Tellurium Q
Reveal the music – the first cables designed to combat phase distortion
Tellurium Q is the first range of cables specifically engineered to avoid phase-distortion. To achieve this goal, this made-in-England cable has received attention to every parameter, both electrical and mechanical. Conductor material, construction, doping and geometry; dielectric properties and vibrational damping – these along with perfectly balanced inductance, capacitance and resistance result in a cable range with unique virtues. By avoiding the time-smear and colourations that are caused by phase distortion, the nuances, dynamics and rhythmic insight of the performance are preserved.
They produce an extensive range of cables, including speaker cables, interconnect cables (analogue and digital including USB) plus power cables.
As mentioned above when Tellurium Q first launched, the primary focus was dealing with phase-distortion. The problem with this is a simple one; all of the materials (not just the wire!) in the path of a signal will act as an electronic filter which results in timing shifts in the cable and poorer sound quality as a result.
Tellurium Q have combatted this by designing a range of cables which are intended to be as transparent as possible. They paid huge attention to this, listening at every stage of the R&D process and specifying unique raw materials for every application, even the chemicals to be included (or not) in a plating bath!
Families of Sound – 3 Distinct Tellurium Q Ranges
Because different equipment has different sonic properties, and taking into account personal preferences, Tellurium have designed 3 distinct ranges of cables with different sonic characteristics to take into account customers demands and the vast range of equipment that is out there.
Depending on the tonal balance of your system and the sound you like there is a Tellurium Q cable to fit the bill. So if your system requires more warmth or you want to make it more revealing the cables you need will potentially be quite different.
Because the Tellurium Q range is quite extensive and 3 ranges overlap one another in places I often get asked about the overall hierarchy of the cables, how does Ultra Black compare to Blue Diamond etc. The following diagram is quite useful in outlining the range from top to bottom. You can’t follow that hierachy exactly as it doesn’t take into account differences in taste and different equipment, but it certainly helps.
Because of the different sonic properties of the Blue, Black and Silver one important factor to stress is about mixing cables. There is no issue mixing up Blue and Black together, the same with Black and Silver, but I would avoid the temptation to mix Blue and Silver together as they are quite different to one another tonally. In my experience the best performance always comes when you are consistent with choice of cables.
Blue Cables
The Blue range of cables is ideal if you have a system which can be a little aggressive or harsh sounding and you want to rein it in to make the presentation more relaxed and natural. Don’t presume that this means that the Blue cables are all laid back and sound boring, far from it.
I’ve done demonstrations of the Blue against other brands of cables and initially some of the other cables may sound more “exciting’ or more ‘informative” when you do a quick demonstration that may last for an hour or so. But that so-called exciting sound can become tiresome or fatiguing over extended listening sessions and that is never a good thing in the long run.
Black Cables
The Black range of cables from Tellurium has been very popular and for good reason – this covers Black II, Ultra Black II and also Black Diamond. If you have a well balanced system and you are wanting cables that will show off your systems ability to render recordings with superb realism and incredible resolution whilst keeping the presentation natural, coherent with no harshness or aggression the Black is an excellent choice.
Black will take you closer to the music and the performers. It will give you a wonderful sense of space, texture and clarity whilst remaining natural and not forced or bright in any way.
This range won countless awards and for good reason, I’ve lost count of the number of times people have looked at the black speaker cable and have commented that it doesn’t look particularly special, or it’s not very thick or words to that affect. Then they borrow some and invariably they come back to me wanting to buy it!
For me Ultra Black II and Black Diamond are the key models in the Black family, when someone compares Black II to Ultra Black II there is only ever one outcome, sure it costs more money, but the results speak for themselves, the same applies with Black Diamond to be fair.
Silver Cables
The Silver range of cables are totally uncoloured, acting as a wide open channel sounding unforced, vivid and dynamic with phenomenal resolution and transparency. All this while sounding extremely analogue and coherent, from the exceptional top end extension to bottom with finely detailed, separated bass notes.
The Silver range will really show what your system is capable of delivering, it’s a fabulous group of cables and if you are wanting your system to be as transparent as possible whilst remaining natural and well balanced it should be right at the top of your audition list. Many assume that silver is a bit of a dirty word and they conjure up thoughts of silver cables being bright and aggressive sounding, not so here.
