Townshend Audio DCT (Deep Cryogenically Treated) Isolda Speaker cables have an enviable reputation as being the best cables you can buy. They are a natural and satisfying component for the discerning listener, neither adding or taking away anything to or from the sound, while never becoming fatiguing or irritating. They are just right! We even recommend the use of our Isolda speaker cables in un-equal lengths as the sound is virtually the same, regardless of length.
Townshend Isolda DCT Speaker Cable use very closely spaced insulated flat copper conductors in a polyester braid sheath. Unlike the majority of speaker cables this cable’s close spacing means it is virtually immune to RFI (radio frequency interference) and presents an impedance which closely matches that of the loudspeaker. The result is bass with a solidity and power that is truly seismic, accompanied with genuinely silent backgrounds and incredible 3D imaging.
One astute audiophile remarked that utilising the Isolda speaker cable “ended his Alice-in-Wonderland experience with high-end cables” and he is now able to sit down, relax and listen to music.
Testimonials
I am just listening to your DCT Isolda speaker cables - I borrowed a pair to consider as upgrade to existing Ocos. Improvement is awesome. Just amazingly awesome. Dynaudio use Ocos as their reference cable. You should advise them to change to DCT Isolda.
David, UK.
Hi, I've recently tried about six pricey loudspeaker cables in an attempt to get a cable that I'd be happy with. These included Kimber Select amongst others, which were three or four times the price of Isolda. It wasn't until i hooked up Isolda bi-wire( Chord pre, Wilson Benesch Act II') that the system came to life and opened up, very impressive!Isolda sits in so well, that I'd struggle to find a better cable. In my time in hi-fi, I've rarely come across a product that sounds so 'right'. Thanks!!
Darren, UK.
I would just like to thank you for your excellent products and truly excellent service. I really appreciated the opportunity to try out the Isolda Speaker cable, before purchasing. Both Isolda products are truly world class. It is a fabulous cable, very natural as well as revealing. It just sounds whole, without seeming to emphasize or recess any part of the frequency range. It also looks discreet and is nice to handle (unlike some others I have owned). The sound using Isolda to bi-amp Sugden A21a and A21p amps is fabulous - open, natural and controlled. There is no hint of sibilance or brightness, yet the sound is extremely detailed. I was interested to note, at the hi-fi show last weekend, that Sugden was using Isolda speaker cable and I/C to demo their new Masterclass amp, and they seemed very impressed with it. Also, I am still delighted with the Seismic Sink Stand and Speaker Stands I purchased earlier this year. They work consistently well in different environs. They are also well made, practical and look the business - even my partner is beginning to like them (well, so she tells me anyway!!!).
Graham, UK.
Just letting you know how happy I am with your Isolda cables. They are certainly a big step up from the Kimber 8TC I was using. The music is just more real. There's more of everything, more bass, treble, mids, space, timing, the lot. I can see why you only sell one speaker cable. Thanks again.
James, UK.
A first-class speaker cable that does transparency, detail, speed and evenness of balance extremely well but is of the highest standard when it comes to imaging and bass.
Marco, Italy.
Just replying to let you know that I have received the cables and to say that we think that they are wonderful, they seem so neutral and natural sounding that it is as if there is nothing between the output transformers and the speakers themselves, like truly hearing them for the first time, for both of us, even though our speakers are markedly different.
John, Australia
I am the happy user of your
cryogenic speaker cables which were and are a revelation.
As Jay Fisher observed in his review for 6 Moons: “These cables can convey a huge and realistic soundstage… a cable that can flesh out the music from the top to bottom octave.” His conclusion: “The Townshend Isoldas are killer cables.”
Q: " Excessive handling degrades the sound. " Irreversibly, forever damaged? What would you say is excessive ?
A: Copper "work hardens" i.e. if you flex copper back and forth (or beat it with a hammer), it will get physically harder and it will not sound as good when used for audio cables. Work hardened copper, when left at rest, "self anneals" i.e. it relaxes back to its soft state over time. This is the explanation of "burning in". It has nothing to do with an electrical signal passing through the wire. . . well maybe there could be a slight acceleration in the annealing process due to the minute amount of heat generated by the resistance loss caused by the passage of an electric current. . . all copper cables exhibit this mechanism The Deep Cryogenic Treatment plus baking is a super-annealing process which puts the copper in a completely stress relieved state, hence its excellent sound. So, for your answer, don't move them around more than necessary other than to get them into place. This really applies to all copper cables. Any work hardening will ease in time. It is exponential with most relaxing happening in the first 24 hours. Full softness of beaten copper takes about 6 months!
Q: " Don't walk on them. " If they are under the fitted carpet and that area sometimes gets walked on - does that matter ? That is, did you mean they should not be walked on when the are freestanding and also when they are under carpet.
A: Under carpet in a light load area is OK. Bare on the floor flat with flat shoes or bare feet is OK. On edge with steel caps or flat with stilettos, causes short circuits and blown amps.
Q: Mr Van den Hull says that all metal cables quickly degrade and then the sound irreversibly deteriorates. Do you think that applies to your DCT cables as well. Might as well know now, if it will be necessary to throw them out and buy a new pair in 5 or 10 years ! Won't deter me from buying a pair now, but would be nice to know.
A: It is common knowledge that all metal cables "run in" or "burn In" and in the process "sound better" over time. Sometime taking weeks. So, do copper cables get better and then worse later to suit Mr Van den Hull? Or is everyone wrong and the cables just get worse straight away? My experience with copper and my understanding of metals (I have a degree in engineering, including metallurgy) is that copper just gets better with time. The DCT/baking simply speeds up the aging process by, probably, thousands of years! In my fifty years of Hi Fi I've never heard from anyone else that metals get worse. DCT cables seem to sound better the longer they are in. Also, the DCT process is causes a permanent change in the crystal structure. If that were to reverse, then energy would have been created. If that happened, then the world energy crisis would be solved! Free power for all. Sorry, just not on!
Q: Have you seen the article in November's Stereophile magazine by Herve Deletraz about impedance matching speaker cables and interconnects ? Do you agree with his thesis about making impedance matching modules ?
A: Herve Deletraz's article is spot on, just 30 years late. we have been doing it this long. Yes, boxes make a difference, but it is best (mandatory) to ensure that the output impedance matches the line. Only one end needs to be matched as the match absorbs all reflections at the source (back matching) and, in the case of the speaker connection, matching the cable to the load is the solution (Isolda).
Q: What does "Isolda" refer to ? ( just curious )
A: Isolda is a play on words and themes. we have used Arthurian themes in our earlier products e.g. The Rock/Excalibur turntable/arm combination, the Grail cartridge, Merlin power supply and Glastonbury speakers. In the early 80s we made 8 ohm speaker cable by paralleling up 6 lengths of 50 ohm coaxial cable. The very thick (10mm) cable we used had a total of 900 strands of wire which had to be soldered together in two bunches, So, I had to solder and solder hence Isolda. Izolda was one of the ladies in King Arthur's court, hence the connection.
