[Jon Lane]

UPDATE 25-June-07

6Moons has just reviewed Slinkylinks.

Thanks to Frederic for a solid, perceptive, and engrossing analysis of this purist cable technology!

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The Audio Insider is proud to introduce New Zealand's Slinkylinks silver & air cables to North America. 

See also www.slinkylinks.net

Thanks for your interest and we look forward to your impressions and feedback.

[Jay S]

These are great sounding cables!  I've had mine for over 6 months now.  I have an interconnect (used from my source to my pre) and the speaker cables.

[Jon Lane]

We're having a bit more fun with the minimalist, "what-the-heck-are-these?" Slinkylinks silver-and-air cables from New Zealand.  These cables are turning out to be remarkably neutral and seem to lend extreme resolution to the smaller, tube-based purist systems while taming the zing of the larger solid state rigs.  Quite interesting to hear this much authentic information without the smear, sheen and glitter of so many competing wires.

Here's a little from a NZ writer.  From The great Kiwi hi-fi system by Martin Bell writing for UnlimitedNet.

"SlinkyLinks are the new kids on the New Zealand hi-fi block. Interconnects and speaker cables may not be as glamorous as CD players, amps and speakers, but they elicit as much debate (if not more) than any other component in the audio chain..."

There's more at the link...

[Jon Lane]

Some more interesting comments on these remarkable cables:

"Slinky by name...and silver by nature", By Greg Fleming in AudioEnz

[Jon Lane]

First off, an alternate Slinkylinks page with a well-written overview of the technology,

Next, an Audiogon writer posts an interesting Slinkylinks review,

Perreaux endorses Slinkylinks...

And Whats-New-at-Totally-Wired writes about Slinkylink's superior Bayonet Plug® terminations.

[Jon Lane]

Another review we thought you'd like to read.  Please note that prices at The Audio Insider begin at $255, not $360 as mentioned. -Jon Lane

"First impressions
SLINKYLINKS INTERCONNECTS TAKES ON THE WORLD

Slinkylinks is a New Zealand designed and handcrafted silver cable using ‘air cable technology”. Slinkylinks interconnects uses a .25mm thick pure silver conductor housed in a hollow tube to reduce signal loss and distortion.

There has always been controversy about the advantages of silver over the traditional Oxygen Free copper (OFC). The use of silver in audio wiring enhances clarity of the treble and upper mid range. Some audiophiles would say that silver improves the sound from the low to high. Others maintain that silver wiring can be excessively bright sounding and unforgiving. It is a matter of taste and personal choice as to which sounds better in any particular system. It is not fully understood why sonic differences exist. Silver conducts electricity 6 % better than copper but this is probably not the explanation. One theory is that the unavoidable trace impurities in the highly refined OFC are copper oxide, which is a semi conductor. The trace elements in silver are oxides and sulfides, which are both conductors.

Silver interconnects are usually more expensive than the copper equivalent. Simon Holbrook, the sales director for Slinkylinks is passionate about “producing the best quality sound equipment at realistic prices. I was a little sceptical about this claim, as I had previously purchased some NZ assembled silver interconnects at $400 and I was totally unimpressed.

I initially compared the Slinkylinks in 4 systems ranging from $3000 to $10,000 with cables costing up to $400 (Monster M1000i, Monster Reference 2, Alpha-Core Goertz micro-purl silver (my reference interconnect at this price range) and Straight Wire Encore 2. The Slinkylinks had better detail, imaging, timing, dynamics and soundstaging by a wide margin. The Monster M1000 had a slightly more extended bass response otherwise it was a no-brainer – the Slinkylinks were being compared with interconnects in the wrong price range.

I decided to compare the Slinkylinks with 2 copper interconnects; Straight Wire Maestro2 ($799) and Transparent Super Musiclink ($US495) and another silver interconnect, Alpha Core Goertz Sapphire ($US340).
The system comprised a Sony 777ES SACD player, Sonic Frontiers Preamp 2, Sonic Frontiers SDF-1 Mk2 HDCD D/A converter, Plinius SA100Mk3 amp, Magneplanar 2.6R panel speakers connected with Straight Wire Maestro cables.  A Tice Elite power conditioner, AFA power cords and Black Diamond Racing Pyramid cones (isolating feet) completed the system.

These 4 cables are in a different league and offer greater refinement and insight into the music compared with interconnects costing up to $400.  The 2 copper cables had marginally better low frequency extension and a warmer tone overall. The Transparent was the better of the two and complemented the bass-shy Magneplanar speakers. At loud listening levels the extended bass occasionally swamped finer details when playing heavy orchestral or rock music. The 2 silver interconnects offered slightly more detail, better imaging and a more extended high frequency response. The Goertz had a more extended bass compared with the Slinkylinks but otherwise any differences would be splitting hairs and would not be discernable unless a power conditioner was used. The silver cables were more revealing of poor quality recordings and were more unforgiving. Both silver cables required a warm-up period of 2 to 3 hours before they performed their best. If you like your ‘music in a hurry’ with lots of bass, then the 2 copper cables may be your preference.

The Goertz sapphire, Straight Wire Maestro and Transparent Super Musiclink are representative of the entry-level audiophile $800 plus interconnects. The Slinkylinks more than holds it own in this company. It trounces all the $400 interconnects that I have evaluated and it redefines the cost of the entry-level audiophile interconnect. At $360 retail for a 60cm pair it has got to be the hi-fi’s best-kept secret. I have ordered 10 pairs and eagerly await their arrival from Wellington where they are manufactured.

DAVID CHAN
22/12/01

[Jon Lane]

Tone Magazine's capsule review of the new Slinkylinks silver-and-air speaker cables.  Again, The Audio Insider's prices are Internet-direct and not indicated below. -Jon Lane


"SLINKLYLINKS SPEAKER CABLES

Slinkylinks have released a speaker cable following the success of their interconnect. This silver speaker cable is priced at $70/m plus terminations. This is very cheap compared with other silver speaker cables on the market such as the Kimber AG, which sells for $350/m plus terminations.

After comparing the Slinkylinks with other similarly priced cables (Audioquest Crystal ($50/m), Kimber Kable 4TC($67/m), Alpha-core Goertz M12 ($105/m), Straight Wire Octave ($120/m) in several 2 channel systems and 4 home theatre systems (in 2 channel mode) ranging from $3000 to $45,000, the Slinkylinks was clearly in another league. When compared with other more expensive copper cables, the Slinkylinks continued to amaze. Whether it was the silver cable or the unique design of surrounding the cables in air, there was a consistent leap in performance that any differences between the copper cables became trivial by comparison. It had all the dynamics and clarity of the Straight Wire Maestro ($400/m), the smoothness of the Goertz M12; the bass of the Monster M1.5 (discontinued) and the huge soundstage of the Audiophile for Audiophiles Poseidon ($200/m).    

The Slinkylinks had superb imaging, detail, smoothness, transparency, and sound staging, clean extended, taut bass, lush midrange and extended smooth highs. The Slinkyllinks produced a well-focused holographic image that none of the other cables could match. The improvement was black and white, like chalk and cheese, like day and night. In comparing the differences between the copper cables, the difference was often like comparing black to a very dark shade of gray. The Slinkylinks is by far the best speaker cable that I have had in any of my systems. Watching DVDs, TV movies and music videos in 2 channel mode was often more enjoyable than Dolby Digital or DTS mode which produced a rather flat 2-dimensional and less focused front soundstage.

Prior to using the Slinkylinks speaker cables, a comparison between power cords often revealed only minor differences. With the Slinkylinks the differences between the $200 and $1000 ones became more apparent, in particular, the huge improvement of the soundstage and front to back imaging with the more expensive power cord. Similarly the differences between digital cables and interconnects became more apparent. I repeated a previous comparison of the Slinkylinks interconnects with the Straight Wire Maestros, Alpha-Core Goertz sapphire and Transparent Super Musiclink interconnects. The combination of the Slinkylinks interconnects and speaker cables produced the most 3-dimensional soundstage, the smoothest midrange and top-end and the best image and focus. The Alpha-Core Goertz came a close 2nd and the other two interconnects sounded rather 2-dimensional and lacking in detail by comparison. These differences were not particularly discernible when I was using the Straight Wire Maestro speaker cables.

Forget the recommendation that you should spend 10% of your hi-fi budget on cables. If you buy a pair of Slinkylinks cables (and interconnects) you would never have to consider cables again unless you want to spend some serious money.

In summary, the Slinkylinks is a truly fantastic world-class audiophile speaker cable at a commendably affordable price. They outperformed all the other speaker cables that I have evaluated. I would have to seriously think twice about spending more money to get a better speaker cable.  If I ever owned a more expensive system I am confident that the Slinkylinks would be up to the task.
 
A more detailed review will be published in the next issue of TONE Magazine

[Jon Lane]

Very kind words have just been posted by the good ears at Secrets of Home Theater & Hi Fidelity about Slinkylinks balanced interconnects.

The good Dr. writes:  "I was struck with an immediate sense of great detail...  The Slinkylinks are so good, we plan to extend our tests to the speaker cables later on."

What can we say?  Slinklylinks are an affordable means to get to the final cable plateau and we appreciate the perceptive compliments.  Thank you, John, and the speaker cables are on the way.  In our view, they're really something special, but that's another story...  

Read the review here.

[8thnerve]

Those are some seriously cool looking cables!

[Jon Lane]

Those are some seriously cool looking cables!

Thank you, 8thnerve.  Being such a departure from  the preponderance of cables out there, they do look different too.  It's been interesting explaining to folks what the absence of dielectric hash and skin effect issues sounds like...or rather, doesn't sound like when they're gone.  Once you know how they work, like all audio components, they sound like they look.    We're having fun being on the leading edge of this...

[Jon Lane]

W're proud to join Slinkylinks NZ in announcing that Slinkylinks interconnects are now part of the Secrets of Home Theater & HiFi Reference Systems, found here.  

Congratulations to the good people at Slinkylinks for this feat!

[Jon Lane]

UPDATE 25-June-07

6Moons has just reviewed Slinkylinks.

Thanks to Frederic for a solid, perceptive, and engrossing analysis of this purist cable technology!

--------

The Audio Insider is proud to introduce New Zealand's Slinkylinks silver & air cables to North America. 

See also www.slinkylinks.net

Thanks for your interest and we look forward to your impressions and feedback.

[jackthecat]

Great review guys!    I am going to try them seeing as that Im in their hood !!! 

[Jon Lane]

Jack, are you in NZ?  Otherwise I have some samples you could demo...

[jackthecat]

Hi Jon . I am in NZ yes and have been in contact with Slinkylinks here . Thanks for the offer though !

[denjo]

I know this thread has not been active for a while but this was about the only recent post of Slinkylinks cables. I used 1 pair of Slinkylinks RCA between my Altmann DAC and Bent Audio TVC Tap and another pair XLR between my pre and power. Although I am still getting used to the "new" sound (sometimes called buring-in period), I must positively report that I am very pleased with what I am hearing. While I am no stranger to silver cables (I own a pair of AudioNote AN-Vx), the Slinkylinks don't sound anything like the AudioNotes. In a Dan Fogelberg track "The Minstrel", I was always troubled by the absence of the bells/triangle but these were present in its full glory - no tizziness, no smear. I am not about to say these are the best cables out there but I am prepared to say these are the best cables that my system has heard in the 15 odd years that I have been in this hobby! Highly recommended.