LOUDSPEAKERS: Does the Totem Mani-2 still rate as one of the ...

55 THE AUDIOPHILE STORE
TWO CABLES INTO ONE JACK
INTERCONNECTS WBT CONNECTORS
ATLAS NAVIGATOR
An oxygen-free
continuous cast (OCC)
cable: each strand is
made from a single
crystal. Two separate
internal conductors,
plus double shielding (what some people referred to as “semibalanced,”
though we prefer “pseudo-balanced”). The double
shielding is copper mylar plus close-lapped 99.997% pure OCC
copper multi-stranded screen providing 100% RFI protection.
The premium “All-Cu” version (shown here) uses solid copper
connectors that are also continuous cast. The copper is then silverplated
and double-shielded.We use two in our reference systems.
Special-order lengths from the factory.
ORDER: AN-1 pair, 1m, $265, AN-2 pair, 2m, $330
ORDER: ANA-1 All-Cu, 1m, $405, ANA-2 All-Cu, 2m, $470
ATLAS VOYAGER
A cable with superior performance at an
economical price. Oxygen-free copper,
continuously cast, double-shielded with conductive
PVC plus close lapped 99.9997% pure OCC copper
multi-stranded screen, for 100% coverage against
RFI. Direct gold-plated, non compressing, doublescreened,
self cleaning RCA plugs. Also available
with the All-Cu connectors like those of the
Navigator (above).
ORDER: AV-1, Voyager 1m pair, $235, AV-2, 2m pair, $285
ORDER: AVA-1, All-Cu 1m pair, $375, AVA-2 2m pair, $420
ATLAS QUESTOR
This could be the world’s lowest-cost
interconnect made from single-crystal copper.
It has the same connectors as the Equator
(below), and we thought it sounded like a much
more expensive cable.
ORDER: AQ-1, 1 m pair Atlas Questor, $135
ATLAS EQUATOR
We figured it was perhaps the
best $150 interconnect cable
you could buy. Only it costs
just $90. And yes, that’s in
Canadian funds. Other lengths
on order.
ORDER: AE-1, 1 m pair Atlas Equator, $90
ORDER: AE-2, 2 m pair Atlas Equator, $123
ACTINOTE MB INTERCONNECT
These Belgian
cables use
WBT locking
connectors, and
they are a virtual
match for our
own reference
cables.
ORDER: AMB-1, 1 meter pair Actinote MB, $750
PRISMAL DUAL INTERCONNECT
This Swiss-made cable is back The connectors are especially good,
with Teflon dielectric. 174 strands of oxygen-free copper, with
braided shield. Toss out your “free” interconnects!
ORDER: PD-1, 1 meter pair Prisma Dual Interconnect, $39.95
ORDER: PD-05, 0.5 meter pair Dual Interconnect, $29.95
Need to feed two preamps into two
amps? This solid Y-adapter (two
jacks into one phono plug) is gold
over brass, with Teflon dielectric.
ORDER: FYA, one pair Y adapters, $20
SPEAKER CABLES
SHEFFIELD SPEAKER CABLE
Here’s a value that amazed us, from Sheffield (the record
company). It’s a solid core wire so hard it can be used in a good
binding post with no connector (but we’ll install the connector of
your choice if you prefer).
ORDER: SC10 Sheffield 3m pair, $150
ORDER: SC25 Sheffield 7.5m pair, $250
Two pairs ordered at the same time: 20% off
ATLAS ICHOR SPEAKER CABLE
Continuous-cast single-crystal cable, ready for biwiring. It costs
just $235 per meter of double cable (a 2 m pair has 4 meters of
wire). We suggest adding the Eichmann Bayonet bananas, $57.95
per set of 4, or WBT connectors (at right).
ATLAS ASCENT SPEAKER CABLE
We had been searching
for a good quality but
affordable speaker
cable, and we found one. This is a single-crystal pure copper cable,
fully shielded. The price per meter of wire is $48 (a 3m pair has
6m of cable). Plus connectors. We recommend Eichmann Bayonet
Bananas, $57.95/set, two sets needed.
ACTINOTE LB SPEAKER CABLE
We bought a pair for our Alpha system! WBT locking bananas.
ORDER: ALB-3, Actinote 3m pair, $1690
ORDER: ALB-5, Actinote 5m pair, $2360
DIGITAL CABLES
ATLAS COMPASS DIGITAL
Excellent performance at an affordable price. Single crystal pure
copper. The 1.5m version sounds way better than a 1m.
ORDER: ACD-1.5 digital cable, 1m, $120
ATLAS OPUS DIGITAL
We dumped our reference cable for this one!
ORDER: AOD-1.5 digital cable, 1.5m, $360
CONNECTOR TREATMENT
ProGold cleans
connections
and promotes
conductivity as well.
Small wipes for
cleaning accessible contacts, or a squirt bottle for connections you
can’t reach. We use both regularly.
ORDER: PGW box ProGold wipes, $35
ORDER: PGS, can ProGold fluid (now called DeoxIT), $35
ORDER: PGB, both when ordered at the same time, $56
www.uhfmag.com/AudiophileStore.html
The unique WBT phono plugs have a collar which you turn so
that the plug tightens around and into the jack! The cable would
tear before the plug would come out.
The Topline series (heaviest construction, 5-layered gold
plating), includes the 0108 (above), which uses reliable crimping
technology, not soldering. Slip a gold-plated sleeve over the
bared wire, and crimp it on with the special WBT crimping tool.
The crimped end is held in the plug with a Torx screw. Buy the
tool at the same time as the connectors, and we’ll buy it back at
the price you paid when you’re through.
ORDER: WBT-0403 crimping tool (refundable), $125.
The sleeves are shown here, actual size.
WBT-0431 0.75 mm sleeve $0.50
WBT-0432 1 mm sleeve $0.50
WBT-0433 1.5 mm sleeve $0.50
WBT-0434 2.5 mm sleeve $0.50
WBT-0435 4 mm sleeve $0.60
WBT-0436 6 mm sleeve $0.70
WBT-0437 10 mm sleeve $0.85
WBT-0438 15 mm sleeve $0.95
ORDER: WBT-0108, kit 4 Topline crimp plugs, $190
ORDER: WBT-0101, kit 4 Topline solder plugs, $190
The 0144 Midline version has “only” three layers of gold plating,
smaller and lighter, with the same locking action.
ORDER: WBT-0144, kit 4 Topline solder plugs, $90
NEW! The high-tech minimum metal “nextgen” phono plugs.
Easy to solder, with locking collar. Silver version available.
ORDER: WBT-0110, kit 4 nextgen copper plugs, $170
ORDER: WBT-0110Au, kit 4 nextgen silver plugs, $280
WBT makes banana plugs for speaker cables, all of which lock
tightly into any post. All use crimping technology.
ORDER: WBT-0644 Kit 4 Topline straight bananas, $90
ORDER: WBT-0645 Kit 4 angled bananas, $110
ORDER: WBT-0600 Kit 4 Topline bananas, $180
ALSO AVAILABLE: a full line of quality binding posts, phono
jacks, etc. Plus a spade lug that connectors under pressure.