VL CARBON AGE™ balanced XLR 120cm

CARBON AGE™ balanced XLR   (pat.pend.)

"An intoxicating experience....tremendous improvement...the increase in resolution is everywhere..." Jeff Dorgay/Chris Harr, ToneAudio, Nov.2024

Goosebump moments thanks to a patent pending new interconnector - the beguilingly free and clean-sounding new „wonder cable“ (HiFi Sound&Music) from cult high-end manufacturer Voodoo Labs. “Perfect beauty” (J.Pfeiffer, HiFi Sound&Music, 2024). "It was simply better, sounded more like the character of the amplifier and the speakers, or the signal source, somehow more intense and much, much clearer." (Daniel Brezina, HiFi-Voice, 2024)

Pair 1.20m 10,200.00€ 

Available in studio black. For studio lengths give us a call or mail.

Free of the inductivity and capacitance problems of the usual Coax balanced cables. Created as unique pieces by master craftsmen in Northern Germany. They easily reach and exceed the level of the most renowned high-end cables, this also applies to the price. Unique signal quality, incredibly fast and tonally correct with optimal aging resistance. One for the island, between sources and pre-amp as well as between pre- and power amp. Ideal for CD players, streamers, amplifiers. Due to the (relatively) minuscule resistance following our patent-pending approach even perfect for phono pre to amp connections. Trust us, we’re running these ourselves in the studio.

- singular for a balanced cable: physically separated phases
- highest quality pure, shielding-free carbon construction
- completely metal-free except for the termination
- approx. 600,000 carbon nano tubes per individual cable
- 4 valence electrons in the atomic outer shells for perfect signal propagation
- silver-plated connection with silver solder to the pro-grade XLR terminator
- minimal internal resistance 
- completely hand-crafted in Northern Germany

The bespoke cables are individually handmade.

Delivery time is currently approx. 5 days.

Unless otherwise instructed, your CARBON AGE will be delivered in a fine wooden wine crate made from NIMP 15 certified pine wood from sustainable forestation by the Bordeaux casemaker working for Chateau Petrus as well. Great for storing Jazz records in, too.

More information and special lengths on request: info@voodoolabs.org or +4940485535

Read Jeff Dorgay and Chris Harr on ToneAudio on our Carbon Age cabling, Nov. 2024:

"One of the most over used cliches in the world of audio writing is that a cable delivers a “component level” upgrade. However, after Chris spending a ton of time with these evaluating and comparing – and me just stepping in at the last minute for a victory lap, I must say the Voodoo Labs Carbon Age Standard interconnects at $8,200 for a .8m pair are definitely at the top of what I’d pay for a set of cables, but to be very fair to Jan Geschke, the owner and designer of Voodoo Labs, worth the investment if you have a system that warrants it.

The grouchy ones in the crowd are going to freak out at this, however in perspective there are far more expensive cables than this offering far less improvement in system performance. A good comparison would be the jump in performance you hear from a mid-level Clearaudio MC cartridge to the Goldfinger.

Chris has a fantastic system, anchored by a pair of Focal Scala Utopia EVO speakers (with a REL Carbon Special sub), powered by the latest Mola Mola Perca power amplifier, and Audio Research LS-28SE linestage. Analog duties are handled by the Mola Mola Lupe phono stage, driven by the AVID Acutus table with a Kuzma 4-point tonearm and the Hana Umami Blue cartridge. Digital duties are handled by the dCS Vivaldi One.

Define better

What we look for in any component, especially a cable, is something that reveals more music in every way without merely being a tone control. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but in this instance especially – the increased ease and ability of the system from changing two sets of interconnects was not one of those moments where we sat straining to hear a maybe difference. This was a dramatic difference – all for the better.

Just as we were skeptical of VL’s unusual Gauss Magnesium Alloy cable lifters, (as we are with all of these types of system tweaks) we came away positively surprised and our independent observations were consistent. While we are focusing primarily on the two pairs of interconnects, the Voodoo Labs wine crate (made of made from NIMP 15 certified pine wood from sustainable forestation, by the Bordeaux casemaker working for Chateau Petrus.) also included a 2m pair of their VL Witchcraft speaker cable.

It always helps tremendously when one person can switch cables while the other can listen, and here, Chris gets the credit for doing all the legwork. This time we started in the opposite direction; I had spent about an hour listening to various favorite tracks I’m familiar with and then the cables were switched back.

Major clarity

As Chris listens to more Techno/Electronica than I do, he noticed the immediate increase in energy in the lower bass region, especially after downsizing slightly from a pair of REL Carbon Specials to one. I was working late and getting a lot of late night texts on his listening impressions. And after hearing them myself, I concur with all of his conclusions.

When tracking through some choice Thomas Dolby cuts, the snappiness and weight of his synth-bass lines are heaver, faster, and more well defined tonally. Chris notices the same thing with Massive Attack’s Heligoland, finding the lower octaves much more tactile, instead of feeling like one note bass.

Yet the increase in resolution is everywhere. We both notice the way the MA vocalists’ voices are present and three-dimensional, providing a realistic recreation in between the Focals. That sounstage size is everywhere, with synthesizer effects in “Flat of the Blade” sometimes appearing straight up and nine and three o’clock, while others feeling in front and behind the listening position. My fall back position of Aimee Mann’s Lost in Space offers a similar level of dimensionality, in ways I haven’t heard to that extent.

We both concur that this is an intoxicating experience, both with audiophile pressings and music we love that is not necessarily one-step material. Tracks like “Your Mine” from Portishead, and “Mary, Mary” both from RUN-DMC and The Monkees are less sibilant and more tolerant, without being muted or rolled off. Chris winds the listening sessions up by saying, “these cables provide a pleasing tonal balance, tonal density without bloat, air without blur or brightness and resolution without sounding dry.” What could I possibly add to that?

We’ll talk about the speaker cables in another review, but suffice to say they offer tremendous improvement as well – however not quite as dramatically as the interconnects.

The secret

The secret to these cables is their use of carbon nanotubes to pass the signal. There is no metal in the signal path, save the connectors. Mr. Geschke has obtained a German patent for his technology, so this isn’t a random attempt to merely extract money from our audience.

You can read more about his process here.

Cables at this price will not make sense for everyone’s system, just as a pair of the latest carbon fiber wheels and Michelin Cup Sport 2R tires make sense for everyone’s car. But if you have a highly resolving system, or a Porsche GT3RS, these are essentials to extracting the maximum performance.

The Carbon Age cables do just that, they extract maximum performance from your components without any penalty. And they don’t wear out in a couple thousand miles like a $3,000 set of Cup Sport 2R tires! Highly recommended."

—

CARBON AGE Cinch balanced XLR   (pat.pend.)

Gänsehaut-Momente durch einen zum Patent angemeldeten neuen Verbinder - das betörend frei und sauber klingende neue Kultkabel von der Edelschmiede Voodoo Labs. „Vollkommene Schönheit“ (J.Pfeiffer, HiFi Sound&Music, 2024). "Er war einfach besser, hörte sich mehr nach dem Charakter des Verstärkers und der Lautsprecher an, bzw. der Signalquelle, irgendwie intensiver und viel, viel klarer.“ (Daniel Brezina, HiFi-Voice, 2024)

Paar 1,20m 10.200,00€ (bitte e-Mail)

Erhältlich in studioschwarz. Studiolängen auf Anfrage! Bitte mail oder call.

Frei von den üblichen Induktivitäts- und Kapazitätsproblemen herkömmlicher Coax Kabel. Von Meisterhand in Norddeutschland als Einzelstücke erschaffen. Erreichen und übertreffen spielend das Niveau der renommiertesten High-End-Kabel, das gilt allerdings auch für den Preis. Einzigartige Signalqualität, unfassbar schnell und tonal richtig bei optimaler Alterungsbeständigkeit. Eins für die Insel, zwischen Quellen und Pre-Amp wie auch zwischen Pre- und Poweramp. Ideal für erstklassige CD-Player, Streamer, Verstärker. Und dank des für Carbon minimalen Innenwiderstands unserer zum Patent angemeldeten Konstruktion perfekt auch für MC und MI Abtaster geeignet. Nutzen wir selber.

- einmalig für XLR: konsequent physisch getrennte Phasen
- höchstwertige pure schirmungsfreie Carbonkonstruktion 
- bis auf die Terminators komplett metallfrei
- ca. 600.000 Carbon nano tubes pro Einzelkabel
- 4 Valenzelektronen in den atomaren Aussenschalen für perfekte Signalpropagation
- versilberte Verbindung mit Silberlot zum professionellen XLR Stecker
- minimaler Innenwiderstand 
- completely hand-crafted in Northern Germany 

Die Kabel werden einzeln bespoke handgefertigt.
Die Lieferzeit beträgt für balanced aktuell ca. 5 Tage.

Mehr Information und Sonderlängen auf Anfrage: info@voodoolabs.org oder +4940485535

Rc6CMZ2ATIYz1ZNk57KaUlSTdtDyL3M30E2gtXfykGE