Article from What Hi-Fi Russia, August 2011 issue: Tchernov Cuprum Classic IC/SC
TchernovAudio Cuprum Classic IC/SC | Interconnect (1 m) / speaker cable (2,65 m) | $210/$350
High standards of TchernovAudio
TchernovAudio Cable is a reputable Russian brand and there's no need for us to dwell upon the detailed specifications of Cuprum Classic series in this article. All the information is available at the multi-language company website. So we would only like to note that the cables are really well-performed in terms of build quality and design and that the connectors are faultless. Now let's go for audition.
It is the usual way with copper cables that interconnects sound smoothly but in this case not at the expense of clarity and precise localization of sound images. But musical clarity is an even more valuable feature than the clarity of voices and soundstage. The melodic lines of each instrument, the dynamic accents and the rhythm structure of Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet ballet suite are delivered clearly, vividly and well-shaped. Music immediately captures and keeps your attention like a perfect story-teller. The clarity remains even at a low volume level, when most of other cables fail to deliver the tonal saturation and details. This ability to arrange the flow of musical information comes in handy not only if we are enjoying classical music, i.e., the Lockdown Project guys start playing in a more exciting and diversified way and the rhythm structure is revealed even more precisely than our reference cable can deliver.
The acoustic cable, however, performs even better in the sense of rhythm: the bass, percussion and recitative are amazingly consistent, which makes you have the feeling that everything in the room is dancing to the music. And apart from this, if we now just visualize the clear, open and expressive mid-frequency range that makes the vocal so fresh and uninhibited, and the guitar voice more lyrical, well get the clear understanding of the fact that it's an extraordinary product in front of us.
For: vivid, harmonious and musical sound
Against: nothing provided that you have all the rest in your system in place
Verdict: perfect cables, just extraordinary if you take the price into account