CES 2012 – Onda Systems


Onda Systems makes cables. They used this system consisting of the Vandersteen 5a Carbon speakers, Aesthetix Janus preamp and Atlas amp, and 2 Accustic Arts CD Player 1 players. The 2 players were going to be used to do quick demonstrative comparisons [shootouts] between various of their cable = but one of the players was having issues when I was there.

Onda cables are similar to the Acapella Silvercables in that they are solid core silver. You can bend them with your hands fairly easily but they are thick – so it ain’t THAT easy.

What is cool about these cables is that the spades, for example, on the speaker cable are molded as one piece with the cable so there is no seem, no discontinuity between cable and connector.

Sonically, the cables sounded very nicely clean and rich in the midrange. I did not listen long enough to test for leading edges and micro-dynamics, sometimes problems for solid core cables.


The Vandy 5a Carbon loudspeaker


The rear of the Vandersteen 5a Carbom speaker


A close up of the rear of the Vandersteen 5a Carbom speaker and the Onda speaker cable integral spades.


The Accustic Arts CD Player 1


The Accustic Arts CD Player 1 closeup


The Aesthetix Janus full-function preamp (with phono stage)


The Aesthetix Atlas amp


A pile of Onda power cables


Onda Crybaby and Rush interconnects