Tellurium Q Black in da house

Give them a week or so and they'll really settle down Graeme. HH's were very well run in 

Well having spent the last two hours playing some of my most well liked tracks the results on each and every one is a very natural smooth and highly detailed presentation the mids and upper frequencies are where the biggest improvements are noted a real delight, to me they seem to make A5 sound sluggish by comparison there is a faster pace to everything, its like my systems had an injection of speed or maybe it's just me?

I had a pair of SL speaker cables on loan from my dealer for a week and I was impressed with what they brought to my system they really were very good, I am not suggesting the TQB are better but all I will say is I am delighted with the TQB and will be happy to keep them in my system for a good wee while yet.

On a side note I have purchased a Witch Hat Din-XLR interconnect on a recommendation of another forum member and have to say this has been in situ the past week and continues to impress!!

Thanks again to Nigel for bringing this cable to our attention.

ATB

I agree. The short review is that, in my system, in my room, they sound better than NACA5. I'm a wiring apostate. Please electrocute me - using NAIM burgundies or something. 

I've ordered a 3.5m pair and the NACA5 will shortly be oiled, blessed by an inter-denominational priest, decorated with attractive, profitable, garlands and pimped to the world.  They go with fond memories and my best wishes. I'm wondering how to post them. Maybe in a 3.5 metre, ram-rod straight tube? 

Tellurium cables confer the same, august, qualities of the A5 (timing and a muscular presence), but also add a  coherence, transparency and an absence that the original cables don't. I'm not sure how many 'veils' have been lifted in HI-FI reviews, but they've certainly bunged a lacy antimacassar out of the my window.  They have also nudged the mid-bass hump that 250s provide back into an acceptable place. Male voices no longer sound like they are about to expectorate a Ford Focus-sized bolus of mucus onto you. This is, generally, a good thing, since I get so much of it in my working and leisure times.

Having said that, my original system of Uniti, Guru QM 10s and NACA5 had an extremely addictive sound. Lots of midband. Everything that's interesting tends to happen in the mid-band. 

It's taken me a couple of room changes and a lot of second hand speculating to get to a similar sonic signature. 

The replacement of the Uniti with a SuperUniti caused, overall, a feeling of chagrin. The sound signature went from ')', convex, i.e. lots of midband, to a '(', or concave sound, whereby there was a lot more bass and clarity and, indisputably, more of everything  - whilst, probably, marginally less happiness. TV and streamed HD films became much more difficult to follow for instance. And I'm a chap who really wants to know what Terry Nutkins is saying about the Syrian crisis.

Since then I've also added a recently serviced CB NAP 250. This was more difficult to assess.  Not in the sense of change but whether I approved or disproved of it. Because it changed the sound a lot. Much more than a cable - for obvious reasons. Perhaps because it allows the SU's enormous transformer to service only the DAC, streamer and pre-amp sections, but also because the soundstage became vastly larger, and also much warmer. Possibly this is because it was voiced for vinyl. Either way, I was still searching for the sound of the Uniti and Gurus but with more resolution.

I think  this is the symptom recognised, and suffered, by those still treading the Naim upgrade path - you become hooked on the entry level signature, and endlessly tinker, until the bailiffs arrive to drag you out of the caravan out of which you've dragged the single remaining bed in order to accommodate an S1 PRE.

Prison PAs will sound so raspy. 

So, anyhow, I took a punt and swapped the Guru QM10s for the MK II version. I dearly love both sets of speakers but the MkIIs are better with the SU and NAP250. Fewer blue lights, yet retaining the qualities of their predecessor.

However, the thing that pulled it all together, was the Tellurium Cables. Finally, - and this is corroborated by my live-in bailiff, it sounds like the original set-up but better. More of everything in a better way.  

Plus one for the Witch Hat interconnect. That made a small difference, but I'd say that the new speakers and the Tellurium cable finally brought about a happy balance and consonance between the boxes I'd chosen to keep.

By the way, this sounds a lot more mercurial and flighty than it was. The above journey took 5 years, 43 divorces, 12 and a quarter marriages, a brief sojourn as a travelling midget stevedore and an interlude I don't really wish to go into where, for over 6 weeks, I thought I might be a wizard hamster. 

Short review was more useful, wasn't it?

Thanks HH, ordered and cant wait to hear the results!

The Tellurium people should be giving me a wodge of cash for this! Listening to Andy Sheppard now, the sound is transformed. It sounds ridiculous, as cables shouldn't make this difference, but strangely they do. 

HH

Are you going to give the Tellurium Q black mains cable a try ?

HH,

Are you going to give trade membership a try?  

C.

I'm very happy with my Powerline, thank you. And as for trade memberships... I just happen to think these cables are super, and miles better than Naim's standard speaker cables. I bought them used, so I owe nobody anything.

The same one you once described as the most overpriced and overrated Naim product?

The very same. I now know better. 

Well I go away for a week and then I see this thread - HH, you are a constant source of surprises these days!

Sounds like you are enjoying your new purchase, and I wish you many thousands of hours of happy listening.

My experience is slightly different though.

When I had Chord Epic speaker cable, I knew that something just didnt seem right, so had a chat with the dealer and he loaned me a couple of different sets of cable to try out.

One of which was Tellurium Q black.

In my system, in my room, and to my ears, the Tellurium Q black offered me no improvements compared to the Chord Epic I had been running for several years.

It was only when I tried NAC A5 that I experienced a big change for the better and ditched my Epic for that instead.

So although I didnt directly do a back to back comparison between Tellurium Q black and NAC A5, it was only the NAC A5 that offered me the benefits in sound presentation that made me change.

Guess it just goes to show that room / equipment / speakers / ones own ears & preferences make a massive difference on our feelings about kit and whether we buy or not.

And the old adage of try before you buy is still always the best option.

Although I don't post details of cabling in my profile, for what it is worth I have been using Tellurium Q Ultra Black speaker cable and interconnects in my main (non-Naim) system for a while. Here is my take.

Stupid money for cables, and (much) more than I had intended to spend. I initially auditioned Tellurium Q Black and found them to be superb and a very worthwhile upgrade, but unfortunately (for my bank balance) was given the opportunity of an extended demo of the ultra black cables in my system. Initially, my reaction was that they were better, but not better enough to warrant the increased cost. However, I then found it difficult to go back to the Blacks (much more of an obvious difference obvious when switching back from the ultra blacks to the blacks), bit the bullet and purchased the ultra blacks.

I hadn't expected these cables to live up to their hype, but to my surprise, in my main system and to my ears, they did. Although the ultra blacks are even better than the blacks, they are much more expensive, and so my advice to anyone looking to upgrade their speaker or interconnect cables would be to audition the blacks. I reckon that they are probably the best value for money in the range.

I should state that I have not heard NAC A5 or Naim SL cables (although I have in the past used NAC A4 speaker cables) so I cannot comment on their relative merits with respect to these.

Tellurium Q also make even more expensive ranges of cable than the ultra black range, but unless I win the lottery (not much chance since I don't take part), I will steer well clear.   

My 2x TQ Black jumpers arrive this morning which are now installed and all I can  say is they are a very worthwhile upgrade, big improvement over A5 speaker cables and jumpers no two ways about it in my system.

First and foremost I’m a Newbie, and not trying to injure anyones ego.  Perhaps that why I don’t participate on these forums, unless I’m in need for help or information.  And to say the least the forum has been very helpful, as well as Steve Hopskins, Richard Dane, and of Course Chris West @ AV Options.  Anyhow, Better vs Different.  I’m glad you are enjoying your Tellurium Q Blacks and find them to be better than the standard Nac A5’s.  Did a little research on the internet, and came across the following Statement: 

“ Please remember that there is absolutely no relationship between price and performance in anything cable related. That means: Don't rule out the cheap ones, don't focus on the "exclusive" ones and don't compare within price brackets. Just regard them as if they had no price at all.”

Ok, I know the more money you make the more you spend, and after all we are Naimee’s, but I Kind of like Ceasar our Julian’s take on Speaker Cable.  Following Statement off the Naim Forum Dialogue with Chris West: 

“People spend thousands on wires with the aim of making them have no impact on the sound. As if to make them sonically vanish. Julian used his noodle and made it happen from day one of Naim amp design by integrating a well defined and inexpensive wire into the amps circuit! Neatly removing speaker wires as an sonically indeterminate after thought …"

All in one and Integrated Naim

“Yes that's right ... the integrated amps and all-in-one units are more tolerant of different spec wires than the current and legacy power amp ranges. They still don't have output inductors though, so you can't go too wild with lo inductance or high capacitance wires!”

“Older amps were very dependent on the cable,  not so much the new black boxes”

Point n case help me if I’m wrong isn’t this why Julian made his amp a little unstable to take the speaker cable out of the equation. And perhaps why 552,s 500,s 555,s still use that  inexpensive Nac A5.  

Following Statement off the Naim Forum Dialogue with Chris West: 

“I like to look at it this way... in comparison with non-naim gear with universal (compromised) "any speaker wire and length" amp output design.

Effectively, the Naim amp circuit  "output terminations" are moved 3.5 meters closer to the speaker by this method. In an average set up with around 12 feet of wire the Naim system will work as if the speakers were directly connected to the amp with no speaker wire! “

Hence, 3.5m min., 20m max., and 5m optimum with Inexpensive Nac A5 Speaker Cable. Getting a little long winded so I cut it short, but food for though with the Expensive naim Cable right off the site: 

“During the development of Statement, our flagship amplification system, our engineers realized that they would need to design a whole new range of high-performance cables for it to reach its true potential.  

With this in mind they began a development project to design interconnects and speaker cable that would meet Statement standards of performance. Through a deep understanding of material science and after thousands of hours testing in the listening room, the Super Lumina range was born.

Designed to maximize the performance of Statement but equally at home in 500 Series and Classic Series systems, Super Lumina speaker cables are available with 4mm or spade connectors. “

In the end if it’s better for you Great, after all it’s your Money and you can spend it any way you want. But be careful better or different from What!  The original Naim Sound, Prat!!!!  BTW I think it’s a good Idea two have two systems to keep one grounded. Happy Listening! 

Allante93 originally posted:

“ Please remember that there is absolutely no relationship between price and performance in anything cable related. That means: Don't rule out the cheap ones, don't focus on the "exclusive" ones and don't compare within price brackets. Just regard them as if they had no price at all.”

No need to worry about bruised egos. I am sure that we are a peculiar bunch here, and have learned to live with the fact that most people consider that we spend far too much money on our music playing gear, when we could buy a perfectly reasonable system for very much less. Certainly enough for most people in the 'real' world to consider us as idiots, or at best as eccentrics with more money than sense.

I have some sympathy with your view, because in the past I have found on more than one occasion that I have preferred interconnects from the lower-middle end of a range of cables to examples from the upper end of the range.

However, I have found that the Tellurium Q range (at least at the 3 price points I have auditioned) to my ears offers a clear progressive improvement in sound quality.

Should cables influence the sound at all? Should a standard 'bell wire' speaker cable be deemed to be the most natural sounding product, and all oher cables that sound different be deemed to be adding something that shouldn't be there?  I don't know, but I do know that I very much prefer listening to my system with the Tellurium cables in place.

Incidentally, the original statement by Naim now seems somewhat at odds with the introduction of the new 'Super Lumina' speaker cables.

And finally, I do run 3 separate systems at home. I enjoy listening to them all, but there is absolutely no doubt that my main system (with Tellurium Q cabling all round) is by far the best and most enjoyable to listen to of the 3. Best value for money? An impossible call to make.  

Dear Hmack, I'm a Newbie. Not familiar with forum procedure. 

But we agree and most agree that speaker Cables do make a difference. But How do you feel about the Founder of Naim's point of view and why he installed an inexpensive wire in all his amps.  And also about Chris West explanation, that explains the 3.5m and 20m?

Following Statement off the Naim Forum Dialogue with Chris West: 

“I like to look at it this way... in comparison with non-naim gear with universal (compromised) "any speaker wire and length" amp output design.

Effectively, the Naim amp circuit  "output terminations" are moved 3.5 meters closer to the speaker by this method. In an average set up with around 12 feet of wire the Naim system will work as if the speakers were directly connected to the amp with no speaker wire! “

“People spend thousands on wires with the aim of making them have no impact on the sound. As if to make them sonically vanish. Julian used his noodle and made it happen from day one of Naim amp design by integrating a well defined and inexpensive wire into the amps circuit! Neatly removing speaker wires as an sonically indeterminate after thought …"

And you are Correct I never divulge price of hi fi gear with non hi fi people, they would think I'm sick! 

Enjoy your gear!  

Just looked at your gear Hmack, very impressive. Disregard Julians and Chris west point of view only valid if one owns Naim Amps, Krell, A different story. Enjoy all three of your systems. 

Enjoy the Telluriums, Nigel, and with the new gear too.

Best,

Chris

Previously owned Tellurium Q Black arrived, installed and in use carrying tunes by Diana Krall, Live in Paris, from my Naim Nait 5si to my Spendor A6, replacing NACA5.  My first impression is "so this is what I imagined Naim amplifiers to sound like".  

I am brand new to Naim, wonderfully surprised and content so far, but the TQB have balanced the presentation of my Spendors while amazingly adding additional detail and timbral accuracy. 

Vocals with the NACA5 were just a bit too forward. The TQB have pulled them "back" so to speak while retaining the space and accuracy of presentation. Percussion presents with more detail not only with explosive riffs but low volume subtle teasing of cymbals. 

Bass seems to have tightened considerably.  It was a little boomy with the NACA5. 

Piano midrange still has the bite it should.  

Strings, orchestral cuts I sampled from another album, seem much more well defined with TQB, more detail and timbral accuracy. Piano, when really being hammered with all ten fingers, both hands simultaneously, manages to retains detail I felt was missing with NACA5. 

TQB has in no way lessened my admiration for Naim. In fact, my toe is tapping more vigorously than before and I am thinking my decision to "go Naim" is a good one.  That being said, I will install Nordost Z bananas on both ends of my NACA5, foregoing the Naim connectors at the amp end (I know it's heresy) and give them another go....just for fun.  I will let the TQB settle in for a time before make the change back.  Very happy with Tellurium so far. 

Thanks again to HH for the nudge toward the TQB, however I will not be following his lead toward the 272/250DR anytime soon I'm afraid. 

Mike, I'm pleased that they work so well for you. I would avoid the Nordost bananas, as the Naim connectors really are the best at the amp end. My advice is just to stick with the TQ and move on. 

Indeed. I find the TQB terminations a very convincing snug fit into the both the Naim & PMC sockets.

My TQB jumpers should arrive today. Been running the TQB into the HF terminals with NACA5 meantime, which I guess reveals most of the perfromance gains - but I'll be interested to hear.

G

Hi Graham- I added the TQB jumpers in yesterday to my PMC 26s and was surprised at how much of a improvement they have made, be interested to hear if you fine the same thing.

I can only agree after a few hours listening to some 'old familiars'. On just now is Carly Simon's Live album which is not the best recording yet the TQB is making great sense of it. There is even a degree of low bass (bass pedal?) hitherto unnoticed in all the years I've had and played this.

Very pleased.

G