Reviews for Tellurium Q Black II Speaker Cable - Factory Terminated

I have to admit that over the near 40 years I have been a hifi enthusiast, speaker cable was never at the forefront of my 'to-do list. The venerable 79 stranded cable, in my mind, was more than capable of fulfilling the needs required in my quest for sonic heaven.

I was wrong!

Placed an order for a 5-metre pair of Tellurium Q Black II, with matching jumpers, along with the recommended 96-hour burn-in. They arrived yesterday and once in place and fired up. I have to say I am aghast! The difference in what is now a sweet, airy top end, low-end depth with far more control really is night and day, and far more than I would have expected or believed.

As a speaker cable sceptic (now ex!), I am totally bowled over and not a little shocked by how much the whole sound stage has pulled itself out of the dark ages. I was concerned after placing the order that I had in some way wasted over 600 hard-earned sheets. In no way whatsoever has that happened, and in the process, I have been reminded that every day is a school day!

Equipment used - Roon FLAC server to Cambridge Audio 851N Azur Streamer. Anthem AVM60 preamp, Anthem Statement A2 power amp, Bowers & Wilkins 800 Nautilus Speakers.

Tellurium Black II with Banana/BFA plugs (DeoxIT Gold G-Series) – 2 x 4m lengths (96-hour burn-in)

Previous speaker cable believed to be a Chord product (20 + years old)

Amplification: Naim NAC 282 / Naim NAP 250 / Naim HiCap DR
Speakers: Linn Ninka passive (single wire)

Source: Naim CD5 / Naim Flatcap 2 Power Supply

Reference tracks played –

Wildlife & Revelation – YellowJackets
Giant Steps – Clark Tracey
Orchestra of the age of enlightenment - Antonio Vivaldi
Holding Back – Perfect Houseplants
I’ve got you under my skin – Carol Kidd
Ba Mo Leanabh – Mackenzie William Jackson

Whilst my previous cables sounded really very good and had no intention of replacing them until a friend recommended the Tellurium’s, so I bit the bullet. They really have increased my listening pleasure considerably by introducing even more clarity, openness, spatial sound stage, and separation between different instruments. The depth of the bass seemed extended and tighter.

Timing and speed of change from the quiet to louder passages of music are immediate, exact, and with real impact – it’s a definite wow! – expressed best with the 2 YellowJackets tracks and Giant Steps.

The piano and flute on Holding Back are just sublime and so clear.

Carol Kidd’s vocal on I’ve got you under my skin sounded like she was in the room! As did the violins on Orchestra of the age of enlightenment.

The vocal on Ba Mo Leanabh was just simply haunting! A Hair’s on the back of the neck standing up moment!


Source: Linn LP12 / KORE / TRAMPOLIN II / RADIKAL / KAROUSEL / EKOS tone arm / KRYSTAL MC cartridge / Naim Stageline S MC / Naim HiCap DR

Track: You’re the best thing (featuring Boy George) – Paul Weller, An Orchestral Songbook

The warmth of vinyl was very present. At the beginning of the track, the guitar in the foreground was clear and present above the Orchestra playing alongside. The rise and fall in the tempo of the violins were a joy. Then Paul’s and George’s vocals sounded smooth, warm, and distinct. The saxophone solos sounded like it was in the room, particularly right at the end of the track.

Track: Hey Laura & Liquid Spirit – Gregory Porter

On Hey, Laura Gregory’s vocal range is clearly played out and presented as if he was in the room. The saxophone and piano were tonally perfect for my ears!

On the Liquid Spirit track, the double bass and claps sounded extremely real, and the piano demonstrated the full range of the keyboard, and again it could have been in the room!

Track: Babylon Sisters – Steely Dan

With several instruments and vocals being played on this track and all coming in and out at different times throughout the timing, control between the high/mid/low frequencies is well presented. The openness and stereo imagery is superb.

I appreciate that the Linn source & Naim’s pre and power components also have a great deal to do with this, but I’m sure the Tellurium’s are adding to the penultimate component of the signal, before entering the speakers, and then on to my ears!

Thank You!

I highly recommend these cables; I use them with my new loudspeakers. In my set, the sound is very clean, transparent with great bass; I compared them, of course, with two other cables.

Like some of the other reviewers, I was sceptical about this cable. However, it has exceeded all expectations. I opted for the Deoxit contact cleaning and the free 96-hour burn-in.

When the cable was first installed, I was amazed at the openness and transparency of the treble and midrange; vocals just soar out of the mix.

Initially, there was much less low end than my previous cable, but after some further burn-in, the bass came through - more profound and more tuneful than before.

Over the next few weeks, the cable continued to improve right across the spectrum.

I'm biased as I have mostly Tellurium Q cables across my various hifi systems, finding them a perfect match for the various units but, that said, these Black II cables are a fantastic balance between detailed and emotional.

I have yet to hear anything better at the price (I tested cables from more than 8 other brands before coming back to Black II. Of course, there is better out there, and cables are sensitive to what you match them with, but I found I'd have to spend £500+ more to better the Black II).

One other point: the free burn-in service is brilliant. These cables had 96-hour burn-in before delivery and arrived at peak performance, perfectly matching the sound of the Black II I have been running daily for over 6 months on my other set-up (in a blind audition). Worth taking up, because otherwise, they do take a while to settle.

Have to admit I bought these cables feeling very sceptical about the reviews, and I was more than ready to return them if they failed to live up to the hype.

I actually replaced cables that cost three times as much and to my amazement I prefer the Tellurium Q's.

These really are astonishing speaker cables that make a difference you can genuinely hear.

I'm seriously impressed.

A cable that feels comfortable, natural and more realistic when listening!

Highly recommend! At the same time, I would like to thank Gary for serving me!

Just one word- AMAZING!
Love my new tellurium q black ii.
Bass - impressive control.
Mids - so natural and pleasant.
High freq - not hurting my ears anymore.
Stereo effect- 3D , you have a feeling that the singer is in front of you.

Very impressed about everything actually… the only negative thing is that my neighbours will not be so happy as now tellurium cables push my finger on the volume up button.

Futureshop customer service excellent.

I chosen 96hrs burn in and straight from the box they sound amazing. Now each month I’m going to buy one tellurium cable - rca/usb - I must have all cables from black ii series !! It gives me so much pleasure to listen to my system now.

Before with QED signature cables it was too bright. Can’t recommend more!

I have been slowly upgrading my system, withTellurium Q Black II Speaker Cables being the latest step. I think that "step" is wrong, it should be leap. From the first note, I couldn't believe the difference.

The bass is better defined and seems to be at least an octave deeper. The highs are clearer and a slight smearing that I had is gone. Voices are clearer and much more realistic. The soundstage might not be wider, but every instrument is cemented in place. One piece that I use to test my system is Blind Faith/Do what you like, vinyl. The solo bass and drums are now physical. Clear and deep. Guitar clear as a bell, as if a curtain has been pulled back. My previous cables were not just cheap strips of cable, but What HIFI 5 star rated.

It is as if I have a new system for very little money. Try them, it's worth it.

I use 2 Focal Aria 948 with a Denon AVC-X4700 and it sounds like I just change my system. (In a good way) The balance this cable brings to the sounds is phenomenal. I was in doubt if I should pay this much for a cable, but now I know it’s worth every cent.