The pursuit of sonic excellence means that every element of a stereo system is scrutinized with meticulous attention to detail in the pursuit of squeezing out every possible drop of sonic goodness. From the speakers to the amplifier, from the turntable to the DAC, each component can have a profound impact on the sound you hear. In the world of audio enthusiasts, few topics elicit as much debate and controversy as the question of whether high-end audio cables are worth the cost. Today, I invite you to join me on my journey into the mysterious world of audio cables.
What’s the right budget for cables?
While most music enthusiasts firmly believe that speakers, amps and the various sources for music can have a dramatic impact on sound quality, many still discount the impact cables have since they all just “transmit electrical signals from one component to another.” More discerning audiophiles, however, insist that investing in the right cables can unlock hidden depths of musicality and nuances that make the investment essential if you wish to hear the full potential of your system.
The truth, I believe, is somewhere in between. The time to seriously think about upgrading your audio cables comes after you have your other audio components in place and are satisfied with their performance. Then, I think budgeting an additional 10 to 20% of the total cost of your system in audio cables can make a big difference. But it’s always best to try before you buy because, like a fine wine pairing best with certain foods, some cables just sound better on certain gear. And that’s what makes the world of audio cables so mysterious!
The switch to Ricable
Recently I had the opportunity to switch out my RCA, coaxial and USB interconnects, power cords and speaker cables on my reference audio system with their new top tier Invictus cables. Ricable claims these handmade cables are characterized by acoustic balance, “capable of transporting the audio signal perfectly, giving extended dynamics, especially on the most complex passages.”
The cables also utilize what Ricable calls R-TEC technopolymer material that surrounds the cable’s conductors and reduces electrical capacity by 20% compared with its previous cables, as well as virtually eliminating noise. They also claim their performance is “400% better” than a standard cable which is based on “cable specific detection estimated on the basis of electrical and acoustic parameters” compared to a standard interconnect cable. They do concede that the gain in performance “may vary depending on the system in which the cable is used.”
The cables arrived in an impressive black, velvet-lined box adorned with the Ricable logo. Opening the box felt like opening a fine jewelry case, as the gleaming cable terminals seemed to sparkle in the light. But even more memorable then the appearance of these cables was the evocative aroma coming from the box! Yes, Ricable scents each of these boxes with a cologne so mysterious that even Ricable’s head of marketing was not sure where the scent originates from. For the first time ever, I was thinking to myself, “I really hope these audio cables sound as good as they smell!”
Ricable Invictus RCA & Coaxial cables
First up, I listened to the 1-metre Invictus RCA (€669 Euros/$717 U.S.) and a 1-metre coaxial (€400 Euros/$430 U.S.) interconnect. These cables replaced the Morrow Audio MA4 (€307 Euros/$330 U.S) and Audio Art’s AAC D1-SE2 (€375 Euros/$400 U.S), respectively. Before auditioning, I ensured all the Invictus cables were first burned in for a minimum of 200 hours.
Not surprisingly, given the price difference with the MA4 interconnects, the Invictus RCA interconnects running from my Schiit Bifrost 2/64 to my Kinki EX-M1+ integrated amp had the largest impact on the overall sound quality of the two cables. Playing high resolution 24 bit 92 kHz recordings from both Tidal and Qobuz, I was immediately impressed with the larger sound stage and detail I could hear on the Invictus cables.
It was difficult at times to distinguish much of a sonic difference between the Invictus coaxial and the ACC D1-SE2 coaxial from Audio Art that were used to connect the Volumio Rivo streamer to the Schiit Bifrost 2/64. Both did a great job of presenting a generally neutral sound to the tracks I played. I would say the Invictus sounded at times to be a tad warmer, but without losing any detail compared to the ACC.
Ricable Invictus USB cable
I also auditioned the Invictus USB cable by connecting it from the Rivo streamer to my Bifrost 2/64. Compared to the coaxial cable, the Invictus USB cable was able to pull more detail from the Tidal and Qobuz high-resolution tracks I streamed. Since I did not have an existing USB cable to do a side-by-side comparison I can’t be certain if the improvement was due in part to the Volumio Rivo streamer performing better with USB cables over coaxial, or that the cable itself was superior. I assume it was a bit of both.
Ricable Invictus power cords
The primary goal of high-end power cords in an audio system is to improve the quality of the power supply to the audio components. All audio systems rely on clean and stable power for optimal performance, and any fluctuations or interference in the power supply can introduce noise and distortion into the audio signal, degrading the overall sound quality. How exactly different power cord manufacturers actually achieve this goal can be a bit of mystery too, but typically they focus their efforts on advanced shielding and filtering technologies to minimize electromagnetic interference (EMI) and radio frequency interference (RFI), which can degrade the performance of sensitive audio equipment. It’s important to note that the extent to which these improvements are audible can vary depending on the specific audio system and individual preferences. So once again, if possible, try before you buy.
The Invictus line of power cords are truly massive compared with typical power cords and also beautifully made. These thick and heavy cables are definitely not for everyone, as their weight, combined with their rigidness, means they can be a challenge to position behind your stereo stand. You will need at least 15 cm of space between back of your audio components and the wall to accommodate these cords.
In addition to a “Germanium Noise Reduction system” used along the whole length of the cable the other notable upgrade is utilizing 8.4 mm2 conductors made of 7N MARC Copper (99% pure), and increasing the number of individual wires making up each conductor to 1,140, for a total capillary count on the entire cable of nearly 3,500. The cable gains even more weight by using a high-density sheath with polyethylene/nylon sock. The end result is a power cord that looks tremendously capable, even if it is a bit unwieldy.
The 2.5 metre and 1.5 metre Invictus (€1151 Euros/$1232 U.S) replaced the 2 metre and 1 metre Wireworld Electra 7 power conditioning cords (€373 Euros/$400 U.S. 2 metre length) that currently go into my Kinki EX-M1+ integrated amp and Bifrost 2/64 dac.
With the Invictus cables costing nearly three times as much as the Electra 7 cords, you may wonder if I heard a threefold improvement in sound. I didn’t, and I would argue no power cord on the planet is going to result in a threefold increase performance over the Electra 7 cords, which are very good power cords. However, what I did note as soon as I switched over to the Invictus cables was improved dynamics across a wide range of music and enhanced resolution and detail. None of these were dramatic improvements, but noticeable. While it was not a 400% improvement I would estimate it to be easily 20%.
There’s no doubt that Ricable has done a tremendous job in shielding their power cables to effectively reduce electrical noise created by electromagnetic signals without affecting the signal strength. The result is that spatial imaging of instruments and vocals also improved on the Invictus.
Overall, the impact of the Invictus power cables was that it was able to make music played over Tidal or Qobuz sound less synthetic and more organic. With the Invictus cables I felt like I was tube rolling again to get that somewhat warmer sound, but not at the expense of diminishing the dynamics of the music.
Ricable Invictus speaker cables
And now, finally, to the main event, as I switched out my Audience Studio ONE speaker cables with speaker cables from Ricable’s Invictus line. The difference, visually, was immediate, as the Studio ONE cables looked tiny compared to the Invictus cables. Audience says it avoids using heavy jacketing materials and heavy connectors in its cables as it claims “mass tends to absorb energy and dulls the sound.” So, how would these Italian cables priced at €1,338 Euros/$ 1,431 U.S. for a 2-metre long pair compare to the Audience Studio One that sells for €1,960 Euros/$2,100 U.S.
If mass alone does really dull the sound of speaker cables, then the Ricable Invictus should have put me to sleep. Hanging from the back of my Dynaudio Evoke 20s it looked the Invictus cables had swallowed the Studio ONE cables.
However, any concerns about mass were soon put to ease when I began to listen. I was first struck by how more lifelike both instruments and vocals sounded with the Invictus cables compared to the Studio ONE. Once again, the differences were not dramatic, but it was noticeable.
Impressed by what I was hearing, I then wanted to re-audition all the songs I used to review the Dynaudio Evoke 20 on the Invictus cables.
It became more evident with each song I played that Ricable has a winner on its hands, especially for the price. Holly Cole’s “Trust in Me” which is my torture test for sibilance, passed with flying colours with the Invictus. Not only did the Invictus match what I heard with Studio One cables, it somehow managed to further lower the noise flow of my system so that it injected a level of realism into Holly’s performance that was truly special.
When it came to dynamic performance, the Invictus cables never sounded dull. This was particularly true when playing “Time” by Hans Zimmer from the Inception movie soundtrack. The concert bass drum, which already sounded impressive on the Studio ONE cables, had even more impact and seemed to help squeeze out even more bass from the Evoke 20s. Equally impressive was how when the song builds up to its crescendo the Invictus never lost their composure and I could still pinpoint instruments accurately in the mix.
No matter what music I played, the Invictus cables managed to sound consistently uncoloured and tonally neutral, while also providing an excellent balance of dynamics, definition, detail and coherence.
Ricable cable specifications
Invictus Speaker Reference
- +400% performance compared to a standard cable*.
- Conductors 2 x 7.6 mm2 Copper MARC©
- Double Dielectric with R-TEC© technopolymers
- OFC Copper RCC© Connectors
- Optimized Noise Reduction and Double Shielding
Invictus Power Reference
- +400% performance compared to a standard cable*.
- Conductors 3 x 8.42 mm2 Copper MARC©
- Triple Shielding and Double Dielectric with R-TEC© Technopolymers
- OFC Copper RCC© Connectors
- Also available with American plug and on request IEC C19
Invictus Coaxial
- +400% performance compared to a standard cable*.
- Conductor 1.20 mm2 Copper MARC©
- Total R-TEC shielding
- R-TEC Special Dielectric
- OFC Copper RCC© Connectors
- Noise Reduction
Invictus USB
- Specific geometry for USB signals with Germanium RNR
- 7N MARC© ultra-pure copper conductors
- Five shields with differentiated R-TEC insulation system 8 x cylinder system
- Shielded non-magnetic connectors with 24 K gold-plated copper contacts
Software tracklist
- Lana del Rey: The Grants
- Hans Zimmer: Time
- Holly Cole: Trust in me
- David Bowie: I’m afraid of Americans
- Sting: Don’t stand so close to me
Hardware checklist
- Dynaudio Evoke 20 speakers
- Dynaudio Stand 20
- IsoAcoustics Gaia III isolation feet
- Kinki Studios EX-M1+ integrated amplifier
- Schiit Bifrost 2/64 DAC
- Volumio Rivo streamer
- Music source: Tidal and Qobuz
- Audience Studio ONE speaker wire
Ricable cables
from €400 (RCA coaxial)Ricable compares crafting high quality audio cables to being a master sculptor, because the goal is not in creating, but in removing, as the work of art is already enclosed in the piece of granite. With their Invictus line of cables they have done a tremendous job in removing excess "material" so the listener can get as close as possible to what the artist intended you to hear. In the weeks I took in auditioning their Invictus cables, I found they have succeeded in creating cables that can compete with the very best. What also sets Ricable apart from the competition is their unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction. Unlike some other brands that prioritize flashy marketing gimmicks over genuine quality, Ricable’s focus is on building long-term relationships with their customers. You don’t need any further proof of that then Ricable’s no-nonsense lifetime warranty policy and their responsive customer support team. Competitively priced for the level of performance they provide, these are cables I highly recommend you audition, especially if you are pleased with your current speakers and amplifier, but wish to step up to that next level of audio nirvana. With Ricable’s 60-day trial period they have made it even easier to help get you there. From opening their scented boxes of cables, to connecting them to my system, I found Ricable made a truly memorable first impression on my sense of smell and, more importantly, a lasting one on my ears.
Pros
- Excellent transparency, detail and musical
- Noise floor is extremely low
- Exceptionally well crafted
- Lifetime warranty and try before you buy policy
- Excellent value for the money
Cons
- The speaker and power cords can be a bit unwieldy
- The cable colors may not be to everyone’s tastes
