Introducing VolkSilver Cables by ZenWave Audio

DaveC

Industry Expert
Nov 16, 2014
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Introducing VolkSilver, a new line of affordable, high-performing cables by ZenWave Audio!


Fully Realize the Potential of 2-Channel Stereo.
Quality Silver Cables at Reasonable Prices.

Based on over a decade of top-end silver cable design under the ZenWave Audio brand, VolkSilver leverages ZenWave’s knowledge, experience and materials in order to offer reasonably priced, extremely high-value cables. VolkSilver’s primary goal is to help you achieve an immersive, 3-D soundstage, precise imaging, and convincing timbre. The result is a spatial presentation where the speakers completely disappear and you are transported to the recording venue, a “you are there” audio experience.

Achieving the full potential of 2-channel stereo reproduction requires your system to reproduce fine spatial details. Silver is ideal for this, but it’s not easy to design a silver cable that isn’t fatiguing in some way. Volksilver offers highly resolving silver cables with an emphasis on low listening fatigue and a neutral tonal balance for reasonable cost.

VolkSilver currently offers an interconnect cable, a speaker cable, a power cable, as well as Furutech power distribution and wall receptacles.



The VSI Interconnect Cable is made with UPOCC silver ribbon wire with teflon insulation. At a generous 20g, you’ll get realistic body and tone along with the best possible resolution. UPOCC silver is the best silver in the world hands down, usually reserved for very expensive cables many times the price of the VSI. The VSI’s low price is made possible by taking advantage of economies of scale, it uses the same ribbon wire ZenWave Audio uses to make it’s top-end silver ribbon cables, which are among the world’s best at any price. The VSI also uses reasonably priced, but still excellent, connectors. This adds up to a cable that is comparable to cost-no-object cables, with prices starting under $1k/pair.

Interconnects are the most important cable in your system in terms of retaining resolution, an IC cable that can resolve on the level of the VSI is a requirement for the best spatial presentation and convincing timbre. This is where it’s worth spending big money on UPOCC silver! Fortunately, interconnects use a lot less silver vs speaker and power cables, so they are much more affordable and well worth the cost, even for a modestly priced system because of the huge impact interconnect cables have on system performance.

I am very happy to be able to leverage the knowledge and materials of ZenWave Audio in order to bring you these new VolkSilver cables. The price vs performance and overall value is unheard of and unmatched in high end audio.


The VolkSilver VSS Speaker Cable is the result of decades of building cables, including all the knowledge and experience gained from operating ZenWave Audio. From this experience, I am able to offer cable made using silver plated copper in teflon insulation that rivals or exceeds the performance of many pure silver cables. Silver plated copper can often sound quite bad: bright, harsh and fatiguing are often used to describe such cables. However, it can also sound great and avoid these issues. Through dozens of prototype cables built over decades, I understand why silver plated copper can have this Jekyll and Hyde personality.

With VolkSilver, I am offering a super heavy 9-gauge silver plated copper in teflon cable that sounds like a really good pure silver cable. Not only that, but the wire I use is military surplus, which means it’s built to incredibly high standards at a cost that is a fraction of the cost of comparable brand new wire.

The connectors offered are Viborg rhodium plated spades and bananas, which are great connectors for a very reasonable price. Finally, the cable is jacketed in a layer of pure unbleached organic cotton protected by Techflex brand braided PET protective sleeve. The result is a cable that rivals high end silver cables for a small fraction of the price.


The VolkSilver VSP Power Cable is similar to the VSS speaker cable, a super heavy 9-gauge silver plated copper in teflon cable that sounds like a really good pure silver cable.

The connectors offered are genuine Furutech rhodium plated AC power plugs, which are great connectors for a very reasonable price. I can also use Shuko, AU/NZ, 20A IECs, or any other plugs you might need. Please inquire on price and availability. Finally, the cable is jacketed in a layer of pure unbleached organic cotton protected by Techflex brand braided PET protective sleeve. The result is a cable that rivals high end silver cables for a small fraction of the price.



Furutech Power Distribution is recommended and sold by VolkSilver. The VolkSilver VSP power cable uses Furutech rhodium plated copper electrical contacts, as does the e-tp609 NCF distributor and the GTX NCF receptacles. Using matching materials throughout the AC power distribution system avoids fatiguing effects such as hard, glassy, bright or splashy sounds. The NCF materials in the GTX receptacles (also used in the distributor) reduce noise and improve AC power quality. The result is a very clear, yet relaxed and non-fatiguing sound. VolkSilver offers the best prices possible on Furutech products, and believes they are the best choice possible for AC power distribution parts and connectors.


Thanks for checking out my new cables. They are on a new website: volksilver.com

Let me know if you have any questions or would like to demo them. Demos are free of charge, you just pay shipping.
 
Dave do you have any info you could share on your Kumihimo cables? What makes them different from other upocc silver cables? Any technical info? Any listening thoughts? Thanks
 
Dave do you have any info you could share on your Kumihimo cables? What makes them different from other upocc silver cables? Any technical info? Any listening thoughts? Thanks

I'm not quite ready to release the Kumihimo, but hopefully soon. I also have a new D4.2 interconnect cable that will replace the current D4 and DSR, that's going to be next and will be announced very soon, and is being sold now.

The Kumihimo cable is named for the Japanese craft of braiding silk cord, I have silk insulation custom made for the cable in Japan using a traditional Kumihimo braid. The goal is to improve on teflon, and this cable has lower dielectric absorption and lower triboelectric noise, which results in a very relaxed and non-fatiguing sound, while at the same time having superior clarity and resolution. It's very hard to find this combination in cables. Kumihimo is likely the most objectively advanced interconnect cable on the market, and I think this results in the best sounding interconnect cable as well. Kumihimo adds the least to the sound of any cable I've tested. People who have tested the cable for me have been unable to discern if the cable is silver or copper, which to me is an indication that it is indeed a neutral sounding cable.

VolkSilver's VSI ic cable is about 25% the cost of the Kumihimo and half the price of the current top-end ZenWave ic cables, yet it offers 90% of the clarity and resolution. These are absolutely the best value on the market, a pure UPOCC silver/teflon IC cable for <$1k is impossible to find, and the VolkSilver VSI starts at $799 for a 1m RCA cable! The VSI will compete with or exceed the best cables offered by companies like Shunyata, Audience, and Cardas for a fraction of the cost. The D4.2 will easily beat them and the Kumihimo isn't even in the same league. Over the time ZenWave has been in business I've steadily improved the cables and the new lineup... VolkSilver VSI, the new ZenWave D4.2 and Kumihimo... offer a range of ic cables that are once again a big step ahead of my competition, just like the original D4 was when it came out about a decade ago. My competition has made massive improvements and their newest cables are now approaching the old ZenWave D4, albeit for a lot more money, but with the new VolkSilver and ZenWave ic cable lineup they are once again left far behind.
 
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The Kumihimo cable is named for the Japanese craft of braiding silk cord, I have silk insulation custom made for the cable in Japan using a traditional Kumihimo braid. The goal is to improve on teflon, and this cable has lower dielectric absorption and lower triboelectric noise, which results in a very relaxed and non-fatiguing sound, while at the same time having superior clarity and resolution. It's very hard to find this combination in cables. Kumihimo is likely the most objectively advanced interconnect cable on the market, and I think this results in the best sounding interconnect cable as well. Kumihimo adds the least to the sound of any cable I've tested. People who have tested the cable for me have been unable to discern if the cable is silver or copper, which to me is an indication that it is indeed a neutral sounding cable.

Kumihimo is amazing. My D4s are already fantastic, but this takes it yet to another level.

Regardless, I am very happy with my ZenWave cables: D4 interconnects, SSR-11 speaker cables, PL-11 and Clear Bass power cables.

Congratulations, Dave, on your VolkSilver line of products!
 

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