I graciously accepted...

When Robert Fritz of the highly acclaimed Audio Art Cable (AAC) contacted me with regards to evaluating his entry-level line of cables I was ecstatic.  It had been a few years since writing my last review and I felt it was about time I dusted off my reviewer cap.  I graciously accepted his offer. 

This review focuses on two entry level cable products offered by AAC, the IC-3 interconnect and the SC-5 speaker cable.  AAC's cables are designed in cooperation with the DH Labs cable company and marketed and sold using a direct sales model developed by Mr. Fritz.  For those of you unfamiliar with DH Labs, they are very well known in the high-end audio circuit for designing and manufacturing ultra-high-performance audio/video cables.  For more information on AAC's business model click here. 

The approach I took to this review was to treat both the IC-3 and SC-5 as a working system and to review the cables exclusively on a real-world (affordable hi-fi) system comprised of NAD and Mirage gear.

What do we have here?

While un-boxing the cables I was very pleased not to find any pretentious cable bags, elaborate boxes or marketing fluff.  All I found were two plastic zip lock bags, one containing a pair of IC-3 interconnects and the other a set of SC-5 speaker cables.  Cable manufacturers take notice: The RCA plugs on the IC-3's were shrink wrapped in plastic to protect them from scratches and scuffs.  The fit and finish of both sets of cables gave the impression that they were worth a lot more than their respective retail price.  PVC jackets used on both the IC-3 and SC-5 are quite thick allowing them to withstand many years of abuse....if that's how you treat your cables!  The RCA connectors on the IC-3's and the spade connectors on the SC-5's are extremely durable which is not a commonly found attribute on entry-level priced cables.  Several years ago I forked out approximately $500.00 on a set of exotic speaker cables imported from Australia that utilized the lowest grade spade connectors.   Needless to say I was quite disappointed.

Overall I'm very impressed with the look and feel of both the IC-3 and SC-5.

My approach to this review

A/B testing is very difficult considering humans only have approximately 6 seconds of precise hearing 'memory'.  The process of switching samples took approximately two minutes, requiring me to get up out of the listening chair, swap the cables and then get settled back into the chair.  Just prior to switching samples I tried to remember a specific sonic signature by replaying it over and over in my head until the evaluation of the next sample began.  I ended up using the SC-5 speaker cables as a baseline reference for both the A and B tests switching only the interconnects.  I used the entry-level Monster Interlink 100 interconnects for the A test and the AAC IC-3 interconnects for the B test.  As previously indicated, my approach was to treat both the IC-3 and SC-5 as a working system and by using the SC-5 as a reference for both the A and the B tests I was able to focus solely on the sonic characteristics exhibited by each set of interconnects.

Listening experience

The most notable difference observed between the two samples was soundstage presentation.  When playing 'A kiss to build a dream on' by Tony Bennett and K.D. Lang (CD titled 'A Wonderful World') the soundstage presented by the IL100's was essentially a wall of sonics lacking any discernable placement of instruments.  The music was emotionally engaging given its content, however I found the overall presentation rather uninviting.  After swapping the cables to begin the 'B' test I played the same track and it immediately became apparent that the IC-3's were in a completely different league.  With the increased level of top to bottom detail I was easily able to identify the precise location of each performer within the soundstage.   Low level detail that was previously lacking with the IL100's was dramatically improved and there was an obvious extension in the music's dynamic range.  The noise floor was also quieter as the very delicate sound of brushes hitting the snare drum previously attenuated were brought to the forefront, and the overall 'space' around the vocalist improved as well.  Another observed improvement was in the tightness of the bass.  The Mirage FRX-One speakers used for this review are not the best performers in this department however I did notice a tighter mid-upper bass register with the IC-3's.

Using the A/B test method described above I listened to a variety of musical genre's and continued to experience the same results with the IC-3 and SC-5 combination.  Expanded soundstage, full range detail, tighter mid-bass and an overall presentation more akin to what you would expect to find in a set cables costing three times the price.

Note:  AAC recommends a 100 hour burn-in period before seriously evaluating their cables.  I was able to burn the IC-3's in for approximately 80 hours and the SC-5's for 2 hours before starting the review.      

Final thoughts

The IC-3 interconnects and SC-5 speaker cables from Audio Art Cable are very impressive performers, especially considering their respective entry-level price points.  If you are entertaining the idea of exploring the possibilities of high-end audio and are in the market for a great set of cables to get you started I strongly recommend the IC-3/SC-5 combination.

Current retail pricing from Audio Art Cable's web site:

IC-3: Starts at $99.95 for a 1/2 meter pair

SC-5:  Starts at $135.00 for a 6 foot pair

AAC IS OFFERING THIS SPECIAL OFFER EXCLUSIVELY FOR READER'S OF THIS REVIEW:  15% off of the total price if you purchase both the IC-3 and SC-5 as a set!

Evaluation System

• NAD 7240PE Receiver
• NAD C540 CD Player
• Mirage FRX-One speakers on stands spaced 5 feet apart