There is a certain satisfaction when we can share our experiences with others. Not because they want to boast, but on the contrary, we want the experience what we have at least can be useful for others, in this case especially the friends of the worldwide audio device makers. I am an audio cable maker. Now through this opportunity, I want to tell you about my experience in designing audio cables. The article itself I wrote in three parts. I Hope this can bring benefits to you. Thank you for reading….
The story begins when in 1997, while still living in the United States. Since that year I have been attracted to the world of audio cable. Cable effect on sonic characteristic was so interesting that I was willing to spend a lot of time observing, pondering and doing some kind of personal research.
As time went on, I continued to actively research and test cables that I tried to make myself. I have tried various materials of copper and silver, ranging from audio grade, industrial / commercial grade, hospital grade, military grade, aircraft grade to ultra wide-bandwidth-aerospace-grade.
Furthermore, have tried are all by using various types of geometry construction to control electrical properties (L, C & R), insulators to control dielectric and electrical, cryogenic and metallurgical treatments such as gold, graphene and others.
There have been so many initial prototypes that have failed, and failure after failure until finally I really understand how to make high-end high-quality cables. Kenkraft Labs was born and then the final prototype that contains the essence of my research so far finally was ready!
The short story is that when I returned to Indonesia about 3 years ago (2016). Because I feel that I already have my own concept with cables, which is the essence of my research, I believe that my cable is good, then I began introducing my cable. Initially branded Fcuk Labs. Then renamed Kenkraft Labs.
In fact, because I am sure quality and performance of my cable, I dare to target the high end audio systems in Indonesia.
The Result? Thanks God. Slowly, some high end audio enthusiasts open themselves by willing to try this cable cable. These cables are tested in several high end audio rooms owned by some music lovers and audiophiles.
Of course, in addition to praise, there are also reproaches and blasphemies 🙂 (Maybe because there are certain motives or conflict of interest or competition).
From the bottom of my heart, I said – My Cable is a result of on-going long research and finally I can produce a proud high performance audio cable, I dare to call this work a Masterpiece cable.
I dare to call my cable the masterpiece because I am certain that, after witnessing how my cable was bought by several audio enthusiasts and super high end players. And some of them are high end audio lovers and owners who are very very critical in choosing devices, including cables – where some of their equipment can be mentioned such as:
– Mark Levinson ML31 + Conrad Johnson Preamp + VTL amp + B & W.
– Rotel RB + Tannoy Prestidge Gold Ref
– Manley Neoclassic 300b WE version,
– And D’agostino system,
– Audio Research + Tannoy Westminster,
– Jadis 200.
– Gaku On Audio Note,
– Manley 300b system,
– Triangle Art + Gryphon MTM system,
– Gryphon Memphisto + Venture Grand Reference,
– Full set system for MBL top of the line 9011.
– And the list goes on and on….
The lesson that I may share here is, our product can compete with very expensive brands (Even Overpriced perhaps?), it is not even impossible to surpass them. However, we must prepare our products are truly good in both performance and quality.
Our Kenkraft Labs Wire was born from going through long and in-depth research, and were tested first by using high end system that has a standard reference of good quality. Using selected materials and unique geometry based on our research. And more importantly, We must be able to understand the music itself. Critical in our listening when assessing sound quality.
What are the true characteristics of a real audio aficionado ? In my opinion, one of them is, he always wants to get the best for the system, including the cabling. In turn, he/she will make it even more critical in hearing musical offerings that come out of the system. This is what I found in a true audio lover/hobbyist named Mr. A.S. from Semarang. I knew him that way when I visited his house in Semarang 5 months ago.
I actually had met 5 months before and since then I often established communication. To me, he seemed to love music very much and always wanted to know more about the device he had. The device was fairly classy, to the point that it was appropriate to call him an ultra high end lover. His experience was long enough and yet very critical.
Five months ago this was the first time Mr. A.S. from Semarang wants to feel the ‘taste’ of the Kenkraft Labs cable. For this reason, I was also invited to demonstrate the Kenkraft Labs cable system (full set) to his home in Semarang. The Kenkraft Labs wires test includes a comparison between branded cables with a very high price tags, as well as many of these cables, which are considered rare, and can be said to be one of his favorite collections with the nickname ‘kongco’ cable from Belgium. Asiong also has owns several other locally-made sets of cables.
From our first hearing session, he was very pleased with the Kenkraft Labs cable, so he wanted to order. Because he apparently was waiting for his new amplifier, and Kenkraft Labs was asked to make a cable that was fully tuned with the system, he wisely asked me to wait for the new amplfier, Gryphon Flagship Memphisto to come and ensure that the performance was in line with expectations and what he had heard. Kenkraft Labs is of course happy to serve his request, to ensure maximum customer satisfaction.
When I was re-tuning and preparing the cables for him (For his new system), he told me that there were a number of branded cables as well as locally made full set cables that were being tried. He gave an absolute requirement that I would buy my cable full set if my cable was able to provide better performance than all of the branded and local cables in his new amplifier, Gryphon Memphisto, that would come later.
This was a challenge that ignited my fighting spirit to ensure the best Kenkraft Labs tuning for him in a very short time. It’s not just a matter of sales, but I was challenged to focus on total customer satisfaction! Challenge accepted!
In short, the amplifier had arrived. And the Kenkraft Labs cable also looked and sounded so charming like before. In short, he felt very, very happy with the ability of Kenkraft Labs cable. Now Mr. A.S. uses a full set of Kenkraft Labs cables.
There is a story that I find interesting to make a side note when I returned to Semarang. During this trip, I was to accompany and support a friend who is completing an acoustic project in someone’s home who is already a enkraft Labs cable client that I introduced.
During the same visit, on the very last day I also fulfilled the invitation of an audio enthusiastic (call him Mr. A.S. Semarang) where he wanted to try the full set of Kenkraft Labs cable in his new system, Gryphon Memphisto to be tested against several of his branded & expensive cable collections and against a full set local cable.. One of the branded cables, given ‘kongco’ by some local community, has a price tag of € 12,000 euros per cable after a discount).
After the ‘battle’ and many comparison tests later, he chose the Kenkraft Labs cable set. Even so I just asked Mr. A.S. to try first for several days to make sure it really matches his ideal cable’s criteria, considering the total transaction that will be paid for my full set of Kenkraft Labs Cable reaches hundreds of millions of rupiah (Over USD$20,000.00).
While he was continue trying and testing for a few days, he also sent me to Jakarta to go to his twin brother (just call him Mr. A.F.) at Permata Hijau Jakarta. The aim was to try out my Kenkraft Labs cable with a comparison test against both branded and local cables. The result, Mr. AF was also very very very satisfied with the performance of the Kenkraft Labs cable after an elimination process similar to that of his twin brother Mr. AS Semarang before.
I had also asked Mr. AF to try first for a few days to make sure it was really suitable given for his taste as the total transactions of a full Kenkraft Labs Wire is very large that reached hundreds of millions of rupiah (Over USD $20,000.00). Why? Customer satisfaction for using Kenkraft Labs products is very valuable to me.
A few days later, on August 29, 2019, in the morning, both Mr. AS Semarang and Mr. AF Permata Hijau Jakarta, called me and told me that they were 100% sure about the Kenkraft Labs cable. They stated that they can’t go to another heart besides the Kenkraft Labs cable, they can’t go back to their previous expensive brand cables! Surely, Within a few hours later, the payment transaction was done via Bank Transfer.
Along his article, I would like to express my gratitude to Mr. AS in Semarang and his twin brother Mr. AF at Permata Hijau Jakarta for choosing and purchasing a full set of Kenkraft Labs cable for their three systems after being tested against several branded and local cables.
I am also very grateful for my cable competitors both branded and local for making me more advanced, resilient and confident. Hopefully my writing can inspire, motivate and encourage audio players, especially producers and designers of local and DIY brands so that they can be more enthusiastic and tough in competing with other branded products.
Greeting in Audio,
Kenneth Lin
Kenkraft Labs
www.kenkraft-labs.com
#KenkraftLabs
#KenkraftLabsWire