entertaining listen.

I've been with Van den Hul CS122 for a couple of years now, though, and have stopped trying others. They just hit the spot for me.