Connected-Fidelity Unity cables

There’s no denying that cables generally is a bit contentious. Schools of thought vary from those that assume paying greater than the worth of a spherical of drinks for a cable is a waste of cash, via to those that assume that spending the worth of a brand new automobile on cables is one of the best ways to make sure they benefit from the full efficiency of their audio elements. Both ends of this continuum are nicely catered for, and their advocates seldom demur from their buy selections. However, issues get tougher within the center floor, the place a cable could be an improve from low value designs, the stepping stone to one thing terribly unique, or – for a lot of music lovers – the ultimate vacation spot.

UK primarily based Connected-Fidelity suits squarely in that center zone. A 3 metre pair of their Unity Two loudspeaker cables prices round £1,000, and a one metre pair of the Unity interconnect is round £600. What you’re getting for that cash is high-quality componentry and top-notch development high quality. All Connected-Fidelity cables are additionally deep cryogenically handled, to optimise the advantages of the extremely pure copper used within the conductors. Connected-Fidelity is a relative newcomer, and doesn’t have the consolation issue of a well-known model in its favour, so it’s pretty clear they’ve decided to let confidence-inspiring construct and supplies high quality do the speaking. The indigo colored outer sheathing is engaging, and distinctively businesslike, so if we’re partly shopping for with our eyes, we’re positively nonetheless , too.

Construction and supplies

The Unity Two loudspeaker cable makes use of ultra-pure, oxygen free copper (UP-OFC) in a multi-strand format utilizing cores of various diameters to optimise sign switch throughout a large frequency vary. There’s additionally an infill of pure fibre damping, to cut back any microphonic results and the nicely-finished, gold-plated copper connectors appear very securely connected utilizing ‘air tight’ termination (no soldering), and mate snugly with gear terminals. The cores have a complete cross-section space of 4mm² and are mentioned to have the ability to address as much as 800W output into an 8Ω load (the marginally cheaper Unity One has 2mm² core space in an identical development, for purposes the place that degree of energy dealing with functionality may be thought pointless).

The Unity interconnect ups the supplies ante even additional, utilizing ultra-pure single crystal copper (UP-OCC) sign and floor wires, with two layers of RF shielding – each a foil, and UP-OCC braid wrapping the sign cores. Terminations use very safe ‘air tight’ connectors, this time silver-loaded solder connects to a silver plated sign, and gold plated floor, with a locking collar and once more, the connections really feel agency and safe in use.

Performance

The Unity Two loudspeaker cables are a reasonably chunky 16mm in diameter and lay tidily when arrange, no important python-wrangling abilities have been required. The sound is equally tidy; confidence-inspiring and communicative, the cables give a convincing account of the musical intent behind the recording. Shostakovich, ‘Waltz from Jazz Suite No. 1’ [HMV Classics] was as rhythmically neat and exact because it must be, tonal shading and orchestral shapes have been convincingly set out and the entire expertise conceded comparatively little to my regular (considerably dearer) loudspeaker cables. I’m a fan of silver-plated copper conductors, however the barely hotter, richer and darker of the pure-copper Connected-Fidelity cables make loads of sense. Perhaps extra importantly, the Connected-Fidelity choice was at no time compromising necessary musical options; it was extra of a shift of tonal stability. It fits, for instance, the marginally sombre, intimate, enveloping temper of Tonbruket’s ‘Sinkadus’ from Forevergreens [ACT], that kind of ‘Scandy Jazz meets Scandy Noir’ vibe. Keeping with the Scandinavian theme, Sir Charles Mackerras’ account of Sibelius’ Finlandia with the RPO [Tring] reveals the orchestration to good impact, how Sibelius weaves the brass and strings collectively, or makes use of woodwind to distinction, and the way the massed forces are mustered to create that majestic wall of sound on the shut.

There’s a bit by Graham Fitkin, ‘Untitled II’ from Flak [Fitkin] that actually hammers residence the concept that the piano is, at the beginning, a percussion instrument. Scored for 4 pianists on two pianos, it’s rhythmically and dynamically complicated. It’s additionally, within the unsuitable system, or the unsuitable room, relentlessly strident. The means the Unity Twos take care of it’s to indicate you extra of the underlying rhythmic and tonal construction, dialling again on the forceful, upper-register punctuation. It shines somewhat little bit of unfamiliar mild on the piece, now there’s extra ‘swing’, much less ‘strike’, and people moments the place two completely different rhythmic constructions transfer collectively and coalesce at a cadence are telegraphed clearly, and really satisfyingly.

The Unity interconnects proceed the speaker cable’s model; there’s extra curiosity to be discovered within the tone and timbre – take Max Richter, ‘On the Nature of Daylight’ from The Blue Notebooks [DG] this barely darker, moodier method helps one to concentrate on the attractive string tone he evokes. This will most likely additionally attraction to these for whom the Fitkin’s relentless treble vitality is extra of an assault than an enlightenment. Again, this can be right down to their copper-only development, however it’s all the extra obvious now it’s on the upstream finish of the system. In the Fitkin piece, there’s an agreeably impressionistic tackle the proceedings and once more, it places the music in a barely completely different mild. The two pianos are clearly separated spatially, one off to 1 aspect and nicely behind the opposite; there’s an excellent sense of depth and bodily separation of the 2 elements, and the piece consequently takes on extra of the sense of a dialog. We hear two events exchanging concepts, somewhat than us being invited to dissect the concepts themselves; the harmonic and structural components recommend that these cadences the place the rhythmic constructions align, could be seen because the dialog discovering a degree of uncommon settlement. It’s a contemporary tackle an outdated favorite; generally, being invited to view the forest somewhat than trying on the bushes may give one a brand new perception into a well-known panorama.

Note that the Unity cables are usually not merely ‘good with classical’ however when one thing works nicely, I discover myself drawn to the classical finish of the spectrum. But what’s described right here applies equally to feminine vocal, rock and if I knew the way to throw a couple of shapes, electronica and dance music!

In the grand scheme of issues

I’m at all times cautious of ‘giant-killer’ claims for cheap package and I’m not about to make one right here, however for all the fitting causes. What often seems to be the rationale for the ‘giant-killing’ stance is that the merchandise in query has a selected power, which can masks weaknesses in different areas. Abundant vitality can all too simply result in waywardness within the unsuitable circumstances, for instance, so whether or not plentiful vitality is an effective factor somewhat will depend on the partnering elements. That’s not what’s occurring right here. While there’s at all times a compromise available at even

the very best of high-end, there’s a lot to be mentioned for a extremely good all-rounder. And this one covers each ‘consolation and pleasure’, with a sprinkling of ‘shock and awe.’ In the audio equal of ‘snog, marry, keep away from’ that we reviewers typically attempt to play, the wiser arms gravitate to ‘marry’ when long-term satisfaction is the purpose. The Connected-Fidelity cables could not take you on the musical equal of bungee leaping off the Hoover Dam, however neither are they more likely to get you right into a struggle on the excessive road on a Saturday evening. There’s quite a bit to be mentioned for that.

Technical Specifications

Unity Two loudspeaker cable

Type: Stereo pair loudspeaker cables, 4mm sq UP-OFC copper, pure fibre damping materials, ‘air tight’ spade or banana terminals, deep cryogenic therapy

Price: Banana terminals

2.5m pair £849, $1,156, €856
3.0m pair £949, $1,296, €957
3.5m pair £1,049, $1,432, €1,058
4.0m pair £1,149, $1,568, €1,159
5.0m pair £1,349, $1,841, €1,360

For every extra 0.5m add £94 per set

For spade terminals, add £50 per set

Unity interconnect

Type: Stereo pair, pseudo balanced, multi strand interconnect utilizing 0.82mm diameter UP-OCC copper, double-shielded aluminium foil/OCC copper, pure fibre damping, deep cryogenic therapy

Price: RCA-RCA pseudo balanced