My gear:
Preamp: Jeff Rowland Capri
Amp: jeff Rowland 102 (class D)
Spkr: Sonus Faber Grand Piano Home series and Concertino, Quad L-11, MedowLark Shadow
AC pwr cond: Richard Gray 400
Harmonic Tech Pro-11 spkr cables get the most musical sounding when compared against others that I have listed earlier.
Newbee, I share my opinion based on the comparison that I did and judged it by just using my (well broken-in) ears. As u stated, if OP need to gather some/all of the specs and technical numbers from the gear (and all of cables) to determine the most musical sounding, i then suggest he should contact each manufactures to collect those data. Why post here? |
DH Labs Q Sonic floats my boat. It is equally adept connected to very different power amps and speakers. |
07-11-12: Sunnyjim
To Almarg, I should have checked with Acoustic Zen about other choices than their own cables, but it seemed pointless in some ways However, your point is well taken, but checking with owners of the same speaker or others that are 5 to 6 ohm impedance. The Adagios are officially 6 ohms. Sunnyjim, I would emphasize my reference to the flatness of the impedance curve I linked to, across most of the spectrum, and to the fact that the phase angle curve (the lighter of the two lines in the graph) does not go significantly negative at any frequency. Those characteristics are probably more important for present purposes than the nominal impedance. Most speakers do not have similarly flat impedance magnitudes, and most speakers have impedance phase angles that reach considerably negative values (i.e., considerably less than 0 degrees, meaning they are capacitive) at some frequencies. Sounds like Swanny's speakers might be an exception, which would increase the relevance of his (and DRubin's) suggestion. Regards, -- Al |
Thanks to all who added their choices of speaker cable to the discussion. To Almarg, I should have checked with Acoustic Zen about other choices than their own cables, but it seemed pointless in some ways However, your point is well taken, but checking with owners of the same speaker or others that are 5 to 6 ohm impedance. The Adagios are officially 6 ohms
To Drubin, I previously had AZ's Hologram 2 speaker cable which was approaching the musicality I was after. However, I had to sell them due to their awkward size and girth and they had spade lugs which are a nuisance to keep in place. However, as good as they are, they produced a smaller sound stage than was previous Analysis Oval 12. Bass was good but not exceptional. I decided to try Audio Art SC-5 cable to save some money and to evaluate the lower priced overachiever.
At first, I was surprised that the sound stage was wider and a tad higher, and bass was tighter, and the overall sound somewhat easier to listen to. The AZ's Hologram 2's at retail for 10 ft pair is approx 6 times greater than a 12 ft pair of AA's SC-5....Go figure!! However, after a few weeks of listening, I concluded that the AA's did not have the mid-range detail or finesse of the Hologram 2. I thought there was about a third less music being conveyed. I have to say that AA's presentation brought new life or zest to several CD's I played (Another aspect of that "musical" quality, I am sure)
Nevertheless, Rob Fritz of Audio Art offered me a decent trade-up allowance toward his SC-5SE cable which is more money, but I decided to test the choppy waters of speaker cable mania instead hoping to see if there is truly a low to medium price cable that is exceptional.
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I would also try the Satori. Like you, Sunnyjim, I also run Class D monoblocks (BC Ref 1000 Mk 2)with fairly efficient and easy to drive speakers. I use the Shotgun external bi wire set. Plenty of detail, but very smooth and good bass response. I might say they lean just a bit to the warmer side of things, but with a Class D amp, I don't think that's a bad thing at all. As Drubin says, a steal at the price, and there have been some good deals offered up lately here. |
I would go with Acoustic Zen Satori. I find it to be unfailingly musical and a steal at its price. Plus, it should work well with your speakers. |
DNM Reson might be worth a look.
I find their ICs to be most coherent and musical top to bottom and would expect similar from the speaker wires. |
Nasaman, Judging from Al's post Sunnyjim's speakers will be a good neutral test for the differences between cable and he will be able to hear the synergism that he has already established between his electronics and his speakers. Then he can attribute what he hears to the cables as he changes them, the total synergy, or the basic system in toto or to individual components, as he sees fit. He appears to be fortunate in the sense that he won't have to listen to a lot of different cables before he can determine which, if any, can give him what he is looking for.
A challenge for you.
Since you have stated that the Harmonic Tech Pro-ll is the most 'musical' s/c, and you imply that your system is synergistic and suitable for evaluating cables without considering the technical speaker/cables matching issues, perhaps you can take a moment and tell us specifically what attributes that cable possesses that makes it 'musical' in nature that the other cables do not. Are you sure it is embedded in the nature of the cable, i.e. it will be 'musical' when used in all systems, or could it just be the result of its synergy with your system. In other words as you describe the differences in the cables as slight (in an already synergistic system) can you attribute the differences to personal preference as opposed to technical differences?
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Harmonic Tech Pro-11 is the most musical s/c when I put on against my Transparent Super, MIT MH-750, Analysis Plus Oval-9, Nordost RedDawn, Blue Heaven.
Once system's synergy is built up, each spkr cables would sound ALMOST the same but (if listen carefully) their straits def still there.
Ignore Newbie and Almag. |
Sonnyjim, I'll chill out. I didn't recognize your level of experience by your post. I thought you just might be another audio enthusiast with poor synergy in his basic system, not recognizing this, and thinking he could solve all of the synergy issues by changing speaker wire. If you were you wouldn't be the first, or probably the last. Good luck. |
Nasaman, nothing that I or Newbee have said is inconsistent with the experiences you reported in your post.
Regards,
-- Al |
Harmonic Tech Pro-11 is the most musical s/c when I put on against my Transparent Super, MIT MH-750, Analysis Plus Oval-9, Nordost RedDawn, Blue Heaven.
Once system's synergy is built up, each spkr cables would sound ALMOST the same but (if listen carefully) their straits def still there.
Ignore Newbie and Almag. |
Sunnyjim, the impedance curve of your speakers, as shown near the end of this review, is much more benign than most, being fairly flat, at about 5 ohms through much of the spectrum, and with phase angles that are not highly capacitive at any frequency. I suggest that you research posts by owners of the same or similar speakers to see what cables they are using. The fact that most other speakers do not have impedance characteristics that are similarly easy to drive, and may also differ significantly from the 5 ohm nominal value, suggests that recommendations based on experiences with other speakers stand a good chance of not being applicable, IMO. Regards, -- Al |
Try the Purist Musaeus Speaker |
I would recommend looking at Zentara Cables. I use the Reference II bi-wire speaker cables and wrote a short review here. You can find more information,including reviews,with a general internet search but here is a link to the website. http://www.zentaracables.com/On the website under feedback I am Duane. My amplifier has changed to a Luxman L-590aII since then and I am even more pleased with how the cables allow all of the rich vibrant sound and texture to flow and/or explode from my speakers. If you call Mr. Kue you will find that he loves to talk about audio,equipment,and of course cables but with much knowledge and a great sense of humor. |
JW Audio Cryo Nova, they are the same type of wire as Anticable, but having owned both, I like the Cryo Nova considerably better. |
Clear Day cables work pretty good. |
Under $800 I recommend a pair of used Analysis Plus Solo Crystal Oval 8. These are 8 gauge single crystal hollow copper cable. Strong bass. Lots of details. Not bright. Not warm. That's "musical" in my opinion. |
Guys, I appreciate your advice, but let us chill a bit. I have been doing audio for 40 years, and understand what both Newbee and Almarg have stated.
The basic system (without specifying turntable) consists of a pair of Acoustic Zen Adagio; Bel Canto PRE-3 pre-amp/line stage; Red Dragon M-500 digital class D monoblocks, and a newly purchased Cambridge Audio 550C modded by Mapleshade Audio.( previously used a Rega Apollo) Chord Chameleon IC between CD and pre-amp. Nordost Red Dawn IC connects amps to pre-amp.
Speaker cable is Audio Art SC5 which is relatively inexpensive, and good, but after a few week of use is not cutting it. Therefore, I am looking to find a "synergistic", "euphonic", "musical", compatible (add your own adjectives) speaker cable that IS NOT MEGA, OR JUST EXPENSIVE.
I am still considerING the more expensive Audio Art SC-5; Morrow Audio's S-4 or SP 6 reference speaker cable. Both are over $1000 for a 12 ft pair which i must use in my current set-up. I have more less eliminated Paul Spletz's Anti-Cable which is ridiculously inexpensive. Soundstring Gen II and Nordost's new LEIF series speaker cables are outside contenders. Thanks again |
Outstanding answer by Newbee, IMO. It is entirely possible that cable A would sound more musical (however that may be defined) than cable B in one system, while in another system cable B would sound more musical than cable A.
Regards,
-- Al |
It is not your cable that makes a sound, musical or otherwise. Cable is not additive, musical, etc. It is your sources and their integration with your speakers that make the sounds. Poor cable selection can exacerbate problematic characteristics of your electronics or cover them up, that's all. It's called synergism and it is depending mostly on correct electrical interface with your components and your personal tastes.
If you identify your components and how they sound to you along with a description of how you want them to sound you just might get an intelligent response. Otherwise your looking for love in the wrong places. |
