tests/21-04-07_audiaz
 
Test.
Deutsch English|

AudiaZ Cadenza Silver Edition

22.07.2021 // Dirk Sommer

As was to be expected, we were partly controversial about the changes: On one side there was the admirer of female voices, on the other side the lover of transients that come as close as possible to those at a real concert. In any case, I have kept the clock cable from AudiaZ for a more detailed study. And I could also imagine to incorporate Weber’s modification of the SOtM switch in my own device. A side effect of the many concentration-consuming comparison tests was that I came to build up more and more confidence in the Cadenzas: They make even the smallest change in the audio chain dependably audible – even though I am convinced that they were primarily designed as a means of enjoyment rather than as an analysis tool. Anyway, for my part I had a very good feeling when I used the AudiaZ speakers for testing the Audioquest Thunderbird 48 (HDMI).

On the first few days, I of course listened to all the pertinent test tracks - without being disappointed even once. Well, if my memory serves me right, my Epoque Aeon Fine, which settles in a several times higher price range, still performs with a tad more liveliness and fine detail. Also real and virtual rooms appear a touch larger through the bending wave transducer. But such minor aspects are no longer an issue when one spends more time with the Cadenza and the music, rather than trying to track down differences with the same music pieces over and over again. Fortunately, I was given about two weeks before the Cadenza had to set off for the photo studio. And during those days, I listened to music significantly more often than usual. This was partly because I wanted to burn-in Soundsmith's Strain Gauge, but also because I kept coming across forgotten vinyl treasures. And the majority of them were a lot of fun thanks to the Cadenza, because it's the overall package that fits: There is no particular frequency range calling for attention, none of the three driver sections pushes to the fore. The Accuton drivers, which are sometimes alleged of a certain coldness in the one or other internet forum, have been melted by Helmuth Weber to an incredibly pleasing, seamless unit: When my old records take me out to indulge in reminiscences, there is not the slightest thought about the technical aspect of the musical performance.

For internal wiring Audiaz makes use of this pure silver cable. It is also available as a ready-made speaker cable
For internal wiring Audiaz makes use of this pure silver cable. It is also available as a ready-made speaker cable

No wonder, then, that I wanted to enjoy the Cadenza even after work: For an evening aperitif, I chose a rarely heard record by Wolfgang Puschnig and Wolfgang Mitterer to go with a Frizzante "Libellenteich" (dragonfly pond) from the Austrian "Weinviertel" (Wine Quarter) region, mainly because it was recorded live in natural acoustics, in the parish church of Lienz in Tyrol. The instrumentation is unusual, but quite exciting: alto saxophone, organ and computer. In 1985, however, music was not simply recorded by computer: It was previously produced in the Elektron music studio in Stockholm, as the liner notes reveal. The fact that obsoderso was released on the Moers Music label should have been a warning to me, but unfortunately I didn't pay attention to the label. Hadn't I given the record a listen, my spouse and I would have missed the exquisite spatial depiction of the organ and saxophone. The sometimes brute intonation of organ and electronics made us cringe in our listening chairs. The title track is certainly nothing for the faint-hearted, but musically it's an exciting contemporary document and sonically - not least thanks to the AudiaZ Cadenza - a true pleasure. In any case, we survived the whole side of the record, and then satisfied the desire for something more harmonious with the Speakers Corner LSP reissue of Henry Mancini's score to The Pink Panther. Especially if you've seen a movie of the series not long before, you can't help but go into raptures in light of the timbres, dynamics, and rhythmic intensity when playing the title tune over a good system. But no matter if you opt for unwieldy sound experiments or sweetly arranged film music: The Cadenza convinces with every kind of music.

The binding posts are sourced from WBT. Their inward conductors are also made of silver
The binding posts are sourced from WBT. Their inward conductors are also made of silver


  • Acousence dac-pre reference UX

    In vielen meiner Tests kommen Produkte von Acousence vor, wenn auch nicht namentlich. Denken Sie nur an Schostakowitschs Symphonie Nr. 15 mit den Duisburger Philharmonikern: ein vorzügliches klingendes Album, egal ob als File oder als LP. Doch Acousence steht nicht nur für Aufnahmen, sondern auch für Hifi- und Studio-Equipment der etwas anderen Art. Der Kopf hinter Acousence – ein Kunstwort aus „acoustics“ und „experience“ – ist Ralf Koschnicke. Er betreibt ein Tonstudio, ist Mitglied im…
    01.07.2025
  • Goldring Ethos SE

    Seit dem Bestehen von hifistatement – und das sind nun auch schon 14 respektive 16 Jahre – testeten wir einen einzigen Goldring-Tonabnehmer: Dabei tauchte das Elektra nur kurz im zweiteiligen Berichts über den Transrotor Crescendo auf. IDC Klaassen, der neue Goldring-Vertrieb, wollte das ändern und schickte das aktuelle Topmodell nach Gröbenzell. Auch wenn es in der Einleitung ein wenig anders erscheint, haben die Kollegen und ich schon durchaus Erfahrungen mit den Systemen oder zumindest den…
    24.06.2025
  • Transparent Audio XL Power Cord

    Als ich kürzlich Luis Fernades und Werner Möhring in Meschede besuchte und wir den Test der Finite Elemente Carbofibre° Statement verabredeten, schlug der Geschäftsführer des G8-&-Friends-Vertriebs vor, auch mal eines der besseren Stromkabel von Tranparent auszuprobieren. Doch wie testet man ein einzelnes Netzkabel in einer gut abgestimmten Kette? In meiner Anlage versorgt fast durchgängig von Garth Powell entwickelte Netztechnik der Marke Audioquest die Komponenten mit Energie. Allerdings ist seit der ungemein aufwendigen Beschäftigung mit den…
    20.06.2025
  • SilentPower Omni LAN

    Welch positive klangliche Auswirkung die Synchronisation mit einer 10-Megahertz-Clock hat, haben Roland Dietl und ich an dieser Stelle schon häufig beschrieben. Allerdings bewegten sich beispielsweise alle dafür geeigneten Switches im gehobenen vierstelligen Preisbereich. SilentPowers Omni LAN hat einen Clock-Eingang und kostet gerade mal 800 Euro. Wer vielleicht durch Wolfgang Kempers Test des SilentPower LAN iPurifiers Pro mitbekommen hat, dass SilentPower eine Untermarke von ifi ist, kann sich gewiss erklären, warum das Omni-LAN-Switch trotz seiner vielfältigen…
    17.06.2025
  • Ideon Audio 3R USB Renaissance mk2 Black Star, 3R Master Time Black Star, Absolute Time and Absolute Time Signature

    Actually, we don't do comparison tests between several devices at Hifistatement. But you can make an exception. I couldn't resist the offer to deal with four USB re-clockers from the Greek manufacturer Ideon Audio from completely different price ranges. My colleague Wolfgang Kemper had already dealt extensively with the DACs Ayazi MK2 and Absolute Epsilon from the small but fine digital forge Ideon Audio and was extremely positively impressed by both devices. However, during the…
    13.06.2025
  • Lumin U2x

    Es war heuer schon das dritte Mal, dass mich Angus Leung und Krey Baumgartl vom deutschen IAD-Vertrieb, der sowohl WestminsterLab als auch Lumin im Portfolio hat, am Sonntag vor der High End besuchten. Diesmal präsentierten sie den U2x. Dessen Test wäre dann mein dritter Bericht über Lumin. Dennoch habe ich neue Fakten über die Firma erfahren. Die Treffen vor der Messe waren zudem nicht die einzigen mit dem Firmenchef von WesterminsterLab. Aber beim ersten Besuch…
    10.06.2025

Wir nutzen Cookies auf unserer Website. Einige von ihnen sind essenziell für den Betrieb der Seite, während andere uns helfen, diese Website und die Nutzererfahrung zu verbessern (Tracking Cookies). Sie können selbst entscheiden, ob Sie die Cookies zulassen möchten. Bitte beachten Sie, dass bei einer Ablehnung womöglich nicht mehr alle Funktionalitäten der Seite zur Verfügung stehen.