I tested the Stage III Concepts A.S.P. CKAHRON XLR Reference cables at the end of last year and found a heck of a lot to like.
This time I’m taking a closer look at the Stage III Concepts Cerberus Ultimate Statement speaker cables and as you can read in the review, there’s a lot to like and be inspired by.
Stage III Luis de la Fuente
Following his impressive artistic career, his interest in high-end audio began to develop in the early 1990s.
A lifelong fascination with music and a keen technical curiosity led to an intensive exploration of all aspects of high-fidelity music reproduction. His previous experience in sculpting, mold making, and casting polymers helped him develop speaker enclosures and audio accessories such as isolation devices. His research and experimentation in audio eventually led to the unexpected realization that wire and cable can significantly alter the sound of stereo components.
With the help and support of some engineer friends and acquaintances from local stereo shops, he began building prototypes of interconnect and speaker cables based on ultra-high current superconductor technology using mostly flat, ribbon-shaped conductors.
Over the years, constant experimentation took center stage. Luis began to focus almost exclusively on audio cable development and in 1996 Stage III Concepts was founded.
Since 1996, Stage III Concepts has been an innovator in audio cable design and the first company to offer “floating” silver ribbon, air dielectric interconnect, speakers, and power cords.
Every item Stage III Concepts offer is meticulously handcrafted in-house, using almost exclusively USA-made parts and materials of the highest quality. You will find that many of these components can only be found at Stage III Concepts and no other cable on the market.
Stage III Concepts cables cannot be machine-made, and despite the intricate and labor-intensive construction of most designs, the attention to detail and build quality is second to none. In addition, Stage III Concepts offers a limited lifetime warranty on each of its products.
Cerberus Ultimate Statement Level Speaker Cables
A.S.P. Ultimate Reference Cerberus Focusing on the strengths and capabilities of Stage III’s groundbreaking and award-winning A.S.P. MEDUSA speaker cables led to the development of Stage III Concepts’ A.S.P. REFERENCE CERBERUS, a performance-enhancing, highly advanced interpretation of our previous flagship speaker cable.
A variety of beneficial features have been incorporated into the Stage III designs, most notably the exclusive “floating” ribbon conductors, proprietary alloys, and the use of vacuum as the primary dielectric. The combined dual-sized palladium/silver conductors deliver all the weight and air of the audible frequency spectrum for an emotional, visceral experience. These characteristics are unique to Stage III’s reference speaker cables, which offer unsurpassed signal purity in addition to their many sonic benefits.
Great emphasis has been placed on deflecting and absorbing the effects of external interference of any kind. Layers of H.D.A. (High-Density Alloy) granules and solid foil, silver braid, and our ASPIS™ fabric shielding provide additional EMI/RF protection for a noise level unmatched by any other cable design. A.S.P. CERBERUS’ multi-layer EMI/RF shielding and mechanical anti-resonance attenuation are unique in the industry.
The sheer transparency and stunning realism make CERBERUS a defining revelation in audio speaker interface technology. The CERBERUS is the result of a fusion of proprietary components, custom materials, and cutting-edge technologies that puts the CERBERUS far ahead of competing audio products in every way.
Like all Stage III reference series designs over the past 25 years, CERBERUS speaker cables are made entirely by hand in the USA, using no off-the-shelf components. The combined elements make the cables extremely heavy, so device height and placement must be considered.
Highlights
- 24 dual-gauge, cryo-treated, custom slow-extruded silver/palladium AeroStrandUltra™ ribbon conductors per channel.
- 3 x 8 conductors in a triple, multi-helix configuration.
- Vacuum dielectric; Nylon and FEP Teflon inner core drawn to 675mm.Hg.
- H.D.A.(High Density Alloy) 100% radiation invulnerable internal foil shield, dual silver braids, ASPIS™ (plated copper + conductive carbonized Nylon) multi-layer shielding.
- Granulated HDA Alloy + ferrite + ceramic mechanical damping/shielding layer.
- Custom, handmade, proprietary nylon fiber filled polymer housings.
- Cryo-treated, extreme-high current, exclusive Hyperion silver/rhodium/copper spades.
- Bananas available. 4 meter maximum length.
The Music
At the given price level, as a designer, you have to not only come up with something substantially different, but also sound the part, and the Cerberus loudspeaker cables from Stage III Concepts quickly proved their positive qualities with various pieces of music.
As usual, here are some reference tracks/albums that highlight the sonic advantages of the Cerberus.
Justin Stanton – Secret Place
As with the Stage III Concepts A.S.P. CKAHRON XLR reference cables, the Cerberus speaker cables also sparked an interesting interplay that I hadn’t expected at all. This became particularly clear with Secret Place, the solo album by the Snarky Puppy keyboardist.
No matter how intricate the music is, how microscopic or granular it is, and how many layers of tones and sounds it contains, it always comes down to the cables’ ability to render the narrative and I was completely surprised at how aptly the flagship speaker cables from Stage III Concepts transferred the rhythm to the physical part of the musical structure.
Especially in the upper echelon of cable offerings, it is necessary to introduce the delta, and differential effect and Cerberus speaker cables have reproduced the quiet escapism of Secret Place with a unique panache, taking it to a very high level of high-end audio that is hard to match.
Dream Theater – Systematic Chaos
There is one clear characteristic that distinguishes a mediocre audio cable from a great high-end one. If at any moment you feel like you need to battle with the music instead of enjoying the listening experience, it’s obvious that something is wrong with the overall sound balance.
This can have many causes, but more or less shows that there is a lack of knowledge in dealing with materials, conductivity, impedance, and so on and this fatigue and unpleasant phenomenon is not exactly per se excluded with many high-end audio cables, regardless of price.
Stage III Concepts’ Cerberus speaker cables are proof of concept, that this sonic misbehaving can be transcendent when everything is in harmony. This was immediately apparent with “The Ministry of Lost Souls”, where Cerberus most intimately explores the grandeur and magnitude of chameleon-like, utterly unique, kaleidoscopically complex, and superbly executed music with superb articulation.
When the juxtaposition of quiet and loud parts becomes a zen-like equilibrium balancing act on the level of sheer appreciation, you know something special is at play.
Stage III Concepts have not only delivered “The Ministry of Lost Souls”, but a complete Systematic Chaos album with a sine qua non authority.
Abandoned Garden
It is never an easy task to push the boundaries and present something feasible that can reveal the music with a newfound excitement.
The Abandoned Garden is an intimate tribute to Franks’ friend and mentor Antonio Carlos Jobim featuring all-star musicians.
Just as it is difficult to capture a true live musical event, it is also difficult to record and produce a studio album that delivers a well-proportional sound propagation alongside soulful, meaningful performances.
The whole album is a masterfully crafted odyssey with always underpinning bossa-nova, but the first four tracks will show whether the high-end audio system or a particular product under the loupe makes or breaks the success.
Abandoned Garden consists of expertly mixed and well-mastered songs that require a far greater distinction between the normal handling of the connexion between amplifier and speakers. There is a greater need for sonic fluidity and evenly distributed musical energy that properly handles a complete frequency spectrum.
Anyone trying to decipher the balance of their system should look at what happens when the bass kicks in at the beginning of “This Must Be Paradise”, observe the formation of Frank’s vocals, and later the acoustic guitar solo. If the system is out of balance, the low bass can bring down the whole presentation, the vocals get lost in the reverb and the acoustic guitar sounds like it was played on a keyboard using some of the sample libraries.
Once the basic tones and sonic primaries of the sound have been established, there is one more connection to be made. The emotional one.
The upper-echelon high-end audio system (and the paraphernalia that goes with it) must tell the story of the music, reveal all the layers of the narrative, and create interactivity between the musical message and the listener.
With the Cerberus speaker cables, Stage III Concepts has proven once again that it is a true alchemist of the audio, rendering Michael Frank’s intimate obituary poignantly, with fundamental authority, effortlessly bypassing the logical gatekeepers that can all too easily prevent emotional connection.
Frank Sinatra – Sinatra at the Sands
While Downbeat initially gave a poor review, Sinatra at the Sands is a first-rate, masterfully performed, once-in-a-lifetime event by the mighty trio consisting of Frank Sinatra, accompanied by Count Basie and his orchestra, conducted and arranged by Quincy Jones.
This live event was recorded in 1966 in the Copa Room of the former Sands Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, and from the first “Come Fly With Me”, Stage III Concepts Cerberus speaker cables immediately locked into this iconic performance, creating a unique time capsule and intimate interaction with the actuality of the era.
Stage III Concepts’ flagship speakers were truly at their best with Sinatra at the Sands, creating a textured and fully populated soundscape that dramatically captures the essence of the iconic Las Vegas shows from that era.
Cerberus does not hold back dynamically, revealing the fabric of the music with the necessary substance, including all the improbabilities that make a live event and its reproduction so tantalizing.
With many cables, much of what makes up the spirit of live music can be oblivious in reproduction, but the Stage III Concepts has proven for the second time that it has prevailed against all odds and surpassed chance.
Conclusion
Stage III Concepts Cerberus speaker cables are one of the most, if not the most presentable cables. As its physical appearance predicts, there is something in its massiveness that consequently points to differentia. Sheer physical size or bulkiness is not always an indicator that something is out of line, but Stage III Concepts Cerberus speaker cables have verified that in this particular case, the considerable impact is closely linked to their immenseness.
The distinctive difference is undoubtedly connected to Luis de la Fuente most interesting background, with the performance that is not something you would expect at this price point. Stage three Cerebus cables are a dynamic thrust, transparency personified, and the sheer speed that comes and shows its virtues through the lightning-fast attacks and ultra-fast changes in both micro and micro-dynamics. All these stand-out marks are kept in balance without compromising either the flow of music or the golden trinity of timbre, tone, and color.
It is true that at a certain level of price one expects a certain level of performance, but what Stage III Concepts Cerberus cables present in practice is not only impressive and captivating, but it boldly pushes the barometer at the very peak of the considerably challenging some of the competing cable offerings costing far above Cerberus given price.
Cerberus cables consistently mirrored the lasting impression from my first encounter with the Stage III Concepts. There is a similar overall synergy and sonic DNA that I could easily decipher while listening to different music from all types of genres.
It’s very rare to find a speaker cable that doesn’t sacrifice dynamics and transparency while still delivering a radiant essence of the music. And this is exactly what distinguishes Cerberus speaker cables from the rest. A thunderous impact with a Tehnicolour-like vibrancy, a unique balance of dynamics and subtlety. Imagine a crystal clear spring with water coming from high mountains, translucent, and with multiple streams joined, it gains an unparalleled power while descending into the valley (speakers).
With Stage III Concepts speaker cables the sheer power of the music translates into impressive dynamics that do not shy away from comprehensively rendering powerful momentum of orchestral music or complex dynamic multistreams of electronic music.
These two industrious extremes are always very handy in evaluations when it comes to judging what a particular speaker cable can do in terms of bandwidth, coverage of the entire frequency spectrum, touching the emotional core of the music, or whether it is even a true via medium between the high-end audio speakers (system) and the listener.
And the Cerberus speaker cables from Stage III Concepts deliver pure, unadulterated, unrestricted music performance, in abundance.
For what they represent on the musical scale, and for what they deliver dynamically, while always remaining in tune and in sync with the music, I am more than happy to bestow Stage III Concepts Cerberus speaker cables with 2024 Mono and Stereo, Editor Choice Award. ❖
Price
- Cerberus 2,5 m 58.000€
Specifications
- 24 dual-gauge, cryo-treated, custom slow-extruded silver/palladium AeroStrandUltra™ ribbon conductors per channel.
- 3 x 8 conductors in a triple, multi-helix configuration.
- Vacuum dielectric; Nylon and FEP Teflon inner core drawn to 675mm.Hg.
- H.D.A.(High Density Alloy) 100% radiation invulnerable internal foil shield, dual silver braids, ASPIS™ (plated copper + conductive carbonized Nylon) multi-layer shielding.
- Granulated HDA Alloy + ferrite + ceramic mechanical damping/shielding layer.
- Custom, handmade, proprietary nylon fiber filled polymer housings.
- Cryo-treated, extreme-high current, exclusive Hyperion silver/rhodium/copper spades.
- Bananas available. 4 meter maximum length.
Contact
EU Exclusive distributor
DreamAudio Spol. S R.O.
Jaskovy Rad 213A
Bratislava – 83101
Slovakia