If there is such a thing as a cable that speaks fluent “analog,” Esprit has produced it. Exhibiting premium performance at every level, Eureka offers superb microdynamics, inner detail, fluidity, and timing, with a grasp of the intricacies of texture, timbre, and harmonic density that prove spellbinding. Expensive, yes, but capable of eliciting the finest from any top-notch LP playback rig. NG, 328

The all-silver Dominus is very detailed, very dynamic, very rich. Less open than Nordost Valhalla and darker in balance, it is also quieter, and because of its fluid-damped construction, virtually immune to floorborne and airborne vibration. JV

It’s said that silence is golden, a notion reinforced by the low noise of AP’s top-tier Micro Golden Oval interconnect. In this case silence is almost literally golden, as the cable has a coating of pure gold over its 18AWG copper conductors. Representing the most advanced version of AP’s hollow-oval geometry, the Micro Golden Oval is as stirring, warm, resonant, and musically natural an interconnect as NG has heard, and must be considered a state-of-the-art contender. NG, 272

From the gleam of its connectors to its carbon-fiber accents, everything about Lumina oozes quality and opulence. Lumina communicated a faithful tonal balance that hewed ever so slightly to the richer, warmer-blooded, more laid-back side of the spectrum. Central to its character was the weight and power of its midrange response, which, if it were a bar of chocolate, would be of a darker variety, complex and savory. There was a density and foundation that backed every note, and it really sang on top, displaying a combination of sweetness and speed. Top-notch. NG, 306

This interconnect does things RH had never heard from a cable—or more precisely, Dragon allowed the system to reveal previously hidden qualities. The midrange was simply luscious, liquid, and stunningly present and vivid. Vocals were completely untethered to the speakers and projected against an absolutely silent background. This had the effect of increasing the sense of presence and fostering the startling impression of the vocalist being in the room. Another aspect of Dragon that is unique is that it conveys more richly saturated tone color. The sound, from the lowest bass to the top treble, simply has greater body and weight. RH’s reference. RH, 331

These cables and interconnects reside near the zenith of audio reproduction, offering an almost unlimited palette of tonal colors, exceptional transparency, and explosive dynamics. The Valhalla 2’s ability to reproduce layer after layer of orchestral detail is as engrossing as it is astounding, a testament to their speed and precision. The transient fidelity of the Valhalla 2 is also very difficult to quarrel with. Some listeners may prefer a more sumptuous presentation, but for that there is always the very summit of Nordost’s line, the Odin cables. JHb, 254