Transparent Audio Musiclink Plus Speaker Cables user reviews : 4.2 out of 5 - 17 reviews - audioreview.com (2024)

[Sep 08, 2005]

posta

Casual Listener

good cable nice sweet sound. very transparent it is also 4 older model

[Aug 26, 2004]

arc80

Audio Enthusiast

Transparent has just overhauled their entire interconnect line. Well, maybe not so much of an overhaul as just a facelift. In any event, this review is for the older MusicLink Plus. Sorry, not sure about the model year. The cable is white though and the passive network at the preamp/integrated amp end is a rectangle (not the newer sleeker look). Because Transparent was restocking their cable inventory I was able to buy these cables for half of their normal $350 price tag. My dealer let me try these at home for a while in direct comparison to Rega's Couple interconnect. I also compared them directly to my older reference cable, the Nordost Solar Wind. It really only took a song or two to hear the superiority of the Transparent cable. Instrument weight and bass were much improved upon the Rega and Nordost. The Transparent simply outclassed the Rega and Nordost. It was clean, detailed, neutral, fast, rendered musical weight fantastically, and the bass was spot on.A great cable!System used: Rega Planet 2000/Naim CD5i players, Rega Brio Integrated, Polk Audio Lsi-15's, and Rega Quattro speaker cable.

[May 18, 2002]

clarionn

Audio Enthusiast

In my system the plus interconnects where heads and tails above prior tryouts. They never sounded congested or resonating like lesser priced interconnects. I really did not want to spend this much for interconnects but they gave such a listening improvement over the other cables that I would be handcuffing the components capabilities without them. Huge increase in sound and better fitting rca connection. Got to go this high to achieve the results.

[Feb 11, 2002]

akshobhyavajra

AudioPhile

I initially purchased the Plus as a supplement for less critical sources, and ended up using it as a primary interconnect. During testing the Plus was more detailed than Kimber''''''''s PBJ and Wireworld''''''''s Atlantic, presenting what I thought was good detail and soundstage. Further, I felt that it would be proper use with Klipsch Horns to tame some of the brightness. However, to my surprise I discovered that on my particular system the MIT Terminator 3 performed significantly better than the expensive Plus. MIT provided more detail, especially in background sounds, created a more airy and open soundstage and eliminated the Plus'''''''' dull highs. Initially I felt that the Plus was still more focused, but a test CD revealed that the cable merely choked the soundstage. Overall I feel that the cable is inadequate, especially for the price. I have three sets, so this is an expensive lesson learned. The MIT is significantly less money and performed much better. The Plus is not a bad cable by any means - it''''''''s a bad cable for the price. The test system:Zen SE84C AmpAMC CD8B CD PlayerKlipsch Reference RP-3 speakers Vans Evers Model 12 Line ConditionerVans Evers 80 Series Line ConditionerTranparent Music Link Plus InterconnectMIT Terminator 3 Speaker Cable Lovan Classic 4 Audio Rack

[Mar 14, 2001]

Alfredo

Audio Enthusiast

Three days ago I brought home a Musiclink and a Musiclink Plus. Connecting my cd player with the Musiclink and my amp with the Plus, without breakin the sound was awesome. Bass is astonishingly well rounded. This is something I noticed right away. Also the sibilants, which I hated so much, was greatly reduced. These changes are so obvious you don't have to think twice about the it. I sat down to give a careful listen and I observed a much more "live" ambiance with my system. Then I switched the Plus to the cd player and the regular Musiclink towards the amp, now the sibilants are back. After careful analyzing I realized I have a bright front end and the Plus is very well revealing that. So I'm keeping the regular Musiclink connected to the cd player and the Plus with the amplifier. This way the interconnects are much more forgiving but still benefiting from a midrange with less veiling but less sibilant and a greater bass. Then I evaluated my analog source and there the Musiclink Plus just flourished and I bought another Musiclink Plus to cnnect phono preamp to preamp and the amplifier.. With the Plus connecting the whole circuit for my analog, it's just heaven. Everything is so gooooood. Bass is quick and more solid from my B&W CDM7SE which is not known for good bass in the first place. Midrange is more fleshed out and less veiled with sibilants greatly reduced too. The treble I observed is less extended but this is my listening preference.

[Oct 23, 1999]

Chris

Audiophile

Transparent Musiclink Plus is a great cable for the money and it is the lowest priced product from Transparent that I would recommend. As you move further down the food chain with Transparent Cable you get a brighter and leaner presentation than with cables like MIT, Monster and Cardas. Where those cables would opt to give you a overly warm sound with what I feel is rolled off highs and bloated bass, the Transparent cable simply tells it how it is. The Plus cable is the first in the line that has enough of what I'm after with the refinement that I want out of a cable. You have to ask yourself if you want to listen to what your system is doing or cover up its sonic imperfections. If you picked the latter, Transparent cable is not the cable for you. If you are really serious about this cable give the Super a listen. Super is my favorite cable in the Transparent line without the prices of cable getting out of hand.

[Jul 19, 2000]

Jon Bond

Audio Enthusiast

This is a truly incredible pair of interconnet.....It makes my system sing. Anyway, I get a pair of this i/c at a bargain price.I hooked up this i/c from my rotel RCD951 to my NAD c340....immediately I notice the different. The soundstage started to open up, the clarity was truly amazing and also tighten up the bass. A pair of Transparent Musiclink Plus come highly recommended.

[Dec 23, 2001]

Patrick GS

Audiophile

Dès la première écoute, on est émerveillé ! il a transfiguré mes panneaux Magnepan MG-IIIA, que j'envisageais de changer. A l'écoute, on apprécie ce privilège d'écouter de la musique d'une telle qualité de reproduction. Plein de détails sont apparus et le reste est transfiguré, je n'ai jamais vu un tel gain en changeant de câbles, du médium aux extrèmes basses, tout est là ! Jetez vous dessus si vous en trouvez en occasion!!!

[Jun 08, 2001]

Jack

Audio Enthusiast

I have never posted a negative review until I acquired a pair of these cables. Folks say about Transparent, "either you love em, or you have em". Well I hate em....If you have a "dead system" and need more brightness than you can imagine, then buy these, if not, stay away...

[Oct 17, 1998]

Frans

an Audio Enthusiast

First I listened to the musiclink (basic). This interconnect sounded good in my opinion. A nice soundstage with good placement of instruments. The bass was solid, and the high frequencies smooth. No bad points at this price to my opinion.Then I listened to the musiclink plus. Whooh! This cable was sounding not just good, but exclusively good! What a difference with the musiclink! The bass had real punch. And the 3D soundstage was awesome! Again great placement, but much better then the musiclink. And lots of air between the instruments.
Okay, the price is almost double that of the basic, but it's certainly worth it! I had no trouble choosing between these two cables. Go for the plus!!