Overall Rating
 5 of 5
 

Value Rating
 5 of 5
 

Used product for
Less than 1 month
 

Price Paid: $105 at TMC

Product Model Year:
2003

Summary:
These cables are the nicest balance I have ever heard.They excel in soundstage.
They sound simply huge in a large room with floorstanders.King was good to deal with and the improvement over my Monster M550i is huge.Tonally,rythmically,dynamically and balance are all outstanding but still you notice silence and smoothness also.
I think they just let the signal through with minimum interference and that is the secret.

Strengths:
Tonality perfect,Rythym and Dynamics great.Above all a huge Soundstage and Imaging is great.Shut your eyes and the artist is in your room.

Weaknesses:
None that I can really glean.

Similar Products Used:
Monster M550i,QED Qnex 2,Sonic Link Silver Pink also very good but nowhere near as BIG sounding or full in the Bass.
 

Overall Rating
 4 of 5
 

Value Rating
 4 of 5
 

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year
 

Price Paid: $87

Product Model Year:
2001

Summary:
This is a good starter. Clean and very well balanced from top to bottom. Open and neutral. I even prefer it to the TMC Yellow wich is warmer, but less detailed. A good value, but not the best value. The similar priced DH LABS BL1 series II is a bit better (more detailed, more revealing, bigger soundstage).

Strengths:
Clean and very well balanced

Weaknesses:
Not as detailed as silver plated and silver interconnets; loose rca; too stiff

Similar Products Used:
Audioquest, Bryston, Belden, Cardas, Dh labs, Homegrown, Isoda, Kimber, Qued, Monster, MIT, Pure Silver Sound, Silver Audio, Transparent and few others
 

Overall Rating
 5 of 5
 

Value Rating
 5 of 5
 

Used product for
Less than 1 month
 

Visitors rate this review
5 of 5, 1 votes

Product Model Year:
2000

Summary:
First of all let me say that although these cables are stiff, they are very bendable and you can form these to fit in tight places if you take the time. Second of all I do not like the RCA's, even after locking the plugs they slipped off of my CD player (Cary CD 303) I removed the locking plugs and gently tightened the RCA's with a pair of pliers (please be careful if you try this) I attached the locking plugs and that did it! That said, let me address the review by Mr Yamaha below. I don't know why he was hearing squashed sound with no dynamics. It only took me several moments of listening to hear how special these cables are. Right out of the box they were dynamic,airy, and smooth with plenty of detail and depth with a big soundstage. After a couple of hours they sounded even more open and relaxed. What more can you ask for? The yellow seemed to need more break in time, so I moved them to my tuner. Since they are fully broken in I will switch them to my CD player and give a review in a couple of days. Suffice it to say that these TMC White cables will hold their own with anything out there and will embarass most! These replaced a $192.50 1/2 meter pair of Goertz Saphhire silver cables. (and I love Goertz) This should tell you something! Even at the full retail price I would consider these a good buy. I have a biwire pair of their speaker cables on order. At the discount price available over Audiogon, they are simply a steal! Very highly recommended!
My current system:

Odyssey Monoblocks
Transcendent Grounded Grid pre/amp
Alon II speakers(Goertz silver biwired)
Cary CD 303 CD player TMC white label
Pioneer 70's tuner TMC yellow label
BEL "The Wire" pre/amp to amps
Rotel 900 t/t with Origin Live modified REga RB250 arm
Dynavector 20X MC cartridge
Lehmann Black Cube
(3) Omega Mikro PLanar power cords (red) wave treated on front end equipment plugged into RGPC
(2) The Absolute Power Cords on amps
 

Strengths:
Smoothness,Transparency,Detail,Dynamics

Weaknesses:
RCA's can loosen, kind of stiff but workable.

Similar Products Used:
Goertz silver and copper, DH Labs, Cardas Neutral Ref, Golden Cross, many more.
 

Overall Rating
 5 of 5
 

Value Rating
 5 of 5
 

Used product for
3 months to 1 year
 

Price Paid: $80 at Audiogon

Product Model Year:
2000

Summary:
My previor review was lost apparently. Great cable for the money, in fact when compared to the Tara labs Prism55i, I liked these better. Only proble is that they are very stiff. After 3 months they become appreciably richer. I plan on replacing most of my cables with TMC products!

Overall Rating
 5 of 5
 

Value Rating
 5 of 5
 

Used product for
Less than 1 month
 

Price Paid: $80 at Audiogon

Product Model Year:
2000

Summary:
I bought these while looking for good interconnects for my CD player and the amp I was planning to add. I have used them in several places on my system, A-B comparing them with assorted old Monster Cable, BetterCables audio and digital coax, TMC Yellow Label, and Magnan Vi's.

For the CD changer, I preferred the Yellow Label (see my review of that cable), but I suspect that preference is largely system-dependent. The White Labels performed amazingly well when used between VCR and receiver (it's a source with certain inherent limitations, but on a 1-10 scale I'd rate the Monster Interlink 200 at 5, BetterCables at 7, and the White Labels at around 9). What really impressed me, however, was the performance I got when using a White Label cable as a digital coax cable from DVD player to receiver. I'd previously used both coax and optical from my player, using Monster optical, BetterCables optical, Monster coax, and most recently BetterCables coax. The BetterCables coax provided a marginal improvement over the others. The White Label improved the soundstage and clarity -- I heard sound effects that I'd never noticed previously. The best description would be probably be "transparent."

Currently, I'm using White Label as digital coax and for the center channel to my amp. I plan to move the existing White Labels to the surround channels to the amp, and possibly add a pair for the VCR.

Equipment list:
Outlaw Audio Model 1050 receiver
Outlaw Audio Model 750 5-channel amp
Yamaha CDC-775 CD changer
Panasonic DVD-A310 DVD player
Paradigm Reference Studio 60 mains
(Transparent MusicWave Super cables)
Paradigm Reference Studio CC center channel
(biwired with Monster M.75)
Paradigm Reference Studio ADP surrounds and center surround
(Monster XP cables)
Mitsubishi 27" TV
BetterCables S-Video cables

Strengths:
soundstage, clarity, balance, value

Weaknesses:
It will take a little practice to get good and connecting them to gear because of their stiffness, and you need some room behind equipment for them.

Similar Products Used:
Monster Cable Interlink 200, 250, and 400 Mk. II; BetterCables, TMC Yellow Label, Magnan Type Vi
 

Overall Rating
 5 of 5
 

Value Rating
 5 of 5
 

Used product for
1 to 3 months
 

Product Model Year:
2000

Summary:
I've always been very proud of my Infinity Renaissance Speakers. For years, audiophile friends have been extremely complimentary. Besides their overall musicality, transparency and imaging have been been their stongest points. Now, having installed TMC yellows and whites to my system, I can easily add soundstaging. In fact, I'm not sure if I really appreciated what soundstaging truly meant before. Now, I most certainly do. I could swear that I'm
surrounded by the different instruments. I could easily go on and on about these cables. But, why repeat what everyone else says before me. Very simply, these TMC interconnects will be bring out the best your system has to offer. You might even need to upgrade your system to reach the full potential these cables have to offer.
And I need to add that the customer service is beyond good. King at TMC is amazing. It's a pleasure doing business with a company that not only offers a great product
but also backs it up 100%.

Strengths:
everything

Weaknesses:
nothing
 

Overall Rating
 5 of 5
 

Value Rating
 5 of 5
 

Used product for
1 to 3 months
 

Product Model Year:
2000

Summary:
A friend of mine turned me on to this product. I was a bit skeptical, but gave his a try in my system. WOW! The soundstage just opened up - the music that is. Less background noise, much more clarity and focus, beautiful imaging and better distinction of the instruments within the soundstage.

This was one of those "pleasant surprises" in my world of audio equipment - a rare thing, but I'm elated with the improvement it brought to my system. I'm going to buy the speaker cables as well.

These deserve an audition and are a great buy - outstanding performance for the price!!

Strengths:
Very Musical, improved bass and imaging

Weaknesses:
Stiffness of the cable, but can molded to fit the application.

Similar Products Used:
Kimber, Audioquest, etc. etc. etc.
 

Overall Rating
 5 of 5
 

Value Rating
 5 of 5
 

Used product for
1 to 3 months
 

Price Paid: $175 at ebay

Product Model Year:
2000

Summary:
When I set out on this project of assembling my first system in 20 years, I was looking for a financial compromise which would give me 90% of the sonic quality at 20% of the high end cost. 20 years ago good speaker cable was heavy guage Monster Cable with bare wire terminations and interconnects with gold plated RCA's. Cable was cable except for finding the proper guage wire. After hooking up my new NAD 540C with the factory supplied patch cords, the CD Player was so harsh and grainy that I prefered listening to records. Not accepting failure with my CD experience, I visited my local Audio Dealer who handles Magnepan speakers. He advised I try Kimber Kable products so I auditioned a pair of Kimber Hero's along with Kimber 8TC's for Speaker Cable. The sound was more detailed but not worth the $700.00 it was going to cost new. Convinced that interconnects and cable could make a difference, I purchased MAD Pearl and XTC interconnects. The detail was improved greatly, but my system was still way to bright. After trying room modifications including carpeting my listening room walls (which did improve things), I purchased TMC White and Yellow Lable interconnects from ebay after reading the reviews here on Audioreview. The Yellow Lable produced an immeadiate sonic improvement over the MAD Pearl I was using between amp and preamp. My initial experience with the White Lable on my CD was not so exciting. I actually re-installed the MAD XTC's for a few days.

A week later I upgraded my speaker cables from a used and abused pair of Audioquest Crystal to a mint pair of used Kimber Monocles. During burn in of the Monocles, I in-advertently left the TMC White Lable IC'c on the CD, which ran for a couple of days around the clock. Later, I noticed the mistake and put the XTC's back in. The now harsh bright sounding XTC's illuminated the change TMC's had undergone. Unlike the Yellow Lable interconnects, the White Lable do not produce a stunning change. Instead they just remove the grain and brilliance while increasing attack velocity and detail.

I was still dissapointed with the peformance of my system with the Kimber Monocle speaker cables and decided that it must be the TMC interconnects as the Monocles are top of the line for Kimber's copper line of cable and the 8TC had sounded fine. I puchased a used pair of Kimber Silver Streak's and replaced the White Lable's. The grain did not return but the CD was still slightly bright with the pure silver IC's on the CD player and I didn't gain anything as far as sound stage and very little detail. I later tried the Silver Streaks between preamp and amp, see my TMC Yellow Lable review.

Finally on a whim, I switched back to my abused pair of Audioquest Crystal speaker cables and my system came to life!!! I mean this baby really was cooking and my System assembly project was complete...not. An email pal talked me into TMC Gold Lable speaker cables. You can read my review for them here on Audioreview.

None of the above was ment to disparage the other products I have tried. I am sure every system responds to the system's components differently which produces a synergy of sorts. I do know that the TMC products have worked well in a broad range of equipment, as I comunicate frequently with others who have, or are trying TMC in their systems. The intoductory price is great and deserves a five for value. Overall I give them a 5 because of there musicality without sacrificing other qualities. I suspect for enough money you can find cables that will beat these depending on your evaluation criterion. For me thay are right on spec for this project. In summary, if you are looking for a quality pair of interconnects for use between CD and preamp, you should give the TMC White Lable a try on a 45 day trial. You may never know how much detail you can achieve without the edgy harshness often heard with CD's on a high quality system. You will never find a more curtious, friendly dealer with quick response to email and excellent shipping, or you can call them like I did. Just check the time difference to Australia first! King may be cooking on the barbie.

My "Bargain" System-
Speakers: Magnepan MG IIIa's (used-20 years old)
Amp: Aragon 4004 MK I (used-10 years old)
Preamp: Aragon 24K (used-6 years old)
Turntable: Oracle Delphi MK II (used-20 years old)
CD: NAD540C (New discontinued model)


Strengths:
Neutal, Detailed and Un-colored, great vendor to deal with, quick delivery considering they are in Austrailia!

Weaknesses:
Stiff and hard to route in tight space

Similar Products Used:
MAD Pearl, MAD XTC, Kimber Hero, Kimber Silver Streak
 

Overall Rating
 5 of 5
 

Value Rating
 5 of 5
 

Used product for
Less than 1 month
 

Product Model Year:
2000

Summary:
I purcased them with a pair fo TMC yellow label from audiogon. What a steal! If you ever care marginal utility, this is the one!

Strengths:
neutral, transparent

Weaknesses:
too cheap?

Similar Products Used:
tara lab, monster cable

Overall Rating
 5 of 5
 

Value Rating
 5 of 5
 

Used product for
Less than 1 month
 

Product Model Year:
2000

Summary:
Very tranaparent and accurate sound. Run in is necessary but the sound quality still improve when the cable is lying undisturbed without signal. Compared with the yellow label, the sound is even more transparent an detailed, but not so punchy. It can beat its rival of price 4-5 times higher even without a full break-in. I is really a steal in this price range. Can I give it 6 stars?

Strengths:
Simply marvelous: Transparency and spaciuos sound is peerless

Weaknesses:
Stiffness.

Similar Products Used:
Cresendo, XLO 1.1 and more
 

Overall Rating
 5 of 5
 

Value Rating
 5 of 5
 

Used product for
3 months to 1 year
 

Price Paid: $230 at Audiogon

Product Model Year:
2000

Summary:
I purchased the white and yellow interconnects through Audigon based purely on good reviews and the money back guarantee. My system is of very high resolution, but it was not easy to listen to at high volumes for long periods of time. I figured a change of interconnect may do the trick. I received the cables exactly one week after ordering and they arrived in perfect condition. The Music Cable Company is very easy to deal with and King has been very courteous with follow up e-mails. The build quality of the TMC’s is as good as I have seen; professionally crafted and attractive.
I replaced my more expensive silver interconnects with the TMC’s and my initial impression was disappointment! I had lost detail and apparent dynamics. The TMC’s sounded dull in comparison. One thing that I did notice though was a very musical, foot tapping presentation that was much easier to listen to at high volumes. I decided to give the TMC’s a chance because of these facts and run them in, most of the time without me listening. After about a month of listening on and off, my opinion of the TMC’s changed dramatically! After critical listening on known material these were my new conclusions. The TMC’s had opened way up and had become significantly more transparent. The dullness had disappeared and they sound incredibly natural. I thought I was imagining it and so changed back to my silvers. It was not my imagination and the silvers sounded almost unpleasantly harsh and thin, now I had got used to the TMC’s. The balance now, I would describe as very neutral. The TMC’s sound quite different to a lot of cables. They are only make a noise when the music is playing, otherwise they are silent. This sounds weird but TMC owners will understand. Reading the online literature, I would imagine this is due to the excellent screening effect of the solid jackets. The cables have incredible space, separation and positioning qualities. I think this is because there is less “junk” in the signal and so separation is easier to hear. They are easily the most natural and musical sounding cables that I have heard and I have been comparing and making cables for over 20 years! I am now going to replace all my cables with TMC’s, I am that impressed! I think I have finally found a cable that I can be happy with long term and just enjoy the music for a change (traditional audiophile problem). Remember, don’t form an opinion until they are well run in as they get a lot better!

 

Strengths:
Once run in, performance compared to weaknesses and price, make these cables a fabulous buy!

Weaknesses:
Due to inherent stiffness and smooth cable bend radius required, you need around 5" clear min behind your equipment.

Similar Products Used:
Numerous cables of widely varying prices for many years.
 

Overall Rating
 5 of 5
 

Value Rating
 4 of 5
 

Used product for
Less than 1 month
 

Product Model Year:
2000

Summary:
Same as posted for TMC Yellows.
After installation and break-in of two sets of yellows and whites, voices became much more perceptible, as did the
instruments. The imaging and sound stage became much more stable and clear, which leads to a much more pleasing
listening experience.

I believe it's what the cable doesn't do that adds the improvements. These apparently add virtually nothing to the
original source signal. Note: It did take near 20 hours of signal throughput before they began to reveal their
improvements.

Planning to purchase additional Whites for video connections.

My System:

NAD T 761 A/V Receiver
Outlaw 5 Channel Amp
Klipsch RF-3's
Klipsch RC-3
Klipsch RS-3's
Klipsch KSW12

Sony DVP-530D
Sony CDP-CA80ES
Sony MiniDisk MDS-JE320
Sony Remote Commander RM-AV2100
Monster Cable HTS-3500 Audio/Video Power Conditioner
Mitsubishi 52" Wide Screen

 

Strengths:
After installation and break-in of two sets of yellows and whites, voices became much more perceptible, as did the
instruments. The imaging and sound stage became much more stable and clear, which leads to a much more pleasing
listening experience.

I believe it's what the cable doesn't do that adds the improvements. These apparently add virtually nothing to the
original source signal. Note: It did take near 20 hours of signal throughput before they began to reveal their
improvements. Now I can recline back, close my eyes and enjoy. No fatigue!

Planning to purchase additional Whites for video connections.
 

Weaknesses:
Stiff but managable.

Similar Products Used:
IXOS 1000 Studio
 

Overall Rating
 5 of 5
 

Value Rating
 5 of 5
 

Used product for
Less than 1 month
 

Price Paid: $115 at www.audiogon.com

Product Model Year:
2000

Summary:
I am writing this review a bit prematurely as I am sure that this product has yet to break-in. I am just so impressed with this product that I would write my feelings down.

OK, I started looking for a new set of RCA to RCA interconnects when I got my SACD player b/c I switched my Stealth silver ribbons to the SACD and the CD got the Monster junk cables. At first, it wasn't a huge deal, but then I started noticing what I was missing from before. This actually bothered me and until I could afford something I only used the silver ribbon to listen to both the SACD and CD, so I was switching or not using one unit or the other. My search began like all searches for my equipment and that is through reviews from this site and other various professional sites. I looked at what cables were closest to a perfect 5/5 and I ran across the the TMC Yellow Label. I checked out their site and found them to b a small company (which I like b/c they have lower prices yet very inovative products).

I finally found where the dealer/manufacturer was selling these gems and won at the auction. I figured from their claims of their cables being "addictive," the price, and the reviews here I would check them out. They arrived straight from Australia about a week later. My first impressions were that they are very solidly constructed, but EXTREMELY stiff. I hooked them up with their locking RCA's to my gear and arranged them best I could without the cables sticking all over the place. Threw in a CD and voila' DEAD quiet sound. Everything was gone....except the music. One gentleman stated that good cables don't add to the music, but their true value is what they take away. Usually we only hear things we miss from before not things that are added unless it is a noticable change. This is the first interconnect that I heard an immediate change in the music. Nothing was added, but everything that was before was gone. The background was dead silent. The music had much greater focus and neutrality. In addition, the music was more life-like.

Overall, I plan to upgrade the remainder of my gear with their products. As soon as I can afford my Odyssey Stratos amp I am going to grab a pair of their Yellow Label IC's and use them to create a perfectly quiet music setting. Thanks and enjoy all.
Cheers.

Strengths:
quietness, price, construction, neutrality, focus, nearly everything I look for in an interconnect

Weaknesses:
stiff as hell and not as easy to arrange, but hey..i'll take that if they cancel out outside intereference (EMI/IRI)

Similar Products Used:
Stealth SCR silver ribbon, Monster stuff
 

Overall Rating
 5 of 5
 

Value Rating
 5 of 5
 

Used product for
Less than 1 month
 

Price Paid: $91 at Online auction

Product Model Year:
2000

Summary:

Amazing interconnects for the price, even at the full USD$220.00 per 1m pair!!!

I thought I'd "gamble" with USD$130 for a pair of White Labels to see if they'll beat my vdH The First, after reading through all the good reviews and hypes from the various newsgroups/forums and websites.So I was pretty pleased to get a 1.5m pair for just USD$91 at an online auction.

The Music Cable folks are nice to deal with and I got my cables within the week. They look like a million bucks and the construction's very good and inspires confidence. The quality locking phono plugs are a bonus. However, the stiffness of the cable can be a real pain to work with....... in my case, I had a hard time getting them into place behind my tight AV cabinet as I didn't want to bend them too much. The White Labels go between my DAC and the power amp.

The results??? Well, I must first admit that I have no first-hand experience with cables or interconnects that run into thousands of dollars. But compared to my vdH The First? Wowee..... straight out of the box, there are already very perceptible sonic improvements. The First is well known to elicit very natural sounds from equipments, being made of carbon fibres in place of metals. I dare say that the White Labels are the equal, if not superior, to The First in this aspect. But what is most apparent immediately, before they're run-in, is that they already give more focus and flesh to the soundstage. Well, in my system, the soundstage is not perceived to be any wider than before...... however, within this width, the instruments are more pronounced and apparent, especially those images situated around and beyond the speakers. Well, I wouldn't quite say it's like the lifting of a veil......, The First are pretty transparent and revealing themselves, but the tmcs better the former by fleshing out more of the instruments while not reducing the soundstage depth. In fact, the tmcs give more depth to the soundstage now. I've always felt the background instruments in Four Seasons in the "Classic Kennedy" album a tad recessed and constricted. With the new i/cs in place, the track opens up in a more convincing and enjoyable manner.

After a week or two of breaking them in, the improvements are even more fabulous. Vocals and instruments, across the sonic spectrum, blossoms......... there are just "more" to what you hear. Very addictive stuff this........ now I'm beginning to experience the heightened "you are there" feeling in the music I played, as mentioned by the previous reviewers. Almost everything just takes on a very realistic imaging....... Miles' trumpet and Coltrane's sax spits with such realistic energy and presence on Kind of Blue, it seems as though they're jammin' in my living room. Other improvements?....... lower noise floor, better retrieval of details, fairly significant extension to lower bass........ but the most important one is the improved musicality to music that flows through the system. For once, it looks as though all the hypes are justified. Music played are more musical and come with more emotions.

Downsides? Well, nothing is ever perfect in hifi, and if I have to nitpick........ in my system, I notice the extension to the lower bass registers comes at the expense of a slightly "woolier" lower mid-bass...... around the 100Hz region (?). It's not as taut and defined as with the vdHs. Another thing is....... piano notes, especially the lower octaves, lost some weight and definition..... they are ever so slightly more difficult to focus on and pick out individually. Kei Akagi's solo piano in Moonriver (Jacintha's The Songs of Johnny Mercer; Groovenote) is one glaring example. Funnily though, I've only noticed that with the piano and no other instruments.

So, can I live with the slight blemish to the i/cs? You betcha.....!!! In all other regards, I've nothing but good to say about the White Labels. Also, there are none of the aforementioned brightness to the tonality by other reviewers...... in my system, I did not perceive any bit of increase in harshness and brightness compared to before. But, of course, it all depends on your own systems, I suppose. IMO, you can only fully realise the vast benefits the tmcs are able to offer if you own better quality and revealing systems.

In the final analysis, BUY WITH CONFIDENCE!!!
 

Similar Products Used:
van den Hul The First
XLO Type 4
Straightwire Laser Link
Cable Talk Monitor 3.1
etc.
 

Overall Rating
 5 of 5
 

Value Rating
 5 of 5
 

Used product for
Less than 1 month
 

Price Paid: $80 at THE-MUSIC-CABLE.COM

Product Model Year:
2000

Summary:
I really dont have much more to say than I have already said above...I soon will have my entire system wired with TMC, and my goodness, phenomenal....Do yourself a tremendous favor, buy em and buy em now, while you can afford em...

Strengths:
Flawless, seamless, open, detailed, I think I have about covered it all

Weaknesses:
ABSOLUTELY NONE!

Similar Products Used:
MIT,Audioquest,Tara. Kimber, et all...
 

Overall Rating
 5 of 5
 

Value Rating
 5 of 5
 

Used product for
3 months to 1 year
 

Price Paid: $60

Product Model Year:
2000

Summary:
After hearing a pair of yellow labels in my friends system, I was conviced that TMC's were the way to go. After a few days of searching and bidding, I won a pair of white labels for $60.
With the white labels hooked up, everything opened up and got much cleaner. Bass, mids, highs, imaging, soundstage...everything!! I still can't believe that I got these cables for $60 considering that they retail for something like $220 on the TMC website. If another company made these, they would easily sell for atleast $400.
The construction and quality of the components used is unmatched by any other cable i've seen for anywhere near the price. The locking RCA's are also a huge bonus! Although you can't audition these great cables in a nearby audio store, trust all of the rave reviews: You will surely be impressed to say the least. You can return them anyway if for some reason you don't like them.
Check out the TMC website(www.the-music-cable.com) for much more info about their interconnects and speaker wire. I really can't say enough about these cables. Just get them! I am planning on keeping these cables for a long, long time.

Strengths:
Everything

Weaknesses:
I feel bad for the people who don't know about TMC

Similar Products Used:
Monster(terrible), Kimber(not worth it), Audioquest
 

Overall Rating
 5 of 5
 

Value Rating
 5 of 5
 

Used product for
Less than 1 month
 

Price Paid: $65 at Audiogon Auction Site

Product Model Year:
2000

Summary:
I also posted this review for TMC's Yellow cable. As others have mentioned the Yellow is a bit warmer sounding. Not slower or bloated, just warmer. TMC recommends using their White Label for connecting source components to the pre-amplifier and Yellow Label for the connection from the pre-amplifier to the amplifier. Don't take this advice as set in concrete though, I tried both White and Yellow in my system and preferred the sound with Yellow connected throughout. This is not to say that White isn't as good a cable as the Yellow, it is, it just means that you get your choice of flavors...yum!

WOW.

I thought about making that single word my review. It does sum-up this cable perfectly. I can honestly say that I've never been blown-away by a cable before, and I've tried a bunch, but that is exactly what this cable did to me. From the minute I installed these quite attractive looking interconnects in place of my long-time favorites, AudioQuest Diamond, and sat back to give a listen I couldn't wipe the smile off of my face. Unbelievable. I had just replaced $3,000 (when I bought them new) worth of cable with approximately $250 (including shipping) worth of cable and I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Now I don't want this review to turn into a diatribe about how these cables are such a bargain for the price, because they are so much more than that.

If you go to TMC's web site (WWW.The-Music-Cable.com) you will see that the construction of this cable is a little different than any other...at least that I know of. Like many other cables the main signal conductor is copper (no, NOT silver), but that is where the similarity to other cables out there ends. Instead of trying to reduce skin effect (the most obviously audible result of bad - and some good and very expensive - cable designs) by using multiple gauges of wire and/or various weaving techniques, TMC has taken a more simple, and, I think, more ingenious approach. In the core of this very well insulated cable runs a single solid strand of aluminum wire. Now anyone with even a basic knowledge of electricity knows that aluminum is a very poor electrical conductor, so why use it in an audio cable if passing an electrical signal is its raison d'etre? Because this aluminum has been coated with a very thin layer of copper, and it is the copper that acts as the conductor. This arrangement has the advantage of virtually eliminating skin effect, and that is quite evident once you start listening.

And listen I have. Huge, open, deep, and transparent soundstage, very clean midrange and highs, extended and controlled low-end, and great separation between instruments (this cable is a jazz-lovers dream). Of course there are other cables out there that can provide you with these attributes, but not with the degree of musicality that the TMC's deliver. I've heard cables that make me feel like I'm part of the recording, but I've always felt as though the instruments didn't sound quite real. As though Miles was playing through an amplifier in the studio…live, but still artificial. With the TMC cables all of that changed. Listening to Relaxin' I closed my eyes and could almost smell the brass and feel the spit. Now that's music! I think I've finally found the "plus sign" to make my audio system greater than the sum of its components. Like I said before, WOW!

Associated Components:
Sony SACD-1 SACD/CD Player
Krell KRC-HR Preamplifier
Bryston 10B Crossover
Bryston 7B ST Amplifiers
AudioQuest Dragon Loudspeaker Cables (2 pairs for true bi-wire)
Magnepan 3.6R Loudspeakers
Sunfire Signature Subwoofers (4)

Strengths:
The sound...all of it!!!

Weaknesses:
It is a bit stiff, which makes it a little difficult to work with. But, believe me, your trouble will be rewarded!

Similar Products Used:
AudioQuest, Synergistic Research, Kimber, Straight Wire, and a few others.
 

Overall Rating
 5 of 5
 

Value Rating
 5 of 5
 

Used product for
1 to 3 months
 

Product Model Year:
2000

Summary:
I am submitting simultaneously the same review on the Yellow Label Cables, which are very similar, maybe, just a touch warmer. I agree with other reviewers that these are most remarkable in all respects (including unbelivable price at this point). I just wish to add here that I was simply struck by how the soundstage (and focus) improved in my system. It not only made (all) the walls disappear, but somehow it extended towards the listening position, adding this wonderful feeling of involvement.

Strengths:
Everything

Similar Products Used:
Synergistic, AQ, qed
 

Overall Rating
 5 of 5
 

Value Rating
 5 of 5
 

Used product for
Less than 1 month
 

Price Paid: $62 at ebay

Product Model Year:
2000

Summary:
Ok, here it goes- I'm in love with this cable. In fact I'm giddy about it. I can't say how surprised I was in the difference in sound I got from this cable- immediately. The Hyacinth is a terrific cable but there is one big differnce between the Hyacinth and the TMC and that is the TMC is just down-right musical- it's true to it's name. This cable just knows how to deliver the music, it's that simple, somehow it knows what to give the listener and the end result has you listening to your CD's like you never have before.

With the Hyacinth you can sit there and say yes the bass is tight, the mids are smooth and the highs are focused, there is detail there is transparency, so on and so on, and for some people that may be enough. The TMC takes all the important elements of sound reproduced and just takes it to another level, the one that gets your foot tapping, that is the difference.

Their web site gives a warning: listening to music with our cables can be addictive. The first time a read it I thought to myself very clever, after experiencing their product I realize these good people are simply letting us know- believe it! What has a lot to do with this is that all music(jazz, rock, classical.. etc) is non-fatiguing over brisk or long periods of time with these cables, and playing at higher volumes is actually beckoned upon the listener, it's amazing and refreshing!

Bottom line- this cable makes me proud of my modest system! I recommend this cable to all who love music!

Strengths:
Musical, build/appearance, musical, price, musical..

Weaknesses:
You forget you have a TV, tendancy to skip dinner and just listen to the music

Similar Products Used:
Monster M1000i, Silver Audio Hyacinth
 

Overall Rating
 5 of 5
 

Value Rating
 5 of 5
 

Used product for
1 to 3 months
 

Price Paid: $75 at audion auction

Product Model Year:
2000

Summary:
I was ready to purchase the Harmonic Technology Pro Silway II until I heard the Music Cable. This has clarity, detailing, dynamics, soundstaging and accurate, fast bass. It is tonally accurate and has a listen through quality that I was not getiing with anything else I had auditioned. The Music Cable makes the Harmonic Technology sound constricted, like a filter.

The intrinsic difficulty in reviewing interconnects is the fact that not all systems react the same and that no one has time to listen to them all. After all, some need in excess of a hundred hours to burn in. I tend to believe that the neutrality of the Music Cable would work well with any system not in need of a particular coloration to offset a problem elsewhere in the system. Of course, anything that sounds this good in my system I want to believe will work anywhere.

There are two Music Cables, the White Label and the Yellow Lable. The sound is similar. Interestingly, the less expensive White Label is suggested for connecting input devices (such as CD players)to the preamp while the more expensive Yellow Lable is reccomended for longer runs to ampilifiers. The differance between the two is that the Yellow is a touch warmer sounding and seems not to be as detailed or image quite as precisely as the White Label. My suggestion would be to use the White Label unless you need a longer run to an amplifier or unless your system tends to the bright side of neutral. The White Label is very revealing.

I have not listened to the more expensive offerings out there. I can only report from my sampling that the Music Cable is much, much better in every regard than anything else that I have auditioned. Some of the others did some things well, but other things not so well. I cannot fault the Music Cable sonically at all. It improved my system greatly.

The Music Cable is stiff and will, therefore, not be a delight to work with in confined spaces. The good news is that it comes with very good locking RCA's so that once in place it ought to stay there. In my experience it takes about 50 hours of burn-in before it becomes addictive. Of course, a large part of the burnin process may be psychoacoustic as your brain trains your ears to hear a differant presentation and tonal balance. However, in my experience, adapting to new equipment usually means that after the initial honeymoon, the shortcomings of the product become appearant. My experience with the Music Cable has been that the longer I listen, the more I am rewarded.

The Music Cable does not have a high powered advertising staff generating technobabble copy to explain why this cable is the only one in the universe to buy. Right now they are promoting it through auctions. The price of the winning bids keeps going up. They also run specials and welcome auditions. The only reason not to be the first on your block to try the Music Cable from Australia is because it is so inexpensive that you cannot believe that it can be as great as it is. These cables are a joy.

My System:

Meyers HD-1 active loudspeakers
Musical Fidelity P-100 preamp
Musical Fidelity X-RAY CD Player
Hsu Research 1220HO subwoofers (pair)
P.S. Audio Power Plants and Lab Cables

Strengths:
Sound, build quality, price.

Weaknesses:
Stiff and balky to work with.

Similar Products Used:
D.H. Labs Siver Sonic, D.H. Labs Silver Pulse, Goertz Alpha Core Saphire and Micro Purl, Harmonic Technology Pro Silway II
 

Overall Rating
 5 of 5
 

Value Rating
 5 of 5
 

Used product for
1 to 3 months
 

Product Model Year:
2000

Summary:
A fantastic product that comes with great service. These people have a cut through the crap product and service that goes beyound expectations.

The white label interconnects are much more flexible that the yellow cables. The added flexiblity is quite nice.

Not a cheap mass market product but something made to last. Very high quality locking rca's, and a beautiful yellow and black sleave.

The sound is very musical, with nice depth. These cables brought with them a much more musical, realistic sound to my stereo and what more could I ask for. Great work on a great cable.
 

Overall Rating
 5 of 5
 

Value Rating
 5 of 5
 

Used product for
3 months to 1 year
 

Price Paid: $45 at Ebay

Product Model Year:
2000

Summary:
The moment I replaced the Kimber PBJ cables between my Theta Chroma DAC and the NAD CD player I noticed a completely different sound coming from my B&W speakers. The soundstage seems wider and clearer, the music more natural sounding. Overall I'm very happy. I'll write more once I install the TMC yellows that I just bought at Audiogon.

My humble system:
Rotel RC972 preamp
Theta Chroma DAC
NAD 520 CD (used as CD transport)
NAD 2700THX power amp
B&W DM3000 speakers
IXOS 6003 speaker wire
Kimber PBJ and TMC White interconnects
 

Strengths:
Value, sound quality

Weaknesses:
none so far

Similar Products Used:
Kimber, Monster
 

Overall Rating
 4 of 5
 

Value Rating
 4 of 5
 

Used product for
1 to 3 months
 

Price Paid: $40 at audiogon

Product Model Year:
2000

Summary:
Got these cables at a audiogon auction. The cables arrived very well packaged and sealed in plastic. The locking rca's are well made and once connected it did not not take long to tell that this new company is on to something good. While almost everyone else is using silver TMC has stayed with copper and they did there homework. These cables have depth,stay neutral,and provide good soundstaging. With all that I mentioned my cables are still burning in! Great value.

Strengths:
Good soundstaging,well built,musical,neutral sound

Weaknesses:
A little stiff but manageable

Similar Products Used:
Kimber kcag
 

Overall Rating
 5 of 5
 

Value Rating
 5 of 5
 

Used product for
1 to 3 months
 

Price Paid: $90 at e-bay

Product Model Year:
2000

Summary:
I picked up a couple of pairs of these off of e-bay. This is a small, botique manufacturer from Austrailia. These cables are built to last a lifetime. A nylon netting is used as an outer jacket, and they come with first class locking RCA's. I opened them up and the soldering is excellent, along with the insulators from what I could view of the cable construction. Hooked them up, and straight out of the pack (a vacuum sealed bag with protectors over the RCA's) they sounded GREAT! I got a reduced noise floor and very tight performance before they were even broken in. After four weeks of burn-in they have continued to improve. I've noticed even tighter mid-bass and mid-range performance, along with stereo imaging to die for. These are an excellent product. This is a cut through the hype product, and plain and simple, they perform. Neutral and musical.

Aside from buying these on e-bay, I've noticed them on Audiogon.com. They also have sales (specials) on the company website. You can get these for a reasonable price if you shop, and they are worth every penny. Very happy with the performance and highly recommended. These easily rival or exceed the performance of cables that I have paid hundreds more for.

As the Aussies said with my order confirmation . . . "enjoy the music with our cables!" Believe it . . . I won't be upgrading my cables again soon, as these are a wonderful compliment to my system.

Components Used:
Denon AVR-5700
NAD 2600a Amplifier
Rega Planet CD
Panasonic A120U DVD
API Power
Energy C-6 Conossieur Towers
Energy AC300 & RVSS Surrounds

Strengths:
Construction and materials are A-1+ - audiophile grade. Good looks and great performance.

Weaknesses:
Fairly stiff cable, however it retains the shape or routing once you have positioned it

Similar Products Used:
Transparent Labs, Kimber, Audioquest, Monster Sigma2