Mad Scientist White Magic and White Magic Ultra USB Cables
Listening – White Magic
After reviewing the White Magic interlinks and now hearing the White Magic USB cables, I can confirm these conductors have a distinct sound, just as the Mad Scientist claims. I know we’re comparing analog interlinks to USB cables here, but I still hear a common sonic signature.
Like the interlinks, the White Magic USB cable is simultaneously open and detailed, yet sweet, smooth, and subtly warm. Compared to the Ansuz A3 USB cable, my current reference for neutrality, the White Magic offers almost the same level of overall detail retrieval, but with slightly brighter treble and slightly less articulate, yet fuller and warmer bass. Despite the rounder bass, the cable sounds nimble, with upbeat pacing and uncompressed dynamics, making for a full-blooded, powerful, engaging sound that’s easy to get into.
Listening – White Magic Ultra
Once again, just as the manufacturer claims, the White Magic Ultra is indeed much more neutral than the older Prime. It is also more neutral than the entry-level White Magic. It has cleaner, more incisive bass and purer, more linear treble, without accentuation. The Ultra’s bass is also more robust than the entry-level White Magic, but not so much that it darkens the sound, as the old Prime can.
It’s striking how you hear higher resolution than with the entry-level White Magic, but in a calmer, less forced manner, and without losing momentum or constraining dynamics or expression. There’s no dryness and no lack of saturation; the sound stays deliciously smooth, fluid, and relaxed.
The White Magic Ultra improves significantly on the entry-level cable, but it still has the White Magic charm, just more subtly balanced and nuanced. As inviting as the entry-level White Magic may sound at first, I much prefer the Ultra version, as it is easily the most neutral Mad Scientist USB cable yet.
The Black Magic Prime, in turn, delivers an even more robust performance, with fuller bass and a very physical presentation. But this comes with thicker midbass and drier, less fluid treble, which can make it sound darker. The Prime remains a distinctive, characterful cable that can put a lean-sounding system in a whole new light, but it’s considerably less neutral than the White Magic.
The Black Magic Prime has also been replaced with a new White Magic Prime. I haven’t heard it, but with its five-layer Prime screening architecture and handcrafted kegs (a composite of graphene, titano-magnetite, and diamond cured under high voltage), it offers even better RF rejection and field control, and I can only imagine it takes things even further.
Neutrality versus Magic
To my ears, both White Magic cables add a subtle dose of lush smoothness and tonal richness. As such, I don’t regard them as strictly neutral. Then again, most boutique cables are tuned one way or another; after all, that is what makes them special. In fact, I find that very few cables are indeed truly neutral. Those that are can be a two-edged sword, as they can also make a system sound less forgiving or less magical. It’s a delicate matter.
I have friends who prefer a slightly more euphonic sound over clean neutrality. Moreover, some friends feel that my taste verges on the leaner side of neutral. I’d counter that I prioritize precision over fullness and am willing to sacrifice some saturation for better articulation. Either way, this isn’t just a delicate matter; it’s also very personal.
The White Magic Ultra strikes a very delicate balance of sweetness, flow, harmonic richness, precision, clarity, and expression. Come to think of it, this cable offers a similar balance of precision and magic as I recall from the Jorma Reference and XACT Phantom. I’d need to compare them directly to see how close the White Magic Ultra comes, but even so, given the large price difference, the resemblance already looks like a royal achievement for Mad Scientist.
Conclusion
With White Magic, Mad Scientist Audio has released a worthy successor to the Black Magic range. These two USB cables are more neutral and perform better, without sacrificing the magic. Both models deliver a full-blooded, free-flowing, powerful, engaging sound that’s easy to get into. The entry-level White Magic model already delivers plenty of music without adding coloration, while the White Magic Ultra takes neutrality, precision, refinement, and composure even further without sacrificing the entry-level model’s core qualities.
The White Magic offers incredible value, making it a very easy cable to recommend.
The White Magic Ultra is significantly better and my preference, but it’s also considerably more expensive. At this price, it faces competition, though its delicate balance of sweetness, flow, harmonic richness, precision, clarity, and expression is really only found in other cables that cost much more.
External Links
Manufacturer: madscientist-audio
