I don’t disagree with you and it’s always been a tough decision. Truth is, it started when I got my head turned around by the AQ power cables. The new ones I had tried just elevated the system’s performance to such heights that there was no way I could live
without them. They’re total keepers. But, then what? How can we honestly suggest our best power cables, the AC12s, would remain as our premier cables after hearing what the AQs did? The AC12s had been seriously trounced by the AQs and I wasn’t about to let
them go.
It then expanded into “well, can we do the same at reasonable prices by matching to our other products”? Because, let’s face it. A $10K power cable is nuts. Just nuts. But, dammit, they work and there’s nothing I have tried that comes even close.
So it always boiled down to not wanting to give up the enormous improvements just to stay true to something (of which I am not sure what).
AQ dealer margins, btw, while they may be great for them are pretty “meh” for us. No one’s gettin’ rich doin’ this.
Consider this a grand experiment. If it doesn’t appeal to people we’ll blow it off. That simple. For now, however, they are quite simply the best I’ve heard and no matter what happens, they ain’t leaving’ my system. I hope others who can afford
their pricing can share in that same joy.
I guess if you’re allowed to make “deals” with AQ cables, it might be interesting for a few more
With cable judgements it’s even more subjective than with gear I’d say. Most of the exceptional ones have a master plan concept and show full potential then. Who (private or reviewers) ever compared two complete cable concepts/sets to be able to say, the one is not only great compared to a vastly cheaper one used before, but noticeably better than another at a comparable price?
Interestingly, I asked AQ this information, and they told me they would provide it if I specified which exact cable I was talking about and they did! So, I assume for competitive reasons they don’t, but if asked they do.
This is proof enough AQ stuff is made well, when Paul admits their own product couldn’t match AQ product. It’s hard for someone to admit this, so I take this as a re-assuring word that they do work.
One other thing I like about AQ, is their CONSISTENCY and reliability! Many other “exotic cables” are hit and miss, with various build qualities and performance one cable to next. AQ seems to have figured it out. I’d still wouldn’t spend the top dollars, but mid-range cables make a good deal of sense!
Faulty logic; saying that some other product is better than yours doesn’t make the other product inherently good, only better than yours. Everyone, enjoy whatever cables you like - it’s your money, after all.
Thank you for your thoughtful reply. If I could make a recommendation, I suggest that you move some of the marketing around the Fire cables away from the first listing and say “if money is no object” we recommend these.
That would be a much better proposition and better value matched to your component prices. Thus rather than making people feel bad they can’t afford the reference, you are recommending the (perfectly good) Water link for BHK and saying only for those who want the last little bit from their systems and have the cash, then go for the Fire. Right now, the way you have it worded, it makes people feel like they are missing out if they can’t stretch for the Fire.
Very few audiophiles have listening rooms and systems like yours (which I hope to visit someday). To really hear that last little difference that cables make, it presupposes the best system and best setup. For example, I have a system with a BHK pre and it sounds great, but I also know my system has some limitations due to the room that I will never be able to fix. I should be very happy with the Water line and I really doubt I would hear a difference with Fire - yet I am perfectly fine with that. If I was in the market for a BHK now and was told (or at least implied) that I needed to have a Fire loom, I probably would have looked elsewhere.
I wrote to Kimber twice, asking what the large device is that’s part of their Palladium 10 power cable.
They never replied.
I called and asked and the answer I got was: “that’s proprietary”. But what is it’s function? What does it do? Same answer. “that’s proprietary”, like a sleepy robot.
Despite the bottom of the barrel customer service, it’s a good cable.
I recently switched to Kimber Palladians from AC12s. Was definitely a step up. I’m so happy I’m reluctant to try anything else. LOL
I’ve never had the opportunity to try AQ cables. I looked at them before I bought AC12s. There were so many different cables I just left their website. Nothing was clear about all if the different lines. I left confused. If/when I decide to try something else it will most likely be Iconoclast.
Every time I went to the AQ website to research cables I always left confused with a headache, until I found their US Retail Price List with everything in tables.
The Palladians are excellent, and were also better than the AC-12s (and many others) in my system. The lack of specs is frustrating though, and a bit silly.
I think „a lot of effort” (and design skill) is to be determined
In Hi-Fi history I don’t know of any cabling from an otherwise component manufacturer that was just rudimentary comparable in sound quality with those of better pure cable manufacturers.
I think there companies should stick with their core business (which PSA did now).
Just to play a bit of Devil’s Advocate here. I see so many electronic manufacturers
who will never disclose what cables they use to voice their equipments. You can ask
but they usually won’t say to avoid pigeon-hole themselves or limit a customer’s
upgrade decision because they invested so much in cables already. Look, it’s not
like we as in PSA gear owners suddenly have to rewire our systems with AQ.
It’s just a guide line, we hold the ultimate decisions.
Now if I was newbie who won the jackpot and decided to build a great first system with
PSA gears, then why wouldn’t I go with AQ. Especially if we value Paul’s advice.
Just trust your ears, if you can afford it and want it…then go for it.
If you buy the AQ cables from PSA and don’t like it, I assume you can return it. I am
not entirely sure as I am not in USA so I don’t have that option.
Agree with point on the general idea of providing recommendations. As I said in my first post on this, I think it’s super refreshing that they make recommendations, in general. You’re right most manufacturers won’t go there.
Here’s an easy, face-saving way out of the bad look that the current recommendations convey. Keep the “Paul’s Reference” category just as it is, but make it clear that this is not necessarily a sensible economic real-world recommendation for typical (or indeed probably all or almost all) BHK purchasers, but that it is what is used in the Reference room on site (which the label already implies).
Now make a new BHK recommendation category where the sum total of speaker, power and interconnect cables sum to $3-8k (or whatever), which when included with some $10-30k speakers that could make sense with BHK gear would make for a solid, economically sensible recommendation (after all, these are floated as recommended suggestions - that’s the whole point, so gotta be grounded in reality).
There you go!
Of course I’m not saying it is impossible to pair using the recommendations as they stand, and like I said it’s your money, do what you want. But the truth is that nobody will actually follow those recommendations. They just won’t, and to have those recommendations as they stand now IMO detracts from credibility. Realistically, nobody will spend $40k+ (spk, multiple pwr and IC) on cabling for a BHK system, because if they’re willing to spend that much on cables they are probably willing to spend much more on amps and preamps, and get into the Pass XS300, ARC Ref 750 Sel or top Constellation, D’Agostino, Gryphon, etc. level of sound quality.
No disrespect intended to PSA; just keeping it real.
I have owned many PSA Units over the years and currently own the BHK Monos, BHK Pre, DMP, DS DAC, and P-12. I’m all in with PSA and will always be based on sonics, value, and great people that make up the company! It makes it an easy choice. Give Paul and team the highest credit!
I have 9 power cords, 4 of which are PSA (purchased during earlier upgrades with PSA equipment - thinking “all PSA”). In light of the recent recommendations for Audioquest cables and that theY best the PSA power cords, is there any hope for a trade in toward the Audioquest power cords???
