Hot Rod Cables
V-8 Analog Interconnect
Reviewer:  Shane Mattson
Review Period: 1/10/06-->2/10/06 
 

Evaluation System

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Audio/Video cable shopping can be a rather daunting task and with so many options available it's hard to know when you've selected the best cables for your system.  One of the more frustrating aspects of this hobby is knowing that there is always something better out there, which sometimes leads us a/v enthusiasts on a never ending quest for the best, with sometimes less than favorable results.  With more and more budget cable producers cropping up on the Internet, the truth about high-end cables is starting to unravel.  It's now a fact that you do not have to spend hundreds, or even thousands of dollars on cables to achieve a perfect match with your system components. 

I was recently in the market for component vibration damping products and came across a company called Verastarr in Smyrna, Georgia that manufactures high-end a/v cables, solid state amplifiers, speakers and component vibration dampening devices.  Verastarr is owned by Mike Powell who also created Hot Rod Audio Mods, a company that specializes in transforming an already good performing OEM product into a higher performing component through a series of  modification options.   A spin-off of Hot Rod Audio Mods is currently in the works, Hot Rod Cables which will be branded and marketed under Hot Rod Audio Mods.  Hot Rod Cables product will be priced much lower than Verastarr's reference line which is rather quite refreshing since Verastarr's ultra-high performing cables are too expensive for most middle-class a/v enthusiasts.  The first cable to emerge from this new spin-off will be the V-8 interconnect.

The new Hot Rod Cables V-8 interconnect is designed with 99.99% pure, silver coated OFC Copper in a Teflon dielectric. Silver Solder is used along with Cardas Audio Copper/Silver/ Rhodium RCA connectors.  At first glance they are not much to look at, thin twisted wires terminated with average looking no-frills RCA connectors.   Compared to my reference interconnects - thick, heavy and copper packed PS Audio Xtreme Statements, the V-8's look as if they won't bring much to the performance table.  Boy, was I wrong...    

Main Course:        

Two Channel:

I started the evaluation by connecting one two meter set of V-8's between my Meridian preamp/processor and Parasound Halo A 21 amplifier.  The overall first impression of the V-8's was an absolute jaw dropper.   After firing up the first 2-channel audio track it was as if a blanket were taken off of the speakers.  Increased space (otherwise known as "Air") around instruments was immediately apparent and the sound stage was extremely well defined.   Upper frequency response was smooth as silk and would do justice to those systems suffering from exaggerated sibilants.  Warm sounding systems will appreciate the level of upper frequency detail without the fear of sounding too analytical.  Minute' detail that was not easily heard with the PS Audio Xtreme Statements was much more prevalent through the V-8's on each and every sampled recording.  Bass response extended lower and tighter than ever before and the mid-range portrayed this richness that reminded me so much of my old Sonic Frontiers SFL-2 tube based preamplifier.  I was so taken aback by the improvement in sound that I could hardly wait to re-evaluate all of my favorite recordings.  The V-8's are so impressive that I decided (in a heartbeat) half-way though the evaluation to exchange all of my PS Audio Xtreme Statements for the V-8's.    

Multi-channel (Five 2 meter runs of V-8's installed):

As I began listening to Dolby digital and DTS soundtrack dialog I continued to notice an increase in upper frequency detail.  I had never before heard this level of detail from my system and was quite surprised at how much information was previously missed when using the Xtreme Statements.  The V-8's smooth, full sounding mid-range brought center channel dialog to life with a naturalness never before experienced.  There was additional space around voices, instruments and special effects that made the experience much more captivating.  Bravo Hot Rod Cables! 

With regards to the often-taken-for-granted rear surround channels, the V-8’s are able extract every ounce of detail which is extremely important for multi-channel media.  Over emphasized effects from the rear channels can be exciting, but it’s the ever so subtle detail and ambiance that makes the experience more believable.

The V-8’s are so good in a multi-channel system it’s hard to imagine any other interconnect performing much better.

1m pair: $120.00, 2m pair: $150.00, 3m pair: $180.00, 4m pair: $210.00 and so on....