Since its establishment in 1999, Stealth Audio has operated for 27 years and has unequivocally made an impact in the high-end audio cable segment of the industry.
Over the years, material choices and techniques have evolved, but the core philosophy remains the driving force: to preserve pragmatic aural reality while finding the right ways to orchestrate synergy in a vast and complex realm, maintaining masterful craftsmanship and sonic ingenuity.
Stealth Audio’s approach is methodical and rigorous, as demonstrated by their intention to send out a complete set of Dream Royale V.19, Dream V.25, Dream V.18 T, Dream Petite V.16 T, Dream Petite V.16 Standard, and Reverie Premium speaker cables for review.
Stealth Audio
Advancing the state of the art in high-end audio cabling has always been the central mission of Stealth Audio Cables. This ambition is pursued by refining every aspect of design: complex, non-resonant, impedance-matched, multilayer, and multicore geometries combined with some of the most advanced conductive materials available. These include carbon-fiber-based conductive composites, high-purity silver, pure solid gold wire, single-crystal metal alloys, and – most exotic of all – amorphous metal alloys.
At the very top of the range, Stealth cables use helium gas as a dielectric and are finished with proprietary, cost-no-object connectors. These features include solid silver contacts, Kevlar composite inserts for structural integrity, heavily modified PTFE bodies, carbon-fiber outer shells, and reinforcement with machined aircraft-grade titanium.
Stealth Audio’s goal is unapologetically ambitious: to create the finest audio products in the world. Every effort is directed toward that objective, with innovation at the core of the process. Each cable is crafted entirely by hand, as its complexity makes automated, large-scale production impossible.
Dream Royale V.19
The Dream Royale V.19 is Stealth’s latest flagship loudspeaker cable model. The stereo set consists of two thick, round cables, each with a body width of 60 mm (2.36 inches)—effectively more than twice the size of the Dream V.18 loudspeaker cable.
The Dream Royale V.19 features 28 assembly runs (wire bundles) and uses STEALTH’s proprietary variable pitch cross-section wire geometry (STEALTH VariCross). The conductive, graphene-infused core is combined with single helices of silver and copper wires, each individually isolated. The wires are hand-wound with porous Teflon as the dielectric.
The Dream Royale V.19 is internally split into positive and negative runs, with extra spacers between them. This design makes the cables almost non-capacitive and thus safe to use with virtually any amplification in terms of stability.
In most systems, when comparing performance, the Dream Royale typically provides precise layering and soundstage depth, better-controlled deep bass, improved mid-bass definition, and superior overall timbre. In most systems, it sounds natural and musical. The Dream Royale V.19 is expected to offer an advantage due to its higher run count and complex wire assembly geometry.
Wire assembly
- Each wire assembly is 6 mm (slightly less than 1/4 inch) in diameter and consists of 10 individually insulated solid core wires in our proprietary non-resonant distributed LITZ configuration. Each assembly utilizes two different gauges of 99.999% pure solid-core copper and two different gauges of 99.997% pure solid-core silver.
- The wire assemblies are wrapped around a hollow, flexible para-vacuum* central multi-core (flexible helium-filled tubing).
- Three wire assemblies run side by side to form wire bundles (triple runs).
- The two wire bundles (triple runs) are separated by two soft (foam) Teflon dividing runs (spacers).
- Using dividers significantly reduces overall cable capacitance and ensures amplifier stability (prevents oscillation).
Dream V.18
The Dream V.18 features 16 individual variable cross-section runs along the Dream V.18 cable (Stealth VariCross). It continues to use Stealth’s proprietary variable cross-section design (Stealth VariCross) along the cable, which is engineered to improve impedance matching between the source (power amplifier) and the receiving end (loudspeaker).
This design significantly enhances midbass and deep bass performance without compromising midrange and treble definition or clarity. Each wire run is nested in Stealth’s helium-filled, and white porous Teflon dielectric tubing.
Wire assembly
- Each wire assembly is 6 mm (slightly less than 1/4 inch) in diameter and consists of 8 individually insulated solid core wires in our proprietary non-resonant distributed LITZ configuration. Each assembly utilizes two different gauges of 99.999% pure solid-core copper and two different gauges of 99.997% pure solid-core silver.
- The wire assemblies are wrapped around a hollow, flexible para-vacuum* center multi-core (flexible helium-filled tubing).
- Three wire assemblies run side by side to form wire bundles (triple runs).
- The two wire bundles (triple runs) are separated by two soft (foam) Teflon dividing runs (spacers).
- Using dividers significantly reduces overall cable capacitance and ensures amplifier stability (prevents oscillation).
Dream V.25 – Dream Petite V.16
The Dream Petite V16 loudspeaker cable is a smaller (3/4 size) version of our DREAM V18 speaker cable (relative sizes are shown below: the Dream V18 with spade lugs is in the middle, and the Dream Petite V16 with banana plugs is on the left and right). It took over two years to develop the full Dream speaker cable, and then over a year to develop the Dream Petite. Many prototypes were made, and the Stealth Audio team listened to them extensively, but none of the earlier prototypes made it into beta testing because none sounded sufficiently better than the Hybrid MLT. Like the full Dream, this one does.
There are two versions of the Dream Petite V16 loudspeaker cable: the standard V16 and the user-tunable V16-T. The only difference between the two is the tuning collar on the V16-T version.
The Dream Petite V16 stereo set consists of two round cables, each 31.75 mm (1 1/4 inch) in diameter. The cables split at the ends into positive and negative runs.
- The outer layer of the Dream Petite V16 cable is made of 12 wire assemblies and 4 spacers (dividers).
- Each wire assembly is approximately 6 mm (slightly less than 1/4 inch) in diameter, made of 8 individually insulated solid core wires in our proprietary non-resonant distributed LITZ configuration. Two different gauges of 99.99% pure solid core copper and two different gauges of 99.997% pure solid core silver are used in each wire assembly.
- The wire assemblies are wrapped around a hollow, flexible para-vacuum* center multi-core (flexible helium-filled tubing).
- Three wire assemblies run side by side to create wire bundles (triple runs). Therefore, there are two wire bundles (triple runs) in each Dream Petite cable.
- The two wire bundles (triple runs) are separated by two soft (foam) Teflon dividing runs (spacers).
- The spacers have the same diameter as the wire assemblies, i.e., 6 mm (roughly 1/4 inch).
- Using dividers dramatically reduces the overall cable capacitance and thus assures the stability (non-oscillation) of any amplifier.
Reverie
The Reverie loudspeaker cables (new for 2014) stereo set consists of two identical cables, each containing 48 individually insulated conductive strands per cable (24 for each positive and negative run).
These conductive strands are divided into six wire bundles, with extra insulation between the bundles. The wire bundles are wrapped around a Stealth para-vacuum core – flexible thin-wall tubing filled with helium. The conductive material is the brand’s proprietary copper-based alloy (approximately 90% copper). Additives to the alloy (silver and molybdenum) allow us to achieve the correct tonality, which we believe would be impossible to offer using only plain copper.
The Reverie offers a well-balanced overall presentation: good low bass and treble extension, good resolution, and neutrality. The Reverie is designed to provide the highest price-to-performance ratio among Stealth loudspeaker cables.
Termination And Options
Premium termination: The STEALTH solid silver spade lugs.
This is a product that, given current silver prices, offers unmatched value. It is our entry-level option, designed to deliver a superior product compared to anything else available that does not feature solid silver ends.
Helium-filled dielectric
The main reason Stealth Audio uses helium
- Ultra-low energy storage dielectric: STEALTH para-vacuum (helium gas) combined with porous, foam-like Teflon. The helium dielectric, together with the multicore geometry, is the main technical advantage of the Śakra compared to the Indra. The same applies to our Dream Loudspeaker series when comparing the Dream to the Reverie. Porous Teflon has the lowest dielectric constant among all solid and semi-solid materials. A low dielectric constant means low energy storage, low distortion, and fast sound. Helium gas has dielectric properties superior to even porous Teflon, better than air, and better than any practical (commercial) vacuum.
Helium will dissipate over time, creating a vacuum in its place – hence the term “para-vacuum.”
Stealth tuning collars
Based on numerous listening sessions with various equipment, a STEALTH “T” cable with a tuning collar in the optimal position produces better overall sound than the cable without the collar. However, if the collar is in the wrong position, the sound is not as good as with a cable without the collar.
The best-sounding tuning collar position varies for each pair of equipment the cable connects to, so it is impossible to identify a single collar location that consistently matches the sound of the cable without the collar.
Finding the optimal collar position is a lengthy process that requires time and patience. Usually, two people are needed – one to listen and the other to move the collar. It is even better to have several people listening together. Often, an evening or even an entire day may 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 for the sliding tuning collar on a STEALTH audio cable is similar to finding the best placement for a pair of speakers in a room: an audio system sounds much better when the speakers are optimally positioned, and the same system does not sound good when the speakers are in the wrong position.
The Music
This was an extensive and prolonged evolution, and as always, I have employed varied music genres to reach my conclusions. Below is a breakdown of the qualities and virtues that make each cable distinct and noteworthy.
Reverie
One of my listening notes distinctly stated, ‘There is nothing entry-level about Reverie.’
Reverie features the renowned Stealth proportional sonic equilibrium that works well with classical, pop, rock, and electronic music.
Even as an entry point into the world of Stealth Audio, there is no artificial sheen, the frequency response is even, and there are no bumps at particular frequency points.
Reverie is optimally tuned to let the music breathe and act as a fluid carrier of the signal, and it’s quite a remarkable achievement at its given price point.
Dream Petite V.16 Standard
Reverie already offers an emotional component, far above its price, yet the Dream Petite V.16 Standard introduces more room for detail and clarity, while taking the harmonic content notably higher. It brings a seamless combination of clarity and punch, but also opens up a playground where music’s tension and release are handled at completely different levels as expected.
The Dream Petite V.16 Standard also completely avoids the ripple effect, where some speaker cables fail to distribute musical energy evenly and instead transmit it as a series of frequency-divided pulses. This often won’t let the speakers’ drivers disappear, as particular frequency bumps target particular frequencies with artificial density, adding unwanted congestion.
Dream Petite V.16 T
The V.16 T version of Dream Petite adds the tuning collar to the V.16 Standard cable.
It takes time to find the needed equilibrium, but when in place, it achieves even greater transparency, focus, and clarity. There is also notably higher harmonic viscosity, allowing music to play more seamlessly.
The Standard version of Dream Petite V.16 will satisfy most music lovers, but audiophiles who want to experiment further and refine performance with a notable shift upward will appreciate this option.
Dream V.18 T
Stealth Dream V.18 T defies the “no tension” argument with its ability to unaltered transmission of the music . It profoundly intertwines the music as one harmonic whole, allowing the formation of a critical mass that allows the music to unfold completely, especially noticeable with the reproduction of orchestral music, where loud crescendos and fast orchestral movements call for a higher order handling capacity for ultimate vigorous impact.
The Stealth Audio Dream V.18 T delivers orchestral momentum with quiet confidence, offering a completely different level of information where the listener can react interactively to the given density. This alone makes Dream V.18 T a remarkable speaker cable, regardless of price.
Dream V.25
Stealth Audio Dream V.25 speaker cables exemplarily support the “no tension” argument, operating neither too subtly nor too strikingly, but enabling a powerful, dynamic, and dramatic performance with a paramount focus on delivering the music’s essence with fervent impact.
Dream V.25 takes the Dream V.18 T’s non-forcing aural natural calmness to a higher degree, exhibiting that handling power without taming it is a highly unique virtue and advantage.
Dream Royale V.19
As the crown jewel, Dream Royale V.19 is a bold statement that excelles on so many levels and reasures how designed speaker cables can demonstrate that real potency comes from the ability to respond to the even transmission of the signal. Dream Royale V.19 never commands its presence, but operates with the ability not only to handle roaring, raw power and reveal subtle nuances, but also to keep everything in harmonious balance.
At this level, the music’s inherent interactivity is unmistakable, and Dream Royale V.19 goes far beyond sonic friction, offering exceptional balance in performance, whether reproducing feather-light, minuscule nuances, the most energetic moments of powerful orchestral music, or the intense impact of electronic music.
On top of that, and perhaps most importantly, Stealth Audio’s upper-echelon speaker cable reveals the music with that extra touch that makes it so enticing and emotionally interactive, with an intimate magnetism that draws listeners into a fatigue-free listening experience.
Conclusion
There are cables, and then there are high-end audio cables. Without a doubt, Stealth Audio products belong to the latter category. Too often, music and audio signals are drastically altered when using unproven or esoteric concepts, including some very expensive cables. Stealth Audio products stand apart by a wide margin.
Across all the reviewed speaker cable ranges, Stealth offers a unique continuity, allowing the music to be seamlessly conveyed. From the Reverie to the top-tier Dream Royale V.19, listening is no longer a frontier to be explored but an instant immersive experience into the deepest realms of music. Of course, the differences are notable across the range – it would not make sense otherwise – but Stealth employs well-researched, different technical solutions to achieve the required performance at each level.
With Reverie as the essential model and Dream Royale V.19 as the quintessence, all evaluated speaker cables in between corroborate the incontrovertible musical realities, all distinguished by power and flexibility. Every Stealth Audio speaker cable remains stable under pressure, presenting music with the natural balance it deserves, with distinctions logically allocated across the range.
Many cable manufacturers seek validation and instant euphoric praise, yet truly and fully developed products rely on expertise used in the service of the music without drawing attention to themselves. True performance does not need a faux stage. It is evident in how the listener is enticed, with cables operating quietly, free from initial hyperbole.
When high-end audio cables are properly designed, the music moves with calm and natural clarity – a quiet confidence, and through clever design, Stealth Audio cables, across the entire product line, offer unbridled music reproduction backed by stand-out craftsmanship and a longstanding tradition of making unique high-end audio cables that deliver a refreshing perspective without diminishing the music.
Evaluating Stealth’s complete cable loom was a massive undertaking, yet a highly rewarding one. Most importantly, it is proof of concept that within different levels of a cable portfolio, the sonic qualities are instantly notable, though reflected to varying degrees in their respective prices.
What lingers after putting the massive Stealth Audio cable loom through its paces is how the accumulation of small innovations and well-proven technical concepts can bring a breath of fresh air, enabling a higher level of sonic discovery that is not easily achieved.
I am pleased to recognize Stealth Audio Cables’ efforts in delivering remarkable sonic consistency and a positive musical impact across the range with the Mono & Stereo 2025 Upper Echelon Award for the complete loom.
Ertugrul Dalkiran of Amadeus Audio will represent Stealth Audio Cables for the first time at the Vienna High-End Show 2026. The space will feature a cost-no-object, truly dynamic, and richly harmonious organic super high-end audio system. Dalkiran will primarily play vinyl from his own record collection. ⧉
Partnering with:
- Alsyvox Audio – Speakers
- Stealth Audio – Cables
- Aries Cerat – Tube Amps
- J.Sikora – Turntable
- Omega Audio Concepts – Digital
Price
Retail Pricing at 2 meters, single wire:
- Dream Royale V.19: $36,000.00 USD
- Dream V.25: $18,400.00 USD
- Dream V.18 T: $16,500.00 USD
- Dream Petite V.16 T: $8,300.00 USD
- Dream Petite V.16 Standard: $7,800.00 USD
- Reverie Premium (Silver ends): $3,000.00 USD
Contact
Stealth Audio Cables
P.O. Box 1807
Olney, MD 20830 USA
(301) 213-8110
Web: www.stealthaudiocables.com
Email: stealth@stealthaudiocables.com
AMADEUS AUDIO
Ertugrul Dalkiran
Molenkade 5
3645HX Vinkeveen
The Netherlands
Web: www.amadeusaudio.nl
+31 6 5189 2144 (WhatsAPP)