Hijiri HCI-R10
test 2018-06-11 Arkadiusz Ogrodnik

New Hijiri HCI-R10 interconnect can be considered a benchmark among products at acomparable price level.
In a stereo system, analog interconnects aren’t any less important than speaker cables –it is them that take part in transmitting signals from the source (most often a CD playeror a turntable) to the amplifier. For this reason, anyone who takes building their dreamsystem seriously, should take special care when choosing appropriate signal cables. Of course,
just like with speaker cables, also among popular interconnects, there are many different
models of interconnects you can choose from, made by more or less known brands. Topmodels from the offer of the most renown companies can cost as much as a whole mediumclass stereo system. But this doesn’t deter the wealthiest audiophiles at all.
One of the brands that is lately gaining popularity and recognition on our market, is Harmonix
belonging to Japanese Combak Corporation, having in their portfolio also Reimyo, Bravo!,
Enacom and recently also Hijiri. For those who observe the audio market, it was quite asurprise to learn that a completely new brand of cables has been founded. After all, over theyears Harmonix has earned appreciation among audiophile society around the world, but
apparently mister Kazuo Kiuchi has had his reasons to make such a decision.
By design, Hijiri cables are even more advanced and more expensive products, constituting amore luxurious version of Harmonix cables. Hijiri cables tested by us so far have proved to be
one of the best in their categories. Therefore it’s not a surprise that the latest products fromHijiri have aroused keen interest in our editorial team. Even more so, when it turned out thattheir price is far from what we expected, taking into consideration other items on the price listof this exclusive brand.

Quite recently, I had the occasion to test Hijiri HCS-25 speaker cables, whose sound character
was a bit different from the one I got used to over the years of dealing with Harmonix cables.
Obviously, many sound qualities typical to this Japanese brand were still there, but the soundof these cables has been enhanced even more through greater detailedness and dynamics.
Apart from perfect sound quality known from Harmonix products, these cables are even betterat presenting all the acoustic nuances present in music. The unbelievable naturalness andreality is maintained, but if anyone considered Harmonix cables to be too placid, then you
should definitely try Hijiri HCS-25 out – the difference in this aspect is readily audible. Thesituation is similar with the interconnect, which I had the occasion to test both separately andpaired with Hijiri HCS-25 speaker cables. When it comes to technical aspects related to theconstruction of the tested interconnects, once again, the producer provides very limited
information, while the rest is kept secret. All we know is that the main conductor is highquality PCOCC copper. Connectors are also made of PCOCC copper, but to make them more
durable and wear resistant, they are additionally plated with gold and another layer ofrhodium.
The cables are flexible, you can easily place them behind the devices. The workmanship ofthe connectors is quite impressive, too. They’ve been made with such a precision, that they go
into RCA ports like a hot knife through butter, but at the same time, you can be absolutely
certain that the connection is secure, and there’s no risk they will accidentally slip out of thesocket.

Technical and musical aspects

Hijiri HCI-R10 turned out to be such an interesting interconnect, that I’ve decided to devote it
considerably more attention than I usually do in the case of cables of this type. With signal
cables, it is quite easy, because, in a sense, their sound character is the sum of both their own
style and the characteristics of the source – during the test, I was using a great CD-10 playerfrom Ayon, version Signature. Whereas the sound character presented by speaker cables, in asense, will be marked by the speaker set (after all, it is the last and most important element of
an audio system) and the amplifier. When analyzing these dependencies, it can be concluded
that there are always “two sides of a coin”, and usually when using high quality cables in apoor quality system, you are wasting their potential just like when using poor quality cables ina great quality system.

In the case of signal cables, the situation is similar, because even if you have an amazing
amplifier, you can ruin everything with a mediocre CD player or not wisely selected signalcables. All in all, if your goal is to succeed in a search for an audio system that sounds
naturally and realistically, then the first step is to evaluate the sound quality offered by the CD
player and analogue interconnects. With Hijiri cables, the situation is quite simple, because
HCI-R10 model can be considered a benchmark for testing cables at a similar price level.
During listening session, I was using a high quality source in the form of CD-10 model from
Austrian Ayon brand, and Accuphase E-270 amplifier, used interchangeably with Hegle H80,
feeding two-way floorstanding speakers of my own design, offering great spaciousness, aswell as linearity and detailedness, which stand the comparison with the best equipment. Sucha system allowed Hijiri cables to show their full potential, and I have to admit, I’ve neverencountered signal cables at this price level that would sound so organic and synergic.
Hijiri HCI-R10 gives you full insight into the acoustic structure of each song – when listening
to the subtle sounds, which are in abundance on the hybrid CD/SACD, “Libera Me” by Lars
Danielsson, I could delight in the minutest details (both their location on the stage, and theirsonic attributes), no matter whether they were emphasized more or less with reverberation andenergy at the dynamic level in micro scale. I was able to hear every impulse, evenmicroscopic, with ease, whereas the timbre of string instruments, creating the marvelous
atmosphere of this fantastic album, has been fantastically recreated. The sound was intense,
rich in overtones, brilliant, and most of all, characterized by excellent imaging. I have toemphasize however, that Hijiri HCI-R10 cables don’t offer such uncompromisingtransparency as the high-end Hijiri Million model. They are closer rather to what Harmonix
interconnects, positioned a bit lower in the range of Combak Corporation products, present.
But still, there’s something about them that makes them special, mainly when it comes toreproducing all the nuances corresponding to the timbre of individual instruments and theirdynamics. The symbiosis between these two key elements composing the overall soundexperience of HCI-R10, reaches the level that stands comparison with the best signal cables ofthis type, regardless of their price.

Good to know
In my review of Hijiri HCS-25 speaker cables, I’ve mentioned the importance of burn-in. You
really shouldn’t downplay the producer’s promise that the cables will show their full potential
only after they’ve played in a system for a certain amount of time. In general, you can assume
that a complete burn-in process of cables (at least when it comes to HCS-25 cables) takes
about two weeks, playing a few hours a day. It’s also a good idea to compare the effect before
burn-in with the outcome achieved already after a few hours of playing, and then after fullperiod required for a complete burn-in process of cables. The effect, or rather the differencesin sound, can be quite surprising. The situation with analogue interconnects was similar, and I
performed the burn-in in a separate system, together with the speaker cables.

Compared to speaker cables, the interconnects showed fewer differences in sound withoutburn-in. This doesn’t mean, however, that the differences were not present in HCI-R10, they
were audible, but not to such a degree. Still, even a few day’s warm-up proved to be helpful inachieving the full potential of these cables – the improvement was audible most of all in theresolution, and what comes with it, the detailedness of sound. Similar can be said about thedynamics, especially in the micro scale, and the bass – the low range has become fuller andtighter.

Summary
Mister Kazuo Kiuchi, the head of Combak Corporation, claims that HCI-R10 offer unrivalledsound quality at this price, and I was able to experimentally confirm the validity of thisstatement. For me, it’s also important that the cables offer complete, and at the same time,
unique sound. As a result, the carefully selected stereo systems can achieve even higher levelof sonic perfection.

Verdict: Hijiri HCI-R10Sound quality★★★★★

Quality / Price
★★★★★

Look
★★★★★

Performance★★★★★

Pluses: The greatest advantages of these cables are detailedness, perfect tonal balance andspaciousness, which make it possible to hear every sound in its full glory. Among pluses,
there is also dynamics, without any trace of compression, but with great freedom and naturalpace. What’s also noteworthy is the nice finishing touches completing the whole, including
the box and other details
Minuses: It’s hardly a disadvantage, but you have to remember that in a poorly matchedstereo system, you won’t be able to hear their excellent sonic attributes
In general: The cables can be considered a benchmark among products at a comparable pricelevel. They will sound the best paired with HCS-25 speaker cables, further improving wellmatched mid- or high-range stereo systems
Overall evaluation:

★★★★★
PRODUCT
Hijiri HCI-R10
TYPE
Analogue interconnect
PRICE
PLN 3 790 (1m)
WEIGHTDIMENSIONS (WxHxD)
DISTRIBUTION
Moje Audio
www.mojeaudio.pl
KEY FEATURES

Directional construction
Connectors made of high quality PCOCC copper, double plated with gold andrhodium
Conductors made with PCOCC copper
Hand crafted