Chimera Labs Advantage Audio Interconnect Reviews

Ron Unsworth - I am sending back my $600 Pure Note Silver I/C's. I will need a pair of ADVANTAGE II's, 1 meter for between my CD player and Preamp.

The first two are still burning-in and are stellar. They have reduced the brightness some and hopefully the new pair, no silver ones left, will further reduce it. Astronomical decay and PERFECT attack on strings.

I will send you another check. Just let me know how much and for 2 day delivery as before.

John Knox – Current system consists of the following: Krell CD-DSP CD player, Blue Circle BC 23 phono preamp, VTL 5.5 preamp, Krell KST100 amp, Audioreflex turntable, Stanton 666e cartridge, Talon Peregrin X speakers, Cardas Crosslink speaker cables

I call myself an audiophile because I've been an avid listener from my college days until I could afford the best equipment to reproduce music as realistically as possible. I have replaced the interconnect between the CD player and preamp, phono preamp and the Preamp, and the preamp and the amp.

The types of music I listen to is Blues, Jazz, Rock and some sound tracks. Some of the test records and cd's were Pink Floyd Darkside of the Moon, Miles Davis Kind of Blue and the Gladiator sound track.

The first thing you notice when you open the box is the cables are very skinny and appear undersized when compared to their contemporaries. The Siltech's are thick and heavy but were to dark and laid back for my taste nor are they neutral i.e. just conveying the signal. The Kimbers were not as dark and laid back but not as natural as I would have liked. The Audioquests were just flat. The Homemade silver cables were a little bright and thin. The Krell XLR was hooked up between the pre amp and amp. Supposedly, you should have an approximate 6db gain when using fully differentiated equipment but when replacing the XLR there was a noticeable improvement in my system overall.

When listening to the opening of Darkside of the Moon (original album)the bass is deep and articulate. You can hear the drums being struck. This isn't something that is distracting but adds to the reality of the recording. Later at the beginning of Money with the triangles and metal strips(?) that are being played. you can hear them being struck and suspended in the air.

Miles Davis Kind of Blue reissue CD the sax solos by Cannonball Adderly and John Coltrane were great, you can really appreciate the qualities of the different instruments.

The Gladiator sound track according to experts is a challenge for our equipment because of the complexity and range of the music. The music was more engaging and realistic.

The Advantage II cable are just the ticket for audiophiles looking for cables that reproduce the music the way it was recorded. They are very neutral and natural. If you are looking to tune your system using cables because some parts are more forward or laid back and you want to add something to the mix. These cables aren't for you. If you are looking for natural and neutral cables without fatigue that will bring you closer to the music then buy these cables!

Strengths: Very neutral, add no coloration to the music, the background is black when there is no music. Instruments are easily differentiated and hang in the soundstage. Voices have no sibilance. Engaging bringing you closer to the performance.

Weaknesses: No weaknesses.

Similar Products Used: Siltech MXT New York, Kimber Hero, Audioquest Quartz, Krell XLR, Homemade Silver(Not Handmade)and XLO. Auditioned Transparent Ultra's (they're not transparent)

Wei-Heng Chang - These cables are constructed from litz-braided CCC (Continuous Cast Copper, or OCC/Ohno Continuous Cast) wires from Japan and Vampire OFC RCA connectors.

At first encounter they don't stir emotion as the physical sizes are smaller and thinner than most high-end cables. However, the materials are all top grades and sizes can be deceiving.

After tens of hours of break in, I started to hear their merits of better clarity, treble extension, and resolution. But at first I thought the bass was lacking. After more listening and back-and-forth comparisons I started to realize that the bass with previous more expensive cables was a bit boomy while the one with Advantage II was tight and linear.

Compare to other more expensive cables I have, these are relative bargains as they are cheaper, sound better, and are easier to use (much more flexible than the stiff JPS). Give them a try.

Strengths: resolution, treble extension, transient speed, smoothness, bass tightness

Weaknesses: None that I am able to detect so far.

Similar Products Used: JPS Superconductor, Audioquest Opal x3, Audioquest Quartz x3

Michael Walsdorf – My System: Silverline Audio Sonatina speakers w/granite platforms. VAC pa 35/35 triode amp, AA DDS.PRO transport / AA DDEv3.0 dac / AA DTIPRO.32 jitter filter, F.T. Audio lw-1 passive line attenuator, Shunyata Hydra PLC, Shunyata Sidewinder (amp/PLC) / BMI Whale Elite power cords (transport/M.P.S.), Audio Magic Mystic Reference i2s digital links, Silverline Audio bi-wire Speaker Cables, M.P.S. power supply feeds dac/jitter filter

In the last two months I’ve listened to NOW 12 different interconnects versus my reference XLO Signature type 1.1 (passive>amp) and Magnan type vi (dac>passive): Cardas Cross, Bear Labs, Harmonic Tech Pro-Silway MK II, NBS Monitor iv / Audiopath, HGA SuperSilver, Warmouth, TG Audio, Acoustic Zen Matrix reference, Silver Audio Hyacinth and JPS Superconductor.

Substituting the HomeGrown Audio SuperSilver ½ meter cable I’ve used the last 7 weeks, your cable was used between my VAC triode amp and my F.T. Audio passive line attenuator.
Immediately I noted a shift/change in timbre, detail, openness and poise. The later 3 qualities were easy to confirm. As far as the timbrel richness, depth, color being more accurate, that was not established during my brief listen. So my comments are more fragmented or soft than concrete due to the short audition and break-in period, please digest my comments accordingly. I would assume the cable to improve/stabilize with further break-in.

On the second observation, this was in direct comparison to my system with the Shunyata Hydra (PLC) daisy-chained to the PS Audio multi-wave p300 (PLC). The bass with these two devices together was the best I’ve witnessed IMS. The cable audition was WITHOUT the p300. Due to an unrelated/unavoidable digital cable change we both felt that with the HGA cable, my system sounded a bit bland, harmonically anemic and bass-shy.
Dropping your cables into the mix changed all that! And the more I listened the less, I noted or was concerned with the questions I had previously mentioned, as the positive characteristics dominated.

This is a strange one: Your cable is both polite and very smooth yet due to the individual images being so much larger and much more freed from the enclosures I sensed a more forward * but not aggressive * presentation. Combined with the reserved/smooth signature this makes my system so EZ to listen to. Voices had this natural (but unusual for replay devices) quality of projecting themselves into the room (that forward sensation) that was simply captivating. The greatest compliment I can give any component is that it allows me to focus my attention not on the technology * the black boxes * but the music itself. Your cable did just that * special indeed!

David Thatcher - I had auditioned the first edition of Dennis Boyle's interconnects and though it took a while to get my own I did. These are basically the same with a few differences in the build technic as the ones I first heard. I took these home the day that they were built installed them between my Sony SACD and my 300B SET (6SL6 SRPP, Alps BB pot)and over the first hours of listening I repeatedly got to lower the volume. Not because things got louder but that they got clearer.

The difference is a kin to having my Heil AMTs sitting on the speaker cabinet or isolated. The detail goes from being very good to crystal clear but this difference was not just on the highs, it was the full spectrum. There was no brightening, they did not create better dynamics, they are just neutral and get the signal from one place to the next without changing it. The very best way I can describe the way that these interconnects work is that they change everything by changing nothing.

Strengths: Price, absolute quality, no coloration of signal and dead quiet.

Weaknesses: None

Similar Products Used: Kimber, Monster, DIY silver, copper, solid, stranded and assorted low end

Gary Alpern - So I decide to once again try and finally answer the questions of what is the best cable – for my system at least. I’ve spent 20 years trying different cables spending thousands of dollars only to find flaws and move on. Must be the equipment. Buy new equipment. Still not satisfied. I decide to barrow the finest cables from the two high-end shops here in LA. These cables ranged from $600 a pair to $2500. I also had some people send me the best of the home brew that have been blowing away very expensive cables.

Then I hear about some guy in Texas who hand braids his cables using a wire that’s supposed to blow away silver. I call him up and order a pair knowing they come with a MBG. I invite a number of people over from the music industry, that include producers and engineers. This was a blind test. Each time I put a cable in (all were broken in) immediately people would start shouting comments and criticism. Then I put in the Chimera Advantage Series II. No one speaks. One by one they all announced these were the best. I then went through it again and sometimes said I switched when I didn’t. Always the same results. These $200+ cables destroyed all they other including the ones in my system. I immediately sold all my cables and bought these. Unbelievable. Even the engineer who’s recorded many live albums by Rock n’ Roll hall of fame acts bought them. As well as all my audiophile friends.

Strengths: Quiet. Unbelievably black. I mean shocking. Smooth. Excellent separation of instruments especially in complex and challenging passages. Heard things I haven't heard before in the music. EVER. No smearing. Lots of separation and soundstaging. Phenomenal depth. Bass? At first I complained that they had NO BASS. Then the manufacturer says to let them break in longer. Know what? They had great bass all along. I was used to smeared, tubby bass. The engineer especially commented how the bass is amazingly accurate. “That’s what a kick drum really sounds like!” I had to re-align my ears to realize what bass is.

So accurate I may not upgrade my CDP because it sounds so good. CD after CD I couldn't believe it. Normally when everything opens up with a good interconnect there is an edge of brightness. Not with these wires. I kept waiting for it to happen and it never did. The other cables had my ears ringing after a short time.

Weaknesses: Everytime I think I find one, I don't. Now I just enjoy the music

Similar Products Used: Harmonic Tech, AQ, Transparent, MIT, Monster, XLO, Kimber, Tara Labs, Straight Wire, Maple Shade (most were all top of the line)

Peter Gleekel – I have now had the chance to listen to your interconnects in my system. I will not bury the punch line---I will NOT be the first one returning them. You have done a wonderful job with these. They are everything you indicated you thought they would be in my system. I get somewhat tired of all of the stereo speak so let me first say as far as soundstage, imaging, separation, etc these are on top with the so called best that I have heard. Now to the best part from my perspective.

You were right on in talking about neutrality. I hear no more of the hardness or tipped up nature of the previous ICs I was using. Nor have I lost anything by way of extension. What I have now is simply a more musical and thus enjoyable system--thanks. I need to sell of a couple more pairs of ICs and I will be back for more.

Geoffrey Clark – Geoff is a senior lecturer in communications at the Blackpool and Fylde College. He has perfect pitch and plays piano to concert standard. System - Alphason Sonata turntable with HR 100 MCS arm, Marantz CD player(rarely used), Blackcat Electronics phono preamp, Blackcat Electronics 2A3 SE amp. Blackcat Electronics Speakers.

As you are aware I have had a lot of experience trying a range of interconnects over a broad price range. As a result became increasingly convinced by the qualities of high purity silver as the material which proved to have the most effective characteristics in retaining musical information. However one does not progress by having a closed mind and so when you suggested trying a copper based wire you’d found I was happy to agree.

I am writing to you because this wire has forced me to re-evaluate my conclusions about silver. The effects of this material were apparent even in the early stages of insertion. The wire does, as with all others benefit from burning in, but does in fact seem to produce more audible gains further into the process than previously experienced. The main effects were.

Noise - The noise floor dropped, revealing more retrieval of complex harmonic structure. This also had an added impact on micro dynamics so that musical interpretation was easier to understand. Such was the importance of this aspect, recordings I had previously felt were dull and pedestrian in interpretation took on a new and more engaging aspect.

Harmonics - The lower mid and bass areas now have a much cleaner quality, with the harmonics in this area of the fundamental reproduced in such a manner, that timing and the sense of musicians working with each other is greatly enhanced.

Dynamics - The effect here is a new one to me. Large scale dynamics were reproduced with such accurate contrasts, that I found myself lowering the overall level at which the music was played, whilst increasing the musical excitement of the performance. It was as if I had a considerably more powerful amplification, more in reserve.

In conclusion this material has made me review my feelings about the current applications of silver and the underpinning science. This is without doubt a step forward in the reproduction of a musical performance.”

Myron Olson - Chimera Labs Advantage Series II interconnect is, well, the most accurate interconnects I've never heard !! Incredible dynamics and musicality. Effortless. Stunningly quiet. I never realized how noisy my other interconnects were until I had these. Ideal for tube gear. Very revealing. Nothing is hyped. No false air or imaging. Just dead on accuracy. Reveals everything for what it is. Bad recordings/equipment cannot hide. Good recordings/equipment are true experiences. I can't imagine anything better at any price. At less than $300 for a meter pair, they're simply unapproachable performance wise.

Strengths: Dynamics, accuracy, stunningly quiet.

Weaknesses: None, at any price.

Similar Products Used: Purist, Tara, Audioquest, Vampire, Nordost, MIT, Accrotec.

Rene' S. Ramirez - My system playback is used for my vinyl collection. From the first hour, the vocal playback was much better than before. More relaxed...easier to listen. Even my wife has noticed the difference! These cables are a winner. Thanks.

Tony DeVoil - System used: Koetsu Red, Gyro Dec SE, Nu-Vista 3D, MF A308cr, Magnepan MG2.7SE, Philosophy Aurion. Black Cat Electronics Amplifiers

Saturday Afternoon. Wire’s had about 18 hours now, time for a listen. My immediate impression was very favorable, more space around instruments and a much more solid bass, image was wider and deeper and the tonal balance was much warmer. There was less ‘hardness’ to the sound and even the poorer recordings sounded better. Detail was more subtle in the upper mid to high but not reduced. Female vocals were exceptional!!

It was a very comfortable experience!!
As time progressed my attention kept being drawn to the Bass and away from the whole picture. I started to fret about it and became convinced it was less controlled than with the Diamond X2’s. Out with the studio foam and a bit of room treatment. Much better!! Switched the wire to between Pre and Power and the difference was not so extreme but it gave similar results. (Pity I didn’t have two sets)

Saturday Evening.
Hooked up the LFD with the new wire and sat down to listen to some plastic. No time to let the wire settle, no need. PHENOMINAL!! Is the only way to describe it, I was blown away. All the attributes x 10 and more. There is no doubt these are fine cables, very easy to listen to and wonderfully ‘weighted’. I would say they are a ‘Vinyl nuts’ dream.

Tom Ito - CURRENT SYSTEM - Pioneer PD-S95 CD Transport, Entec Number Cruncher 2.1 DAC (TG Audio/Bob Crump Upgrade), Symphonic Line Die Erleuchtung Preamp, Odyssey Stratos Monoblocks, Lost Chord Acoustics Speakers (3-way dynamic system using Aerogel midrange driver)

First, let me preface my impressions by saying that I’ve been “on the fence” regarding whether wires could really have a substantial impact on the sound of a system. I’ve been on the sidelines and have read many of the emotional posts on a few of the discussion group sites that were debating the merits of different brands of cables or on whether or not cables really made any difference at all.

Therefore, I’ve been very skeptical of the numerous claims of performance improvements achieved using various brands of cable. I expected, if I heard any differences at all, that these differences would be subtle in nature and difficult to discern which in fact was a real improvement.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS - I have very little experience with different brands of cables. Over the years, I’ve used MIT MI-330, Audio Quest Emerald, and most recently Groneberg Quattro Reference interconnects. I also just purchased Luminous Synchestra and Empirical Audio Microdynamic interconnects for comparison.

When I inserted the MIT, AQ, or Groneberg into my system, I heard just what I expected – very subtle if any difference in sound. Then I inserted the Luminous Synchestra, and heard an immediate difference! Unfortunately, it changed for the worse and became very bright and edgy to the point where I could not listen for very long. I tried a couple of different times, but got the same results. The Luminous just did not work in my system.

I then tried the Microdynamics (which Empirical Audio have replaced with the Holophonic which they feel has much better performance) and heard a subtle improvement. The highs were a little more defined and a little smoother. The midrange was a bit more transparent. The Microdynamics use silver conductors so the problems I had with the Synchestra cannot be blamed on the silver conductors. Anyway, the sound using the Microdynamics was nice, but not dramatically better and nothing to warrant a change in my guarded skepticism. So, when the Advantage II interconnects arrived, I was hoping for a more noticeable improvement, but certainly not expecting it.

Well, I hooked them up and was immediately taken aback by the obvious differences in the sound. This time, however, it sounded like a very apparent improvement. However, this sometimes wears off over time, so I withheld judgement until I was really sure. Well, three days later, not only did it not wear off, but I found I was enjoying listening to my CDs much more than before. The improvements in sound ran across the board – low level detail, micro-dynamics, transients, harmonics, dimensionality, etc… All of these improvements added up to a more organic and live sound, which greatly increased the excitement factor. I now find I’m listening to more of my CD collection, as well as, spending more time searching for new recordings. The improvement was distinct enough, that I was able to recognize it from my other rooms. Lyrics were much more intelligible on several recordings so that I no longer had to pull out the inserts. But the most important attribute was how it brought out the emotion within the music allowing a more intimate connection to the listener which made it a more involving experience. Although this seems like an obvious conclusion, it doesn’t always happen. You can achieve greater resolution and detail and at the same time feel less involved with the music.

So I now feel cables can make a worthwhile difference. I also feel they are very system dependent and how much a difference they make will depend on the particular system they’re used in (not to mention the listener’s bias). In regards to the Advantage II interconnects, I can’t really rank them relative to the most highly regarded cables because I’ve never tried any of the elite brands such as Nordost, HMS, AZ, Silversmith, etc… Largely, because I cannot justify or support their obscene pricing. All I can say is it made more of an improvement in my music than I thought it could and that I will not be returning them.

Kevin Brown - Received the IC’s on Monday. One word says it all: WOW !!!! These Advantage II interconnects are all I have ever hoped for in an IC upgrade. They provide an amazing degree of immediacy, where musicians and instruments are at times seemingly “alive” or “present” in the room. Spatial cues of the recording venues, live or in the studio are often revealed in a spooky way.
Overall familiar recordings are now also strangely revealed anew and sound unfamiliar due to a wealth of low level ambient cues now unveiled. Recordings that I had written off as poorly produced, now have that “there is a ‘there’ there” feel to them. I could go on here, but will only say that my biggest regret is not having discovered your cables sooner.
I would saved a lot of $$$ over the years. My JPS Superconductors , Nordost Blue Heaven and other cables have been soundly beaten and left at the way side after replacing them with the Advantage II IC’s. I never believed how much better my Arcam FMJ CD 23 player could sound.
< Standing Ovation .....The possibilities might be seemingly endless with places to upgrade the wire. Inside the speakers...inside my old Magnum Dynalab FT-101 tuner, speaker cables....>
Thanks again for the amazing cables!!!

Dan Duer – Dan is an Ace Amplifier owner connected to the tried and true Spendor Loudspeakers. He uses both the Series I and Series II interconnects in his system

“The interconnects sound great. It's hard to describe how they sound. They are tonally neutral and reveal more colors and micro-dynamics than any other cable I've heard.

Once they were in my system, I just forgot about them and enjoyed the music. They are a terrific bargain. The Gold on OFC Copper plugs on the Advantage IIs are an excellent upgrade and well worth the extra bucks.”

Paul Knutson – Paul Knutson is a reviewer for a web based Audio/Home Theater magazine.

“The Advantage I interconnect replaced a pair of JPS Labs Superconductor interconnects in the connection between my D to A Convertor and my preamp. You may or may not know the JPS Labs cables but they have been in my system for over a year and half now and I have generally found them to be excellent. I think a 1M pair retails for about $295.

Well, this is a little hard for me to say, but thus far, the cold, unbroken-in Advantage I are completely stomping on the JPS Labs! I have literally had the Advantage I in the system no longer than 1 hour (much less the 25+ hours you recommend for total break-in) and already I am hearing more information, greater space, more sweetness and better bass -- all around the music sounds more alive and natural. The early impressions of the Advantage I is that they are just great and way better than what they just replaced, which frankly, surprised me a little.

Hi Dennis, well, I wanted to update you on the Advantage I interconnect listening evaluation. I believe it is fully broken in now and I am completely impressed! My system is sounding better than ever, and while I have made some other changes, I know for sure that the Advantage I is having a contribution to everything right that is happening. I can't wait to try the Advantage II once I have fully formed my opinions about the Advantage I.

Congratulations on such an excellent product! I plan to write more in a more thorough evaluation of the Advantage interconnects and hopefully publish what I write at our website. Once I'm good and confident about my conclusions, I'll have a lot to say about these excellent performers. The rest of the audio world really needs to know about them.”

Greg Lee – Greg is an Ace Amplifier Owner. He uses Ampex high efficiency full range loudspeakers. He has both the Series I and Series II interconnects in his system

“Well Dennis, I was so happy with the sound of my Ace Amplifiers that I figured I could just sit and listen to music. Now I know what “Ignorance is Bliss” means.

As you requested, I listened to the Series Ones first. I was amazed how good they were. Everything was better. I heard things on my CDs that I never knew was there. In my system there are no weak points in sound performance, they just let the music through!

Then I installed the Series Twos, and it got even better. It’s hard to believe the only difference is the OFC Copper RCA connectors. Now I feel immersed in the music, like I was there when it was recorded. Sort of amazing to get this kind of performance at the price you charge for a pair of the interconnects.

No I don’t plan to send either pair back, but I think you knew this would happen. So look for my check in the mail and thanks for the chance to listen to them.”

Julie Alberts – Julie listens to an all tube system with the ACE amplifiers driving a pair of early Kipschorns. She listens to both vinyl and CDs.

“We put your interconnects into my system yesterday and listened to it for a few hours last night. I could not believe that what I was hearing was actually coming from my speakers! There's so much more depth and detail in my midrange now, as well as separation in the lower frequencies. I could have stayed up all night entranced by what I was hearing.

I guess I never knew how much of the music I was missing until now. I always thought that people who said they heard an audible difference in the way their system sounded by merely changing some wire were probably just hearing things. But I was so wrong!”

Steve – Steve runs a High End Audio Store in the Midwest. He tried the Advantage Interconnects with a wide variety of audio equipment.

“I wanted to give you some feed back on your excellent cable. We tried the cables in both SST and tube systems and compared them to Synergistic, Tara, Kimber, Audio Note, and NBS.

I thought that they had very good truth of timbre and were dynamic with an exceptionally low noise floor. The sound staging varied according to the source and they were neutral. Of all the cables that I tried only the Audio Notes were superior at a price of $1,500. I am having some work done on my sound room, but I would like to try your other cables, especially your speaker cables, in the future and I am looking forward to getting the amp (ACE amplifier).”

Ed Valentin – Ed is a musician in New York City. He listens to an all tube system driving a pair of Tannoy Studio Monitors. He also is reported to have a wonderful record collection

“It’s hard for a musician to be happy with a home stereo system. I hear the way instruments really sound every day. Then I go home and listen to my system, it’s easy to be disappointed. I appreciated the fact you were willing to braid me a pair of interconnects using the Western Electric wire. I really did like the way they sounded, much better than other cables I have tried.

I am really glad, I purchased a pair of your interconnects that are braided with the Continuous Cast Copper wire. I admit I thought the Advantages with modern wire would not sound as good.

The WE cables are very smooth with very good instrument reproduction and nice ambiance. But the new cables are much better. They have made a big difference in my system. They do everything better than the other cables. Your interconnects have really helped my system get closer to the “true” sound of the instruments.”

Graham Priestley - Senior lecturer at the Blackpool and Fylde College in Technical Illustration. Previously an illustrator at Rolls-Royce in England. System - Pioneer CD player, a seriously modified out board DAC, the line stage is a Blackcat Electronics One, the power is a Counterpoint SA-12 and speakers are the Acoustic Energy AE1’s with dedicated stands.

“Having always understood and appreciated the superior performance of pure silver interconnects, I was stunned to hear the sound resulting from adding the Chimera wire! It was immediately apparent that it was significantly out performing my treasured silvers in several areas of perceived performance.

The sound stage was more clearly defined with improved instrument and voice separation. The speakers sounded taller and fuller with greater tonal range losing the comparative harshness that silver can bring. Bass was significantly improved going deeper and yet more controlled.

Finally the whole sound was more musical and natural; sounding more detailed, harmonious and open. In conclusion a far more enjoyable and realistic listening experience.”
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