• After all, the KLEI gZero20 Interconnect was the last analogue model I reviewed and it just seemed like I was taking a step "backwards" to review a model that, from a performance perspective, is several levels below it.

• The revised architecture has a designation "gZEROs" for "ground ZERO state"
• which is basically a more advanced application of the original gZero Architecture.

• KL has decided to incorporate the new architecture into most of the existing models of the current product line,
• Also, by restricting their product line to a very concise model range, reduces production costs, which in turn, is also a benefit to the customer.
• this leads me to believe that he is more focussed on providing "real value" to his customer base.

• The only tell-tale sign of a product change is the slightly larger girth of the cable itself
• and under the label bearing the KLE Innovations Logo, there is now a purple sleeve, in place of the previous blue sleeve.
• It has also been re-packaged in a nice "Eminence Purple" bag

• reproducing the details, dynamics and clarity, for instruments having an upper register that occupied the higher frequencies of the audio spectrum, such as violins, triangles and cymbals.
• the reproduction of the micro details that contribute to the realistic presentation of the acoustics specific to a venue.

• as stated earlier, the KLEI gZero2 Interconnect seems to present an image that is more forward
• the width of the image was, for the most part, unchanged
• the depth of the image also seemed unchanged
• so basically - the entire image now sounded closer to the listener

• I’ve often found that on orchestral tracks, where large numbers of instruments are in play, the overall presentation can become a little “muddled”
• However, with the improvements in clarity, I found that they now sound much cleaner and I can now to listen to those tracks at louder volumes.

• bass response now reaches into the lower, almost subsonic frequencies, a significant improvement over earlier models
• the textures of those low frequencies were nicely presented
• but I didn’t find it quite as controlled as the previous/old KLEI gZero6 Interconnect, which is still very much a personal favourite from that perspective

• The reality is - the sonic performance of these two interconnects is much closer than one might expect.

• So, if the improvements observed in the KLEI gZero2 Interconnect are also present in their new gZero3, 6, 10 and 20 models, then I think KLE Innovations has just thrown down the gauntlet to the rest of the industry.

My Review System:

• Custom built turntable with a Soundsmith Denon DL103 phono cartridge mounted on and Audiomods Arm with one piece silver litz harness + KLEI Absolute®Harmony RCA’s

• Simaudio MOON LP5.3 RS phono stage

• iMac (Music Server)

• Musical Fidelity V-Link192 USB/SPDIF Converter.

• Schiit Bifrost USB DAC with UBER analogue upgrade and Version 2 USB interface Upgrade

• NAIM 5i integrated amp (with passive pre-section).

• Gershman Acoustics Sonogram speakers.

• KLEI gZero6 Speaker Cables

• KLEI gZero20 Interconnect Cables

A highly recommended product!

Tags: Reviews

• Closer inspection of the KLEI gZero2D revealed it utilized the KLEI Copper Harmony, which then had me doubting it’s abilities, since my own SPDIF design required the Absolute Harmony RCA's in order to maximize it’s performance.

• i.e. I didn't have to play album after album looking for some indication that the cables were better in some way
• it was more like a swat team bursting through a door!

• a much improved bass performance with significantly more textured detail that was revealed on albums by artists such as Peter Gabriel, Sarah McLachlan and Nelly Furtado.
• the more delicate whispery vocal tones on albums by Norah Jones and Diana Krall
• and by contrast, the pure grit in the voices of Adele and P!nk
• the sheer crispness of the attack in various tracks from The Police
• compared to the more delicate and softer presentations of Sting's solo works.

• The improvements in clarity revealed extremely delicate venue acoustic details, making the venue appear much larger, even than the confines of my listening space.
• the extremely subtle reverberations and reflections that now fill the void between and around performers and blend from left to right and front to back.

• the cable I tested was already burned in, but it still took a couple of days to settle before performing its best.

• it is not just that KLE Innovations products are capable of conveying the finest of details
• their Ground Zero Architecture prevents the induction of noise into the signal conductor
• but more importantly the architecture keeps the Neutral side of the circuit of any attached component at zero volts, thus allowing the component to perform to a significantly high level
• other than the obvious improvements in fidelity, another noticeable side effect of using KLE Innovations products is that solid state components actually run cooler than with other cables

• is serious about the reproduction of digital music and need a SPDIF Interconnect between two digital components
• wants a SPDIF Interconnect that performs way above it's price point (who doesn't)
• then, purchasing the KLEI gZero2D, at a minimum - is pretty much - a no-branier!

• But the KLEI gZero2D SPDIF Interconnect for me, has made the biggest impact of all their products to date.

My Review System:

• Custom built turntable with a Soundsmith Denon DL103 phono cartridge mounted on and Audiomods Arm with one piece silver litz harness + KLEI Absolute®Harmony RCA’s

• Simaudio MOON LP5.3 RS phono stage

• iMac (Music Server)

• Musical Fidelity V-Link192 USB/SPDIF Converter.

• Schiit Bifrost USB DAC with UBER analogue upgrade and Version 2 USB interface Upgrade

• NAIM 5i integrated amp (with passive pre-section).

• Gershman Acoustics Sonogram speakers.

• KLEI gZero6 Speaker Cables

• KLEI gZero20 Interconnect Cables

A highly recommended product!

Tags: Digital, Reviews

• Both reviews stated these interconnects were, at the time of the review, their “Top Of The Line!”
• So I guess you can’t accuse Mr. Eichmann of sitting on his laurels.

• Their initial presentation of clarity, control, dexterity, dynamics, spatial image, upper frequency extension and bass extension of these interconnects was exemplary and they sounded just a little better than the well used KLEI gZero10 IC’s they had just replaced.

• However, If I recall correctly, during the burn-in period of the KLEI gZero10 IC’s I was initially a little “underwhelmed” and wondered if they would ever “live up to their TOTL billing”. But that was rectified by about the 220 hour mark.
• So I would caution purchasers to expect a similar experience while burning in the KLEI gZero20 Interconnect Cables.

• Since, for each of the various metrics, such as dynamic response, clarity, image, bass performance etc.. the improvements were clearly audible and could be observed on most, if not all of the audition tracks.

• the tracks I tend to use for audition purposes are recorded in some type of concert hall, which provides an abundance of the all important “venue acoustics” and...
• they are often recorded by what some consider to be the most pure form of recording - two solitary microphones - and a smattering of anal sound engineers.

• However on some such recordings, you also get to enjoy the more unpleasant realities of live venue recordings
• e.g. the trucks passing by the venue in the background were now far more apparent and very detailed.

The price one pays for reality

Three new CD’s I had recently purchased from MA Recordings, which, due to their meticulous attention to detail in sound engineering and exquisite matching of venue to musical temperament, highlighted the very best ambient and spacious qualities that the KLEI gZero20 Interconnect Cablez are capable of conveying

These albums contain some exquisite and varied musical performances - give them a listen, you won’t be disappointed:

• Window Mirror, by Miroslav Tadic - classical guitar with a new flavour
• Tonos Y Tonados, by Ensemble La Chimera - a very different ensemble presentation
• Buenos Aires Madrigal, by La Chimera-Furio Zanasi-Ximena Biondo - Tango inspired delights

However, it seems my analogue rig decided differently...

It appeared as though the KLEI gZero20 Interconnect Cables had pulled out all the stops and really rose to the occasion

• With digital playback, I had only been able to discern small improvements between the various metrics of the two interconnects, but with the analogue playback the improvements in dynamics, clarity, high-end extension and imaging were significantly better.
• But the bass extension and bass control displayed only a marginal level of improvement over that which I had observed on the digital side

• the performance level of the DAC had finally hit its ceiling
• whereas the phono stage was clearly quite capable of so much more

What is the performance ceiling of the KLEI gZero20 IC’s?

Prior to the evaluation I had purchased a new phono cartridge, but unfortunately, it had been delayed by Canada Customs, so it didn’t arrive until after I had started the analogue review process.

The new cartridge had all the promise of performing significantly better than my older cartridge...

• sporting a “Nude mounted”, Contact Line - "Optimized Contour" diamond stylus on a single crystal Ruby Cantilever
• as opposed to my older cartridge which has a basic spherical diamond mounted onto an aluminum cantilever
• this should result in improvements in high-end detailing, clarity and faster dynamic response

• both cartridges are the venerable Denon DL 103 moving coil cartridge,
• the newer cartridge having a modified cantilever installed by Soundsmith, a leader in the art of “cartridge modifications”

• By that, I am referring to the ability of a cable to convey a more complete waveform, which translates to realism.

• it’s not only their ability to convey those instantaneous peaks of percussion instruments, which I tend to refer to as dynamic response.
• it’s their ability to convey a warmer more, full bodied presentation.
• particularly of those instruments who’s voice lies in the upper frequencies of the musical spectrum, which can often sound quite thin, shrill or harsh, i.e. with a less competent interconnect.
• but with the KLEI gZero20 Interconnect Cables, those instruments took on more pleasing quality having more body that more faithfully represents the actual instruments being played - right there in YOUR listening room.

• Nostalgia, by Annie Lennox - For me, this is Annie at her finest and her best album ever. A friend listening very casually simply commented "this is soul". Her delicate vocal inflections are superbly conveyed – with “feeling“.
• Yes, by Jason Mraz - I liked this album from the very first play and it is now one of favourites. It's production is simple, its sound engineering is clean and detailed and its content is most engaging, but the bonus? - Jason's soul shines through on every track - even when playing the CD version which came with the vinyl.

Seducing you track by track...
Oblivious of the time...
What better way to spend a cold winter evening!

And “The price one pays for reality?”

The KLEI gZero20 Interconnect Cables are priced at $1999AUS for a 1 meter pair

Not chump change by any stretch of the imagination, but more affordable than many interconnects that can only aspire to attain this level of performance.

Conclusions...

I had mentioned the term “Diminishing Returns” above, since early on in the review process (i.e. on my digital rig), it seemed as though this might be the case i..e. the KLEI gZero20 Interconnect Cables only appeared “marginally better” than the KLEI gZero10 IC’s, for a significantly larger investment.

However, auditioning the cables on my analogue rig has changed my opinion - I guess you could say...

My concerns of “Diminishing Returns” have now... Diminished!

I believe the KLEI gZero20 Interconnect Cables are capable of conveying extremely high levels of resolution and should be considered by all. Why?

• The KLEI gZero20 Interconnect Cables are extremely good at what they do
• by far, the best in the current KLEI gZero Product Line!
• They will continue to excel with your subsequent component upgrades

Are they worth it?

If you had asked me that question a few years ago, I would have said...

Are you crazy? - it’s just a piece of wire!

However, my subsequent “acquisition of knowledge” and exposure to the KLEI product line has changed my mind in so many ways...

• Cables ARE components! i.e. ALL CABLES!
• With similar research and development approaches - it’s taken KL over 30 years to get to this point
• As complicated in design and manufacture as components in many cases
• With the ability to affect the performance of your entire system.

• a $240,000 Ferrari, or a $140,000 Porsche
• both are insanely quick,
• both have impeccable performance metrics,
• but, only one will give them that extra ...

“Sense” of Exhilaration!

Your Choice! - But I do urge you to try at least one of the KLEI gZero Product Line

gZero™ Architecture Addendum...
There is growing chatter on the web pertaining to KL’s “gZero™ architecture”.

However, not all the chatter was positive...

• There were several posts that denounced KL’s description of his “gZero™ architecture” on the KLE Innovations web site as just more marketing mumbo-jumbo liberally sprinkled with “Fairy Dust”.
• Some were of the opinion the description was contrived, to the point of being incomprehensible.
• And one poster was clearly of the opinion that “Mr. Eichmann” knows NOT of what he writes.

As I studied this diagram it became quite apparent that the job of the interconnect is to provide an electrical connection in two separate and very distinct ways:

1. Only the signal conductor (RED), conveys the musical signal
2. Whereas the neutral conductor (BLACK) simply links the neutral (or ground side) of the two circuits

Which would be? - You Got It - ZERO VOLTS.

or to coin KL’s vernacular – gZero - Voila!

Now, for the sake of brevity, I am not going to delve into the issues pertaining to EMI and RFI in cables in this review , but I would encourage you to read The Significance of Cable Architectures on this site, that attempts to provide some insights, i.e. in layman’s terms, of some of the more common issues that may be encountered.

PRODUCT UPDATE NOTICE:

The KLEI gZero20 Interconnect now utilizes the latest advances in KLEI gZero Architecture/Technology
Providing significant improvements in performance.

For details please see...
KLEI gZero6, gZero10 and gZero20 IC Product Update.

My Review System:

• Custom built turntable with a Soundsmith Denon DL103 phono cartridge mounted on and Audiomods Arm with one piece silver litz harness + KLEI Absolute®Harmony RCA’s

• Simaudio MOON LP5.3 RS phono stage

• Schiit Bifrost USB DAC with UBER analogue upgrade and Version 2 USB interface Upgrade.

• NAIM 5i integrated amp (with passive pre-section).

• Gershman Acoustics Sonogram speakers.

• KLEI gZero6 Speaker Cables

• KLEI gZero20 Interconnect Cables

A highly recommended product!

Tags: Reviews

• “...Exceptional Resolution, very Tight non-bloated deep/detailed/resolving Bass, Extremely articulate presentation, Conveys subtle nuances with amazing dexterity, Stage is very spacious and envelopes the listener, Allows the full emotion of the music to be experienced, Superb dynamics and an excellent micro detail presentation”

• The addition of the KLEI Absolute®Harmony RCA Plug ?
• A tweak of conductor metallurgy?
• An improved “gZero architecture”?
• All of the above?

Now, there was just 300 hours of burn-in time left to make me a believer.

Although its initial performance did leave me impressed, I did observe a slightly diminished lower register. Fortunately, after the 60 hour mark the lower register was restored with just a little more depth and a little more control.

• It was a bit like observing the earths tectonic plates – you know they are ever changing, but it was taking a long while for something significant to happen.

“The Law of Diminishing Returns”.

if you want my hard earned cash - your product must provide some really tangible benefits!

It was around the 220 hour mark that I sat down with a cup of Earl-Grey tea and turned up the volume…

Whoa! – what happened?
“the tectonic plates had separated and a new continent was born!”

OK – a little dramatic granted, but this particular burn-in was becoming just a little tedious – which is not generally my experience from a KLE Innovations product. In contrast to the progress made up to this point, these latest improvements were akin to someone flipping a switch.

There was a marked improvement across the board…

• The whole presentation became more snappy and lively, but with a warmth and fullness that made for a much more musical delivery.
• Instrument and performer placement within the image had a laser-like precision to it, each with significantly more space around them. Orchestral works seemed to have a more spacious presentation with the various sections of the orchestra flowing elegantly from one to the other – more like a real painting, as opposed to a “Paint by Numbers”.
• Vocal performances were much more "breathy" thanks to the improved upper-high frequency detailing.
• The bass was now extended down into what seemed like the subsonic level, but more importantly, improvements in the control of that extended bass resulted in a real improvement of bass textures.
• The mid to high frequency improvements made the artifacts associated to the playing of an instrument, such as instrument timbre, fingering transitions and musician movements even more discernible, but that improved detailing also contributed greatly to a more realistic reproduction of the venue acoustics, which in turn, makes that rendition more reminiscent of the original live performance – it really is "just like being there!”.

• Combine that with the music of JSB.
• The superb musicianship of soloist Florin Paul playing a 1689 Stradivari.
• In an unknown church in a suburb of Nice, chosen for its exquisite acoustics that are well suited to the violin.

(apologies, that should read ” Incredible!” - I sometimes lapse into French when I get excited)

• The more etherial attributes ascribed to this interconnect from the KLE Innovations web site were spot on: “subtle nuances with amazing dexterity, Stage is very spacious and envelopes the listener, Allows the full emotion of the music to be experienced”

• This album provides some amazing percussive dynamics, exceptional detailing and extremely low frequency synth work, which allowed me to assess how well the KLEI gZero10 Interconnect Cable handled these other ascribed attributes.
• Needless to say, the results were excellent. There were some very deep low frequency details I had never heard before, the details of the percussive chimes were very crisp and articulate and the dynamics and detailing of the various drums used was exemplary.

• Since both the above albums were recorded with great care by fastidious sound engineers with superb equipment and finally pressed into 150-180gram vinyl, I figured that listening to something a little less “specialized”, might reflect recordings of a more conventional nature.
• After all, I purchased this album in 1982. However, it was recorded 1968, in a commercial studio and pressed into vinyl - which by today’s standards is just plain flimsy. Add to that the number of tracks crammed onto each side(from 6 to 9)and you would probably be in the majority if you believed the resulting fidelity might just be a little less than premium.
• YOU’D BE WRONG! – just as I was.
• The details and clarity I observed would make most people believe this album had been re-mastered – it was just that good. I don’t think I have ever been quite so amazed.

• Mike Oldfield is probably “the master” at multi-tracking, creating recordings that approach orchestral complexity, using both acoustic and electronic instruments. The resulting sound is very complex, but incredibly detailed. However, what transpired was perhaps the biggest single transformation I have heard from any album in my collection.
• The first thing I noticed was the placement of the many instruments in play, taking their place in a wider and much deeper image which isolated their signature more effectively, possibly due to the improved clarity these cables provide.
• The next improvement was in the detailing that reflected a more accurate reproduction of the many instruments, especially the improved audibility of instruments that occupy the higher frequencies such as his frequent use of glockenspiels that now ring out with superb clarity.
• He also makes great use of various bass guitars and synths, which now have their very own unique textures that are more easily heard, together with a very well controlled extension to the depth of those bass lines.
• Finally, side one culminates in the chimes of tubular bells, which ring out so powerfully it sounds as though you are standing in a church belfry.
• Simply... breathtaking!

• it’s a $299 Denon DL 103 moving coil with a $12 Tweak - see Denon DL 103 Tweak

The whole is greater than the sum of it’s parts

Who knows - it could even have a little of “KL’s soul” in there too.

But at $1100 - it is a bit on the pricey side, so why should you buy them?...

Well, that very much depends on your own individual thought process…

• If you take the view that the cables play a significant role in your system (like me) - you should try them.
• If you feel that your other system components may not be "worthy" of such an upgrade – then first try the KLEI gZero3 Interconnect Cable – you might just be very surprised at your components abilities (I was) – and you can always upgrade (as I have).
• If you feel the KLEI gZero10 Interconnect Cable may not be up to the resolution capabilities of your existing components – then I would recommend you keep an eye on the KLE Innovations web site for reviews of these cables on higher resolving systems.
• I was able to audition the KLEI gZero3 Interconnect Cable on a friends higher resolving system and we were both very impressed, especially since it bettered his very well-known Brand-Name XLR balanced silver interconnect cable. So based on that experience, I believe the KLEI gZero10 Interconnect Cable is capable of performing exceptionally well on any system.

• E.g. You might think having the $700 KLEI gZero6 Interconnect Cable on my $600 DAC as - “a little overkill”.
• However, attempting to replace my DAC with another unit capable of achieving a similar performance improvement would probably cost significantly more and still leave me with a system lacking in the realism I experience today.

The KLEI gZero10 Interconnect now utilizes the latest advances in KLEI gZero Architecture/Technology
Providing significant improvements in performance.

For details please see...
KLEI gZero6, gZero10 and gZero20 IC Product Update.

My Review System:

• Custom turntable with Denon DL103(modified) phono cartridge on and Audiomods Arm with one piece silver litz cable + KLEI Pure®Harmony RCA’s

• Simaudio MOON LP5.3 RS phono stage

• Schiit Bifrost USB DAC with UBER analogue upgrade

• NAIM 5i integrated amp (has a passive pre-section)

• Gershman Acoustics Sonogram speakers

• the KLEI gZero6 Speaker Cables

A highly recommended product!

Tags: Reviews

• “In accordance with KL’s Signal/Ground Formula, the KLEI gZero architecture is comprised of hand wound conductors, and implemented in a manner to dynamically enhance electron flow in the Signal conductor, without the use of electronic components”
• Each successive model in the KLEI gZero range, utilizes a progressively more complex and sophisticated cable architecture, employing varying combinations of multiple neutral/ground conductors, constructed from ultra high conductivity copper and/or silver.

• “The KLEI gZero architecture dynamically works to maintain a zero voltage Ground state”

The old “World is Flat” syndrome .

At this point I'll refer you to their web site for more technical details if you are so inclined - I've already read it ...

http://kleinnovations.com/kle-innovations-klei-products/essence-gzero-ic/

OK - Enough of the Technical Blurb...

So, I set about comparing the performance of two 1 meter interconnect cables...

• both having the very same KLEI Pure®Harmony RCA Plugs attached
• each, in turn, connected to the very same components and allowed to burn-in
• both reviewed in the same system - nothing else was changed
• one interconnect utilizes a solid silver conductors of a twisted pair architecture
• the other KLE Innovations gZero architecture, conductor material unknown, but I assume it’s very high quality copper

• On the very first track played with the KLEI gZero6 Interconnect, I could tell there was added depth to the bass frequencies.
• The bass was not bloated, as in "more bass", but the bottom end had extended to encompass lower frequencies than my own interconnects were capable of delivering. This was especially apparent on tracks with very low synth work and on tracks featuring pipe organs
• the bass was also extremely well controlled, such that instrument specific textures in the bass register could easily be discerned.
• How much difference was there? - I would compare it to getting new speakers with a larger bass driver! - yes, that much!

• The "speed" of these two interconnects were very similar - hardly surprising considering the quality of materials used
• Both exhibited extremely fast response to transient peaks - e.g. drums, rim shots, tambourines and cymbals responded in the same manner using either interconnect
• Piercing guitar chords and brass instruments (mainly trumpets and trombones) had almost identical qualities
• It was in the finer micro details of cymbals, tambourines and triangles that the the KLEI gZero6 Interconnect nudged into the lead.

• Here, the KLEI gZero6 Interconnect edged further ahead, partly because it sounded a little more detailed, but it was more than that…
• In orchestral tracks there was better isolation of instruments across the board, e.g. violin and viola when playing the same notes are often difficult to distinguish, but now the viola had additional depth which now distinguished them more from the violins
• There was an added warmth and fullness, or “body” across the entire frequency range which made large orchestral works appear smoother and much more enjoyable
• There was more texture in individual instruments e.g. you could easily discern the drum skin on large orchestral bass drums vibrating – it had more texture to the rumble following the the initial strike, rather than a simple boom and wind instruments like the Oboe and Basoon had a more realistic conveyance of their individual timbres.
• There was smoothness in the upper register of violin soloists - even Itzhak Perlman sounded mellower, even on his more vigorous pieces!
• The KLEI gZero6 Interconnect revealed more in the area of micro details, such as the reverberation of instruments with a venue

• Again, the KLEI gZero6 Interconnect pulled ahead, serving up a wider and deeper image on those tracks subject to the most finicky of sound engineers.
• The separation of instruments was more pronounced due to their pin-point placement and what is often referred to as "more air" around each instrument
• The image also extended further forward to go beyond enveloping the listener, it was more like “immersing” the listener in the performance.

• I didn’t witness any difference between the two cables on my system, both were exceptionally quiet
• but, on another system the KLEI gZero6 Interconnect proved to be significantly “Blacker” than the very well respected Interconnect cable it replaced.

• Extends the range of the bass to very deep low frequencies with control.
• Expands the image in three dimensions completely enveloping the listener, but it also separates the musicians/artists/instruments within that image by improving their individual spacing.
• Clarity and details are significantly enhanced – perhaps in part due to the improved image.
• Dynamics are lightning fast across the entire frequency range, But there is also an element of smoothness, particularly with violins and soprano, which can be quite shrill with other cables.
• They are warm and full bodied – in essence, more complete.
• They convey a very realistic sense of being “immersed in the venue”.
• They are very quiet.

experienced

The abilities of the system being used to evaluate the performance

*My System…

• is a modestly price system by today’s standards - e.g. there are many components these days cost more than my entire system.
• From that perspective, I realize my system may not be “All Revealing” with respect to the considerable abilities of the KLEI gZero6 Interconnect - I believe they are capable of so much more.
• But, in my system’s defence - it has some killer power cables which elevate its dynamic and spatial performance to systems costing many times its modest price.

• I was not surprised to find they also performed extremely well here, providing a spacious and very dynamic performance with a smoothness that made music from all genres that much more enjoyable.

• achieved an extremely high level of performance
• For many albums the differences were discernible in only one or two of the above "performance metric" categories
• However, they fell a little short in bass response and exhibiting attributes of a more ethereal nature.

• KLEI gZero6 Interconnects - $565 (AUS)

• Was the top performer - enough said!

should be at the top of your Christmas List

For the rest of us, we have to wrestle with the prospect of living on Hot Dogs for a couple of months.

The

will not break the bank i.e. compared to much of their competition, but selling-off some old gear should expedite their arrival

• First let me state: the KLEI gZero3 Interconnect is an extremely adept interconnect.
• It will outperform many other well respected cables and
• it’s nobody’s “little brother”, just a more affordable member of a very good product lineup.
• The tonal quality of both cables is exceptional and consistent, delivering a very neutral and very controlled performance.
• the KLEI gZero6 Interconnect just has a little more depth and adds a dash of “soul”.

• – it’s like changing from a 40” TV to a 60” TV, both having identical technical specs
• – Everything is just bigger, clearer and that much more enjoyable!

The KLEI gZero6 Interconnect now utilizes the latest advances in KLEI gZero Architecture/Technology
Providing significant improvements in performance.

For details please see...
KLEI gZero6, gZero10 and gZero20 IC Product Update.

My Review System:

• Custom turntable with Denon DL103(modified) phono cartridge on and Audiomods Arm with one piece silver litz cable
• Simaudio MOON LP5.3 RS phono stage
• Schiit Bifrost USB DAC with UBER analogue upgrade
• NAIM 5i integrated amp (has a passive pre-section)
• Gershman Acoustics Sonogram speakers

A highly recommended product!

Tags: Reviews

In very simple terms…
Everything got bigger, faster and cleaner!

The bass line now had added detail and texture, the cymbals were crisper and fuller, the mids were warmer, the dynamics were faster and the image just seemed more complete. There was an added “punch” to both the percussion and also to the hammering of the very muted guitar strings. Lastly, the vocal detailing is now very clear and very well isolated within the recording.

Songs from the Wood, by Jethro Tull, an album from my long distant past, has always been a favourite. It features some of the best harmonized and multi tracked vocals ever put onto vinyl. It was these vocals that the KLEI Pure®Harmony RCA Plug seemed to perform minor miracles with micro details, in order to separate each vocal into a clearly audible presentation.

For me, spatial integrity, i.e. how accurately the artists and instruments are represented in the space of the recording venue, is best portrayed by classical recordings, since most are recorded using very few microphones, which translates to less manipulation of the final product.

To this end, one of the best albums is from a bunch of very anal sound engineers that record on the Tacet label.

How anal you ask?

• Side Two on the album Das Mikrofon Vol.II, contains 24 tracks, each track using a different microphone!
• Side One contains some nice Jazz

• Track One on Side Two is Toccata Terzza in A, one of my favourite pipe organ tracks that I also use to determine how just well bass frequencies are reproduced, since with pipe organ music there are extremely complex low frequency textures produced by those massive pipes.
• Not only did the KLEI Pure®Harmony RCA Plug convey the cavernous nature of the venue, but they displayed extremely fine control across the entire range of pipes from the smallest high pitched pipes to the low frequency behemoths.

• such as the whispery textures of Diana Krall’s voice on her tribute to Nat King Cole album All For You.
• The distinctive sound of the slide of a bottleneck on guitar strings of Ry Cooder on his album Boomer’s Story

• the incredible percussion detailing and synth work on James Newton Howard & Friends - by James Newton Howard
• some really deep synth and piecing guitar work on Under the Joshua Tree by U2
• the explosive “rifle-crack” drums and excellent synth work on Back In The Highlife from Steve Winwood
• the crispness of the guitar work on the album But Seriously Folks from Joe Walsh
• And if you are a fan of Led Zepplin’s - Whole Lotta Love - you’ve never heard it like this - incredible!

“The Wizards of Aus”

If you like to dabble with making your own interconnect cables, then the KLEI Harmony®Plug range of products are designed to fit your budget and perform exceedingly well.

The one thing the KLEI Harmony®Plug range is not...

Pretentious!

There is no gold or rhodium plating, no carbon fibre casing, no cryo treatment

If you are after looks - select another product

But…

If you want a serious product capable of the ultimate in RCA performance….

• KLEI Pure®Harmony : pure genius, pure performance, pure magic!

A highly recommended product!

ADDENDUM: especially for Turntable Enthusiasts - also see UPDATE: Pure®Harmony RCA Plug Review

Tags: Reviews

• See http://www.kleinnovations.com/ for specifics on their design philosophy and product line-up.

• And they seem to like what I have to say about their products, so they keep sending me stuff to review

• I have NO affiliation to the products or companies mentioned on these pages. The products mentioned are those that I have used over time and found to perform very well.

• The KLEI Copper®Harmony RCA Plug was installed on my Stager Solid Silver interconnects and proved to be a much better performer than the previously installed Eichmann Silver Bullet RCA's.
• The KLEI Silver®Harmony RCA Plug again proved to noticeably better across the board than the KLEI Copper®Harmony RCA Plug. The RCA plugs were installed on identical interconnect cables, therefore any performance improvements were solely down to the actual RCA connectors themselves.
• The KLEI gZero2 Speaker Cable was a welcome break from the RCA battle, mainly because there was no soldering of RCA plugs involved. Despite an initial concern over the small gauge of the cables, they proved to be outstanding and significantly better performers than the Van den Hul D-352 that had been my only choice for many years.

• Their Goal: “The KLEI gZero architecture dynamically works to maintain a zero voltage Ground state”
• Their approach: In accordance with KL’s Signal/Ground Formula, the KLEI gZero architecture is comprised of hand wound conductors, and implemented in a manner to dynamically enhance electron flow in the Signal conductor, without the use of electronic components”
• The Result: “This has the effect of protecting the signal conductor from ground induced capacitive and inductive reactance, which facilitates smooth uninterrupted signal flow from one component to another, effectively isolating them and allowing them to perform their task without interference.”

differentiates itself from other brands of cables currently on the market by the unique look of the Silver®Harmony RCA plugs.

It appears the cables are intended to be connected in a specific direction (probably due to their architecture), which is indicated by a small label with arrows indicating the direction i.e. the end the arrows point to is intended to be connected to the target component.

Keith Louis (aka KL) had advised that since this set of cables had gone through a factory “burn-in” and would only require about 24 hours to "settle-in", however, connecting one or both of the cables in the opposite direction would require that 150-200 hour burn-in process be repeated for the "cable set" before they sound their optimum.

Just like a kid with a new toy, I seldom start the burn-in process and just walk away - I like to have that "sneak peek" of what is to come.

• The one thing that stood out immediately was how deep the bass line was (and it got better and more controlled over time), but the high end extension, resolution and dynamics were already as good as the KLEI Silver®Harmony RCA plug on my Stager Silver Solids after their burn-in had completed.

• When auditioning products, I use orchestral tracks to gauge their neutrality, since I am quite familiar with the sound from attending live concerts and also having first hand exposure to several of the instruments used.
• Orchestras always seem to have a very balanced sound that allows me to judge whether a product is adding colour and the one thing that has impressed me with all of the KLEI products to date, is that they are all very neutral and do not add colour to the performance.
• Attempting to judge neutrality while listening to Pop, Rock, and R & B is a little more difficult, primarily because of the coloration added by the sound processing that is applied in the studio.
• So, once I am able to assess the amount of colouration the component under review adds to the performance, I proceed to the other genres.

• And then some - I listened to over 60 tracks across all genres over several days, both digital and analogue
• These four displayed the most extreme improvements in my system and highlight how these cables “Kicked Butt”

• Orchestral tracks presented the most spacious performances - too numerous to mention
• Vocal tracks definitely carried more emotion - like Norah Jones, Christy Baron, Selena Jones, Diana Krall etc…
• Jazz tracks highlighted their upper register dexterity of the plethora of percussion elements like cymbals, triangles, drums, tambourines etc..
• Pop, Rock and R&B demonstrated their amazing control in presenting the many textures present in bass lines e.g. as on one favourite album SO, by Peter Gabriel.

• On some tracks the bass line may at first sound thinner, but listen for those details. On other tracks the bass line will sound rich and controlled, but never bloated.
• High frequency details may sound more edgy on pop and rock (the intent of the sound engineer perhaps), but on classical, those violin runs to the upper register are superbly smooth
• And vocals can be as edgy as Annie Lennox or creamy smooth like Norah Jones

• Only if the rest of your cables are capable of performing to the same level! But you can be certain that the KLEI gZero3 Interconnect cables are one of the very best performing "components" in your audio chain and move on to upgrading other items.

“Not realizing what you have - until it's gone".

So why did I purchase the KLEI gZero3 Interconnect cables?

They are excellent performers that allows my system to convey a very dynamic and controlled performance with exceptional clarity and fullness.

The KLEI gZero3 Interconnect cables allow my source components to perform to their peek abilities. However, should I decide to make a component upgrade, I'm confident that the abilities of the KLEI gZero3 Interconnect cables will exceed that of many of the components I may consider.

That's why I bought them! - It's called — "Future Proofing”.

PRODUCT UPDATE NOTICE:

The KLEI gZero3 Interconnect now utilizes the latest advances in KLEI gZero Architecture/Technology
Providing significant improvements in performance.

For an indication of the improvements achieved on other models please see...
KLEI gZero6, gZero10 and gZero20 IC Product Update.

 A highly recommended product!

• When an AC voltage is applied to one conductor, electrical "noise" will be induced into the surrounding conductor(s) - that's how transformers work.
• two adjacent cables will experience reactive/EMF/EF effects due to the cable's inductance and capacitance which varies with frequency, which results in "noise" into the adjacent conductors.
• long straight wires are prone to RF/EMF/EF effects from external sources – like an antenna
• there is also "ground noise" which is introduced by the actual components attached to the cable.

Now - it is common knowledge in audio circles that cables should not be closely aligned in parallel with other cables and if a cable needs to cross another, it should be preferably at right angles.

PLEASE NOTE: If you “harness” your cables together with twist-ties you are degrading performance!

And yet, many of the interconnect cables, speaker cables and power cables we commonly use contain two or more conductors in parallel inside an outer sheathing that compresses them together, which intensifies the effect further.

But the team at KLEI has come up with a very different approach…

• Their Goal: “The KLEI gZero architecture dynamically works to maintain a zero voltage Ground state”

• Their approach: “In accordance with KL’s Signal/Ground Formula, the KLEI gZero architecture is comprised of hand wound conductors, and implemented in a manner to dynamically enhance electron flow in the Signal conductor, without the use of electronic components”

• The Result: “This has the effect of protecting the signal conductor from ground induced capacitive and inductive reactance, which facilitates smooth uninterrupted signal flow from one component to another, effectively isolating them and allowing them to perform their task without interference.”

At this point I am going to refer you to their web site for complete details about this revolutionary new approach :
http://www.kleinnovations.com/

Enough already! – Get on with the cable review…

OK, so I received an email from Keith Louis Eichmann (aka KL) asking if I’d like to review two of their cables, the KLEI gZero2 Speaker Cables and the KLEI gZero3 Interconnect.

Note: the KLEI gZero3 interconnects will be reviewed separately

After what seemed like a very long “postal interlude” the cables arrived at the postal station and upon pickup, the package itself was a little disappointing, in that it was not as heavy or as large as I was expecting. My own speaker cables are a hefty 10 gauge with a dense high tech sheathing that weighs a few pounds and would require a significantly larger shipping envelope.

Perhaps they forgot to enclose the speaker cables? Did they send a shorter pair of speaker cables by mistake?

Nope – both sets of cables were enclosed in a very nice red satin bag (see photo below), a 3 meter pair of KLEI gZero2 Speaker Cables (which are very “skinny” cables) and a 1 meter pair of KLEI gZero3 interconnects.



My “skinny cable phobia” was the result of an encounter several years ago with a skinny cable that I found had superb mid and upper performance, but was seriously lacking in the area of a deep controlled bass.



Not to be put off by the diminutive diameter of the KLEI gZero2 Speaker Cable, I connected them to the amp, making sure that the end with the labels with printed arrows were connected to the speakers.

To address my “skinny cable phobia” I deliberately selected the track Más, from the album Mi Plan by Nellie Furtado, which has some of the deepest synth work in my collection and another track from the same album, Vacación, which has a powerful and very deep bass line.

To my amazement, my fears of a presentation lacking in fullness and depth, were immediately put to rest by an amazingly detailed and complete reproduction of two very demanding tracks. Although, I initially thought they appeared a little thinner sounding, but after a couple of replays it was evident that the bass line was in fact less bloated than before, but actually contained more detail.

KL had advised me that the cables had undergone a factory “burn-in” so they should be sounding their best after about 24 hours.

NOTE: Since the factory burn-in is not normally applied to the KLEI gZero2 level of speaker cable, I would generally allow approximately 150-200 hours of use to complete this process.

As the burn-in process progressed I noticed a deepening of the bass presentation, but still very controlled and getting more detailed.

So, How Good Are They?…

With my “skinny cable phobia” still not quite put to rest, I selected a favourite pipe organ track by Widor, Organ Symphony #5 in F Minor. Op42/1-6 Toccata: Allegro from the album Hear the Light on Phillips, performed by Daniel Chorzempa.

The sound engineering on this track is superb and if any one track could allay my phobia it would be this one. It contains the full gamut of the sensory attributes that audiophiles use to quantify a performance.

Well, my phobia has now been completely laid to rest. On this one track alone the KLEI gZero2 Speaker Cables accomplished an extremely articulate presentation that reached into the depths, to bass levels I have never before heard, to the highest frequencies a pipe organ can reach, with a clarity that allowed the extremely complex layers of the many pipes in play to be clearly heard.

Another very well engineered track that I thought might indicate the imaging prowess of the KLEI gZero2 Speaker Cables is the Violin Concerto no. 4 in D major KV 218 - Allegro by Marianne Thorsen / Trondheim Solistene. The concert hall in which this track was recorded already captivated me with my previous cables, in that it has a realism often not quite matched in many other recordings. Also, the performance is exquisitely delicate in the quiet sections coupled with some superbly vigorous bowing to round out a very passionate performance full of emotion.

Not only were the KLEI gZero2 Speaker Cables able to convey the subtle nuances of this performance with amazing dexterity, they were able to expand the image such that the listener is enveloped completely within the venue, which allowed the full emotion of the piece to be experienced. But the one thing that really stood out for me was the amazing smoothness of the violin’s upper register notes.

It turns out that the effect of being “enveloped in the venue acoustics” was not a trait confined to the one track above. Pretty much any well engineered track will be presented in a similar manner.

Now, my review process can be quite intermittent – I grab “moments” throughout the review period, selecting tracks that I believe might feature a passage that will highlight a particular aspect of performance with a component or cable. I find that taking this approach prevents me from becoming fatigued or complacent.

Between those moments I often select albums just for background music as I tend to the various “chores of daily life”.

One album I often select for background music is Greatest Hits from Fleetwood Mac. I like the pace, it’s easy listening and a more mellow kind of sing-along experience. But I had never really considered it to have stunning sound engineering and as such, I have never selected any tracks from it during an evaluation.

On one particular day, I started the album playing and walked away to tend to some chores. Then, something in the music started to grab my attention, so I returned to my system and listened more intently. To my complete surprise the engineering on this album is actually not too shabby at all. I skipped ahead to a few favourite tracks and noticed details that were now being clearly conveyed in a spacious image that surprised me completely. The KLEI gZero2 Speaker Cables really bring out the very best in a musical presentation, even on older albums.

So are there any drawbacks?…

Well definitely not from a performance aspect.

The set I reviewed came terminated with banana plugs (the recommended option), but spade terminations can be accommodated if requested by the customer at the time of ordering.

However, a couple of aspects of these cables that did come to light during a few emails with KL is that he recommends:

• a maximum length of 5 meters, but 2.5 or 3 meters is their preferred length and they start at 2 meters long.

• KL further recommends, that to ensure optimum performance, that the audio systems Speaker impedance, especially the average, needs to be >3ohms and that the Speaker Sensitivity needs to be >83db, but as KL mentioned, these are his recommendations.

Which brings me to the pricing…

The RRP of the KLEI KLEI gZero2 Speaker Cables is AUD$350 per 2.0 m plus $50 per additional 0.5m

Whoa! - that ain’t your Grandpa’s table-lamp wire is it! - Nope, and it doesn’t perform like it either!

Considering the level of performance the KLEI gZero2 Speaker Cables bring to a system, I don’t consider this an outrageous price by any means, especially when compared to many other high-tech speaker cable alternatives costing significantly more.

• I guess, as always, it depends on what you are prepared to pay for performance.
• But in this case it is - exceptional performance!

It's NOT about “THE LOOK”, it’s all about “THE SOUND!”

Having a pair of KLEI gZero2 Speaker Cables in your system may evoke comments from fellow enthusiasts like “hey - they look cute!” or “shouldn’t they be on a bookshelf speaker?”

That is, until you play them a few of your more demanding tracks – those comments will probably change to “where can I get a set of those”

I have been using Van Den Hul speaker cables for many years and have been very satisfied with their performance and still consider the D-352’s to be a very good speaker cable i.e. within it’s “more conventional” design constructs.

But the design team at KLE Innovations has created a “New Breed”. With bold new designs that challenge conventional cable related “wisdoms” from the past, to bring you some very affordable cabling products that can elevate the performance of even modestly priced systems like my own, to an extraordinary level.

How good are they? - I purchased the KLEI gZero2 Speaker Cables because they are simply…

“too good to pass by”

The KLEI gZero2 Speaker Cables will elevate the performance of your system to a level that other speaker cables fail to achieve.

Something to consider: It is imperative when using products the caliber of the KLEI gZero2 Speaker Cables, that all the other cables in your system (i.e. interconnect and power cables) must be capable of a similar level of performance otherwise the effectiveness of the KLEI gZero2’s will not be fully realized.

 A highly recommended product!

Tags: Reviews

• what would make the consumer opt for the more expensive KLEI Silver®Harmony RCA Plug?

• Proprietary mathematical modelling optimises mass, thickness, and composition of the conductive pins to enhance electron flow, incorporated in accordance with KL’s proprietary Copper Signal/Ground formula, where extrapolated results are even >102% IACS.
• The conductive pins incorporate highly conductive materials, such as copper and silver.

• Proprietary mathematical modelling optimises mass, thickness, and composition of the conductive pins to enhance electron flow, incorporated in accordance with KL’s proprietary Silver Signal/Ground formula, where extrapolated results are even >105% IACS.
• The conductive pins incorporate highly conductive materials, such as copper and silver.

What is IACS again ? — it’s a measure of the conductivity of various metals relative to “Pure Copper”, a standard developed for copper wire producers, having a rating of 100%

- See IACS Conductivity Ratings PDF for further details.

When I asked what performance improvements to expect from the Silver®Harmony, the KLEI response was:

• They bring out even more of the details, dynamics and improved imaging obtained using the KLWI Copper®Harmony.

1. Upgrade the power cables on the source components and amplifier - a little extreme you think? Well, I was in the process of completing this when I received the first email from KLEI asking me to review the KLEI Copper®Harmony, so that was put on the back burner until the review was complete.
2. Find some additional tracks that I thought might just reveal the performance improvements mentioned above

• I believe this is a good indication that the effects a person encounters during burn-in will vary when used on different cables.
• They did confirm that after a longer burn-in period (100+ hours), the KLEI Silver®Harmony had outperformed the KLEI Copper®Harmony, citing better image, dynamics and details.

• Immediately, I notice a significant improvement in imaging and dynamics
• mid-frequency details were initially very good - about on par with the KLEI Copper®Harmony after burn-in
• high frequency details were much improved and extended
• Again, there was a significant “blooming” of certain upper-bass frequencies
• there was a new depth to the bass frequencies that was also very muddled and bordering on distorted

• On Eric Clapton’s album Clapton Unplugged, the stomping of his foot on stage started out even more nauseating, due to the extended depth to the lower bass frequencies. But just as before, after burn-in the bloating simply melded into the background and became an integral part a very good live album, which also displayed even more details, especially in the vocals. On tracks Running on Faith and Walkin’ Blues, where, thanks to the extended upper frequencies, the use of the bottleneck throughout the track is perhaps the most realistic reproduction I have ever heard.

• On the track You Look Good To Me from the album We Get Requests by The Oscar Peterson Trio, not only could I hear Ray Brown humming his intro, but there was a significant improvement in the details, such as the vibrations the strings make against the fingerboard of the bass, which previously was quite muted and now the superb textures in the triangle at the beginning of the track were very audible.

• The Cymbal work on Staple It Together, from the Jack Johnson album In Between Dreams had a much faster attack from the initial strike and the decay was longer than that experienced with the KLEI Copper®Harmony.

• Annie’s voice has a superb “brittleness” to it and the KLEI Silver®Harmony provided the edge required to highlight that trait.
• The base line had a deeper presentation, but also an extended level of control that brought out never before heard texture and the improved dynamics gave the track some additional slam not perviously experienced.
• The improved detailing also made the opening chord sequence on the electronic keyboard much more revealing of the textures that had been recorded.

• For those of you unfamiliar with his work, Bobby McFerrin multi-tracks pretty much all the vocals himself, with some amazing sound engineering that captures his percussion line which is derived from him pounding and slapping on various body parts - he also has a very edgy vocal when deemed necessary and again KLEI Silver®Harmony allows those extremely fine details to be heard.
• There is depth to the percussion line that is extremely textured, but since the focus is very much on the vocal performance you are also able to hear every delicate nuance of this talented performers considerable vocal talents.

• Primarily because I thought that the opening quitar chords would highlight the KLEI Silver®Harmony’s dynamic prowess and I was not wrong.
• But better still, the details in Sting’s voice and the textures in his bass line reinforces the amazing abilities of this diminutive little RCA plug.

• To verify that this was NOT the case, I returned to a track previously used in the Copper®Harmony review, the Violin Concerto no. 4 in D major KV 218 - Allegro by Marianne Thorsen / Trondheim Solistene.
• If there were distortions in the signal, then the violin on this track would likely reveal them.
• Instead, the violin came across smooth and extremely detailed with a more spacious image that is wider, deeper and with a more precise placement of the musicians within the space.
• What you hear more of are the extremely fine higher frequency micro details, such as those found in the reproduction of cymbals, having a very fast attack of the initial strike, followed by a long decay, both of which has body and texture.
• Sibilance now has considerably more texture and depth and is silky smooth.
• The sound the KLEI Silver®Harmony conveys is full bodied and full range and is definitely NOT “thin” or “bright”.

• The first thing I noticed was the extended width of the image, now considerably wider than the distance between the speakers.
• There is without a doubt more details, particularly from the percussion section that is placed even further back in the image, but without loosing any clarity or volume.
• The tambourine had much more pace to it and the castanets had a more life-like “clack” to them

• Just a couple of guitars, a little subdued percussion and some nice melodic slide guitar way in the background. And that’s where the KLEI Silver®Harmony’s excelled, delivering a crystal clear reproduction containing the very subtle micro details of the strings being plucked and the buzzing of the strings on the fretboard and as their hands move up and down the neck the unmistakable rasping of fingers sliding over the “round-wound” strings.
• Perhaps my playing guitars for many years has made my ears more “receptive” to these sounds, but it still takes a very adept system to reproduce them with such startling realism and clarity, which left me believing the KLEI Silver®Harmony has without a doubt made a significant contribution to my systems performance improvements.

• On live albums the applause has body, instead of sounding like a game show contestant getting the right answer.
• When Eric Clapton talks between songs you just had to close your eyes and he was right there in the room.

• Why? - it removes distractions such as “spatial image” from the equation and allows me focus solely on the acoustic attributes of the sound
• I find the timbre of an instrument or the subtleties in an artists voice to be much more revealing and allows the realism in the recording shine.

- stay tuned - coming soon

The price of the Silver®Harmony? - $90 for a set of 4 (from Parts Connexion)

The details on the Silver®Harmony, including Australian pricing, is available on their web site at...

www.KLEinnovations.com

They are also available in North America from Parts Connexion


Conclusions…

Ever get that “smile of satisfaction when something very right is happening” ? - ME TOO!

The KLEI Silver®Harmony RCA, when used with high performance interconnect cable, conveys an incredibly detailed analogue signal that results in a very realistic three dimensional reproduction of recorded music, regardless of whether it originates from an Analogue or Digital source.

One question that came up recently - Can the KLEI Harmony®RCA Plug range be used for Digital interconnects?

• I have not tried them as yet, but plan on doing so soon.
• I have read a review that cites exceptional performance improvements over one very expensive purpose built single ended digital cable.
• I have also exchanged several emails with KLEI on this topic and it appears that due to the high impedance of the entire KLEI Harmony®RCA Plug range (i.e. >110 ohms), they do not degrade the transfer of a digital signal between components.
• This however, can be a problem with the more conventional RCA designs, where, if not matched exactly to the impedance of the cable, can result in internal distortions and jitter, causing poor sound quality.

But it’s not farewell to the KLEI Copper®Harmony just yet - I’ll try them on a very good digital interconnect I have - so check back in a couple of weeks

• the digital stream from the DVD player’s s/pdif output using the Van den Hul “The NAME” interconnect with the KLEI Copper®Harmony RCA’s
• the digital stream from the iMac via iTunes/Audirvana using a USB digital link.

Tags: Reviews

Now this is not my first encounter with this style of RCA plug, since I currently have the Silver Bullet RCA attached to the source end of the Stager Silver Solids interconnects that connect my Schiit Bifrost DAC and my Simaudio MOON LP5.3RS Phono Stage to my Naim 5i Integrated Amplifier, which employs silver plated Neutrik DIN Connectors.

Having used the Silver Bullet RCA’s for the last 10 months and being very satisfied with the details and dynamics they provided, I was very curious as to how much improvement an RCA plug utilizing very similar design principles (i.e., from a visual perspective) could bring to my system.

One thing for sure, connecting the KLEI Copper®Harmony to the solid silver interconnect conductors was very easy for two reasons:

1. The centre pin connection is offset to the opposite side from the neutral pin, making both leads very easy to connect.

• Far better than any of the conventional style of RCA plugs I have used in the past.

So with the KLEI Copper®Harmony RCA’s in place, I connected the cables and started the “burn-in” process.

Since the cables were well used and due to the very small amount of metal used in the RCA, I had reasoned that the period of time required for complete burn-in would be less than other designs, but just to make sure, I had planned for around 150 hours, during which time I auditioned their progress several times.

My initial impression (i.e., within the first hour of listening) was that somehow, the team at KLE Innovations had discovered some magical metallurgical process in which electrons had been freed from their earthly bonds and allowed to proceed at faster than light speed to their final destination — not that my previous RCA’s are slow by any means — the KLEI Copper®Harmony RCA’s are just that much quicker!

The details had significantly improved, together with a noticeable improvement in dynamics and a deeper more spacious 3D image

And it was only going to better?

Well, there was a period of time at around 75 hours where something went a little “wobbly” - I can’t think of a technical term for it

• There was a definite change to the presentation of bass frequencies that had many tracks sounding unnaturally bloated.
• On Eric Clapton’s album Clapton Unplugged, the stomping of his foot on stage became almost nauseating.
• Several R & B tracks were skipped over because their bass was just too overpowering.

• Initially, the most noticeable improvement in dynamics were with drums, where rim shots has the immediacy of small calibre gunfire and bass drums seemed to punch through the air like a canon.
• Electric bass also had significantly more slam to it and electric guitar chords were extremely crisp.
• As burn in progressed the more subtle textural details of these instruments became more vivid, but the dynamics of their presentation remained unchanged.

• The initial attack of these instruments is now very crisp.
• The decay of Cymbals and Triangles have extended significantly beyond their previous fall-off point due to the micro details now being revealed.
• and again there was the delightful addition of texture that was previously missing, especially with Tambourines.

• One of my all-time favourites, Diana Krall has revealed a whole new level of “s-e-x-y” with a smooth sibilance presentation and clearly audible textures in every whispery breath — the result is outstanding!
• The reproduction of the raspy vocal tones of Xiomara Lougart on La Habana Joven is another testament to their ability to transfer micro details in a very dynamic manner.
• Christy Baron’s whispery rendition of Ain’t No Sunshine, with a solitary bass for accompaniment draws you right into the recording.

• One such recording is Iberia: Debussy - 3rd Mov’t - London Symphony, Andre Previn conductor that is presented with amazing clarity in the midst of a dizzying array of instruments that can now be clearly heard and located precisely within the image.
• One of my favourite instruments is the Pipe organ, mainly for its many textures. The track Undring from the album HarmOrgan by Sigmund Groven & Iver Kleive is an excellent example of the depth of the sound stage that can be reproduced using these RCA’s - definitely cavernous!
• One thing that did come to light with many orchestral tracks was the forward projection of the venue related acoustics to the point where they envelope the listener, but leaving the orchestra in the space behind the speakers — very engaging.
• The reproduction of the Cello has improved significantly, allowing their very distinct and individual timbres to be distinguished
• The upper frequency range of violins has actually become much smoother — the Violin Concerto no. 4 in D major KV 218 - Allegro by Marianne Thorsen / TrondheimSolistene is one such recording that highlights this particular capability of these RCA’s extremely well.

• Dynamic
• Detailed
• Cavernous
• Engaging

• Noticeably Flatter and thinner sounding
• Less pace to the musical presentation
• A little more vague
• A little more muddied
• Definitely less engaging

• the metals used for the pins
• the plating used for the pins and its density
• the physical design of the pins

As an example of this, the KLEI Copper®Harmony RCA has high purity copper pins (IACS 101%) that are coated with a direct dense proprietary high purity hard silver plating (IACS 106%) — the rest they wouldn’t share — sorry

The rest of the information, including Australian pricing, is available on their web site at:

www.KLEinnovations.com

They are also available in North America from Parts Connexion


And Then There's...

The KLEI Silver®Harmony RCA Plug and the KLEI Pure®Harmony RCA Plug.

What are their benefits? — Well, because I have not tried them as yet, I can only make comment, based on my communications from KLE Innovations.

To paraphrase: They bring out even more of the details, dynamics and improved imaging obtained using the Copper®Harmony.

Details and pricing of the KLEI Silver®Harmony RCA Plug and KLEI Pure®Harmony RCA Plug is yet to be announced.

Future plans: KLE Innovations future plans include KLEI XLRs, Spades, Bananas, Binding Posts, RCA Sockets, Resonance Devices etc…(but not necessarily in that order)

Conclusion
Oh come on — after all that! — do ya really need one? - OK...

Well, without even taking into consideration their very competitive pricing, especially when compared to some of the much more expensive competition that exists out there, and simply based on their superb level of performance, I believe the KLEI Copper®Harmony RCA offers...

One of the best “value for money” products in hi-fl today!

So go out and buy them!

UPDATE: the KLEI Silver®Harmony RCA Plug is now installed and going through the burn-in process as I type this - so keep an eye on this blog for updates

A highly recommended product!

Tags: Reviews