Art K.
The Voodoo You Do!
Yep. I still like Van den Hul but I haven't used them as primary cables for a while. I'm using Chord Company now and I like them.
Changing it Up! Part Deux
- Thread starter Art K.
- Start date
Yep. I still like Van den Hul but I haven't used them as primary cables for a while. I'm using Chord Company now and I like them.
Art K.
The Voodoo You Do!
Spiroflex, I think. Should have them by Saturday, I hope.
Art K.
The Voodoo You Do!
Received the cables today. No indication on them as to directionality. Called Gene and he said to just hook 'em up. He said they don't require much run in and should sound good right out of the box ( more of that no BS LFD worldview). My first impression was that they would probably have sounded better in the box. WRONG! They may not need to be run in but they certainly needed to warm up. They didn't wow out of the box because that is not what they are about. They are about balance across the entire frequency range. Detail is enhanced but it easy detail, not etched detail. Timbre is also improved, that is you can more easily tell one symbol from another, one string instrument from another and each key on the piano is more defined. Also there is more space around each instrument while actually hanging together a bit better. Timing is excellent. Many of these differences are subtle and others less so.
More later.
More later.
MikeT.
Displaced Irish Cajun
Just curious as to your budget for the cables. I know once I've found a brand I like I'm pretty loyal but have also found inconsistency within product lines of the same brand.
I've really found some keepers in the Tara Labs speaker cables I've got now....just sayin.....
Art K.
The Voodoo You Do!
I wanted to spend around $500-600 (total) for 3m speaker cables set and 1m interconnect. Chord cables aren't perfect and they sound a bit smeared compared to the LFD speaker cables but unfortunately the solid core has the same weaknesses that all solid core does to my ears. Back to stranded. I'm moving up from my Chord Carnival Silverscreen and Cobra to Odyssey 2 and Chameleon.
MikeT.
Displaced Irish Cajun
That's the wonderful thing about this hobby. Not one thing sounds exactly the same to two different people. Some folks would beg to differ that its wonderful
I've tried lots of stranded and landed back at Tara Labs solid core camp.
I've read a lot about the Chord but I've found something that works for now.
The Spendors will point out the differences for sure. Good luck with the cable quest:yes:
RGA
Super Member
I suppose I should pay more attention to the design of cables but my eyes glaze over when people talk about cables.
The first speaker cable test I did was with a MIT cable (that had boxes attached. They were pricey and sounded utterly dreadful compared to shoelace Linn el cheapo cables. At least I was convinced there was a difference in cables early on - they were different - dreadful - rolled off and even distorted sounding.
I had a pair of Tara Labs Prism 11 cables for 15 years and never really did much beyond that. But my Audio Note Turntable 2 has a hard wired Vx 99.99% silver wire IC connected (have no clue about stranded or silver) but It certainly sound much better than a turntable with their copper variant. As part of my TT purchase I was provided a set of Vx interconnects for my CD player. I plugged them in over the Tara Labs but never did any comparison.
Moved to Hong Kong brought the Vx cables and the Prism 11 with me. I used the Vx for about a year with the Line Magnetic CD215 but moving around so much I accidentally twisted and pulled the Audio Note cable too many times (Apparently I was supposed to pull not twist). And one of the solder joints broke. So I was getting an intermittent sound (I thought it was the Line Magnetic skipping and dropping out because who would think that an IC could break right?
Anyway, when I finally figured out it was the AN Vx cable I put the Prism 11 back in and I was utterly dismayed at how utterly dreadful the sound became. I could not believe it. I didn't notice the change so much when I first got the Vx - put it in and "meh big deal" But going the other way after using that Vx cable for so long was kind of stunning to me. It was so bad that I connected the broken Vx cable and delicately turned it so it would make enough contact - even with the cutting in and out it was better than the Prism 11 - and remember this was a renowned award winning best buy recommended by everyone cable back in the day.
So I went to the dealer - they took 10 minutes fixed it for free got home and the Tara Labs went into the trash bin.
This is no knock on TL - they make much better cables and it should be pointed out there is a substantial price difference - the Prism 11 was something like $70 in the mid 1990s and the Vx is I have no clue but knowing AN is probably $1,200 for 1 meter these days.
I can't imagine their being high resale value on cables so perhaps this is where to save a big pile of money.
My reply is completely off topic as I can not begin to recommend a cable. I find this to be a cherry on top kind of thing and is probably more system dependent than anything else. When I have several systems and pieces in my review system I will be more apt to try several cables and see what happens with different system. The AN Silver cable could utterly stink in a different system. Anyway now you have me looking up my cables to see what the design is. Knowing AN it will be the equivalent of a no feedback approach in cables
The first speaker cable test I did was with a MIT cable (that had boxes attached. They were pricey and sounded utterly dreadful compared to shoelace Linn el cheapo cables. At least I was convinced there was a difference in cables early on - they were different - dreadful - rolled off and even distorted sounding.
I had a pair of Tara Labs Prism 11 cables for 15 years and never really did much beyond that. But my Audio Note Turntable 2 has a hard wired Vx 99.99% silver wire IC connected (have no clue about stranded or silver) but It certainly sound much better than a turntable with their copper variant. As part of my TT purchase I was provided a set of Vx interconnects for my CD player. I plugged them in over the Tara Labs but never did any comparison.
Moved to Hong Kong brought the Vx cables and the Prism 11 with me. I used the Vx for about a year with the Line Magnetic CD215 but moving around so much I accidentally twisted and pulled the Audio Note cable too many times (Apparently I was supposed to pull not twist). And one of the solder joints broke. So I was getting an intermittent sound (I thought it was the Line Magnetic skipping and dropping out because who would think that an IC could break right?
Anyway, when I finally figured out it was the AN Vx cable I put the Prism 11 back in and I was utterly dismayed at how utterly dreadful the sound became. I could not believe it. I didn't notice the change so much when I first got the Vx - put it in and "meh big deal" But going the other way after using that Vx cable for so long was kind of stunning to me. It was so bad that I connected the broken Vx cable and delicately turned it so it would make enough contact - even with the cutting in and out it was better than the Prism 11 - and remember this was a renowned award winning best buy recommended by everyone cable back in the day.
So I went to the dealer - they took 10 minutes fixed it for free got home and the Tara Labs went into the trash bin.
This is no knock on TL - they make much better cables and it should be pointed out there is a substantial price difference - the Prism 11 was something like $70 in the mid 1990s and the Vx is I have no clue but knowing AN is probably $1,200 for 1 meter these days.
I can't imagine their being high resale value on cables so perhaps this is where to save a big pile of money.
My reply is completely off topic as I can not begin to recommend a cable. I find this to be a cherry on top kind of thing and is probably more system dependent than anything else. When I have several systems and pieces in my review system I will be more apt to try several cables and see what happens with different system. The AN Silver cable could utterly stink in a different system. Anyway now you have me looking up my cables to see what the design is. Knowing AN it will be the equivalent of a no feedback approach in cables
audiodon
Addicted Member
In the speaker cable department, I've been using Nordost Blue Heaven IIs to my Spendors in the reference system. There's something about the combination of silver coated copper that works well to my ears. Lots and just enough of everything, but I think I'm ready to move up somewhat.
I'll be reconfiguring the system and am considering some different cables so I don't have 2" wide ribbons running across the fireplace's front doors upon reassembly.
I'll be using a Fisher tube amp to Spendor A9s. Mid-priced cables are up for consideration but they have to be around 12 feet long.
I'll be reconfiguring the system and am considering some different cables so I don't have 2" wide ribbons running across the fireplace's front doors upon reassembly.
I'll be using a Fisher tube amp to Spendor A9s. Mid-priced cables are up for consideration but they have to be around 12 feet long.
JohnMichael
Super Member
I had been using a combination of Audioquest and Goertz solid and ribbon cables and IC's. I recently switched to Transparent Cables and am very pleased with the changes. A pair of 8ft speaker cables and one pair of IC's were $300. Of course you can spend as much as you like going up the line of their cables. They now have an online store so if there is no dealer around you can still try the cables.
I have never heard any of the Chord cables but I have read many good things in audio magazines.
I have never heard any of the Chord cables but I have read many good things in audio magazines.
Art K.
The Voodoo You Do!
Transparent makes very nice cables.
There are a lot of good quality brands in the cables business...Van den Hul, Chord, Cardas, AQ, Kimber, Nordost, Analysis Plus, Wireworld and many, many more. These guys put a lot of research in to their products and the results shows it.
Then there are other brands who buy mediocre (or worse) cable by the reel, terminate it, put there badge on it and sell it at a premium. They will remain unnamed.
There are a lot of good quality brands in the cables business...Van den Hul, Chord, Cardas, AQ, Kimber, Nordost, Analysis Plus, Wireworld and many, many more. These guys put a lot of research in to their products and the results shows it.
Then there are other brands who buy mediocre (or worse) cable by the reel, terminate it, put there badge on it and sell it at a premium. They will remain unnamed.
Erocka2000
Well-Known Member
The KEFs? Uh oh. Did you get a new toy?
Art K.
The Voodoo You Do!
:yes:
canuckaudiog
On a quest for high fidelity
Art K.
The Voodoo You Do!
My LS50s should be here on Friday. My dealer was really curious about these speakers so I will probably have him stop by with a tube amp or two. We still have that Leben to run through its paces. I really want to hear the Line Magnetic LM211ia as it may be affordable sooner and has one of my favorite output tubes in the EL34's. Probably not enough power though.
MikeT.
Displaced Irish Cajun
Art, I'm betting if those tube amps have some largish power supplies they will run the LS50's at some decent volume no problem.
Watching for your reaction.