Denis N Moorcroft has come up with a new speaker cable, the
first in quite a while. Denis was the guy who put solid core cables on the map
back in the eighties and for a long time his skinny speaker cables were the
choice for those looking for great sound at a sensible price. The original DNM
cable was replaced by the slightly thicker, lower resistance Precision 2, but recognizing
that this was still not suited to low sensitivity speakers and long cable runs
DNM has come up with a beefier alternative dubbed Resolution.
Stereo Solid Core Resolution speaker cable
This is still in the classic spaced pair arrangement that
DNM pioneered, but has 1.3mm conductors instead of 0.82mm, making it better
suited to the higher currents required by sub 89dB/W sensitivity loudspeakers.
It is sold by the stereo meter rather than the mono meter found with most other
brands. The reason for this is the DNM cables are sold as a four-core ribbon,
which is simply peeled apart for use in a single-wired system or left whole for
bowering. DNM doesn’t recommend completely separating them, but peeling enough
off for each channel with any remaining length left in one piece and connected
to the amp.
Here’s the science bit...
The theory behind widely spaced, small cross section solid
conductors is that they optimize the amplifier to cable interface and ensure
stability, they have high resistance as a result, but Moorcroft feels that this
is not an issue for domestic situations and that the transient errors caused by
heavier gauge cables make them untenable. This theory is almost diametrically
opposite that behind the cables I generally use and yet I have consistently
found DNM to be the best sounding ‘affordable’ speaker cable on the market, so
it’s doing something right.
DNM Resolution is
not a very exciting looking cable, but its thin profile makes it easy to hide
under a carpet
DNM Resolution is not a very exciting looking cable, but its
thin profile makes it easy to hide under a carpet. If you purchase a terminated
set of these cables they come with small, colorful plugs that DNM refers to as
leaf plugs. They follow the company maxim of minimizing extraneous materials
and can be stacked for bowering.
In the system, Resolution sounds much like DNM Precision and
this is a good thing because few cables have the timing skills of this one.
Resolution does add a little more weight to the bass, however, and this gives
the music a little bit more power, which is always nice. Its talent lies in the
definition of leading edges, this is what makes it so precise and musical,
giving excellent pace where it’s called for and letting band’s like Ahmad
Jamal’s trio on The Awakening produce a sound that inspires all sorts of
apostrophe-laden descriptions; cook in’, swing in’ and just plain hip all seem
apt. Tonally it’s even-handed and clean, there’s no edginess to the mid or
treble and sufficient muscle in the bass. There are more substantial sounding
cables around and some that produce greater solidity of stereo image, but they
rarely compete with the DNM for musical integrity.
It delivers excellent width of image and plenty of space,
there is also a strong sense of presence with all manner of music. Hi-res
material could sound a little plusher perhaps and one cable I contrast it with
does supply this, Tellurium Q Black has a richer tonal balance, which ushers in
some more of the polish you get with a great recording like Herbier Hancock’s
River. Yet going back to the DNM makes the music much more interesting and
engaging, there is a coherence to it that the TQ can’t match. It’s easier to
follow individual instruments or voices in a large ensemble, the funky guitar
line on Edith and the Kingpin being a good example.
Resolution sounds
much like DNM Precision and this is a good thing because few cables have the
timing skills of this one
Naim that tune
Another interesting contrast is with Naim NACA5 connected to
a Naim UnitiLite, this cable has similarly spaced conductors, but they are
stranded and much thicker. Put the DNM on after the Naim cable and there is a
distinct cleaning up of the treble alongside better timing and no apparent
shortfall in authority. The spirit of the music is remarkably well presented
thanks to excellent transient definition and the ability to reveal dynamics and
bandwidth. I would go so far as to recommend DNM Resolution to Naim users, it
does what NACA5 does, but better and maintains the sort of resistive load Naim
amps need.
Anyone looking to get maximum musical satisfaction from a
decent system should investigate DNM Solid Core cables and those with
power-hungry speakers are best advised to try Resolution. A better cable will
cost you a lot more.
Details
·
Price: $52.65/stereo meter
·
Website: www.dnm.com
·
Our verdict: 5/5
