Post by Bigman80 on Dec 14, 2019 9:26:39 GMT
Firebottle:
Let's set the scene, here we have a new interconnect so I set up a 3 way review with a couple of others I have. Anyone who has heard my system recently will know it is very revealing. The set-up. Signal provided by ZYX R-100 → Vivant phono stage → Interconnect on test → KIN line stage → Dual Mono hybrid power amp → ESL57. Call me a bit of an agnostic regarding cables, I have heard improvements but it's probably my tight-wad status that lets me down from hearing greater improvements. The more I learn/design/listen only goes to prove more and more that everything in this game matters for ultimate performance, components, cables, connectors, valves, cases, layout, isolation etc. First cable is a Mogami 2549 with Rean RCA plugs. This cable is very similar to the Klotz cable but in my view slightly inferior. Second is a bit left field, two runs of the Amazon Basics 3RCA Component Video Cable. This is no longer available but does present a very low capacitance interconnect. The plugs do give a very nice grip to the corresponding sockets. Third is the new SPOTFIRE interconnect from Bigman80 of this parish. This pair has a prototype sheath but does have some of the best RCA plugs available. To me they look like one of the best designed RCA bullet plug and have a great feel when mated. I started with the Mogami to set the stage, playing the Toy album from Yello, one I know very well and superbly engineered. Excellent sound stage, nothing missing or highlighted, a solid performer.
Then onto the AmazonBasics, a very very similar sound with perhaps a slight more tinkle at the top end. This is a 1.8m interconnect but has lower capacitance than the other two 1m pairs. Certainly one to keep as a long spare, particularly considering they only cost me £3 from a charity outlet. Finally plumbed in the Spotfire and oh my giddy aunt! It was like someone had flicked a 3D switch, there was an immense depth and precision added to the sound. This was just swapping a cable, unbelievable. Played a few tracks and then put the AmazonBasics back in to check. Yep the image went back to 2D, well not completely flat but what a difference, quick get the Spotfires back in.
Talk about an immersive experience, the soundstage is truly sensational. There is a phasing effect on the track 'Lost in motion' that with the AmazonBasics sort of mushes around the head but with the Spotfires goes right through your head. I was getting goosebumps on tracks I've heard many times before. I played a number of albums, particularly Queen Greatest Hits II. This recording can sound a bit 2D, certainly nowhere near the Yello production quality but with the Spotfires was giving depth previously unheard. This was definitely a 'must re-visit the vinyl collection' moment. Shirley really appreciated the sound too.
The upgrade given by these cables is like doubling the price of the rest of the gear. If your kit is anything like capable you need to try these new interconnects. I don't know where Bigman80 has found the secret stash of pixie dust but it's premium quality. I think Spotfire must be a play on words, but they are spot on and the fire comes from the greater emotion you feel from the music.
Fab-u-lous. These are keepers. As always with different kit and systems YMMV.
Jimbo:
I spent yesterday afternoon and late into the night listening to Oliver's SPOTFIRE RCA Phono IC cables in my system, positioned between the VPI turntable and the Croft preamplifier which is I feel the critical cable position in a system. It as this point the very delicate signal from the cartridge needs to be preserved as best possible without interference or loss. I have observed that other cable positions in my system are not as sensitive. As I mentioned previously the SPOTFIRE is very nicely manufactured and the RCA plugs fit nice and snugly and the outer braiding is not too thick, so it is quite flexible. I let my system warm up a little and took a first listen. From the outset I could hear the potential this cable had but did not want to judge it straight away as my amps sound a little flat and grainy until they are warm.
I will skip over what I heard in the first hour and fast forward to the end of the evening ( 7 hours later). By this time everything was on song and I was able to evaluate what this cable was truly doing in my system. I know all these things are subjective as folk perceive different aspects of sound reproduction which is important to them. It is these aspects that tick the boxes as to whether something sounds good to them or not. The important aspects for me in sound reproduction are transparency, balance, realism, tonal quality and soundstage. The SPOTFIRE gave me everything I could wish for, ticking all these boxes. I have never heard a cable at whatever price or by which ever manufacture that sounded this good in my system! It is truly remarkable and I scratch my head as to how Oliver has come up with the magical combination of components and construction that makes this cable so good. Large well known companies spend a fortune developing cables as R&D is a big part of the reason some cables are so expensive. I know talking to Oliver he has spent a lot of time putting this cable together, evaluating each aspect. It his ability to hear what is important and convey this into constructing a cable that makes is so good.
The SPOTFIRE is balanced perfectly from top to bottom. My top end is a bit much with the 2M black but this cable allowed it to give me all the detail and more but without the over emphasised hardness it sometimes has. The bottom end is articulate, fatter and more evident by someway compared to what I have heard before and the midrange is just to die for! The soundstage is way more 3D with fantastic depth and wider. Listening to some of my favourite albums was a complete joy. What was very pleasing was how difficult slightly hard recordings became much more listenable. Because the midrange is so good vocals are sublime and very real. The SPOTFIRE allowed my system to sound so transparent I was in awe how some instruments and vocals came across.
I could go on and on but I would simply say you need to try this cable in your system! I was so amazed at what it did in my system I have ordered one immediately from Oliver.
WeeTeeCee:
I have ordered a 0.5m pair from Oliver. My impressions are as follows:
Ive been round the cable block a few times and have numerous bakeoffs with the Scottish troops. My go to cable has been Mark Grant 2000s with the wbt 0110 ag plugs. I have numerous others but already know the MG is the front runner in all my systems.
OK the Spotfire...
Beautiful build quality as good as anything I have purchased. The KLE plugs are a really good fit on my phono sockets. Tonally they are very neutral with no discernible lift anywhere in the spectrum. Fantastic detail retrieval. Rock solid soundstage with the best instrument placement ive experienced .
I keep coming back to timing in my description-they just seem to capture drum rhythms really well high hats and symbols sound terrific. I have a personal dislike of sibilance on voices-female vocalist that close mic rip my knitting-the spotfire is really good in this respect. The best ICs ive tried. I would encourage members to get a listen to them they are something special. Mine reside between pre and power as i have a lap top feeding the pre on board dac with usb-reckon they could be even more significant between a source and pre as Jim alluded to.
Considering the cost of plugs/cable/shrink wrap/braiding they represent a bit of a bargain IMHO.
I will continue to burn them in until my pair arrive and then will get them to Gary if thats OK with Oliver.
Usual caveat ....my kit/room/tunes/ears YMMV.
GazJam:
Ok, so had a few days with Oliver's SPOTFIRE interconnect...
As the demo pair had been round the doors a few times I reckoned they should be close to run in, so plumbed them in and let them play away in the background. The critical listening bit can be informative, but for me what works best is letting the sound soak in over time...get used to it THEN plumb a comparison set in. Immediate impression and gut reaction is usually the right one for me, so this was my method of testing.
Few days of Radio Paradise 320K, 16/44 and 24/96 Flac, DSD and MQA from Tidal, of lots of different music, so a fair range of sound. Know what, I liked these cables and think they sound particularly good for the money.
Impressions are of an open sounding cable with good soundstage and (particularly) a deep bass with good control. Made most music sound good to listen to, which is what you want! I’d pick these over the Klotz/MS Audio as a step up, having done the critical listening bit with these two, knowing this would be a comparison of interest here. I’m pretty much sorted with interconnect cables nowadays, so not looking to change and prefer what I have, but if I was starting again or looking for that second step up on the interconnect ladder I’d recommend trying these in your system.
Well done Ollie, nice job mate.
Brian2957:
Gary was over at my place yesterday and I've now heard the Spotfire interconnects in three different systems , including my own.
I must say that in all of these systems the Spotfire interconnects sounded excellent. What particularly struck me was the size and depth of the soundstage. Instruments hung in their own space, top end was very natural sounding, mids were smooth and textured and voices in particular were beautifully portrayed. The bass was clean and deep and drove the music along very well indeed. Although the presentation of the Spotfires differed slightly in each of the three systems the basic traits described above was present in them all.
I'm convinced that Oliver's Spotfire interconnects will perform to a very high standard in a wide variety of systems and must say that they sounded particularly good in my own system. They certainly do a lot of things right and are well worth an audition if you're in the market for a very nice, well built set of interconnects
Shadowmoses:
Had this cable in for a few hours now and WOW!!!
I cannot believe the difference one cable has made to my system.
I put it between my Phono and Pre, straight away more detail bigger sound stage and beautiful clean bass.
I was using Atlas Intengra and these blow them off the planet.
I seem to be feeling more emotion comin from the music, Placebo's Unplugged had me open mouthed at times.
I can't add much more to what's already been said about these Spotfire cables but you need to have a demo!!!
Massive change for me
I'm ordering!!!
They fair EXTREMELY well, in fact, I'd advise anyone not wanting to spend the money of some 420's to try these beauts! NO I'M NOT PAID BY THE BIGMAN TO SAY THESE WORDS!
JandL100:
Had a bit of a listen last night.
Hmm - well.Expectations exceeded. Bugger!
It initiated a bout of frantic cable swapping amongst my collection to see if I could close the gap.
It's a bit strange how cables you have moved on from sometimes still have the magic that initially entranced you when you go back to them after a while. Wireworld Oasis, now why did I move on from those? Very nice! But I have to admit that the focussed transparency of the Spotfire is a hard act to equal. It's the image focus that immediately got my attention, most cables are rather fuzzy and vague in comparison. That was a bit of a shock.
I think the sound may be a bit stark for me, maybe a bit of tonal thinness that might or might not prove too much in the longer term. Or maybe that is just superior transparency? There is a lot more listening to do, over a much wider range of material, but to wrap up my listening thoughts ...
They aren't harsh, just transparent. Not thin or stark sounding, either. The tonality sounds right. The bass is well defined and I don't hear any loss of bass power reported by some. It took me a while to get my head round what they actually do, compared to my excellent IXOS Ixotica cables (something like £300-400 a pair when new, I think).
What they do is move you forward a few rows in the concert hall. The IXOS place me about 12-15 rows back from the front of the front stalls. The SPOTFIRE move me to about 3 or 4 rows from the front.
So they are more immediate sounding, slightly increased detail, immediacy and transparency. Less of a cushion of air between me and the performers. Imaging-wise, the SPOTFIRE are a bit more focused and with more clearly defined soundstage placement. Just what you'd expect from moving nearer the concert platform. The IXOS place me quite close to the music, the SPOTFIRE put me even closer.
Where do I want to be?
Well, tbh, I still really like the IXOS and I suspect the SPOTFIRE place me a little too close for comfort some of the time. On the other hand it would be nice to have the option of choosing!
Either way, the SPOTFIRE are a really excellent, genuinely high end cable imo. Whether or not they tick your own specific boxes only you can decide!ese are simply way ahead of what I was expecting!
Edward:
Good grief! These cables are the bees knees.
I apologise in advance for using quite hackneyed lingo but it is difficult to find different language to describe what I'm hearing. Just as a point of reference I have placed these cables between a DAC (Metrum HEX) and an integrated amp (Sugden Masterclass) driving Tannoy Eatons. Source is a mixture of Redbook and high res. Anyway these cables open up the door a lot. Like going from a single door to bi-fold doors reaching across the building. Height and width of the sound is extended. Excellent depth as well so overall soundstage very realistic. Nicely rounded across the range. Bass and treble 'makes sense', midrange sits well and is engaging. Whilst cables are ruthlessly analytical they are not glaring or digital sounding. Very organic analogue 'valve' texture. Be prepared for these cables to take no prisoners if presented with a poorly recorded track. What I'm enjoying in particular is the amount of micro detail these cables are able to grab. Essentially the cables get out of the way and let the music flow effortlessly.
Really excellent Oli. If you packaged them up in a classy box you would be able to sell them for 'hundreds', the prices you quoted earlier in this thread are a steal.
Crackles:
I can confirm these cables are bloody amazing. Until I heard the Spotfires I've never been convinced that cables make that much difference ...at least not in this price range. As soon as I plugged them in I couldn't believe the instant difference in soundstage and separation. On most albums I played they made a difference in separating out the instruments so nobody was 'stood in front of anyone else'. Often new details could be heard on tracks I've heard many times before.
On some music they also brighten things up a bit. So I tried them on some duller sounding records like the Black Uhuru Live album that I've had for about 30 years and sounds like it was recorded from outside the venue. The Spotfires didn't totally transform it but they gave it some life and made it sound more real than ever before. The most impressive moment using them was when listening to the Ten Years After live album. The crowd noise before the encore actually sounded like a load of individual people clapping and shouting, not a mushed blur like you normally hear.
Suffice to say I can't recommend them highly enough. I've already ordered a pair from Oliver which the postie tried to deliver today.
Karma67:
Well i've just heard Oliver's cables. Thanks to Steve for popping over,(nice to meet you mate). All i can say is i shall be buying some in the near future! I use the Sommer Carbokab cable with MS Starline plugs which in my system bettered the Klotz MC5000. The first track on the album by Yello called Toy, i could hear the female singing move forward with better clarity. Swapping back to the Sommer cable she retreats towards the back of my soundstage, i tried this 3 times and it kept happening.
I don't know what that's called in audiophile terms but i like it a lot!
Simon_LDT:
Equipment used, Linn Akurate DS0/1 with uprated board. EAR 834 Integrated. Impulse Lali speakers. Spotfire Cables and Black Rhodium Jive speaker cable. CD player used is an Arcam Alpha 5 with Avondale Engineering mods recently purchased. Room isn't big at around 11' x 13' with speakers about 2M apart and similar distance to listening spot. Room isn't fully treated but has some, with improvements still needed. Therefore not a perfect listening environment.
Okay. First impressions were great, as already mentioned the sound was nice and clear and detailed.
I have listened to the Spotfires a lot this Sunday and they are great. Not perfect, what is?! This was done on the Linn streamer to get used to them.
Pros/ A lovely more forward presentation, detailed and tight bass control. I felt that bass was tighter and although certain tracks can excite the room with bass bloom, it was definitely less apparent with the Spotfires. Brings more depth to the sound-stage and keeps busy music under control. In fact, this was the biggest plus point to me, how controlled everything was compared to other cables I own. I could turn the wick far higher on my EAR amp than ever before, nothing sounded as compressed or harsh with music not of great recordings which is most of my library and I was quite concerned I'd blow speakers! I bottled it at around 100db as it was a Sunday & I live in a block of flats...
Con/ There was a tiny amount of sibilance apparent on some music I tried through either the Linn streamer or CD player. This happens on other cables as well. I'm investigating whether electronic noise is getting in to the digital domain somewhere but clearly I'm no expert. Otherwise very little to distract from a lovely well constructed cable.
To summarise, I like these cables a lot, so far the best I have tried. I'd like to take my time; maybe speaking to Oliver via PM to see if I can experiment more with different speaker cable to see if I can lose that small amount of sibilance & try them against other i/c's available but I will definitely be voting with my wallet.
Ian7633:
I've had the Spotfire interconnects in my system for a few days now giving me the chance to have a good listen to what they do. Firstly I must point out I'm using a new amp so I'm quite tuned in to any changes at the moment.
On opening the box the first thing to strike me about the Spotfires was the quality of construction and finish. Once plumbed in my first impressions were the extra detail after the Sommer Cabokab/MS Audio cable I had been using. There was a definite increase in depth of detail, the definition in female vocals, the clarity of higher range percussion instruments and an overall sense of control. I also thought there was less "shrillness" to some vocals, Janis Joplin especially.
So, would I buy them, definitely yes, watch your inbox for my order Oliver
More From Karma67:
Ok so i have the loan Spotfire interconnects here, I'm already using the tonearm version of the Spotfire, all be it not properly bedded in yet, i'd say about 6hrs use so far.
I've stuck the loan Spotfire pair last in the chain, going from my pre amp to the amp, between this is one pair of sommer cables connecting my head amp to the pre. Once again I've found another step up, im listen to a lot of Julian bream at the moment and i can say that i noticed some more clarity coming through, the acoustic guitar twang and finger plucks in particular, finger slides have become quite realistic, not that they weren't before but now they are a joy too hear, all adding to that 'he's in the room' experience. I'm not there yet i should say but i feel these cables are a step in the right direction.
Oliver told me you can hear a difference with each interconnect that is replaced and so far i agree.
If you own a set of these cables you need 2 sets lol, They are without doubt the best cables I've used to date. Another order coming your way soon mate. nice one!
Docps:
I have a fair few expensive cables but took an interest in Oliver's Spotfires as I am looking for a bespoke length. I have also recently invested in a similar cable from Oliver for my tonearm (Jelco on a LP12) which I am very satisfied with. To listen to the quality of the Spotfires I, rather unfairly, removed my Transparent Audio Ultra cable (current retail £1400ish) from between my Modwright LS36.5 and my Auralic Vega DAC.
The Ultras are the best cable I have ever had in my system and unsurprisingly beat off the competition from this cheap usurper. However, to suggest they were 10 times better is simply ridiculous. The Ultras had a little more definition when tracks became heavier and more complicated. One such track which highlighted this was a song by New Model Army which had a second bassline beneath the surface and the Ultras kept this in good order while the Spotfires muddied this somewhat.
The Ultras also appeared to have slightly better overall definition within the lower regions but this was rather marginal. On simpler tracks like a lot of my favoured acoustic ones, the Spotfires held their own and provided excellent tonal balance.
I believe Oliver deserves a lot of credit for his achievements with this cable which is a veritable bargain. Perhaps I should place my order quickly before he reads this and puts his prices up!!!
Rob:
Good Afternoon Oliver,
My dealer ‘loaned’ me the Nordost Red Dawn (circa £240) on Friday after I dropped off Chord Shawline. I tried them last night and for the first few minutes they did impress. However it didn’t take long for me to turn it down. I like to hear the slam and kick of a drum as much as the next man but this was just too much. The overall presentation was very ‘hard’ and after 10 minutes I took them out. I put the Spotfire’s back in and within a minute my head was banging (in a good way). They excel in a number of areas and not by a small margin either. The 3D like space around everything and how extremely dynamic they are. I was playing Led Zep ‘Whole lotta Love’ and could feel/hear the air pushing out between the hi-hat. Also after the cymbals had been hit they seemed to shimmer.
Crazy stuff!
More From Rob:
A bit of feedback on the SPOTFIRE interconnects…
I’ve had my new streamer and amp for a month now. I had an issue (no biggie) with the streamer last week and my dealer came over to sort it out. He left me the Chord Co Shawline interconnect to try out. I had used it when demoing at my dealers and fancied trying them at home. I used the Chord Shawline over two nights. At first they showed more detail but I found myself turning the volume up and down and more down on a lot of tracks. The presentation was very congested, lacking any soundstage and just plain difficult to listen to. I swapped back to the Spotfire leads and for about 30 seconds I was a little unsure then the soundstage opened up drastically. There was space between the instruments plus they had a more realistic sound. Everything fell into place. I was buzzing TBH.
So please let me know when you’re well enough to make some speaker cables. As I mentioned before, no rush. Only when you are ready.
Antinchip:
Based on the reviews I thought I would buy a set of Oliver's Spotfires to try in my system. I am very pleased that I did and very happy to share my experience.
In my system the chain from source to amplifiers is a bit convoluted. WTA GT to Headspace to Croft RIIAR to Croft 25R to Beresford switch (interface with multi-channel system) to Croft 7R's - phew! All Mark Grant G1000HD except WTA to Headspace being Mark Grant HDX1. Spotfire hooked in to replace the latter. Initial audition straight from the packet sounded good, no clear difference to the MG. Then transferred to bedroom system for 100 hour burn-in (based on recommendation in the original thread), only background listening, if any.
Back to the main system and....gosh... a clear uplift in clarity, tunefulness and soundstage, but something not quite right! Thought I'd better check cart set-up. I have had the WTA GT perhaps six months and used three different cart's (Shure V15iii, Denon DL103GL and now Dynavector DVXX2 MK2). Thinking back I recall being concerned that I might have twisted the headshell a bit on fitting the first cart but let it slide as all was sounding good. On precise checking I found that the headshell alignment was some way off where it should have been! Adjustments duly made and the sound (music) just snapped together, listening was and remains a real delight.
I have not been tempted to go back to the MG cable and conclude that the Spotfire, as well as being so musical, is that much more revealing. I will certainly consider adding more runs of Spotfire when budget allows. Thanks Oliver (and to Alan who helped with the build given Oliver's bike accident) for a good value, well made product. All the best.
Blackmass:
The circle is now complete:
I received another Spotfire interconnect from Oliver last week. This now completes a full loom of Spotfire cables throughout my system. It comprises of a 5 Pin Din to RCA between my Naim streamer and amp, Spotfire interconnects from my turntable to phono stage and another one from the phono stage to amp. Last but not least Spotfire Reference speaker cables.
I’m not going to waffle on but it’s evident with the amount of Spotfire products I’ve bought I’m a big fan. I can only echo the thoughts and views of others who have heard them. I’ve moved from Linn Silvers/Yannis Tome interconnects and Chord Co Signature speaker cable and my system has never sounded so good. The soundstage is now wide out, the depth and space is all there to fall into and the music is all encompassing, authentic, vibrant and exciting. I’m constantly amazed how good my system sounds now. It’s the sound I’ve been looking for years.
Cheers
Rob
QWIN:
Hi Oliver,
Just some feedback on my Balanced Spotfire IC's.
I am running Spotfire IC's from my Pre Amp to my Active crossover, also from this crossover to my two stereo power amps. The addition of the new cables coincided with some opamp component changes in the active crossover. After 100 hrs burn in (opamp recommendation) I was a bit disappointed, it wasn't till around 150 hrs that everything settled down and I hit the sweet spot.
I have to say I am now very pleased, the Spotfire cable makes cracking balanced interconnects, transparent, detailed, full bass grunt that also packs a punch, crisp highs and nice timbre. No noticeable weakness in any area, unlike lesser cables which have at least one area of deficiency, to mar an otherwise good performance.
Keep up the good work, I will certainly be singing the praises of the balanced Spotfire.
Best regards
K**"
Hammer:
Hi Ollie. I had a reference interconnect from you a few weeks back, now fully run in it sounds superb ,better bass, separation of instruments is much clearer. Very highly recommended. Oh and by the way having read the post on the other forum I can fully understand why you no longer wish to post there
Let's set the scene, here we have a new interconnect so I set up a 3 way review with a couple of others I have. Anyone who has heard my system recently will know it is very revealing. The set-up. Signal provided by ZYX R-100 → Vivant phono stage → Interconnect on test → KIN line stage → Dual Mono hybrid power amp → ESL57. Call me a bit of an agnostic regarding cables, I have heard improvements but it's probably my tight-wad status that lets me down from hearing greater improvements. The more I learn/design/listen only goes to prove more and more that everything in this game matters for ultimate performance, components, cables, connectors, valves, cases, layout, isolation etc. First cable is a Mogami 2549 with Rean RCA plugs. This cable is very similar to the Klotz cable but in my view slightly inferior. Second is a bit left field, two runs of the Amazon Basics 3RCA Component Video Cable. This is no longer available but does present a very low capacitance interconnect. The plugs do give a very nice grip to the corresponding sockets. Third is the new SPOTFIRE interconnect from Bigman80 of this parish. This pair has a prototype sheath but does have some of the best RCA plugs available. To me they look like one of the best designed RCA bullet plug and have a great feel when mated. I started with the Mogami to set the stage, playing the Toy album from Yello, one I know very well and superbly engineered. Excellent sound stage, nothing missing or highlighted, a solid performer.
Then onto the AmazonBasics, a very very similar sound with perhaps a slight more tinkle at the top end. This is a 1.8m interconnect but has lower capacitance than the other two 1m pairs. Certainly one to keep as a long spare, particularly considering they only cost me £3 from a charity outlet. Finally plumbed in the Spotfire and oh my giddy aunt! It was like someone had flicked a 3D switch, there was an immense depth and precision added to the sound. This was just swapping a cable, unbelievable. Played a few tracks and then put the AmazonBasics back in to check. Yep the image went back to 2D, well not completely flat but what a difference, quick get the Spotfires back in.
Talk about an immersive experience, the soundstage is truly sensational. There is a phasing effect on the track 'Lost in motion' that with the AmazonBasics sort of mushes around the head but with the Spotfires goes right through your head. I was getting goosebumps on tracks I've heard many times before. I played a number of albums, particularly Queen Greatest Hits II. This recording can sound a bit 2D, certainly nowhere near the Yello production quality but with the Spotfires was giving depth previously unheard. This was definitely a 'must re-visit the vinyl collection' moment. Shirley really appreciated the sound too.
The upgrade given by these cables is like doubling the price of the rest of the gear. If your kit is anything like capable you need to try these new interconnects. I don't know where Bigman80 has found the secret stash of pixie dust but it's premium quality. I think Spotfire must be a play on words, but they are spot on and the fire comes from the greater emotion you feel from the music.
Fab-u-lous. These are keepers. As always with different kit and systems YMMV.
Jimbo:
I spent yesterday afternoon and late into the night listening to Oliver's SPOTFIRE RCA Phono IC cables in my system, positioned between the VPI turntable and the Croft preamplifier which is I feel the critical cable position in a system. It as this point the very delicate signal from the cartridge needs to be preserved as best possible without interference or loss. I have observed that other cable positions in my system are not as sensitive. As I mentioned previously the SPOTFIRE is very nicely manufactured and the RCA plugs fit nice and snugly and the outer braiding is not too thick, so it is quite flexible. I let my system warm up a little and took a first listen. From the outset I could hear the potential this cable had but did not want to judge it straight away as my amps sound a little flat and grainy until they are warm.
I will skip over what I heard in the first hour and fast forward to the end of the evening ( 7 hours later). By this time everything was on song and I was able to evaluate what this cable was truly doing in my system. I know all these things are subjective as folk perceive different aspects of sound reproduction which is important to them. It is these aspects that tick the boxes as to whether something sounds good to them or not. The important aspects for me in sound reproduction are transparency, balance, realism, tonal quality and soundstage. The SPOTFIRE gave me everything I could wish for, ticking all these boxes. I have never heard a cable at whatever price or by which ever manufacture that sounded this good in my system! It is truly remarkable and I scratch my head as to how Oliver has come up with the magical combination of components and construction that makes this cable so good. Large well known companies spend a fortune developing cables as R&D is a big part of the reason some cables are so expensive. I know talking to Oliver he has spent a lot of time putting this cable together, evaluating each aspect. It his ability to hear what is important and convey this into constructing a cable that makes is so good.
The SPOTFIRE is balanced perfectly from top to bottom. My top end is a bit much with the 2M black but this cable allowed it to give me all the detail and more but without the over emphasised hardness it sometimes has. The bottom end is articulate, fatter and more evident by someway compared to what I have heard before and the midrange is just to die for! The soundstage is way more 3D with fantastic depth and wider. Listening to some of my favourite albums was a complete joy. What was very pleasing was how difficult slightly hard recordings became much more listenable. Because the midrange is so good vocals are sublime and very real. The SPOTFIRE allowed my system to sound so transparent I was in awe how some instruments and vocals came across.
I could go on and on but I would simply say you need to try this cable in your system! I was so amazed at what it did in my system I have ordered one immediately from Oliver.
WeeTeeCee:
I have ordered a 0.5m pair from Oliver. My impressions are as follows:
Ive been round the cable block a few times and have numerous bakeoffs with the Scottish troops. My go to cable has been Mark Grant 2000s with the wbt 0110 ag plugs. I have numerous others but already know the MG is the front runner in all my systems.
OK the Spotfire...
Beautiful build quality as good as anything I have purchased. The KLE plugs are a really good fit on my phono sockets. Tonally they are very neutral with no discernible lift anywhere in the spectrum. Fantastic detail retrieval. Rock solid soundstage with the best instrument placement ive experienced .
I keep coming back to timing in my description-they just seem to capture drum rhythms really well high hats and symbols sound terrific. I have a personal dislike of sibilance on voices-female vocalist that close mic rip my knitting-the spotfire is really good in this respect. The best ICs ive tried. I would encourage members to get a listen to them they are something special. Mine reside between pre and power as i have a lap top feeding the pre on board dac with usb-reckon they could be even more significant between a source and pre as Jim alluded to.
Considering the cost of plugs/cable/shrink wrap/braiding they represent a bit of a bargain IMHO.
I will continue to burn them in until my pair arrive and then will get them to Gary if thats OK with Oliver.
Usual caveat ....my kit/room/tunes/ears YMMV.
GazJam:
Ok, so had a few days with Oliver's SPOTFIRE interconnect...
As the demo pair had been round the doors a few times I reckoned they should be close to run in, so plumbed them in and let them play away in the background. The critical listening bit can be informative, but for me what works best is letting the sound soak in over time...get used to it THEN plumb a comparison set in. Immediate impression and gut reaction is usually the right one for me, so this was my method of testing.
Few days of Radio Paradise 320K, 16/44 and 24/96 Flac, DSD and MQA from Tidal, of lots of different music, so a fair range of sound. Know what, I liked these cables and think they sound particularly good for the money.
Impressions are of an open sounding cable with good soundstage and (particularly) a deep bass with good control. Made most music sound good to listen to, which is what you want! I’d pick these over the Klotz/MS Audio as a step up, having done the critical listening bit with these two, knowing this would be a comparison of interest here. I’m pretty much sorted with interconnect cables nowadays, so not looking to change and prefer what I have, but if I was starting again or looking for that second step up on the interconnect ladder I’d recommend trying these in your system.
Well done Ollie, nice job mate.
Brian2957:
Gary was over at my place yesterday and I've now heard the Spotfire interconnects in three different systems , including my own.
I must say that in all of these systems the Spotfire interconnects sounded excellent. What particularly struck me was the size and depth of the soundstage. Instruments hung in their own space, top end was very natural sounding, mids were smooth and textured and voices in particular were beautifully portrayed. The bass was clean and deep and drove the music along very well indeed. Although the presentation of the Spotfires differed slightly in each of the three systems the basic traits described above was present in them all.
I'm convinced that Oliver's Spotfire interconnects will perform to a very high standard in a wide variety of systems and must say that they sounded particularly good in my own system. They certainly do a lot of things right and are well worth an audition if you're in the market for a very nice, well built set of interconnects
Shadowmoses:
Had this cable in for a few hours now and WOW!!!
I cannot believe the difference one cable has made to my system.
I put it between my Phono and Pre, straight away more detail bigger sound stage and beautiful clean bass.
I was using Atlas Intengra and these blow them off the planet.
I seem to be feeling more emotion comin from the music, Placebo's Unplugged had me open mouthed at times.
I can't add much more to what's already been said about these Spotfire cables but you need to have a demo!!!
Massive change for me
I'm ordering!!!
They fair EXTREMELY well, in fact, I'd advise anyone not wanting to spend the money of some 420's to try these beauts! NO I'M NOT PAID BY THE BIGMAN TO SAY THESE WORDS!
JandL100:
Had a bit of a listen last night.
Hmm - well.Expectations exceeded. Bugger!
It initiated a bout of frantic cable swapping amongst my collection to see if I could close the gap.
It's a bit strange how cables you have moved on from sometimes still have the magic that initially entranced you when you go back to them after a while. Wireworld Oasis, now why did I move on from those? Very nice! But I have to admit that the focussed transparency of the Spotfire is a hard act to equal. It's the image focus that immediately got my attention, most cables are rather fuzzy and vague in comparison. That was a bit of a shock.
I think the sound may be a bit stark for me, maybe a bit of tonal thinness that might or might not prove too much in the longer term. Or maybe that is just superior transparency? There is a lot more listening to do, over a much wider range of material, but to wrap up my listening thoughts ...
They aren't harsh, just transparent. Not thin or stark sounding, either. The tonality sounds right. The bass is well defined and I don't hear any loss of bass power reported by some. It took me a while to get my head round what they actually do, compared to my excellent IXOS Ixotica cables (something like £300-400 a pair when new, I think).
What they do is move you forward a few rows in the concert hall. The IXOS place me about 12-15 rows back from the front of the front stalls. The SPOTFIRE move me to about 3 or 4 rows from the front.
So they are more immediate sounding, slightly increased detail, immediacy and transparency. Less of a cushion of air between me and the performers. Imaging-wise, the SPOTFIRE are a bit more focused and with more clearly defined soundstage placement. Just what you'd expect from moving nearer the concert platform. The IXOS place me quite close to the music, the SPOTFIRE put me even closer.
Where do I want to be?
Well, tbh, I still really like the IXOS and I suspect the SPOTFIRE place me a little too close for comfort some of the time. On the other hand it would be nice to have the option of choosing!
Either way, the SPOTFIRE are a really excellent, genuinely high end cable imo. Whether or not they tick your own specific boxes only you can decide!ese are simply way ahead of what I was expecting!
Edward:
Good grief! These cables are the bees knees.
I apologise in advance for using quite hackneyed lingo but it is difficult to find different language to describe what I'm hearing. Just as a point of reference I have placed these cables between a DAC (Metrum HEX) and an integrated amp (Sugden Masterclass) driving Tannoy Eatons. Source is a mixture of Redbook and high res. Anyway these cables open up the door a lot. Like going from a single door to bi-fold doors reaching across the building. Height and width of the sound is extended. Excellent depth as well so overall soundstage very realistic. Nicely rounded across the range. Bass and treble 'makes sense', midrange sits well and is engaging. Whilst cables are ruthlessly analytical they are not glaring or digital sounding. Very organic analogue 'valve' texture. Be prepared for these cables to take no prisoners if presented with a poorly recorded track. What I'm enjoying in particular is the amount of micro detail these cables are able to grab. Essentially the cables get out of the way and let the music flow effortlessly.
Really excellent Oli. If you packaged them up in a classy box you would be able to sell them for 'hundreds', the prices you quoted earlier in this thread are a steal.
Crackles:
I can confirm these cables are bloody amazing. Until I heard the Spotfires I've never been convinced that cables make that much difference ...at least not in this price range. As soon as I plugged them in I couldn't believe the instant difference in soundstage and separation. On most albums I played they made a difference in separating out the instruments so nobody was 'stood in front of anyone else'. Often new details could be heard on tracks I've heard many times before.
On some music they also brighten things up a bit. So I tried them on some duller sounding records like the Black Uhuru Live album that I've had for about 30 years and sounds like it was recorded from outside the venue. The Spotfires didn't totally transform it but they gave it some life and made it sound more real than ever before. The most impressive moment using them was when listening to the Ten Years After live album. The crowd noise before the encore actually sounded like a load of individual people clapping and shouting, not a mushed blur like you normally hear.
Suffice to say I can't recommend them highly enough. I've already ordered a pair from Oliver which the postie tried to deliver today.
Karma67:
Well i've just heard Oliver's cables. Thanks to Steve for popping over,(nice to meet you mate). All i can say is i shall be buying some in the near future! I use the Sommer Carbokab cable with MS Starline plugs which in my system bettered the Klotz MC5000. The first track on the album by Yello called Toy, i could hear the female singing move forward with better clarity. Swapping back to the Sommer cable she retreats towards the back of my soundstage, i tried this 3 times and it kept happening.
I don't know what that's called in audiophile terms but i like it a lot!
Simon_LDT:
Equipment used, Linn Akurate DS0/1 with uprated board. EAR 834 Integrated. Impulse Lali speakers. Spotfire Cables and Black Rhodium Jive speaker cable. CD player used is an Arcam Alpha 5 with Avondale Engineering mods recently purchased. Room isn't big at around 11' x 13' with speakers about 2M apart and similar distance to listening spot. Room isn't fully treated but has some, with improvements still needed. Therefore not a perfect listening environment.
Okay. First impressions were great, as already mentioned the sound was nice and clear and detailed.
I have listened to the Spotfires a lot this Sunday and they are great. Not perfect, what is?! This was done on the Linn streamer to get used to them.
Pros/ A lovely more forward presentation, detailed and tight bass control. I felt that bass was tighter and although certain tracks can excite the room with bass bloom, it was definitely less apparent with the Spotfires. Brings more depth to the sound-stage and keeps busy music under control. In fact, this was the biggest plus point to me, how controlled everything was compared to other cables I own. I could turn the wick far higher on my EAR amp than ever before, nothing sounded as compressed or harsh with music not of great recordings which is most of my library and I was quite concerned I'd blow speakers! I bottled it at around 100db as it was a Sunday & I live in a block of flats...
Con/ There was a tiny amount of sibilance apparent on some music I tried through either the Linn streamer or CD player. This happens on other cables as well. I'm investigating whether electronic noise is getting in to the digital domain somewhere but clearly I'm no expert. Otherwise very little to distract from a lovely well constructed cable.
To summarise, I like these cables a lot, so far the best I have tried. I'd like to take my time; maybe speaking to Oliver via PM to see if I can experiment more with different speaker cable to see if I can lose that small amount of sibilance & try them against other i/c's available but I will definitely be voting with my wallet.
Ian7633:
I've had the Spotfire interconnects in my system for a few days now giving me the chance to have a good listen to what they do. Firstly I must point out I'm using a new amp so I'm quite tuned in to any changes at the moment.
On opening the box the first thing to strike me about the Spotfires was the quality of construction and finish. Once plumbed in my first impressions were the extra detail after the Sommer Cabokab/MS Audio cable I had been using. There was a definite increase in depth of detail, the definition in female vocals, the clarity of higher range percussion instruments and an overall sense of control. I also thought there was less "shrillness" to some vocals, Janis Joplin especially.
So, would I buy them, definitely yes, watch your inbox for my order Oliver
More From Karma67:
Ok so i have the loan Spotfire interconnects here, I'm already using the tonearm version of the Spotfire, all be it not properly bedded in yet, i'd say about 6hrs use so far.
I've stuck the loan Spotfire pair last in the chain, going from my pre amp to the amp, between this is one pair of sommer cables connecting my head amp to the pre. Once again I've found another step up, im listen to a lot of Julian bream at the moment and i can say that i noticed some more clarity coming through, the acoustic guitar twang and finger plucks in particular, finger slides have become quite realistic, not that they weren't before but now they are a joy too hear, all adding to that 'he's in the room' experience. I'm not there yet i should say but i feel these cables are a step in the right direction.
Oliver told me you can hear a difference with each interconnect that is replaced and so far i agree.
If you own a set of these cables you need 2 sets lol, They are without doubt the best cables I've used to date. Another order coming your way soon mate. nice one!
Docps:
I have a fair few expensive cables but took an interest in Oliver's Spotfires as I am looking for a bespoke length. I have also recently invested in a similar cable from Oliver for my tonearm (Jelco on a LP12) which I am very satisfied with. To listen to the quality of the Spotfires I, rather unfairly, removed my Transparent Audio Ultra cable (current retail £1400ish) from between my Modwright LS36.5 and my Auralic Vega DAC.
The Ultras are the best cable I have ever had in my system and unsurprisingly beat off the competition from this cheap usurper. However, to suggest they were 10 times better is simply ridiculous. The Ultras had a little more definition when tracks became heavier and more complicated. One such track which highlighted this was a song by New Model Army which had a second bassline beneath the surface and the Ultras kept this in good order while the Spotfires muddied this somewhat.
The Ultras also appeared to have slightly better overall definition within the lower regions but this was rather marginal. On simpler tracks like a lot of my favoured acoustic ones, the Spotfires held their own and provided excellent tonal balance.
I believe Oliver deserves a lot of credit for his achievements with this cable which is a veritable bargain. Perhaps I should place my order quickly before he reads this and puts his prices up!!!
Rob:
Good Afternoon Oliver,
My dealer ‘loaned’ me the Nordost Red Dawn (circa £240) on Friday after I dropped off Chord Shawline. I tried them last night and for the first few minutes they did impress. However it didn’t take long for me to turn it down. I like to hear the slam and kick of a drum as much as the next man but this was just too much. The overall presentation was very ‘hard’ and after 10 minutes I took them out. I put the Spotfire’s back in and within a minute my head was banging (in a good way). They excel in a number of areas and not by a small margin either. The 3D like space around everything and how extremely dynamic they are. I was playing Led Zep ‘Whole lotta Love’ and could feel/hear the air pushing out between the hi-hat. Also after the cymbals had been hit they seemed to shimmer.
Crazy stuff!
More From Rob:
A bit of feedback on the SPOTFIRE interconnects…
I’ve had my new streamer and amp for a month now. I had an issue (no biggie) with the streamer last week and my dealer came over to sort it out. He left me the Chord Co Shawline interconnect to try out. I had used it when demoing at my dealers and fancied trying them at home. I used the Chord Shawline over two nights. At first they showed more detail but I found myself turning the volume up and down and more down on a lot of tracks. The presentation was very congested, lacking any soundstage and just plain difficult to listen to. I swapped back to the Spotfire leads and for about 30 seconds I was a little unsure then the soundstage opened up drastically. There was space between the instruments plus they had a more realistic sound. Everything fell into place. I was buzzing TBH.
So please let me know when you’re well enough to make some speaker cables. As I mentioned before, no rush. Only when you are ready.
Antinchip:
Based on the reviews I thought I would buy a set of Oliver's Spotfires to try in my system. I am very pleased that I did and very happy to share my experience.
In my system the chain from source to amplifiers is a bit convoluted. WTA GT to Headspace to Croft RIIAR to Croft 25R to Beresford switch (interface with multi-channel system) to Croft 7R's - phew! All Mark Grant G1000HD except WTA to Headspace being Mark Grant HDX1. Spotfire hooked in to replace the latter. Initial audition straight from the packet sounded good, no clear difference to the MG. Then transferred to bedroom system for 100 hour burn-in (based on recommendation in the original thread), only background listening, if any.
Back to the main system and....gosh... a clear uplift in clarity, tunefulness and soundstage, but something not quite right! Thought I'd better check cart set-up. I have had the WTA GT perhaps six months and used three different cart's (Shure V15iii, Denon DL103GL and now Dynavector DVXX2 MK2). Thinking back I recall being concerned that I might have twisted the headshell a bit on fitting the first cart but let it slide as all was sounding good. On precise checking I found that the headshell alignment was some way off where it should have been! Adjustments duly made and the sound (music) just snapped together, listening was and remains a real delight.
I have not been tempted to go back to the MG cable and conclude that the Spotfire, as well as being so musical, is that much more revealing. I will certainly consider adding more runs of Spotfire when budget allows. Thanks Oliver (and to Alan who helped with the build given Oliver's bike accident) for a good value, well made product. All the best.
Blackmass:
The circle is now complete:
I received another Spotfire interconnect from Oliver last week. This now completes a full loom of Spotfire cables throughout my system. It comprises of a 5 Pin Din to RCA between my Naim streamer and amp, Spotfire interconnects from my turntable to phono stage and another one from the phono stage to amp. Last but not least Spotfire Reference speaker cables.
I’m not going to waffle on but it’s evident with the amount of Spotfire products I’ve bought I’m a big fan. I can only echo the thoughts and views of others who have heard them. I’ve moved from Linn Silvers/Yannis Tome interconnects and Chord Co Signature speaker cable and my system has never sounded so good. The soundstage is now wide out, the depth and space is all there to fall into and the music is all encompassing, authentic, vibrant and exciting. I’m constantly amazed how good my system sounds now. It’s the sound I’ve been looking for years.
Cheers
Rob
QWIN:
Hi Oliver,
Just some feedback on my Balanced Spotfire IC's.
I am running Spotfire IC's from my Pre Amp to my Active crossover, also from this crossover to my two stereo power amps. The addition of the new cables coincided with some opamp component changes in the active crossover. After 100 hrs burn in (opamp recommendation) I was a bit disappointed, it wasn't till around 150 hrs that everything settled down and I hit the sweet spot.
I have to say I am now very pleased, the Spotfire cable makes cracking balanced interconnects, transparent, detailed, full bass grunt that also packs a punch, crisp highs and nice timbre. No noticeable weakness in any area, unlike lesser cables which have at least one area of deficiency, to mar an otherwise good performance.
Keep up the good work, I will certainly be singing the praises of the balanced Spotfire.
Best regards
K**"
Hammer:
Hi Ollie. I had a reference interconnect from you a few weeks back, now fully run in it sounds superb ,better bass, separation of instruments is much clearer. Very highly recommended. Oh and by the way having read the post on the other forum I can fully understand why you no longer wish to post there