It might seem like an obvious thing to say, but the more complex and dispersed your system, the more complicated and convoluted the CFM cable loom: That’s a rule that applies to any cables, but with CFM the complication increases exponentially with box count. Start throwing mono-blocks and sub-woofers around, multi-box digital front-ends and active crossovers and the sheer complexity becomes daunting. On the other hand, a compact, single rack system with a low box-count makes the OnEarth grounding topology positively manageable, although even here there are questions over how you organise the separate-ness of the ground paths. One option is to apply one ground cable to each component, allocating its flying leads to the interconnects or speaker cables, chassis and power cord. However, irrespective of components connected, I consistently found that I preferred to separate the grounding by function, with a dedicated ground cable for the digital source, another for power cables feeding analogue components and then one for the chassis connections and one (or two) for the cable grounds on those analogue components. This produced a more planted, secure and dynamically emphatic performance, although your experience and preferences may well differ, depending on specific system circumstances. If you are assessing the CFM cables, you should definitely listen to the different configurations. And if that is starting to sound pretty involved, just ask yourself, in what order might you connect the Level One and Level Two ground cables to their dedicated distribution block? That’s when you start to realise that there are enough variations and options here to make OCD audiophiles positively purr with anticipation. And that’s before you even start to worry about the number and orientation (yes, orientation!) of the simple, yet surprisingly effective cylindrical cable risers…
Level Ground?
In addition to the practical issues and arrangements, the other thing that made this a more involved listening process than normal was the question of whether different systems and different elements within a system were any more responsive to the grounding cables. I tried the CFM cables in a whole host of different system scenarios, with both analogue and digital sources, integrated amps and players, separates and multi-box digital solutions. In general terms my findings were utterly consistent across all the different systems: the OnEarth connections always worked and always improved performance dramatically.
Where does that leave the OnEarth system in theory and the CFM products in practice. Taking the Resonant cables first, if you are able to access them or they’re available in your home market, then on pure price versus performance grounds they command a firm recommendation: That’s a recommendation that increases in strength in the context of simpler, low box-count systems and listeners who value natural perspectives, textures, phrasing and an unforced, open, inviting presentation. Musically, they need fear no competition – although the practical challenges should not be under estimated. On the positive side, the OnEarth solution delivers performance that both questions accepted practice and challenges the state-of-the-art and, in a unique development as far as cables are concerned, does so with a staged-upgrade path and zero redundancy. Factor in the comprehensive range of dedicated cables (digital, analogue, AC and grounding) and included risers and this makes it, at least in my experience, by far the most complete audio system cable and grounding solution available, integrating chassis, signal and AC grounds into a single, coherent network – something that’s reflected in the musical coherence of the resulting performance. Sure, it locks you into a single-brand solution for your whole system, but as far as I’m concerned that’s actually an advantage and what you should be aiming for anyway!
Be careful what you wish for?
However, there’s no escaping the plain facts that actually incorporating the Resonant cables into your system with a full OnEarth implementation is going to be both a costly and ungainly proposition. Careful planning when it comes to lengths and layout can minimise the snake pit of spare cable that seems to grow like nettles behind your system, but there’s no escaping the reality of more than doubling the number of cables in use, just as there’s no escaping the final bill.
