Decade Series / Stereophile

Interview - Matthew Bond / Stereophile

Prism 11 & 22 / Hi-Fi Choice

Reference G2 / Audio Adventure

Prism 22 & Bi-Wire / Fi

RSC Master Gen 2 / The Audiophile Voice

Original RSC Master ('93)/ The Audiophile Voice

Vanishing Points / Audio Adventure

Klara Speaker Cable / Home Theater

Reprinted from

Hi-Fi Choice Magazine

June, 1994 issue

TARA Labs Prism 11

The TARA Labs brand is based on tried and tested solid core technology, using a high purity Australian ore slow-drawn into single, optimized strands of 6N-purity. Aero-quality HDPE insulation, highly polished gold phono plugs and a natty line in brightly-coloured jackets are additional TARA Labs traits carried over from issue 108.

Nevertheless, the elegant simplicity of TARA Labs cable contrasts markedly with the unnecessary complexity of so many competing US designs, a complexity that often has an unpleasant, manipulative effect on their sound. Prism 11 is especially neat, a simple unscreened twisted-pair of 6N copper conductors that affords a spritely and informative sound voted well above Prism 33.

Incidentally, all these TARA cables are marked according to their directional preference though none seems to be equipped with a separate braid or foil screen. This really is a very compatible interconnect that holds true to the ideals of single-strand, solid core technology. It wins through with a performance that's both naturally balanced and realistically dynamic.

As it stands, Prism 11 is an object lesson in the virtues of simplicity, earning it a hearty Recommendation.

Verdict

	A blend of qualities that are well judged for the price.
	Prism 11 lacks the coherence and fine detail of Prism 22.

Sound Quality	Value for Money

Inductance	0.55 uH
Capacitance	76 pF
Resistance	32 mohm
Leakage	>530 Mohm
Q-Factor	>100
Resonant Freq.	24.6 MHz
Series Bandpass	9.3KHz

TARA Labs Prism 22

Having just extolled the virtues of a symmetrical, solid-core cable like Prism 11 along comes Prism 22, which has a more than successful stab at breaking the rules. There is nothing obviously amiss from a casual inspection - it has the same polished phono plugs and a turquoise jacket that's just as aromatic as Prism 11 or Prism 33.

However, unscrew a plug and Prism 22 reveals itself to be an asymmetric coaxial interconnect. The central signal conductor is still fashioned from a single thick strand of 6N-purity copper, but this is insulated with a layer of chunky HDPE before being surrounded by a multi-stranded braid of what looks like tin-plated copper.

Prism 22 uses this change in geometry to reduce its inductance without increasing resistance, pushing its resonant frequency clear of 30MHz. Moreover, it delivers a fresh and detailed sound, with a treble that sounds clear and bright but rarely grainy or coarse.

In a head-to-head with Prism 11, TARA Lab's Prism 22 won our panel's praise for its freer sound, quick dynamics, firm bass and excellent vocal projection. These qualities represent a subtle refinement over Prism 11 but more than justify the slight difference in cost.

Verdict

	Good bass definition with equally expressive mid and top.
	Treble is not quite as smooth as the very best.

Sound Quality	Value for Money

Inductance	0.22 uH
Capacitance	115 pF
Resistance	32 mohm
Leakage	>530 Mohm
Q-Factor	>100
Resonant Freq.	31.6 MHz
Series Bandpass	23.9KHz