Audioquest FLX-SLiP 14/4 review

Product of the Year, Awards 2013. Does finesse and subtlety just as well as dynamic heft and punch Tested at £6

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

Product of the Year, Awards 2013. If you're looking for a cable that does finesse and subtlety just as well as dynamic heft and punch, this is it

Pros

  • +

    Incredibly capable yet easy to listen to

Cons

  • -

    Nothing of note

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MORE: See all our 2013 Award winners

Who among us hasn’t cursed a cable for being too sturdy to turn a tight corner in a kit rack? Well AudioQuest’s flexible (FLX) and easy-to-pull-through-walls (SLiP) wire makes that kind of thing a doddle. But how easy is it to listen to?

A quick spin of Tortoise’s solid debut set – called Tortoise, imaginatively enough – and the 14/4 conveys a balanced, well-organised sound that never lets its rhythmic grip waver and renders leading edges with precision and grace.

Audioquest FLX-SLiP 14/4: Superb performance
Test-track favourite Cornpone Brunch is a tough one to get right at the best of times, thanks to its driving rhythm peppered with subtle snare-drum and ride-cymbal dynamics, and rich, deep bass – so the AudioQuest has its work cut out.

Lesser cables would muck this right up – but the AudioQuest, simply put, covers itself in glory. More full-bodied than the QED Ruby Anniversary Evolution, with a better grasp of dynamics than the Atlas Equator 2.0 OFC and with a smoother, cleaner treble than Chord's excellent Carnival SilverScreen, the FLX-SLiP is incredibly easy to listen to.

Combine the Chord’s exuberance with the natural sound of the Atlas, then knock some cash off, and you have the fantastic AudioQuest.

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What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.


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