Ultra Black II
Even taking in account all the awards that the old Ultra Black speaker cable won, this new version gives a whole new level of performance that is obvious from the first second of listening. Greater detail, more clarity, more organic but still sitting very firmly in the Black cable family.
The first few people to have heard the new cable were surprised to say the least.
Old Ultra Black
“Tellurium Q Ultra Black is the cable we wanted to make from day one. We told our UK distributor what to expect as we handed them a prototype that looked more like a fireman’s hose and less like a sonic phenomena. They glanced at the heavy, stiff and it has to be said ugly brown experiment. “Yes, well we will give it a go and take it to a few dealers to see what they think”. Later that day we get a phone call from our disbelieving UK distributors at Kog Audio, “what the hell is in it? We’ve never heard anything like this!”.
They took it on trust that the production version would be incredibly thin and flexible by comparison and look a whole lot better. So Kog Audio put in an advance order that day without needing to see or hear the production model because, in their words, “if it is even quarter as good as the prototype it will blow people away”.
We think that the production version sounds better than the prototype.
At first glance you could be forgiven for thinking that the Blue Diamond and Ultra Black were the same cable with different printing but when you plug the Ultra Black into your system there is absolutely no doubt that the Ultra Black is in a totally different league.”
Note: All Tellurium Q Speaker cables can be Bi-wired by adding an extra cable during manufacture.
“Having inaugurated an awards season for 2022, it seemed appropriate to acknowledge some key pieces of HiFi equipment that have passed through HF&MS over the preceding nine years. There have been just three ‘Night and Day’ moments over this period. These experiences are usually unexpected and simply tangible, where you just think; ‘blimey, this is really really good!
I was one of those who appreciated cables were important but I had no idea how profound the introduction of a medium to high-end cable could be and the Ultra Black II is by no means Tellurium Q’s best cable.”
“The Ultra Black II speaker cable is good for systems where you need to improve spatial clarity. The images keep their density and their weight, the imaginary contours of virtual sources are better outlined and detailed separation of foregrounds appears. The same effect of underlined three-dimensionality of the front edge of the scene, and even with some expansion of the stereo base.
Things that for the same money help to jump into another level, are really rare.”
“If you have the original Tellurium Q Ultra Black then this update might take you aback. It doesn’t just improve on the original it takes the sound on in leaps and bounds…… I heard the same effect on every track I played – leading me to believe that there is something special going on with these Ultra Black IIs….Tellurium Q’s Ultra Black II’s can be see as one of the best loudspeaker cables on the market at their price”
“The character of the speaker cables is distinctly pacy; this is very much a rhythm-oriented cable, where timing is given top billing regardless of the music being played. And this makes it very engaging and powerful; my foot started tapping of its own accord and I found myself swept up with the groove on all manner of tracks.”“Tellurium Q Ultra Black II is a remarkably coherent and “well-timed” cable”
“It was like when I upgraded my TV from an HD LED set to an Ultra High Definition 4K set. The differences were stunning…..What I can state is that the Ultra Black 11 cables are currently the best I have heard in my system
The Ultra Black II’s allow our ears and brain to work as they would in a live environment picking out every nuance and sound cues to create that actual experience, not a close approximation. Let’s just say I was hearing so much more into the performance. I genuinely was hearing microscopic details I just didn’t know we there before”
“However, whatever it is it works wonders. I have yet to hear a speaker cable which delivers timing like this one. I cannot quantify scientifically the difference between the two generations but if pressed I’d say they are 30 to 40 percent better. That is a big leap in performance.
A good friend of mine manages a well respected retail outlet in South West London, and gave me a lot of invaluable advice and guidance when I decided to get a Linn LP12, which I did last year. When I told him what I was reviewing he said “Good, now you will find out just how good that LP12 really is!. He was right.”
“The extension is incredibly clean and natural and I must say that I didn’t manage to find that in another cable until now… I’ve been listening to some live recordings which were incredibly real, from the sounds in the audiences, to the voices and instruments on the stage. Even the clapping was hauntingly lifelike, putting me right there in front of the audience.”
“So what is it that the Tellurium Q’s do and the other cables not? Or do but only to a lesser extent? They are damn musical, for one thing. Second, they appear to diminish harshness of the digital sources. Third, they let the midrange shine. Fourth, they keep the low bass frequencies well under control. Not bad for a pair of cables.”
“… things seem to start and stop when they ought to and this adds to what I can only describe as a sharper aural image. Clarity is the only word I can really find to describe the effect of these cables”
“Thought I would drop you a little follow up… I have really been enjoying the Ultra Black ii rca cables… For me they have been an eye (ear) opener to what good cables can do!
I have since acquired a pair of Ultra Black ii speaker cables… again wow! These are a great step on from the [removed] I was previously using.
I have not heard my system sound so refined yet full of detail… and feel… I find myself being drawn into the music much more easily.”
– Paul Stemp, UK