Robert Lee of Acoustic Zen has established himself as one of the leading lights in the field of cable design. Many reviewers and audiophiles have discovered the amazing properties of his products and positive reviews are testaments to his design skills. His Silver Reference IIs and Matrix Reference IIs are considered in the top echelon of interconnects at price/performance levels that make them true high-end values. Yours truly has personal experience using and enjoying both. So, when I heard Lee had developed an interconnect called WOW for USD$248.00 for 1m. pair/RCA, I was intrigued enough to call the Acoustic Zen office for a review pair. Lee was excited about the product and was happy to release the WOWs for an extended listen.

Robert sent me several one-meter pairs with RCA terminations. Directions for the WOWs were welcome and clear, not to say, rare. Besides arrows directing the attachment of the cable, there are additional directions suggesting not to over torque the connectors to the equipment. It's always been the conventional wisdom to make a tight secure connection and the tighter the better. I asked Robert about this and his response was that it seems when the cables are more loosely connected, the sound stage and the dynamics improve. Just one more variable to explore.

Currently my system is comprised of a Meitner Museatex CD transport connected to the new Birdland Odeon Silver Ag DAC, modified with the re-clocker board, with Acoustic Zen's E=MC2 digital cable. This is feeding a Kora Eclipse preamplifier (retubed with Siemens) followed by the Innersound ESL Mk. II amplifier. Speakers used are the TMS Adiabat 8.5's, a ribbon hybrid, heavily modified and no longer in production, and cables are Acoustic Zen's Hologram IIs. The system uses both Acoustic Zen's Gargantua and Gargantua II power cords. Vibrapods and Black Diamond Racing Cones and Things are used as footers. All this equipment is plugged into Acme Audio Labs wall outlets.

The WOWs and the RCA locking terminations are constructed of Zero Crystal 6N copper (99.99997%). Groupings of multiple gauge conductors are individually insulated and extruded with a high-density air injected polyethylene dielectric. Additional layers of copper foil and braiding are used to further shield the cable for RF and EM interferences. The level of construction seems befitting of its heritage. All this technology sounds impressive but would I be wowed?

I generally use about a hundred hour burn in period before I start any serious listening, but very early on I became aware of some delicious things happening. During this early listening session I used the Matrix Reference IIs between the Birdland DAC and Kora preamplifier and the WOW interconnect between preamplifier and amplifier in place of the Silver Reference IIs. The Matrix IIs are Acoustic Zen's hybrid copper/ silver interconnect.

One of my reference CDs is Frank Sinatra's Sinatra Sings Only for the Lonely (Capitol 72434 94756 2 5). My familiarity with this CD was without contempt as the WOWs made the listening session a joy. This is a beautifully recorded CD, and Frank's voice at this point in his career, has a little more huskiness and character, gleaned from life and lifestyle, no doubt. What I was hearing via the WOW was more body and solidity without any loss of detail. All the raspiness that had become part of his voice as he matured was easily perceived and almost tangible. The soundstage, with Nelson Riddle's orchestra providing its glorious accompaniment, seemed easily as wide and deep as I remembered. The dynamics that the WOW brought forth seemed natural and encompassing, yet kept the intimacy Sinatra and producer created. The overall sonic presentation was characterized by naturalness, harmonic accuracy, smooth richness, without any apparent loss of detail.

In comparison to the Silver Ref IIs, the WOWs had less 'air' and lower level of inner detail. Instruments, while having excellent focus and location with the WOW, had even greater separation with more of an envelope of air around them with the IIs. The Silvers also gave superb extension that brought this listener a little closer to the real thing. The WOW presented a more immediate sonic picture than the IIs, but did so with slightly less refinement, intimacy, and delicacy.

I played many more CDs including Noel Jewkes Quartet: If And When The Stars (Bluport BP-J005). This is one of the finest live recordings of a jazz quartet I've heard -- through it, the WOW really strutted its stuff. Man, you were in the club with the musicians and Noel was blowin' his sax just for you! A few times the clinking of glasses made me want to call over a waiter and ask for a drink. One could feel the atmosphere, immediate, alive, and full-blooded.

I also put the WOW through its classical music paces, with similar results, thank you. A favourite is the Dutoit/OSM mesmerizing CD of Rossini Overtures (London D 164382). This is a truly gorgeous recording with great dynamic swings, enormous dimensions and wonderful detail. The WOW rendered the orchestra with all juicy dynamics intact. One hears all the inner detail and resolution of complex passages that audiophiles have come to expect from a high end interconnect. The instrumental tonality is right on, accompanied with very natural decay. The spatial layering of the orchestra was very well portrayed as well. A crowd favorite, the William Tell Overture, was excitingly performed, beginning with that beautiful solo cello and building to the explosion of orchestral brass, captured vividly by the London engineers. The WOW captured all the musical drama and excitement Rossini had in mind. Hi ho Silver…away!

Needless to say I was truly impressed with the capabilities of this interconnect. It gives you a wide-open, full throttle, dynamic presentation with very good harmonic accuracy, plenty of revelatory detail and a sense of instrumental weight. I did try loosening and tightening the connectors to see what effect that would have and I have to admit I heard some changes but I thought they were not dramatic. It might be worth exploring a little further but it became a little too finicky for me to allot more time. Make no mistake; this is a very solid high-end cable. At one quarter the price of the Silver Reference IIs, it can truly be called a bargain. For those of you who want the top of the line in performance and can afford it, the Silver Reference IIs may be the ultimate wow. For those of you who can't and want to get a solid taste of something truly extraordinary for the money… WOW!

Keep Listening.