Few manufacturers demonstrate this level of sophistication in design and adept implementation using quality materials.
These cables are also beautiful, in my view, from a purely aesthetic perspective and are clearly robust and solid in construction. My listening impressions of the
ZL-8000S speaker cables relative to the ZL-5000 all-copper version can be applied equally to the MU-8RS interconnects. About the silver speaker cables, I said:
My immediate impression of the ZL-8000s is
clarity. As with a newly prescribed pair of glasses, I notice detail that has not been previously realized. There exists a prominent high-frequency airy extension and, over time, an improved inner layering, overall depth, and separation in the soundstage giving a more distinct positioning of musical instruments--the sum of which is improved overall holography. Initially, strengths of the ZL-5000 were noted and missed; however, during this extensive breaking in process, these differences became muted, and the ZL-8000s excelled, particularly in dynamics across the frequency spectrum regardless of volume. This is a noted distinction. The dynamics of the ZL-5000 soften at low volume. But so did any cable I auditioned or owned before today. The quality of expansive richness and warmth, or bloom, is where the ZL-5000 shines, and for me historically never existed in any silver cable. This, among a few other reasons, is why I favored copper cables throughout my system. Such bloom, to me, evokes emotion. The ZL-8000s present a better overall focus, and realism while maintaining an emotional connection with the music. Again, it circles back to
clarity.
It can be stated numerous ways... Two other customers, both with Allnic electronics but quite different speakers and who now have both the ZL-8000S speaker cables and MU-8RS interconnects (changing from the MU-7R) report that, in general, the silver interconnects expanded the layering, depth and width of the soundstage, revealed more inner detail, and increased the sense of realism especially through the improvement of the accuracy of instrumental and vocal timbres.
As noted, these impressions are all with the MU-8RS interconnects used with the ZL-8000S speaker cables – “doubling up” absolutely provides just MORE! I expect that if you are using ZL-5000 speaker cables, the MU-8RS interconnects will bring the same kinds of changes and clarity differing in degree - and those changes will be enhanced as one adds more of the silver into the cable loom. Of course, system synergy will always be a consideration, particularly the potential differences between using the silver cables with solid state and tube electronics.
The entire matter also goes to choice, what one is looking for – some may perceive the all-copper MU-7R cables being a great option for systems wanting more body and weight, with the silvers optimizing systems where more “air” and fine detail are desirable. This was the verdict of
Srajan Ebaen at 6moons with the
ZL-8000S speaker cables. He runs a basically complete Allnic cable loom:
As such, the 8000S's low end really was no lighter nor its treble any brighter. If Kang-Su's design brief had been to train silver to behave like copper for bandwidth and tonal balance, he clearly succeeded. He comes from classic valve gear, specifically multi-stage direct-heated triodes. Those tend to work with slightly softer transients and bloomier decays. I instantly saw why he might want this slightly cooler crisper drier sonic profile in a counter-steering cable. In our home, 1MHz direct-coupled class AB transistors show exceptional speed, clarity and no shift. Here Kang-Su's lesser red leashes with pure copper conductors [the ZL-5000 speaker cables] retained my vote. The reason was identical to the earlier referenced Grimm Audio cable review where I'd slightly favored their copper wires to our far pricier silver/gold Crystal Cable equivalents. So forget about the artificial bass/mid/treble trilogy. It's really one unity and certainly was so here.
6moons ZL-8000S review:
https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/allnic6/
Every system is unique...
Here’s a note on the new MU-8RS ICs to Allnic from a Korean reviewer, with solid state gear (translated):
I put it between Mytech's Manhattan ? DAC and the Sim audio Moon 340i X integrated amplifier and compared it with the XLR cable I used before. Speakers are DeVore Fidelity Orangutan O/96...
As soon as the first movement of the Brahms Piano Trio, played by Maria Joan Pires, Augustin Dumay, and Gian Wang, played, 'Wow!' was exclaimed automatically. The notes are much softer, the overtones have exploded, and the stage scale itself has grown. Even considering the price difference between the two cables, the softer sound, richer number of notes, and wider stage were incomparable.
In Patricia Barber's 'A Taste of Honey' (Cafe Blue), the first guitar sound is “moister”, and the vocals are noticeably warmer. The friction between the guitar strings and the player's fingers was also more audible.
In 'Dies Irae' of the Verdi Requiem conducted by Claudio Abbado with the Berlin Philharmonic, the gap between soft and strong notes is denser and smoother. Power, detail, transparency, S/N ratio, and almost everything I can think of, the level skyrocketed...
After hearing this explanation from CEO Park, I changed the system and listened again (Pass XP-12, Electrocompaniet AW250R, Magico A1). The taste of the 4th movement of Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5, conducted by Andris Nelsons with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, is different from usual. As each note escapes from the speaker, soft notes sound clearer and strong notes more dynamic. You feel this pleasant sound pressure with your whole body! I have my eyes on the MU-8Rs as the ‘Cable of the Year’ in advance.
So... KS Park again offers us more choice, more opportunity to get our systems so, mandating the way we want them--maximum musical satisfaction at the true high-end of audio. I think the MU-8RS interconnects are absolutely world-class, competitive with anything out there, and an unbelievable value by comparison.
Kevalin Audio's recommendations,
albeit entirely subjective, consider the 'custom' construction at no additional cost for phono and unbalanced cables of 2M or less. ZL-8000s Power Cords. ZL-5000 speaker cables paired with solid state amplifiers and ZL-8000s speaker cables paired with tube amplifiers.
Contact your regional representative for more information:
Allnic Distribution
