Acoustic Zen Matrix..for me???

Acoustic Zen or Harmonic Tech cabling is quite similar as they both utilize the so-called single crystal technology with a mix of copper and silver and especially since both mfg's cables come from Robert Lee, chief designer at Harmonic Tech before starting Acoustic Zen.

Zen's may (or may not be) a tad better but the HT will save you a few more bucks if you're on a budget.

I've compared the HT Pro 9's to AZ's Satori shotguns and I sold the Satori's to purchase the Pro 9's. And saved $400 in the process. (both sets were purchased used).

I just purchased a 15 ft run of Acoustic Zen Silver reference between my SFL2 pre amp and VAC renaissance 70 MK III feeding the Verity audio parsifal encores. They are simply amazing. I understand that the matrix is superb but not as transparent or resolving as the silver. I also owned the 330's. The matrix will make the MIT's sound sick. For less money, I recommend the JPS FX ($750 retail for 15 ft).

You might want to go with a balanced cable. I've tried both rca and xlr with my arc amp and found the xlr was noticably better. ARC recommends this as well. I use a vt100m2 and a bat vk-5i. I've also used/owned the arc ref1 and the ls5mkII with this amp.

I tried the az silver ref ic and thought it was one of the better ic's I've heard. Great harmonic content, no silver harshness, very good transparency and easy to listen to. I did however feel that it was overpriced for it's level of performance.

I didn't hear them a/b, but I did compare both to the same reference cables, and I felt the az and the ht pro silway II were about the same distance off. I would personally just buy an ht pro silway II. If you can find one cheap, you might also try some ARC linklitz cable. Those lose out a little on the transparency, but they are very warm and have a great midrange with arc electronics.

The satori speaker cables are excellent and imho the audio buy of the century. Unless you want to pay for a 3000+ retail speaker cable, I would go no further. I found them to be very close to the best speaker cables out there.

So, buy some ht prosilway II, and some satori's !

Hi John .... I was considering Balanced but my other ic are RCA to RCA and I was told that may not be too good.....

comments?

The idea behind that advice is that running balanced end to end will lower the noise floor overall. This is probably true with all components that are designed as balanced circuits from end to end.

Most of the time I really don't hear that much of an improvment of balanced verses single ended. I usually try both when I have a choice. Balanced verses single ended really is component dependent. Sometimes I hear an improvement, but most times the difference is too small to be concerned with.

I've used a variety of preamps and cables with the vt100m2, and I do hear a marked improvmement running a balanced cable from pre to amp. A long ic is also better served with a balanced cable because of it's noise cancelling characteristics.