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Quantum Cable SuperNova Interconnects Review
First the specifications, taken directly from http://www.quantumcable.com:
22 AWG stranded Oxygen Free Copper Stranded shielding
High quality locking barrel connectors
4% Silver Solder
Directional Logo'd heat shrink
Special conductor separation from ground
FEP Teflon coating over each conductor
Grey Tech Flex outer cover
Pro-gold termination treatment
Directional electron flow, created by the pre-burn process using the patented AudioDharma Cable Cooker®, to "set" electron flow for each custom pair built.
Starting price is $89.99 for one 0.5 Meter pair.
My Review is as follows:
I contacted Doug; owner, designer, and builder of each and every cable, and shared my needs. I was looking for seven interconnects to run between my Rotel RSP-1066 and AMC 2N100-5 and AMC 2100. He had just developed this new cable, SuperNova, that he claims has comes close to rivaling the detail and transparency of his SilverCats (www.catcables.com) of which I am a proud owner of two pair for my stereo only system. Loving my SilverCats, I didn’t hesitate to try his SuperNova’s.
First Impressions: Wow. Let’s just say I didn’t want to hide my cables, much like my SilverCats, the fit and finish of these babies scream quality craftsmanship and extreme detail. I’ve shown a few friends and they too thought they were pretty, one even took one over to his wife (I let him) asking if he could buy some! I was most struck by the quality locking barrel connectors. It’s so nice to not have to hank off interconnects in fear of damaging my equipment.
Listening Tests: I compared my SuperNova’s with my SilverCats and previous reference Monster Reference Two interconnects. I connected all three between my Musical Fidelity A3cr Amp and Preamp, of which run my Martin Logan SL3’s. I used my Cambridge Audio D500-Special Edition 24bit-CD Player and a variety of musical arrangements. The interconnects between my CD player and preamp remained SilverCats. First I listened to the SilverCats because they were connected to begin with and I know that sound very well. The Martin Logans are VERY revealing speakers and mated with the Musical Fidelity gear, flaws are very much heard (which means I can’t listen to too many 1980’s CD’s anymore!). Then I connected my previous reference Monster Cables followed by my new SuperNova’s and here is what I heard.
SilverCats: Detailed high end, transparency is amazingly deep and with a precise soundstage. Midrange if rich, excels in vocal presentation and “realness.” Bottom end is tight, fast, with a quick response.
Monster Reference Two: High end “missing” dynamics (best word to describe it is like a veil lay over the speakers). Midrange “heavy” with limited soundstage and depth. Bottom end not as tight and fast as SilverCats and did not have as quick a response time.
SuperNovas: Almost has detailed a high end as the SilverCats but just missing by a hair, similar transparency and soundstage. As my wife put it “It’s like there right there in front of you singing/playing.” Bottom end had excellence slam and a fast response time.
I spent A TONE OF TIME switching cables back and forth, had my wife listen (she’s the harpist with a very critical ear) and it was very hard to tell differences between the SilverCats and SuperNovas. It wasn’t until we played some of my wife’s harp scores that I heard the very subtle high-end difference between the two. The Monster, could not hold it’s own in resolution of detail and really sounded muddied compared the SuperNovas. Perhaps it’s the Silver in the cats that make the difference in the high-end frequencies, but I’m no expert so I don’t know. I do know this though, those SuperNova’s are now proudly connected in my newly finished Home Theater and boy are they singin’. They do not help run my Martin Logan but they sound so very neutral and detailed running my Energy and Axiom speakers! I love transparent and detailed sound for stereo listening and enjoy natural, very neutral (some would say “warm”) sound in home theater. The great thing is the SuperNova’s, mated with the right equipment (to my amazement) were able to provide both!
Customer Service: Much like the fit and finish of these cables, the VERY personal service Doug provides is nothing short of outstanding. You want a custom length, heck a custom cable that no one else makes; well he’ll make it for you! He responded to my e-mail promptly and even called me at work once to verify what color shrink I wanted on my cables!
Feel free to e-mail me any questions you have regarding SuperNova’s and I’ll try to share what I can. Or just contact Doug; he’ll hook you up just like he did for me!
Erik
The Norwegian A/V Nut!
E-Cinema
First the specifications, taken directly from http://www.quantumcable.com:
22 AWG stranded Oxygen Free Copper Stranded shielding
High quality locking barrel connectors
4% Silver Solder
Directional Logo'd heat shrink
Special conductor separation from ground
FEP Teflon coating over each conductor
Grey Tech Flex outer cover
Pro-gold termination treatment
Directional electron flow, created by the pre-burn process using the patented AudioDharma Cable Cooker®, to "set" electron flow for each custom pair built.
Starting price is $89.99 for one 0.5 Meter pair.
My Review is as follows:
I contacted Doug; owner, designer, and builder of each and every cable, and shared my needs. I was looking for seven interconnects to run between my Rotel RSP-1066 and AMC 2N100-5 and AMC 2100. He had just developed this new cable, SuperNova, that he claims has comes close to rivaling the detail and transparency of his SilverCats (www.catcables.com) of which I am a proud owner of two pair for my stereo only system. Loving my SilverCats, I didn’t hesitate to try his SuperNova’s.
First Impressions: Wow. Let’s just say I didn’t want to hide my cables, much like my SilverCats, the fit and finish of these babies scream quality craftsmanship and extreme detail. I’ve shown a few friends and they too thought they were pretty, one even took one over to his wife (I let him) asking if he could buy some! I was most struck by the quality locking barrel connectors. It’s so nice to not have to hank off interconnects in fear of damaging my equipment.
Listening Tests: I compared my SuperNova’s with my SilverCats and previous reference Monster Reference Two interconnects. I connected all three between my Musical Fidelity A3cr Amp and Preamp, of which run my Martin Logan SL3’s. I used my Cambridge Audio D500-Special Edition 24bit-CD Player and a variety of musical arrangements. The interconnects between my CD player and preamp remained SilverCats. First I listened to the SilverCats because they were connected to begin with and I know that sound very well. The Martin Logans are VERY revealing speakers and mated with the Musical Fidelity gear, flaws are very much heard (which means I can’t listen to too many 1980’s CD’s anymore!). Then I connected my previous reference Monster Cables followed by my new SuperNova’s and here is what I heard.
SilverCats: Detailed high end, transparency is amazingly deep and with a precise soundstage. Midrange if rich, excels in vocal presentation and “realness.” Bottom end is tight, fast, with a quick response.
Monster Reference Two: High end “missing” dynamics (best word to describe it is like a veil lay over the speakers). Midrange “heavy” with limited soundstage and depth. Bottom end not as tight and fast as SilverCats and did not have as quick a response time.
SuperNovas: Almost has detailed a high end as the SilverCats but just missing by a hair, similar transparency and soundstage. As my wife put it “It’s like there right there in front of you singing/playing.” Bottom end had excellence slam and a fast response time.
I spent A TONE OF TIME switching cables back and forth, had my wife listen (she’s the harpist with a very critical ear) and it was very hard to tell differences between the SilverCats and SuperNovas. It wasn’t until we played some of my wife’s harp scores that I heard the very subtle high-end difference between the two. The Monster, could not hold it’s own in resolution of detail and really sounded muddied compared the SuperNovas. Perhaps it’s the Silver in the cats that make the difference in the high-end frequencies, but I’m no expert so I don’t know. I do know this though, those SuperNova’s are now proudly connected in my newly finished Home Theater and boy are they singin’. They do not help run my Martin Logan but they sound so very neutral and detailed running my Energy and Axiom speakers! I love transparent and detailed sound for stereo listening and enjoy natural, very neutral (some would say “warm”) sound in home theater. The great thing is the SuperNova’s, mated with the right equipment (to my amazement) were able to provide both!
Customer Service: Much like the fit and finish of these cables, the VERY personal service Doug provides is nothing short of outstanding. You want a custom length, heck a custom cable that no one else makes; well he’ll make it for you! He responded to my e-mail promptly and even called me at work once to verify what color shrink I wanted on my cables!
Feel free to e-mail me any questions you have regarding SuperNova’s and I’ll try to share what I can. Or just contact Doug; he’ll hook you up just like he did for me!
Erik
The Norwegian A/V Nut!
E-Cinema
I remember debating whether to use Silvercats or SuperNovas in my Cubicle Tubicle system at work and then Doug just happened to introduce the Catalinas just as I was debating and decided to order the first pair ever (I think--once again Doug can confirm). It's nice to know I did well choosing the Catalinas, though of course I wouldn't have gone wrong with any of his cables! (Well, maybe I would go wrong trying to use an S-video as an audio interconnect or something crazy like that!) 
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