 Joe Lee says
( 13 December 2000)
Maestro - cable that can sing  Size doesn’t matter, a little bit of grease helps...
Au-24 exemplified the term “Size doesn’t matter”. Auric Illuminator proves that a little bit of grease can add flame to your Saturday’s Hi-Fi Fever. Ever since I realized all these I have been waiting eagerly for the third surprise from Audience. You know, I love surprises! I have been so convinced with the first two and now I’m dying for the third. I have become such a believer in Audience that whatever they say,  I believe…if even pigs can fly, what else is impossible? It makes me wonder…Scepticism doesn’t kills, but it can surely decelerate the advancement of audio industry! Just imagine what would had happened if after I received the sample months ago but due to my laziness or ignorance I didn’t bother to give Auric Illuminator a try? In that case I would have never brought-in and recommended this magical product to all of you…In that case hundreds and thousands of you may not have enjoyed your CDs or DVDs as much as you did now… Are you sure the world is round? Possible? Very! What if I really…? The more scary part is, what if I overlook it and another aggressive agent such as Audio 88 grabbed the agency? I throbbed whenever this idea crossed my mind… It is sad to know that many audiophiles out there are still having serious doubts about Auric Illuminator? They wonder how it works? No, in fact they asked how could it work? How can two drops of ‘GEL’ improve the entire audio spectrum? How come so many people are talking about it and there are so many positive reviews?  Aiyah...we are stepping into a new millennium and there are lots of new technologies which are beyond our understanding…so where got so many ‘How’? S$60/set (member’s price) won’t kill anyone, and can’t make me rich either. Why not just give it a try and be convinced; experience a new dimension of sight and sound and be a happier audiophile?
No? Are you sure? Hey, only S$60? Still No? Are you absolutely sure? I am really puzzled… It can be very bloody... Now, Au-24 is different! Although it won’t kill either, the damage can be really…very… I really  envy a few members who could afford to buy more than two pairs of AU-24 at one go. The 1m pair interconnecting cables (RCA) costs S$630 (member’s price) and I believe not everyone of you, including me, can just say, “OK, buy!” with a snap of the fingers! Not to mention about the crazily priced speaker cables which present a dilemma for me, whether or not I should bring in. Although we provide seven days full money-back-guarantee for all Au-24 products; although I always persuade members to give it a try and tell them that there is no harm done, if you don’t like it just return…nevertheless, I know damn well that the damage could be disastrous. What happen if you hear what I heard which you are supposed to and really like the charm of Au-24 as much as I do? If you have read the feedback posted in our forum section you should know that your chances of winning are dim…consequently your saving is dried out; you owe your wife some explanations; you have to borrow money from loan-sharks…Just because of one tiny skinny ugly cable? Are all these sacrifices worthwhile....? Reminds me of the movie ‘Saving Private Ryan’…
Maestro + Conductor? Do you think they can get along well? Anyway, Au-24 interconnects were all sold-out, we have very little Auric Illuminator left, and the new stock should arrive before Christmas…hopefully!  For the past few weeks everyday I was waiting anxiously for my third climax…Audience told me that they have a fantastic Au-24 power cord (read the review), I ordered one set of sample months ago and it never arrive; they told me Au-24 speaker cables is even much more brilliant than the interconnect, but I have no chance to audition…
I was waiting and waiting and waiting till I almost drop dead…then few days ago I received the samples of Audience’s second and third interconnects – The “Maestro” and The “Conductor”! Oh, I see…this time what Audience delivered is not only ‘surprise’; it is “surprise, surprise!” I am a bit too old to take two at a time, so…if you don’t mind, readers, I would like to tell you about “Maestro” first...”Conductor” in the next round. At least, it looks like an interconnecting cable... Well, after my experience of the first encounter of Au-24, being shocked by its look and weight, I expected ‘Maestro’ at half the price to be even uglier and lighter...I almost decided to turn off the air-con before I opened the box as I was a bit worried that the cable may float in the air…Kim said I am silly!  Open sesame! AaHa…this is REAL SURPRISE!
Unlike Au-24, this cable with a decent name ‘Maestro’ is really decent…well, at least it really looks like a cable to me; I mean it looks like an interconnecting cables that can asked for S$300~$400 without too much sales talk or explanation required. The thickness is more than twice that of Au24 and the feel is not as rigid as Au-24. The RCA plug is the same “looks no good but indeed very good” type, giving excellent contact. OK, I guess not many ordinary musicians or conductors dare to call themselves ‘Maestro’, the chosen name of this cable is already marketable! Furthermore, Maestro’s thickness is convincing and I don’t have to worry much about users’ response like Au-24…so what are we waiting for? We need audition! Sorry, I’m afraid I have to repeat all over again... I don’t know about you but I am really sick with reading ‘Joe Lee’s way’ of describing Audience’s products since two months ago…exaggerating words or phrases like: ”Superb! Stunning! Jaws dropped! Unbelievable! Dramatic! Extraordinary Musical! Beyond Imagination! Out of the World! Invincible! A-Must…” All these descriptions were being used repeatedly...over and over…what else?  What else? You better tell me what else…My English is poor...other than all these words or phrases above I really don’t know what and how to describe the performance of ‘Maestro’ appropriately. Once again, this S$300+ interconnecting cable is a BIG SURPRISE!
The main characteristics of Maestro, although audibly different from Au-24, do resemble Au24 in some aspects especially in midrange and overall balance. Both are extremely quiet (still, Au-24 is slightly quieter if you are really critical) and the handling power in terms of details or micro-details is amazing. The analytical power of Au-24 is slightly stronger especially in the bass region but consequently Maestro gives more “rounded” bass… Overall Maestro is…how should I put it…perhaps not a brother but a sister of the same parent. Maestro’s and Au24’s musical features are very much alike with Maestro slightly on the feminine side. Tenor? Or soprano? Perhaps the majority of audiophiles will find Maestro even more musical than Au-24.  Comparatively speaking, I feel that Au-24 gives extremely ‘Pure’ sound and Maestro is slightly coloured, but coloured in the most pleasant way. It is like comparing Leitz lenses with Carl Zeiss. The orientations are different but both have attracted huge number of loyal fans. Like the Au-24, Maestro is designed for low eddy currents. However, it uses a very high purity oxygen free copper whereas Au-24 uses the superior Ohno Continuous Cast Copper conductors. I think that’s where the price difference comes from.
Throughout the few hours of audition I must say that raw-Maestro (straight out of the box, not burn-in) gives one of the most pleasing sounds that I’ve ever heard. It is slightly laid-back but the details are extraordinarily rich and produced in the most effortless way. The musical pace gives kind of groovy feeling and overall the sound is fairly warm. Even with not-so-good recordings Maestro is exceptionally generous and still reproduced them in the most musical way. The ambience is unique and valve-like. If I have to use only one phrase to describe Maestro, I think I would say “A cable that can sing!” I think I have made everybody itchy...but in fact we have no stock! Now we are enjoying our audio system using the best combination in my opinion: Au-24 as source cable and Maestro linked between Preamp and Power amp. Maybe it is due to my poverty or ignorance, I was very price conscious. I always worried that Au-24 is too expensive until I was told by many members and friends that in fact it could only be considered as mid-price, not high price. There are many brands of interconnect with price tags way above S$1K per metre pair. Now at half the price of Au-24, Maestro offered even greater value for money. Furthermore, even at this price of S$315 per 1m pair (member’s price), in order to ease your mind and show our confidence, we still offer 7 days money back guarantee like the Au-24! I have nothing else to say except “What are you waiting for?”  Oh, pardon me, I’m afraid you have to wait. The stock shall reach us...hopefully, before Christmas, or after...but definitely not later than Chinese New Year...
Hmm...not sure... | 
