Ultra Series Interconnect Review

[dannoh]

As a first time buyer of Emotiva products and also someone who works in a QA / QC capacity, I wanted to chime in some feedback on the Ultra series cables that I purchased along with a USP-1.

Pros -

1) The packaging of the cables is top notch. Nice anti-static bags with zip lock tops allowing re-use of the bags, if need be. It is much nicer than I expected, and in line with Emotiva's mission of high quality components at a reasonable price.

2) Each of the cables comes tied with two Velcro retaining strips that double as re-usable cable ties once the wires are placed into the system, along with a plethora of little colored O-rings for cable identification. Again, little details that brought a smile to my face while unpacking.

3) The orientation of the cables in the bag is consistent across the product line. All three of the products I purchased (speaker interconnects, and RCA single and double connections) were wound to fit the bag properly, with interconnects facing upwards towards the seal in all bags. While this may seem insignificant, it is indicative of someone, at some point in the processing of the cables, taking the time to sweat the little details of product packaging.

4) The USS-3's are overbuilt for their cost. The cable proper is probably 12 millimeters in diameter, and the connections on each end are rock solid. Overall impression of the cable is that of a long skinny blue snake, or a long insulated stretch of extra flexible 2/0 gauge cable.

Cons -

1) The RCA cable terminations, especially the red colored connectors on the duplex cables, are especially tight fits. I ended up not using two of the three pair for fear that the amount of force I would need to apply to get the RCA onto my component would end up breaking the PCB of the component. I'm going to attempt to stretch them out a bit with a dead female RCA jack or perhaps a rig made of machined aluminum.

Overall -

I was pleasantly surprised by the Ultra series cables, and would recommend them, especially at their price range. The attention to detail taken in even the mundane details of the interconnects is admirable, especially considering they are subcontracted out overseas; I wish I could get this level of detail from some of our overseas API manufacturers. The red connector tightness is not a show stopper, and does not detract from my overall enjoyment of the interconnects.

I will spare the board another review of the USP-1; it coupled with an old Sony TA-N55ES really brought the current speakers to life, and it eagerly awaits the arrival of a pair of UPA-1's.

[Porscheguy]

I've had poor luck with them as it relates to the fit. I bought a dozen of them and not one of them would fit onto the female end of my components. I had to send them back and wait for replacements.

A few weeks later a ordered six more and half of them do not fit properly or at all.......

[bigred7078]

Feb 15, 2010 20:06:51 GMT -5 Porscheguy said:

I've had poor luck with them as it relates to the fit. I bought a dozen of them and not one of them would fit onto the female end of my components. I had to send them back and wait for replacements.

A few weeks later a ordered six more and half of them do not fit properly or at all.......

Strange, and that sucks man.

[ntrain42]

A very tight fit is a good thing in my book. I already picked up mine and they all went on extra tight...........means a good solid connection.

A little tip, if you feel they are too tight to put on your equipment, then use a cheap radioshack female to male connector and jam em onto that and pull them off without any fear of hurting your equipment. Repeat a few times if necessary.

[Animo]

We use a product amongst my friends in my marine community for corrosion and lubrication. The stuff has 1001 uses and growing every day. We use it mostly for corroded fasteners, and electrical connectors. It is perfectly safe to use on electronic connections as well. It was originally developed for aerospace and the aviation industries, but has grown in leaps and bounds. The product is called Corrosion X. I wouldn't hesitate to try a little spray on the tight connector and see if it helps to slide onto the RCA plug.
www.corrosionx.com

Just in case you doubt the video, I have seen the Tv demo at many boat shows, and it indeed works underwater.

[Animo]

Feb 16, 2010 9:36:06 GMT -5 ntrain42 said:

A very tight fit is a good thing in my book. I already picked up mine and they all went on extra tight...........means a good solid connection.

A little tip, if you feel they are too tight to put on your equipment, then use a cheap radioshack female to male connector and jam em onto that and pull them off without any fear of hurting your equipment. Repeat a few times if necessary.

tight connections are great.
Too tight could be disastrous.
Your suggestion of the Radio Shack adapter makes good sense.
I used to have Monster Turbine RCAs that were so tight, when I went to remove them, I actually pulled the female RCA plugs out of the equipment. Hence, no more Monster products for me, or connectors that are too tight in general.

[ntrain42]

Another good tip is to use an electrical conduit lube.......probably somewhat similiar to what was posted above. Electrical conduit grease can be had at any HD or auto parts store.

[Animo]

I've found that the grease will attract dust to a greater degree than the spray. Corrosion X also makes a thicker product (Blue can) that forms a complete waterproof type barrier. I use the Blue Can for protecting the bearings on the tillar arms of the rudders on my boat. 5 years in a salt water environment, and they look like they came out of the box yesterday. For our type of usage the Red Can should work just fine.

**On another note....do not try to use WD-40 in the same type of application!!!**