bhobba Posted June 20, 2015 Share Posted June 20, 2015 (edited) Hi Guys Was down at Mikes checking on my Magnesium Limited - they are progressing - but that isn't the subject of this post. Mike now has a system going in his factory and we got the chance to hear a new USB cable he is selling made by Rob Woodland - its called the Curious cable. It was some newly minted MLT3 speakers, an upgraded Prima Luna power amp direct driven by one of Clays Klein DAC's using the volume control in Audivana running on a Macbook. We compared it to my Dark-side, Mikes cable he uses as a reference (it was as good as or better than any other cable I have heard against it - it's a slightly upgraded version of the USB cable I use). Well guys we have a new reference - it was better than both - so guess what - I got one from Mike and will be doing some further comparisons. The Dark-side had good detail, but to both of our ears was flat, involving and lacking in harmonic texture on vocals. Mikes cable was a lot closer - also lovely on vocals, I cant say it was worse than the Curious for vocals, but was a bit lacking in the bass and the treble slightly glarey in comparison - there wasn't a lot in it - but the Curious was better. The Curious had the lot - no glare, great bass, oodles of detail, and great texture on vocals. Right now I don't have a computer setup - I use my Oppo. But will be arranging some comparisons. Oh - it costs $340.00. If you want to hear it compared to Mikes old reference simply pop in like I did. I think you will be impressed. Thanks Bill Edited June 20, 2015 by bhobba 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raffinator Posted June 22, 2015 Share Posted June 22, 2015 Ok I want them! When will Mike be making them? I've love to put them up against Lightspeed 2 and Lightspeed 10 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhobba Posted June 22, 2015 Author Share Posted June 22, 2015 Yes - Mike is making them. Just contact him and I am sure kind of trial can be organised. I will be heading for a listening session tomorrow with Rawl and Keith Eichmann where some comparisons may be possible. Thanks Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Listener Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 Wouldn't normally insert myself in a manufacturers thread but.... Just to clarify, Bill has one of my Darkside-USB MKII cables, I am now making MKV versions which were specifically changed to address the things mentioned by Bill above. All the best to Mike and Rob with the Curious. Steven. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lenehan Audio Posted June 25, 2015 Share Posted June 25, 2015 (edited) Hi All. I design analogue cables but must admit I don't fully understand digital cables ! What's more I don't want to , just too much on the old plate currently . Ok having said this I must admit to being shocked at the improvement a good USB cable can make ! why WHY WWWWWHHYYY? Here's a bold statement Lads ! Sound per dollar nothing can beat good cables . You could be running a good $3000 preamp and trade up to a SOTA $30,000 Pre and not get the musical improvement you get from this Curious USB cable . I heard at least a dozen good USB cables and they all shafted the sound compared to my not in production prototype USB cable , the only one that equalled it was the Revelation Audio USB but it's $600 and is about as easy to use as a 1mtr length of 20mm electrical conduit. In some systems the Prototype USB cable had it and in other systems the Revelation was a shade better. But the Curious USB is the best I've heard ! Very analogue , particularly the unforced detail and supernatural vocal presentation . Exeptionally natural sibilant reproduction on female vocals and bass that is SOTA . I've been mates with Rob Woodland for 30 years and did a lot of beta testing for him when he had ETI Eichmann ! A very experienced cable designer . This is the fourth Prototype of the Curious I have heard and they have gone from ! A not bad USB cable to outright State of The Art . Cables CABLES Flammin Cable HuH ! Prices are as follows. 0.6mtr. $330 0.8 mtr $374 1mtr. $418 1.5mtr. $528 2mtr. $638. Regards Mike Lenehan Edited June 25, 2015 by Lenehan Audio 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Full Range Posted July 4, 2015 Share Posted July 4, 2015 Here is a photo I snapped of the Curious USB cable Thanks @@bhobba for showing me 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jventer Posted July 4, 2015 Share Posted July 4, 2015 I bought one! Very excited as this will be my first "expensive" usb cable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raffinator Posted July 4, 2015 Share Posted July 4, 2015 Yep me too. Arrives hopefully Monday. Nice pic - is that power on the orange cable? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheff Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 Yep me too. Arrives hopefully Monday. Nice pic - is that power on the orange cable? I bought one! Very excited as this will be my first "expensive" usb cable. Hey @@Jventer and @@Raffinator, just curious (sorry!), but how do you rate the cables now that you have probably had suffient time to braek them in? Any comparisons? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jventer Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 Hey @@Jventer and @@Raffinator, just curious (sorry!), but how do you rate the cables now that you have probably had suffient time to braek them in? Any comparisons? @@sheff I dont know - sorry. At the moment I am playing with different dacs, different computers. different playback software and with and without Audiophilleo. What I can tell you is that I prefer jriver and my wife prefer foobar with jplay. I have cheap usb, Wireworld USB and the Curious - so will report ASAP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SdP Posted September 24, 2015 Share Posted September 24, 2015 got one and i like it a lot! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankn Posted September 24, 2015 Share Posted September 24, 2015 Why is it so many of us trying different cables live in different states! I have a Paul Pang Red2 USB cable (which I'm very happy with) and I would love to compare it to another "raved about" cable but I'm not purchasing another expensive USB cable. I'm still trying to decide on my other interconnects! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raffinator Posted September 29, 2015 Share Posted September 29, 2015 Have you seen John Darko's review? http://www.digitalaudioreview.net/2015/09/curious-for-the-curious-a-knockout-usb-cable-from-australia/ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TFJ100 Posted October 8, 2015 Share Posted October 8, 2015 Have you seen John Darko's review? http://www.digitalaudioreview.net/2015/09/curious-for-the-curious-a-knockout-usb-cable-from-australia/ And more entertainly, the comments! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Muon Posted October 8, 2015 Share Posted October 8, 2015 (edited) And more entertainly, the comments! The only comments that made me LOL were by bernard, some folk can't help themselves. Entertaining in a sense Good review again by John. Oh, is that Peter Garrett in the pic holding the cable Edited October 8, 2015 by ortofun Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Volunteer sir sanders zingmore Posted October 14, 2015 Volunteer Share Posted October 14, 2015 Hi All. I design analogue cables but must admit I don't fully understand digital cables ! What's more I don't want to , just too much on the old plate currently . Ok having said this I must admit to being shocked at the improvement a good USB cable can make ! why WHY WWWWWHHYYY? Here's a bold statement Lads ! Sound per dollar nothing can beat good cables . You could be running a good $3000 preamp and trade up to a SOTA $30,000 Pre and not get the musical improvement you get from this Curious USB cable . I heard at least a dozen good USB cables and they all shafted the sound compared to my not in production prototype USB cable , the only one that equalled it was the Revelation Audio USB but it's $600 and is about as easy to use as a 1mtr length of 20mm electrical conduit. In some systems the Prototype USB cable had it and in other systems the Revelation was a shade better. But the Curious USB is the best I've heard ! Very analogue , particularly the unforced detail and supernatural vocal presentation . Exeptionally natural sibilant reproduction on female vocals and bass that is SOTA . I've been mates with Rob Woodland for 30 years and did a lot of beta testing for him when he had ETI Eichmann ! A very experienced cable designer . This is the fourth Prototype of the Curious I have heard and they have gone from ! A not bad USB cable to outright State of The Art . Cables CABLES Flammin Cable HuH ! Prices are as follows. 0.6mtr. $330 0.8 mtr $374 1mtr. $418 1.5mtr. $528 2mtr. $638. Regards Mike Lenehan Mike are those AUD prices ? The website has them in USD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Misternavi Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 Would love to be using this cable but I still haven't been able to bring myself to spend big bucks on cables. i will do it one day. @@Lenehan Audio can you tell Rob to consider changing his picture on his website? he looks angry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gieseler Audio Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 Just installed one in my system this week. Absolutely superb! I would describe it as a rich full sound with no shortage of detail. IMHO, highly recommended. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Volunteer sir sanders zingmore Posted October 15, 2015 Volunteer Share Posted October 15, 2015 (edited) Mike are those AUD prices ? The website has them in USD @@Lenehan Audio ? Edited October 15, 2015 by Sir Sanders Zingmore Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lenehan Audio Posted October 15, 2015 Share Posted October 15, 2015 Mike are those AUD prices ? The website has them in USD Hi Zing yes these are the AUD prices including free Express shipping Australia wide ! the prices on the website are also correct in USD . They are actually a better buy in Oz because we pay the GST Mike Lenehan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jventer Posted October 15, 2015 Share Posted October 15, 2015 @@Lenehan Audio Mike, I cant find the Curious Cables on your website? What am I doing wrong? Can anyone assist? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocky500 Posted October 15, 2015 Share Posted October 15, 2015 (edited) @@Lenehan Audio Mike, I cant find the Curious Cables on your website? What am I doing wrong? Can anyone assist? It has its own site here http://www.curiouscables.com/ Edited October 15, 2015 by rocky500 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jventer Posted October 15, 2015 Share Posted October 15, 2015 It has its own site here http://www.curiouscables.com/ Thanks @@rocky500 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bebop Posted October 15, 2015 Share Posted October 15, 2015 I've ordered one. Looking forward to trying it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lenehan Audio Posted October 15, 2015 Share Posted October 15, 2015 @@Lenehan Audio Mike, I cant find the Curious Cables on your website? What am I doing wrong? Can anyone assist? Hi Johannes sorry mate they have their own site ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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