Clairixa USB

[manisandher]

OK, I've just taken a listen and here are my first impressions:

Firstly, I compared my 3.5m Clairixa to my 0.5m Clairixa and they sound pretty much the same to me. This is the first time I've ever had the opportunity to compare like-for-like USB cables of different lengths to each other and it's SO refreshing to know that USB length doesn't seem to matter one iota (within the USB spec at least).

OK, onto the sound. Well, I have to mention that I've had the YFS USB cable in my system for the last few days. Here's what I originally said about the YFS before putting it back into my system:

The honest truth is that I listened to exactly 10 seconds before stopping the music and taking the cable out. It sounded detailed, but way too forward and 'shouty'. Also, I'm sure there was a haze of distortion around everything. Edgy. Metallic.

After a few days with the YFS, I totally stand by these comments. In comparison, the Clairixa is ultra, ultra smooth... and to my ears, a breath of fresh air. So easy to listen to. But I have to say that for me, the name "Clairixa" doesn't really fit. I mean, yes it sounds 'clear' and 'detailed', but not overly so in any way whatsoever. In fact, it sounds quite dull compared to the YFS, and much closer in sound to my Tellurium Black Diamond.

All in all, I really like the sound of the Clairixa. But I think a name like "Naturalixa" would be more accurate... though obviously not as nice or catchy.

The next job will be to compare the 3.5m Clairixa with the 3.5m Tellurium Black Diamond. The latter is some 5x more expensive, but I already have a hunch I'm going to prefer the Clairixa. We'll see...

Mani.

[Mamba315]

Can't wait to read more impressions..

Hey Peter, already put myself in for a 1.8M.  Can I add a shorter 0.8M cable as well?

Matt

[vrao]

Just received my Clarixia cable!

So far I have about an hour, and the cable is very smooth. As Peter mentions, you can play louder with this cable.

[vrao]

In the last few months after my interesting experience with YFS cable, I was able to try out few more.

Here is the list so far
1. PeterST's world famous $1 cable: nothing much to say on this one except it's/was the gold standard.
2. Oyaide d+ "S" : a POS. actually this was the cable that made me believe USB cables have no influence on music, I was so far in the naysayers catagory. However during the Blaxius development I got a bit more open minded.
3. YFS ref cable (silver coated copper): this opened my ears to possibilities to USB sound (I'm happy in many ways Peter did see the diamond in the dust, I was referring to)
4. YFS custom cable (Cu only), more smother than the now on tour ref cable. Still it did not work for me. The soundstage just collapsed into a 5ft bubble. Gotta give my huge huge thumbs up to Kevin at YFS, customer service at its best, kudos buddy.
5. Prana wire Photon: this cable worked fine, but did not substantiate its cost, especially coming from the YFS cable, where I found such a startling difference.
6. AC cable: only after playing with this cable for a few weeks did I realize it could not withstand the need from Phasure system, and found it was limited to 196/24. Mani ....   ;-)
7. Aqvox: my current favorite. It has been in my system for the last month. More thoughts and differences to come ...
Sound of Clarixia is similar, but there are some differences. I'll listen for some more time before I concrete my impressions.

VJ

[michaeljeger]

Vrao
It's interesting you mention the Aqvox cable.
For 150 Euros it still seems to offer some value if it's really good.
Seems to be one of the better deals out there.
Looking forward to your thoughts.
I can fully support your observations about the YFS having a smaller sound stage.
Did not like it.
Michael

[PeterSt]

Although I know that 3 of you are not even at home or didn't receive the cable yet, and one of the 10 was a "double" for one person ... I still think it is awfully quiet in here.
But then of course, when you all listen 5 days first like I try to do it then we must wait some longer.

But like with the other cables, first impressions are as important as long as we know they are that.

Of course I myself am dying of curiosity and I am sure some others are too. 
And it is not the idea to say nothing when you think it is nothing. But if that is the case I like to hear from you how it sounds, so from there I may have some ideas (to express).


For me ? no way of going back. It is so super special in the highs that is really allows further development in the general SQ department. Infinite resolution or something. And super smooth ? No, super-more-black because of that resolution (think in the smear realm). That may come down at more smooth at first sight, but there's detail that makes any dull sounding recording very detailed like "pins" now jump out of it. From there "freshness" emerges just like we tend to call other situations "fresh", but I think I now know for sure that "fresh" as such is not good at all (I now dedicate that "distortion"). I think that this also introduces a new era for the filter design.

Peter

[michaeljeger]

Hey Peter

Stop pulling the bacon through my mouth, I want one of those cables too!

With my new Abyss headphone, I can hear all that like a magnifying glass so to say.

 

- Michael

[toddn]

So I've been busy installing a new 4 post lift in my garage to put my beloved NSX above its new stablemate, a F430 Spider I finally got a chance to do some evening listening of my new Clairixa cable. Here are my initial impressions:

WOW!! Peter, what is under that cotton casing? Magic fairy dust!! Your descriptions are dead on. At first I thought wow this is really smooth but then realized all the distortion free detail I was hearing. And body(Raquel Welch and Sofia Loren in their prime have nothing on
Clairixa!)

Across the board, wider, deeper soundstage and just way more information? And those highs! Cymbals are getting so much closer to reality and violins too, so sweet. I'm really quite stunned that once again I am listening to my familiar library and hearing it as if they are all brand new super high resolution masters! This is easily as transformative as the B75 BNC upgrade.

I'll do some more listening this weekend and follow up. I've got some new BD Orphean3 horns and a new DSP bass crossover itching to be installed but I'll hold off an additional day just to acclimate to my new music reality and the all the new beauty I am hearing.

 Should really be an interesting weekend!

Heartfelt thank you Peter, really a fabulous upgrade!!

[manisandher]

 

A new stablemate for the NSX, hey? And a prancing horse no less! That's a VERY nice garage you've got there. Now how on earth did you get that past your other half? I need to know that secret

Mani.

[tillen]

Hallo all!

Dont know what I expected, but mabe something which could give me the best of all three. Peter's 1€ cable, the Supra and mye Entreq with  separate ground. But IT gave me so much more.
I could hear IT after a few seconds only. The soundstage was totally changed, much wider and spesially much deeper. And I felt much closer to the music (not sound) livefeeling.
So much more information and details, still clear and smooth.
And the bass? WOW ;-)

Super!
Tanks Peter

Regards
Arnt

[PeterSt]

So I've been busy installing a new 4 post lift in my garage to put my beloved NSX above its new stablemate, a F430 Spider

The longer we wait, the more secrets are unveiled. Now this !
I still wonder whether that F430 shouldn't be on top for safety. But maybe Mani doesn't agree.

[manisandher]

And the bass? WOW ;-)

Yeah, I wanted to comment about the bass too but decided to wait until others had chipped in. Over here the bass is excellent too. Actually, there is probably a bit too much with the Clairixa and I may need to turn my bass DSP down a little. But I don't want anyone to get the impression that this is 'fat', 'woolly' and vague bass. It's tight, powerful and incredibly tuneful.

How these things can happen just by changing a USB cable is totally beyond me.

Mani.

[manisandher]

I still wonder whether that F430 shouldn't be on top for safety. But maybe Mani doesn't agree.

The first thing that came to my mind on reading this was Xenia Onatopp (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xenia_Onatopp). Not sure what that says about my mind!

I'm assuming Todd's NSX is 'onatopp' because he wants to use the F430 more often. Fair enough, as it's the newcomer... and a LOT faster... better-sounding & better-looking in many's eyes... but not mine of course

God forbid, should there be a mishap with the lift, I'd certainly want the NSX onatopp - not sure what the state of affairs is in the US, but here in the UK, the number of F430s for sale outnumber facelift NSXs by 50 to 1. You could replace your F430 with the insurance money pretty easily, but getting hold of a good NSX would be very difficult.

(All in good fun... there's no way you can really compare an NSX with an F430!)

Mani.

[toddn]

So I don't want to get off the topic of the wonderful new Clairixa USB cable, so I'll just make one further response about my other love besides my first love of audio, fast sports cars!

Mani,

You are certainly correct about wanting to drive the newcomer and both of them are beautiful mid-engined sports cars in their own way(although man the Ferrari is really a work of art).

But just to clarify, I've owned the NSX for over 20 years so I don't take these purchases lightly and the NSX will never go until I do! The F430 could be a stepping stone to a used 458 in the future, who knows.

One other thing, I do ALL the work on the NSX, including the current highly modified engine build(OK, I still need the machinist, but I do all the blueprinting and assembly) The NSX is turbocharged and put down 720HP to the ground on premium unleaded and over 850HP ON e85 ethanol, so it is WAY faster than the F430

In terms of convincing my wife to go along? Well, she is my 2nd wife and we were both in our 40's when we got married, so I'd say our expectations were honest and "what you see is what you get" so I we both got it right the 2nd time! So I feel blessed.

If I had to choose between my love for fine music reproduction and fast cars, I'd choose Music!!

All in good fun!
Todd

[juanpmar]

When I was testing the Clairixa I found a problem with one of my speakers (I sent you a PM about it, Peter) so although I have a first impression I keep a deeper review until everything works perfectly. To calm a bit some anxiety let me advance just a few things I'm already sure about.
In comparison with the standard USB cable,  which is the one I was using and everybody knows, the Clairixa has a better and deeper bass, being probably this its most prominent quality, a much bigger and three-dimensional soundstage, much more "ambience" and a sense of realism that makes the standard cable seems like an amateur.
Just one more puntualitation, the Clairixa in my appreciation it is not smoother than the standard cable,  it is not even a smooth cable in my opinion. It is a cable that makes a sound as real as you can imagine it is the real sound.
I don't think that I'm wrong if I say that the Clairixa it is more than just a cable,  much more.

Enough for now...

Best regards,
Juan