PGS-V16 AND PGS-V16-T
PGS-V15-V16 is a significantly updated and improved version* of our acclaimed “original” PGS.
From the very beginning of PGS (early 2000’s ) the signal carrying conductor – i.e. the conductor, connecting the center pins of the RCAs, and pins 2 and 3 of the XLRs – are made of gold, and nothing else. Hence its name: Pure Gold Signal.
The “return” path (ground path) – i.e. the outer part of the RCA, and the ground pin in its balanced configuration (pin 1 of the XLR) – are connected together via copper braid (shield). Using only gold for the return path is not a good idea: we need high conductivity in the return path, plus we need shielding effect, and if this braid were made of gold, it would have been prohibitively expensive, without any sonic benefit.
PGS V15 and V16 is the same, and instead of pure 99.99% gold (which was used in previous PGS) – make use of a gold-based alloy, which is sonically superior, according to our tests: pure gold sounds “sweet”, but soft, tube-like – which offered an obvious benefit for DIGITAL sources, because it reduced the digital harshness (audibility of digital artefacts, caused of less-then-perfect digital-to-analog conversion), and thus made digital sources sound more “analog”.
With today’s – more advanced digital-to-analog converters – our new alloy, used in the PGS V15 and V16 – has advantages, as it offers better treble extension (reduced effect of masking digital artifacts).
The PGS V16 is thicker (larger in diameter) than before (i.e PGS-08), making the V16 cables more robust, and reducing the capacitance by approximately 20%.
The inside geometry is the same as before.
But the signal wire is different: a proprietary layered alloy (gold-Molybdenum-Ruthenium), and the new PGS V16, while retaining the original “sweet” sound (related to the gold conductive material) – is now closer to “neutral” sound, as the new allow mostly removes the coloration in the upper-treble, which has been a single small drawback of the pure gold wire used in the “original” PGS and the PGS-08.
The PGS-V16 cables have individual serial numbers.
The PGS-V16-T has a STEALTH tuning collar**, the PGS V16 (without the “T”) doesn’t have that collar
Except for the tuning collar, the V16 and the V16-T are identical. Shown below is the PGS-V16-T with RCAs.
The RCA connectors for the PGS V16 and PGS V16-T are Rhodium plated, with carbon locking collars.
The XLR connectors on the standard balanced PGS V16, and the balanced PGS-V16-T are STEALTH-modified Neutriks with carbon fiber backs and serial numbers;
STEALTH tuning collars on the PGS-V16-T
Based on numerous listening sessions with various equipment, a STEALTH “T” cable with a tuning collar in the optimum position, the overall result (sound) is better than with the cable without the collar, BUT – with the collar in incorrect position the sound is not as good as with a cable without the collar.
The best sounding tuning collar position is different for every two pieces of equipment which that cable connect, thus it is impossible to point at the same spot (location) of the collar, giving the same sound as without the collar.
Finding the best position of the collar is a lengthy process and requires some time and patience. Usually two people are needed (one is listening, and the other is moving the collar). It is even better to have several people, and listen together.
So, usually, an evening, or even entire day can be dedicated to finding the best collar position – for a particular audio system.
But the result is worth the effort!
In general, finding the best position of the sliding tuning collar on a STEALTH audio cable is similar in effect to finding the best position (location) of a pair of speakers in a room: an audio system sounds MUCH better if the position of the speakers in optimized, and the same audio system doesn’t sound good with wrong (incorrect) position of a pair of speakers in a room.
PRICING
The standard PGS V16 RCA retails for $1,300 in 1 meter, $560 per each extra meter (without the sliding collar).
The standard PGS V16 balanced XLR retails for $1,660 in 1 meter, $740 per each extra meter (without the sliding collar).
The PGS V16-T RCA retails for $1,900 in 1 meter, $560 per each extra meter
The PGS V16-T balanced XLR will retail for $2,260 in 1 meter, $740 per each extra meter
REVISION
The “original” PGS PGS
“Pure Gold Signal”: a single, very thin (0.004″ in diameter), 99.99% pure gold signal conductor, surrounded by porous Teflon® insulation, and a complex cross-wrapped “return” (multiple thin strands).
PGS was beta-tested in 1999 and was in production since December 1999 until April 2002 (when it was replaced with the PGS-XL).
After several years in production and several hundred opinions collected, it became clear that the PGS is one of the most “refined” and “analog sounding” interconnect cables in existence. Note – the same as with copper and silver cables, not all gold cables sound the same! There is much more than just using pure gold wire in these cables…