My deeper dive into Stealth Audio Cables continues with two of their tonearm cables: the Helios and Hyper phono interconnects.
STEALTH Audio Cables
Serguei Timachev and his team’s goal at STEALTH Audio Cables is to advance the “state of the art” in high-end audio cables.
This goal is achieved by perfecting all design elements: the use of highly complex non-resonant and impedance-matched, multi-layer and multi-conductor cable geometries in conjunction with the most advanced conductive media available: carbon fiber-based conductive composites, high-purity silver and pure solid gold, single-crystal metal alloys, and the most exotic of alloys: amorphous metal alloys.
STEALTH Audio Cables top-of-the-line cables use helium gas as a dielectric and feature cost-no-object proprietary connectors with solid silver contacts, Kevlar composite inserts for strength, and ultra-modified PTFE housings enclosed in carbon fiber jackets and reinforced with milled aircraft-grade titanium.
STEALTH Audio Cables are individually handmade because STEALTH Audio cables simply cannot be mass-produced by machine due to their complexity.
All STEALTH Audio cables are bench tested and sonically evaluated to ensure uncompromised performance and quality backed by STEALTH Audio Cables LIFETIME WARRANTY against defects.
STEALTH Audio Cables are designed from the ground up with esthetic beauty and unsurpassed build quality in mind and to experience the standard of sound that comes from superior design, materials, and attention to detail, thus ensuring an unforgettable experience.
The Helios
The Helios has a straightforward story: it’s crafted with the same design and features as the Sakra V16, including identical geometry and key elements such as the Helium gas dielectric, but adapted into a phono cable format.
The proprietary STEALTH custom miniDin connector, with a highly flexible cable end, is designed to fit any tonearm or turntable, regardless of key position or orientation. This flexible end can bend sharply at a 90-degree angle without risk of damage, as it’s specifically engineered for that purpose.
Features
• Amorphous conductive media (wire) – which is perfectly homogeneous, grain-less – i.e. identical in all directions, since it has no crystal structure at all;
• Ultra-thin wire: Ultra-thin wire is important for:
◦ minimizing skin effect (no harshness in the upper midrange and treble);
◦ minimizing time-domain errors (necessary for the clean, well-defined bass, and perfect imaging);
◦ in realistic cable dimensions, allows the use of the STEALTH proprietary distributed LITZ geometry**
• Proprietary non-resonant cable geometry: STEALTH vari-cross distributed LITZ**
◦ Individually insulated strands (eliminating direct electrical contact, i.e. galvanic interaction between strands – as the multiple bare strands can behave like a single thicker wire)
◦ Non-inductive bifilar winding – the advantage of the STEALTH multicore geometry.
◦ Electrical resonance control: the advantage of the STEALTH distributed LITZ geometry.
◦ Mechanical resonance control: dielectric and jacketing mechanical properties: optimized density and damping. Too much damping usually sterilizes and deadens the sound, while too little damping is even worse because of excessive “ringing” (unwanted uncontrolled resonances).
• Characteristic impedance control: optimized relationships among capacitance, inductance, and DC resistance: the Helios characteristic impedance and its resonant behavior (“Q” at RF frequencies) differ from any machine-made cable.
• Ultra low energy storage dielectric: STEALTH para-vacuum*** (Helium gas) + porous – i.e. foam-like Teflon. The Helium dielectric, combined with the multicore geometry, are the MAIN technical advantages of the Śakra, compared to the Indra. Porous Teflon has the lowest dielectric constant of all solid and semi-solid materials. Low dielectric constant = low energy storage = low distortion = fast sound. Helium gas dielectric properties are much better than even porous Teflon, better than air, and better than realistic (commercial) vacuum.
• Proprietary STEALTH connectors: custom and highly advanced; very-low overall mass, solid silver contacts, machined ultra-modified PTFE (Teflon®) dielectric, Kevlar composite frame, Carbon Fiber/Titanium shells.
• Advanced termination technique (high-pressure crimping = cold weld) – a direct contact = seamless transition between the wire and the contact – no intermediate agent (solder) involved;
Hyperphono
The Hyperphono is a three-cable assembly in one package: two identical signal cables and one more (same diameter but different internally) for the ground.
The three cables join at the mini-DIN and run separately, held together only by a machined Teflon tri-nut that slides back and forth for convenient cable arrangement and hassle-free connection to any phono preamp or MC step-up transformer.
In the RCA-to-RCA version, the three cables join in the middle and run separately to both RCA-terminated ends.
The Hyperphono is available in mini-DIN to RCA, mini-DIN to XLR, and RCA to RCA configurations. The standard Hyper phono produced up to 2014, came in two versions: straight and 90-degree mini-DIN.
The current Hyperphono version introduces a new, universal “FLEX” mini-DIN that fits tonearms requiring straight and 90-degree mini-DINs without any modifications. The thin mini-DIN “tail” is designed to bend at sharp angles without risk of breakage, making the connection easier. The balanced version of the Hyperphono V14 features STEALTH’s proprietary XLRs with carbon fiber shells, machined Teflon dielectric, and solid silver contacts.
The Hyperphono has STEALTH’s proprietary, highly advanced custom connectors: Teflon mini-DIN with custom machined carbon fiber shells (straight and 90-degree) and shell-less, ultra-light proprietary STEALTH RCA connectors. These connectors share the design of the original Indra connectors but with no shells—just a machined Teflon body with integrated, lightweight solid silver contacts. The hollow solid silver center pins include Kevlar inserts for added strength. The XLR version features custom STEALTH XLRs, also with machined Teflon dielectric and solid silver contacts.
The Hyperphono signal path features multi-layer matrix geometry, used with all top-tier STEALTH cables, including the Indra. The conductive wire is a solid, single-crystal (continuous cast) gold alloy. The porous Teflon dielectric ensures minimal low-energy storage, resulting in high perceived signal speed.
The ground cable features STEALTH’s proprietary low-resistance, low-inductance, RF-transparent LITZ configuration, ensuring high-quality grounding even at radio frequencies.
Both signal cables are shielded with metalized carbon fibers and multiple silver-plated OFC drain wires, providing lightweight and efficient shielding. The shields are electrically grounded at a single point, either at the ground pin of the mini-DIN or in the middle of the assembly (inside the carbon fiber “collar”) in the RCA-to-RCA configuration.
Each signal cable contains two identical solid-core signal wires, symmetrically woven in a matrix geometry that provides high interference and noise rejection without increasing capacitance, as typical twisted pairs would. This symmetry and identical wiring make the Hyperphono a balanced cable. This balanced structure is evident in the XLR-terminated version, but the Hyperphono remains internally balanced even in the RCA-terminated version.
With the RCA interconnects a significant axial force is needed to ensure the Hyperphono connectors fully lock firmly with the device’s sockets.
Inserting these connectors feels like pushing a knife through a cold block of butter: it moves slowly and smoothly but with significant resistance, often requiring accessing the equipment rack from behind or partially removing a component from the rack to get a clear view of the back panel, allowing connectors to be inserted with the necessary force along the connector’s axis.
Why Balanced?
A phono cartridge is inherently balanced by design. Each of its two coils (one for each stereo channel) provides a symmetrical, balanced output. The four wires inside the tonearm, which connect the cartridge leads through the tonearm tube, also follow this balanced structure. In Stealth Audio’s vision, for optimal performance, a phono cable should mirror this balanced design, regardless of whether the phono preamp is balanced or single-ended.
Stealth Audio firmly believes that the best phono stages are balanced, as this design offers superior interference rejection and that even with a single-ended phono preamp (using RCA connectors), a balanced phono cable outperforms an asymmetrical (coaxial) one.
Its balanced nature significantly reduces noise, which not only enhances clarity but also minimizes intermodulation distortion, leading to a noticeable improvement in sound quality compared to traditional phono cables.
Sound
The differences in phono cables are much more noticeable than in line-level interconnects due to the much smaller signal and the significantly higher amplification required. A typical line-level signal is around 1 volt, while the typical MC cartridge output is 0.3 millivolts—3,000 times lower.
The Hyper phono cable is exceptionally quiet, with an impressively low level of noise that is immediately apparent.
The Music
As with Stealth Audio’s power and interconnect cables, the Helios and Hyper Phono cables surpass the usual stereotypes associated with high-end, high-performance audio cables.
Thanks to their numerous advanced (yet finely tuned) features, the sonic advantages of the Helios and Hyper Phono interconnects are immediately noticeable, even in more modest high-end analog setups. In upper-echelon systems, they reveal greater depth in the music, with a more coherent sonic projection and a new level of nuanced density. This allows the music to flow seamlessly, avoiding the fragmentation often caused by poorly designed (regardless of the price) phono cables.
Helios
Elvis Presley – Elvis in Memphis
“Elvis in Memphis” is regarded as one of Elvis Presley’s most passionate and emotionally charged albums. Recognized by Rolling Stone as one of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, this white-soul classic features the legendary “Memphis Boys” and is rich with influences from rhythm-driven country, gospel, R&B, and blues.
When everything in the system is aligned, Elvis in Memphis can deliver extraordinary transparency, creating a “being there” sensation with a naturally dark, warm tone. A poorly executed phono cable can easily disrupt this harmony, while the Helios interconnect keeps the balance intact, allowing the music to emerge as a cohesive whole. Elvis’ voice shines vibrantly, particularly in the iconic “In The Ghetto,” with remarkable immediacy.
Additionally, Helios delivers a vast sonic canvas, with startling transparency and a remarkable three-dimensional scope.
*Gianmaria Testa & Pier Mario Giovannone – *La Valse D’Un Jour / Il Valzer Di Un Giorno*
From the first note, the Stealth Audio Helios phono cable reveals its intrinsic nature. Unlike other cables that attempt to dominate the music, Helios nurtures it with utmost care. This is especially evident in the last track, “Plage Du Prophète,” where the cable gracefully maintains the music’s flow, cutting through with impeccable momentum and offering a fresh perspective on the familiar piece.
While many cables fail to channel the raw power of music, Stealth Audio’s Helios thrives by allowing the music to flow effortlessly and with purpose.
Hyper
*Chantal Chamberland – *Temptation*
Chantal Chamberland’s soaring vocals, subtly accompanied by piano, drums, and bass, truly expand on a high-end analog system. Stealth Audio’s Hyper cable unveils the subtleties of the music without exaggerating the flow, naturally extending decays and delays far beyond expectations. This becomes especially evident in “Beautiful Life,” where Chamberland’s voice floats with lushness and an airy presence.
With the Hyper phono cable in the system, any trace of artificiality disappears. Chamberland’s cover of Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” is hauntingly beautiful, delivering spine-tingling moments if the system allows.
It’s rare for any cable or system to capture the soul of the music truly, but Stealth Audio excels with its ability to lock into the essence, reaching into the very core of the music.
*Sam Cooke – *Night Beat*
“Lost and Lookin’” is my go-to track when testing a cable’s ability to properly portray and embody male vocals, timbre, tone, and color. The Stealth Hyper cable effortlessly captures an element of the past while channeling its essence into the present with remarkable ease.
Where some phono cables falter, pushing music down a narrow path, the Hyper cable immediately rises to the prominence of the vocal, presenting Cooke’s voice with full vibrancy and bloom. Whether it’s Night Beat or other genres, the Hyper phono cable consistently demonstrates a primal allegiance to the spirit of the music, making it truly worthy of all of the highlight.
The Conclusion
In today’s saturated high-end audio cable market, it’s easy to get lost among the countless options, making it increasingly difficult to distinguish exceptional products from mediocre ones. The more common the offerings, the harder it becomes to find the truly remarkable.
As previously discussed, many points of differentiation set Stealth Audio cables apart. As with already cemented with their other cables, the Helios and Hyper phono cables consistently deliver a positive, iconoclastic impact. Their advanced designs ensure state-of-the-art, fatigue-free listening.
Both the Hyper and Helios phono cables provide unrestricted dynamism and authentic timbre every step of the way. They uniquely allow naturally rich harmonics and overtones to fully bloom, deliver extraordinary time coherence, and feature top-tier dynamic capabilities for a real-time, expressive musical delivery.
The experience runs deep but feels life-like reflexive, and I’ve started to spot nuances previously missed. But, on top of it, and most importantly, Hyper and Helios foster a deeper connection with the music.
Regardless of the price, many cables offer a kaleidoscopic aural delivery, but Stealth Audio phono cables achieve something different. They present music as a cohesive whole, continuously flowing without fragmentation.
As with my past experiences with Stealth Audio cables, these phono cables do not disrupt the natural flow of the music or strip away its intrinsic qualities. Instead, they engage the listener in a profoundly immersive experience, creating a genuine bond with the music that remains intact and thoroughly captivating.
I was thoroughly impressed by the capabilities of the Stealth Audio Duo. There’s something uniquely alluring about how these cables maintain the music’s integrity.
The Hyper and Helios phono cables don’t break the rules, but they rewrite them in many respects, setting higher-order benchmarks.
The distinctions and benefits of different audio cables aren’t always immediately apparent. However, across Stealth Audio’s portfolio, these differences are remarkably evident and deserve all the attention.
The technical approach behind each design is well-researched and presented, making it easy to understand the rationale behind the varying levels of cables.
Just like their power cords and interconnects, the Hyper and Helios phono cables reveal an infinite range of musical nuances, bringing out a wealth of detail that allows the full depth of the music to be appreciated.
Their sonic impact is lasting, enhancing the listening experience and allowing music to resonate with exceptional clarity and precision.
Stealth Audio’s Hyper and Helios phono cables challenge conventional thinking about the importance of phono cables, encouraging analog afficionados and music lovers to dive deeper into their music collections.
Following in the footsteps of other Stealth Audio power and interconnect products I’ve reviewed, I wholeheartedly award Stealth Cables’ Helios & Hyper Phono Cables the 2024 Mono & Stereo Upper Echelon Product Award for their exceptional sonic performance and profound musical delivery. ❖
Price
- Helios 1.2 Mtr: €9,800 | 1.5 Mtr: €10,400
- Hyperphono 1.2 Mtr: €3,800 | 1.5 Mtr: €4,200
Due to the high level of customization required for each phono setup, the Hyperphono cables are made to order, with an average lead time of 2 to 3 weeks
Contact
Stealth Audio Cables
P.O. Box 1807
Olney, MD 20830 USA
(301) 213-8110
Email: stealth@stealthaudiocables.com
AMADEUS AUDIO
Ertugrul Dalkiran
Molenkade 5
3645HX Vinkeveen
The Netherlands
www.amadeusaudio.nl
+31 6 5189 2144 (WhatsAPP)