Report from ”Quality HiFi“, Netherland, edition September

(translated from Dutch to German to English)

An audiophile UTP-cable by MeiCord: nonsense or audibly better?

Eight tiny wires on both sides with transparent plugs that were originally developed for the

telephone, a long time ago ….

A “simple” cable, if you compare it to the impressive examples an audiophile uses for his power- und

signal-transmission.

But this cable fulfills an important function in many systems: the transport of data, usually from the

modem to the streamer or between NAS and router. Most music lovers prefer a permanent cable

connection to a slower and less stable wireless connection.

A standard UTP-cable is normally colored grey and costs a few cents more per meter. A few months

ago an audio-enthusiast, who uses Linn streamer as the most important part in his installation, called

my attention to the UTP-cable of the German company MeiCord, type “opal”.

A few technical details:

An unshielded Kat.6-cable with the special feature of newly designed plugs, providing that the thin

wires do no cross. The Kat.-classification refers to the demands on attenuation and crosstalk. These

data are therefore measurable.

In an article by the German magazine “Stereo” (edition 04/2010) these measured data are positively

assessed. But what is more interesting to the music lover: do you hear any improvement?

First steps:

I needed about seven meters for the connection between router and streamer, which I then ordered

at MeiCord and received three days later, together with an individual measuring protocol with

impressive graphics and dB-values ….

The blue cable is considerably stiffer and thicker than my grey standard cables, but flexible enough.

After a dusty trip through the crawl space of my house I laid the cable directly next to the grey cables

so that I can compare them well.

I took a few well-known, excellent recordings in HD-quality as a reference. Together with me, my

wife, blessed with an excellent sense of hearing and a share of skepticism, as well as my daughter,

who can identify ultra-subtle signal-sounds of switching power supplies from a distance of 10 meters,

served as volunteers to judge every hearable difference. I did not pay attention to the advice by

MeiCord to familiarize this cable for a period of 14 days as my curiosity and impatience won out.

Conclusion:

Well, I could definitely leave out the familiarization phase. The improvement was immediately clearly

audible. You experience the music more naturally, in an orchestra the different instruments can be

distinguished better, the bass range sounds tenser. It sounds classier; you need a lot less effort to be

able to enjoy the music.

It goes without saying that I also made the comparison in the presence of audio-experienced friends,

when it was not visible which cable was used at that time. A comparison like that is always difficult,

especially if you test as a guest in a foreign room – but here the MeiCord “opal” was the test winner

as well.

Meanwhile this UTP-cable has been playing for a few weeks in my set. Of course I still use the

standard cables from time to time, but only to convince various interested persons of the difference.

Nonsense or audibly better?

How that can be explained? The measurement data are excellent, the plug is innovative. The

technicians say: “Data are data, full-stop” and would probably put this down as nonsense. The

audiophile music lover, who trusts his ears, hears the improvements and decides for himself “audibly

better”.

How do you decide?

I can wholeheartedly recommend this cable.

More information and prices on the MeiCord website.

Yours sincerely

Marc van Berlo

Streamers used: Logitech Touch and Linn DS