In 2024, the well received Norwegian company, Skogrand Cables launched their new flagship Speaker Cable (SC), the Silverspine SC which as the name suggested, it was constructed mainly with silver wires,…
“Silverspine is our first cable model not using single core copper. Instead it elevates single grain solid core silver wires to float suspended in air throughout the cable length from termination to termination utilizing our unique air dielectric framework constructs” (excerpts taken from Skogrand Cables‘ website)
Therefore it replaced the then flagship Beethoven SC (aka Purist Ignis) which was favourably reviewed here in 2017. However news have it that Skogrand Cables have launched the Mk.2 version of the Beethoven SC in 2019.
Knowing my fondness of the Skogrand Cables’ performance, the Boss of the company, Mr.Knut Skogrand decided to send me their Silverspine SC (retail at Euro €42,000 per three meter [3m] pair) to try and review.
I did use the Silverspine SC at the following amplifiers; Vitus Audio Masterpiece MP-N201AF, Gryphon Diablo 333, Jadis I-70, Bryston Bi-200,…and connected to the following transducers/ loudspeakers; Genesis S7 Foxtrot, Genesis S7 Minuet, Magico S3, Magico M2.
The following review was sourced from the HiFi Rose RS150B digital streamer (mainly Tidal) and went through the FM Acoustics 268C preamplifier. The other cables used were mainly from Skogrand Cables’ Stravinsky and Tchaikovsky (aka Markarian 421),…and Stein Music.
Do NOT have to ‘Listen for DETAIL?!’
My first impression of the Silverspine SC was ‘Colourless‘, ‘Refinement‘, ‘Transparency‘ and ‘Resolution‘ in sound quality,…there was nothing shouting or calling out attention or in your face.
Throughout the months listening to the Silverspine SC with differing amplifiers and transducers, there was never once I was taken aback by any sudden change in sound coloration but only taken into…
‘More of The Music‘.
Here, every bit of the music,…I meant every detail (if ever?) was there,…effortlessly through the transducers and heard by the listeners with an ‘easing sensation‘.
That ‘Easing Sensation‘ (that we take for granted) reminded me of being an audience in the recording session.
I was (only) pleasantly shock with the revelation of layers of minute/ subtle details in texture, dimension, definition, delineation and nuance in the voiceation of Ms.Simone Kopmajer at ‘The Look of Love‘,…
those were the audible details in a ‘LIVE and UNPLUGGED‘ session that were TAKEN FOR GRANTED!.
No, that audible details did not change her voice or the sum of her voiceation, or my perception thereof,…
they were just there ‘Naturally‘.
In other words, it could be surmised that they were details that summed up the presentation of presence, intimacy and,…
the sensation of ‘Being With-LIVE‘.
Here, I found the abovementioned sensation was reinforced when I heard Ms.Sandy Lam‘s rendition of ‘Li Xiang Lan‘ (track 1) from her album, ‘In Search of Lost Time‘,…where her then state of emotion(s) from her ‘marital divorce‘,…and that which was added for that rendition were so vivid, weighty, palpable and touching,…as if ‘I could feel what she went through then‘. It could be said that…
the Silverspine SC allowed her Emotions to be presented Audibly and (almost) Tangibly.
For me, that spelled the difference in detail retrival and presentation (/ transparency) between the High-End Audio with…
the ULTRA-END AUDIO, where No Constraint for Ultimate Performance.
I noticed that same level of transparency which was apparent at the human voice(ation), was equally the case at the musical instrument. Here, Ms.Miki Imai‘s voice was presented with unprecedented clarity/ articulation, nuance, layering, texturity, density, delineation, definition and within accurate scale to the accompanied grand piano.
However, the musical instrument grand piano was clearly presented with…
UNHEARD of ‘Amount of AIR’ within its proportionate, and in scale three-dimensions [3D] chassis, to the soundstage and soundscape.
Here the pianist, Mr.Satoru Shionoya played the piano keys and pedals,…where each note was presented with vivacity, completeness, composure, definition and delineation,…
and with clearly more audible Minute Dynamism of the attached string(s) within the grand piano.
Similarly, it was much easier to appreciate the different instrument/ guitar (standard, 12 string, nylon string, steel) and note played by Mr.Antonio Forcione at different track in the album, ‘Tears of Joy‘. It was audible thus discernable as to…
the Size and Dimension of the instrument through the air within the chassis
of differing guitar at play,…the differing material string,…and the minute dynamism from the vibrating string.
The audible air and its dynamism made all the differences.
Having just used the track, ‘Bubbles‘ for the review of Skogrand Cables’ Stravinsky AC2 Power Cords, therefore the inclusion of the Silverspine SC immediately leveled up the total presentation of the soundstage and the soundscape in terms of air, width, depth, height, and encompassment.
The recorded objects were even more defined, delineated, dimensional and weighted. Their bouncings and movement were (more) clearer, distincted, spaced, engaged and energised,…within and without the soundstage and soundscape (encompassed almost the entire space of the listening den),…the sensation was as if…
being Surrounded and Engaged by the bouncing and moving objects.
Here, I was engaged by the fiery and slam-bang (bass) presentation of the Firebird K1010: IX. Danse Infernale de tous les sujets de Kastchei by Sir Simon Rattle conducted the London Symphony Orchestra. The inclusion of the Silverspine SC brought about a heightened level of enjoyment for the (minute) details in the instrumentations, tempo, speed, energy, play and flow by the differing groups of musicians, and within spacious and airy recording space.
In addition, the bass slams from the drums were impressively articulate, clean, low, qualitative and quatitative in scale with the soundscape.
The whole presentation was Engaging, Fiery, Slam-Bang (bass) and yet ORDERLY.
Even the Electronic Dance Music (EDM) of the ‘Animal‘ by Martin Garrix being played at louder than normal volume, was still being presented with that order,…though when the passage got louder, and from more to most complicated,…and with the mid and low bass started to kick-ass, engaging and enveloping the entire listening space,…
yet the Musicality was still in the ‘RIGHT COMPOSURE‘.
YOUR MUSIC WORTH IT?
The Skogrand Cables Silverspine SC is not the most expensive Ultra-End Cable/ Component even in my audio system. It may not be the most attention grabbing component and, it may not change the sound coloration of the audio system to impress your audiophile friends.
However, the Silverspine SC was a definite Ultra-End Game Changer Speaker Cable in ‘Heightened‘ Refinement, Transparency, and Resolution that has taken me into
‘more of the music‘,
…with more engagement, encompassment, energy, order, dynamic, intimacy, tangibility and fullness,…which ultimately…
‘Heightened my Enjoyment‘…
of the audio system as a whole,…and that,
‘Worth More Than The Asking Penny!‘