Frank Cheng's Acoustic System International now produces LiveLine cabling. Combining acoustic resonator technology with super thin, solid-core wire, the cabling is composed of different segments that contain wires made from different metals that are ultimately soldered together at 850 degrees. The RCA interconnect costs $995 (length not stipulated in the press materials), XLR interconnect $1450, 1.8m power cable $995, and 2.4m speaker cable $1750. One online publication gave each of these cables a product of the year award.
These cables were displayed in the Avatar Acoustics room, the final room I visited at CES, save for a listen to a post-show, heavenly cello treat on the wonderful VTL S-400/Avalon Indra system. They helped make lovely music in a system that also included Acoustic System International's Tango Platinum loudspeakers ($27,000/pr), 4-shelf equipment rack ($5500), Top Line feet ($750), and a host of acoustic resonators placed all over the room ($250 to $2800). The sound was the best I've heard from the ASI speakers, which have impressed me as too bright on other occasions. Why the system was pulling way to the right no one was able to ascertain—a cable connection issue, perhaps, or something amiss in the electronics from Abbingdon Music Research or Karan Acoustics?—but the beauty of female voices came through loud and clear.
For readers unfamiliar with the Acoustic System International Resonators, they are little four-pronged bowls tuned with silver, gold, platinum, and other metals. Strategically positioned around the listening room on little wooden holders, with the choice of resonator metals dependent upon the desired effect, they can literally fine-tune the sound of both room and components. Darren Censulo, who distributes these babies through Avatar Acoustics of Fayetteville, GA, once convinced a host of Bay Area Audiophile Society skeptics when he performed a demo in my room.
The acoustic resonators share some principles with Ted Denney's Synergistic Acoustics ART tuning system, with which I began my contributions to this blog four days ago. Though I didn't intentionally plan to begin and end my blogging with mentions of resonator technology, that seems to be what's happening.
After five nights of partial sleep, four days of intense listening and writing, and reading some lovely and much appreciated notes of thanks interspersed with more misinformed critical comments than I care to countenance, I think it best to offer a visual that's positive and uplifting. I can think of nothing better than a treasured photo of the lovely Bonnie Censulo. For some (myself included), Bonnie is a perpetually delightful presence. Thanks to her lovely resonance, she has proven an indispensable part of any show that features Avatar Acoustics. I cannot imagine a show without her.
Hats off to you, Bonnie, Darren, Frank, and Ted. Three cheers to every person involved in the high-end industry who is willing to step out on a limb and display products that are decidedly outside the box. The world is certainly a better and more colorful place thanks to you. May the diversity that makes life in the high-end so juicy thrive and prosper.
