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ISSUE
24
xindak
Gold cables
as reviewed by Robert H. Levi
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You are reading the older HTML site
Positive Feedback
ISSUE
24
xindak Gold cables as reviewed by Robert H. Levi
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Gold is the latest precious element to find its way into audiophile cables. Xindak Electronics Company of China now joins Dual Connect of Denmark in marketing cables that employ gold. The surprisingly affordable Xindaks are part of a much more extensive cable line, 21 models in all, with the Gold series containing various amounts of gold. The FA-Gold Signal Cable interconnects ($698 for a one-meter pair) are 50 percent gold foil molded with 50 percent copper foil. The FS-Gold loudspeaker cables ($1998 for an 8-foot pair) also blend copper and gold foil, while the FP-Gold power cord ($348 for 1.5 meters) is mostly copper, with some gold. Pricing is very competitive for their level of performance and finish, not to mention the amount of gold used.
Let’s start with my favorites, the FS-Gold speaker cables. This ribbon design is gorgeous to behold, and beautifully flexible. The first-rate locking bananas and silver spades reminded me of the terminations on my silver Kimber 3038 speaker cables, which retail for $4000. The Xindaks also sounded similar, offering perhaps 85 to 90 percent of the definition and texture of the Kimber 3038s for half the price. The high end of the FS-Golds is open, very detailed, and brightly lit, with lots of definition and air. The midband is also very open and bold, with mucho definition. The FS-Golds are a bit shy on textural cues by comparison, but they come surprisingly close. There is a small hump in the midband that emphasizes presence, so they aren’t entirely neutral, but they don’t get hard or edgy. The bass was very good, and very detailed, but a bit polite. I would have liked more slam, but that was not to be. Although the bass was the weakest aspect of the performance, it was still exciting. If you have speakers that will benefit from lively-sounding speaker cables, the Xindaks are the ticket. You’ll bathe in their definition, and get more than a glimpse of the performance of the super-high-priced brands. These are killer speaker cables at a competitive price, and they also look like $2000 cables.
The FP-Gold power cord is also terrific—clean, open, fast, and dynamic. It is super with tube amplifiers and preamps, but may be a tad vivid for some solid state gear. The FS-Gold is quite a system driver, and at the price, it’s a cool bargain. It does not have the laid-back sound of Kimber Gold or Palladium. It also has a bit less textural definition in the midband than the Kimber, but oh, is it exciting. If you experiment with it, you will find just the right component or components that will benefit from a shot of gold. Though the bass is clean, it is again less excellent than the mids and highs. I’d recommend this cord for all but the brightest sounding systems. It is worth every penny of the $348 asking price, and it may be one of the best power cords I’ve heard with my 300B SET amp. Quibbles? The cord was a loose fit in every IEC connector I tried. None of the connectors on the other Xindak cables were anything but superb. Buy from a dealer who takes returns. The FA-Gold interconnects are beautifully crafted, with a wood damper in the middle of each leg and WBT terminations. The FA-Golds are sonic clones of the other cables—bold and beautiful in the mids and stunningly lit up in the highs, but a bit shy on the bottom. Their textural cues are very good, and the equal of other cables in its price range. They are quite likeable and a moderately good value. These are not the best of the Xindak line. At the price, there are more linear and neutral alternatives. Their lit-up mids are entirely delightful, but while the FA-Golds are a blast with jazz and rock music, they are probably not the best choice for classical music. Still, they are worth a try, especially if you use tube electronics. In conclusion, Chengdu Xindak Electronic Co. Ltd. of China is now exporting gold metal interconnects, speaker cables and power cords to the U.S.. Moderately priced for cables containing precious metals, the Xindak have an exciting sound. All are a bit bass shy, with extra midband and high-end energy, and will require experimentation to achieve proper system matching. The speaker cables are the most musically outstanding of the group, and offer superb construction. All offer a healthy dose of goosebump factor. Welcome to America, Xindak! Robert H. Levi
AAA-Audio
Xindak
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