Soo... I have TQ Black 2 on home dem.
My system is NacN 172XS, Nap 200, B&W pm1, Chord Shawline interconnect.
My previous speaker cable upgrade was DNM Reson to Naca5. The DNM was perfect for my previous system, but in the current one, the Naca5 is much better. Back then, I also had TQ Black on home dem along the Naca5, and although I liked some of what the TQ was doing, the Naca5 was the better match for me.
The TQ Black 2 I'm demoing only has a few hours on it, but imo it's much better than its previous incarnation. It has eliminated most of the harshness and sybilance I got from time to time with Naca5. It sounds so smooth, whilst being more open and detailed. Nice liquidy sound, and better texture across the band. I have a couple of questions, if anyone is using this:
1. Does it's length matter? (Soundwise, of course). I have a 2.5 meter pair ATM. My Naca5 is 3.5m, but just because I got a good deal on it, and my dealer recommended bigger length.
2. I still feel like the "attack" is not as good/strong/immediate as on the Naca5. Does it get better with burn-in? Or is this it's normal state and a consequence of it's smoothness? I'm talking mainly about the bass, the mid-range and highs are fantastic.
Thank you
Posted on: 24 September 2017 by Clownmaster
I've tried TQ black and did not rate it compared to Nac A5 or even Van Damme LC-OFC 6mm shotgun style speaker cable. It just sounded out of balance tonally and also with timing of the bass notes.
Just IME of course in my system etc.
Posted on: 25 September 2017 by Vik71
Rainsoothe,
Yes, I did change the the TQ B2 with my NACA5 and must, at this stage, fully agree with you. The A5 sounds stunning - it has everything in spades, and since you mentioned the base being more recessed with TQ B2 - I don't know if is the power of suggestion by I also seem to perceive tighter more rhythmic base with NACA5. Initially I kept switching back and forth b/n the two cables on the weekend and this got me nowhere. Now I have decided to leave the NACA5 in place for the entire week and keep listening to different genres - taking notes and the same will be repeated with TQ B2 next week. Now back to Metallica's Master of Puppets album - kept plying Orion a hundred times and with NACA5 it just seems so right...will see next week with TQ B2. Regardless of what happens at the end - we have choices and this continues to be huge fun. Hope you arrive at the best conclusion as to which cable to keep soon.
Best, Vik
Posted on: 25 September 2017 by rainsoothe
[@mention:1566878604019028] hi and thank you, greatly appreciated. I decided to keep the TQ Black 2 and sell it in a few months if I find it lacking. During my last switching around, the Naca5 (which I left playing for 3 days before) felt too crude tonally on some stuff, even though, as I said, rhythmically it was still so forward-momentum-ey. There is a certain richness about the TQB2 that's just as addictive. If this thread gets locked, maybe you could pm me with what you end up leaving in your system? Curiosity would kill me otherwise 
)
[@mention:71962434602387689] thank you. That totally mirrors my experience with the mk1 Black, but the mk2 is a completely different cable imo.
Thanks, everyone, for your help.
Posted on: 26 September 2017 by Vik71
Great to hear you have found a resolution with keeping the TQ B2, Rainsoothe! I know it is a very good cable, I might just find out that upon careful comparison the Naca5 ends up working better in my system: it is undeniable that it gels well with Naim speakers - my case, which opens another can of worms as a par of Ovators has become available at a great price near me....Anyway, I will post an update on what cable I leave between my SN2 and n-sats in the next couple of weeks either via this thread or pm.
Best,
Vik
Posted on: 30 September 2017 by Vik71
@Rainsoothe, having just made the switch back to the TQ BII after 8 days of trusted naca5 sound, I have also decided to keep the TQ BII in my system as it does seem to reveal ever so slightly more detail across the spectrum in comparison to Naca5, without sacrificing any of the pace, rhythm and timing inherent to the Naim sound signature. So I will leave the cable in my system for the foreseeable future.
All the best,
Vik
Posted on: 30 September 2017 by rainsoothe
[@mention:1566878604019028] thanks a lot for reporting back. I'm also keeping the TQ Black II, it seems to be getting better. If I find it lacking in 6 months, I'll switch back - but I doubt it, all harshness in my system is gone, but not at the cost of sounding "shut in" or anything - in fact, as you say, there's more detail, and not just a smidgen (imo).
Time to audition those ugly JBL 4312SE in a week or two - although I highly doubt my room (soundwise) or my waifu (lookwise) would be confortable with them. My dealer is inlove with those speakers, though, can't wait to hear them.
Thanks again, everyone, TQ Black II are keepers in my system.
Posted on: 15 October 2017 by M37
Hi M37. I use TQ Black speaker cable and the Ultra Black RCA in my system and tried the USB to complete the loom but wasn't convinced so stuck with my stock Chord Hugo USB cable in the end.
Hi Mayor West,
Thank you. Is it a white stock cable? I kind of like the cable that came with 2qute. A little crisp though.
Did you experience any burn in problems with ultra black rca? Mine are still a bit base heavy and I kind of miss some texture compared to other similar priced interconnects.
Posted on: 15 October 2017 by Mayor West
Hi M37. I use TQ Black speaker cable and the Ultra Black RCA in my system and tried the USB to complete the loom but wasn't convinced so stuck with my stock Chord Hugo USB cable in the end.
Hi Mayor West,
Thank you. Is it a white stock cable? I kind of like the cable that came with 2qute. A little crisp though.
Did you experience any burn in problems with ultra black rca? Mine are still a bit base heavy and I kind of miss some texture compared to other similar priced interconnects.
It's the white stock cable yes but I found the 20cm short one sounded better than the longer one supplied, presumably because of the shorter signal path. I don't think the 2qute comes with this shorter 20cm stock cable. The differences weren't huge though.
I upgraded to the Ultra Black from Black RCA and thought that it was a great all round improvement. I picked it up second hand though so I let someone else suffer with the burn in pain. I've read of others having painfully long burn in periods with TQ interconnects though so they do come on song eventually. How long have you had it?
Posted on: 15 October 2017 by M37
It's the white stock cable yes but I found the 20cm short one sounded better than the longer one supplied, presumably because of the shorter signal path. I don't think the 2qute comes with this shorter 20cm stock cable. The differences weren't huge though.
I upgraded to the Ultra Black from Black RCA and thought that it was a great all round improvement. I picked it up second hand though so I let someone else suffer with the burn in pain. I've read of others having painfully long burn in periods with TQ interconnects though so they do come on song eventually. How long have you had it?
I have had them for 2 months. I remember the first few hours, I was totally amazed, the timing and how easy it was to hear vocals. But the last month or so they been somewhat painful as described by others.. hard to explain but it seem to be a certain frequency that irritates my ears. Perhaps room dependt but I'll give another month to see if i gets better.
