WireWorld Atlantis II Review

Ninety Neutral Dollars

Original product details

• Description: Audio interconnect cable
• Original US retail price (1999): $90 per one-meter pair
• Manufacturer: WireWorld

I have been using WireWorld interconnect cables in both my reference and budget system for over two years. Our technical editor, Jürgen Reis, believes that David Salz’s cables are the closest thing to neutrality that he has heard. JR serves as chief designer for mbl and in my opinion, has engineered some of the most advanced and breathtaking equipment on this planet. His ears are second to none and I highly regard his opinion when it comes to audio. When he suggested that I try some WireWorld Eclipse II interconnect in my home system, I was curious but unaware of the huge impact it would make upon my system’s sound quality. When I received my first pair of WireWorld Atlantis II interconnect, I was completely taken aback.

The Technology

The Atlantis II cable is constructed using the same technology as its more expensive brethren, including Symmetricoax configuration, Grain Optimized conductors, constrained layer construction, polymer coated strands, and microporous Teflon dielectrics. As you become familiar with the high-end and audio in general, you begin to spot “technology” that may have some scientific basis and “technology” that is really high-end marketing fluff. On occasion, I will receive an email from a reader asking me to decipher the meaning of a cable or component’s proprietary technology and what effect it will have on the sound. I usually scratch my head and forward it off to JR for an in-depth technical explanation in layman’s terms. Most of the time, his response reinforces my initial conclusions—technobabble used to pummel the consumer into purchasing submission.

I am amazed at the embellishment that manufacturers use to hype the benefits of their newly discovered technology but cannot fault their motives. In a perfect world, all cables would be available for auditioning prior to purchase for everyone and anyone. But due to restricted availability and consumers’ lack of experience and trust in their own ears, audiophiles must distinguish between the differences in cable quality from reviews and advertisements. Hence, we currently and will continue to see new product excitement generated from the offices of your local PR and marketing firm. How else can a manufacturer distinguish its products in a two-dimensional environment? You cannot actually listen to pictures or words embedded upon paper.

Refreshingly, WireWorld does not attempt to distinguish itself from the rest of the industry by omitting the explanations of the technology used in their cable lines. They distinguish themselves by basing their claims on solid textbook principles. The following is the CliffsNotes version of the principles used by David Salz in the construction of the Atlantis II. But remember, the truth lies with the sound.

Symmetricoax configuration places the 50 conductors of the Atlantis II into a concentric form similar to that of a solar eclipse. According to WireWorld, this design is superior to conventional coaxial designs because it more evenly distributes the energy of the electromagnetic field formed around the cable as the signal passes through the conductors. A more even distribution produces a smaller amount of electromagnetic distortion. WireWorld believes that this is the only design that simultaneously minimizes capacitance, skin effect, mechanical instability, and external interference.

Grain Optimized conductors are a unique technology that controls both the size and the shape of the individual conductor grains to minimize distortion of the signal. By producing a conductor that is optimized for signal transfer in one direction only, WireWorld is capable of minimizing the inherent problems associated with imperfections in all copper and silver conductors—grain boundaries. Grain boundaries create distortion that varies with the direction of the signal flow. The basic idea is to optimize the cable in one direction (indicated by the printed arrows on the cable jacket) and forget about the grain boundaries affecting the signal passing through in the opposite direction.

Just when you thought you were safe from insidious vibrations, along comes a wave to wreak havoc on your system through your cables. Conductor movement—caused by external vibrations and the electromagnetic force of the audio signal—can produce distortion by varying the electrical relationships and by causing inconsistent contact between strands. The Atlantis II maintains a construction of constrained layers to combat conductor movement. From the outside jacket to the inside core lie the following materials: outer PVC jacket, polypropylene, copper strands, microporous Teflon, copper strands, Kevlar core.

Polymer coated copper strands also serve to eliminate inconsistent contact between conductors as well as long-term degradation of the copper due to surface corrosion. WireWorld believes that the greatest benefit from increased stability of its cables is distinct separation of the audio signal without smearing or blending of the music.

Testing 1-2-3

I auditioned the Atlantis II using both my reference system and my budget system. Using these disparate systems allowed me to evaluate the Atlantis II with a wide range of components and combinations. The main system consists of large Energy floor-standing loudspeakers and big Rowland solid-state electronics. The smaller system uses a Decware single-ended tube amplifier to drive stand-mounted KEF bookshelf speakers. Digital sourcing was either a CD player or DVD player spinning 24/96 DADs. Although most people will purchase this cable for more modestly priced systems, I foresee some audiophiles using this cable in their main rig. I know one audiophile who uses Atlantis II interconnect and speaker cable exclusively in his high-end stereo/home theater system. At the original $90-per-pair price, he didn’t have to sell off his Zegna wardrobe. Will Atlantis II take your old cables out to the cleaners too? Read on, you’re almost there.

No Additives or Preservatives

The WireWorld Atlantis II interconnect is one helluva cable. It does have a sonic signature and will influence your system’s sound but it will be ever so slight compared to most other cables in its class (even much more expensive cables). I would characterize these cables as having a naturally full sound with excellent bass. This was readily apparent on Ben Folds Five’s The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner, their current release at the time. On “Army,” the piano line is realistically expansive and grand. The bass is also well-extended and solidly defined. Replacing the Atlantis II with Monster Cable M850i caused the bass to retreat back into the speakers. The balance was off and the highs became more prominent, almost aggressive and at times irritating. In addition, the once stadium-like environment had become an elevator-sized venue, complete with Hasbro toy piano.

I was not present at the recording of Messner so I would not know what the CD should sound like. But when I had switched in a number of more expensive cables, including Monster Cable’s own M1500, the piano emerged from its recessive state and blossomed back to a similar form originally defined by the Atlantis II. Sometimes performance and reputation is reinforced by the company you keep.

These blue-jacketed wires also exhibit extremely good resolution in the critical mid-region. Although the Cranberries’ Bury The Hatchet lacks the coherency of their earlier albums, Dolores O’Riordan launches “Animal Instinct” with passionate but deliberate words. At its original $300-per-pair price, I would expect my reference WireWorld Eclipse II to convey every nuance of information about O’Riordan’s voice. But at the Atlantis II’s original $90 price, I was impressed and at times blown away by the amount of detail that was highlighted by the much lower priced interconnect.

It does not surpass Kimber Kable’s PBJ in terms of clarity and sheer resolution but it is more evenly balanced and doesn’t impart a thinness or excessive high frequency energy to the sound. The music is presented in a first-class manner, without sibilance or tipped-up high frequencies to fool the listener into thinking that there is more information than is really available. Vocals are left intact and clean, an almost perfect clone of the mid-band as the signal passes from my CD player’s outputs to my preamp’s inputs.

Soundstaging and imaging are very good but not exceptional. Using both the Energy and KEF loudspeakers, the stage width and depth extended beyond the edges of the loudspeakers when the recording called for it. But it is the extra ten or twelve inches of extension that distinguishes the Class “A” product from the borderline Class “A” product. The Atlantis II has the determination and thoroughbred breeding, but somehow the historical $90 price point places a ceiling over the cable’s attainable performance level. This is not surprising and all products succumb to this limitation in one form or another.

Conclusion

I believe that the Atlantis II interconnect cable presents the music with very little editorial effect of its own. Bass is exceptionally extended, full bodied, and tight for this price category. Spatial characteristics are very good and absolute resolution is second only to a handful of similarly priced cables. But again, this is received at the price of thinner, more constricted sound and seemingly more treble. The highs are right on without any sign of hardness to violins and especially cymbals.

I do not believe that consumers realize how unusual it is to find a cable that imparts such little of its own sonic personality to the music. Most audiophiles look for cables in this price range that “balance” out the deficiencies in the rest of their system. Many seek out cables with excellent qualities in one or two areas but mediocre performance in all the rest. Few will follow the path of neutrality and overall balance.

WireWorld presented the $90 audiophile of 1999 with an opportunity to hear 85–90% of the magic provided by its more expensive Eclipse series. For some listeners, that last 10–15% of performance was well worth the extra $200 investment (myself included). But for those of you who didn’t get to purchase that IPO stock at the offering price, the Atlantis II will be all the cable you’ll ever need.

Greg’s system

Main

Meridian 586 CD/DVD player → WireWorld Eclipse II single-ended interconnect → Jeff Rowland Design Group Consonance preamplifier → WireWorld Eclipse II balanced interconnect → Jeff Rowland Design Group Model 1 amplifier → XLO Type 6A speaker cable → Energy Veritas v1.8 loudspeakers

Secondary

Marantz CD67se CD player → WireWorld Atlantis II single-ended interconnect → Decware SE84B amplifier → JPS Labs Ultra Conductor speaker cable → KEF Q15 loudspeakers / Osiris speaker stands