MIT's are full sounding. They'll give your system body and space. I tried several of the more "popular" brands above and none image like MIT. Yea, nobody likes the boxes and they are expensive. You could easily get a used pair, people are always upgrading. Some of the suggestions are ridiculous.
Neutral cables for hi-resolution, imaging system?
I'm stuck with a bit of a conundrum here and don't know exactly how to proceed, so I post here in hopes of some discussion to show some possibilities for what I seek.
Firstly, my system built to deliver detail and resolution and an accurate image, with as neutral a tone as possible. So my system is primarily concerned with imaging and detail, tone secondly (not to be ignored, by any means, however). I am running a VPI Scout w/ Dynavector 20x-h, Creek CD-50 MkII, Classe CAP-150 (only the amp section is utilized), Mod Squad Passive Deluxe Line Preamp and Phono Drive, and Apogee Centaur Majors. I am using Symo biwire speaker cables, Nordost Red Dawn ICs from the CDP to the preamp to the amp, and the VPI has Zu Xaus from the TT to the preamp.
My quandry lies with the CD line sound; the analog VPI sounds just fine in this system. With a good CD recording, I can hear incredible low-level detail, the dynamics are very explosive and the imaging is phenomenal. Only the very busiest, chaotic recordings make the instruments start to lose their individual focus and alloted space. But, the trade off is that the tone is just a wee bit lean. The middle (and also somewhat the low) frequencies sound ever so slightly stunted. It isn't that bad at all really, it errs just a hair on the lean side of neutral to me.
I'm starting with the premise that the equipment I now have is fine for the job but that the cables could possibly be better matched. I am willing to experiment with the slots taken up by the Red Dawn ICs and the Symo speaker cable. But I don't know if there is a cable out there that will move the system a hair towards the middle to set the tone squarely neutral without sacrificing the detail and imaging to which I am addicted. Moving up the food chain to more expensive products would be fine, unless the cable is obviously and inappropriately outclassing my system. I'm perplexed as to what product could still give me everything the Red Dawns provide and also slightly fill out the middle tone. I'm not willing to give up much, if any, of the detail and imaging that the Red Dawns offer. If I can't get a well-balanced tone without giving up image, then I can be happy with my current set up. It seems to me that the speaker cables may be the easiest to replace, but I'm pretty much a noob when it comes to speaker cable qualities. Warmer tone (no matter how little) always comes at the expense of clarity and detail, in my experience. Does anyone with similar speakers and system tastes (other Apogee, Quad or Martin Logan owners, possibly) have an opinion? Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.
Firstly, my system built to deliver detail and resolution and an accurate image, with as neutral a tone as possible. So my system is primarily concerned with imaging and detail, tone secondly (not to be ignored, by any means, however). I am running a VPI Scout w/ Dynavector 20x-h, Creek CD-50 MkII, Classe CAP-150 (only the amp section is utilized), Mod Squad Passive Deluxe Line Preamp and Phono Drive, and Apogee Centaur Majors. I am using Symo biwire speaker cables, Nordost Red Dawn ICs from the CDP to the preamp to the amp, and the VPI has Zu Xaus from the TT to the preamp.
My quandry lies with the CD line sound; the analog VPI sounds just fine in this system. With a good CD recording, I can hear incredible low-level detail, the dynamics are very explosive and the imaging is phenomenal. Only the very busiest, chaotic recordings make the instruments start to lose their individual focus and alloted space. But, the trade off is that the tone is just a wee bit lean. The middle (and also somewhat the low) frequencies sound ever so slightly stunted. It isn't that bad at all really, it errs just a hair on the lean side of neutral to me.
I'm starting with the premise that the equipment I now have is fine for the job but that the cables could possibly be better matched. I am willing to experiment with the slots taken up by the Red Dawn ICs and the Symo speaker cable. But I don't know if there is a cable out there that will move the system a hair towards the middle to set the tone squarely neutral without sacrificing the detail and imaging to which I am addicted. Moving up the food chain to more expensive products would be fine, unless the cable is obviously and inappropriately outclassing my system. I'm perplexed as to what product could still give me everything the Red Dawns provide and also slightly fill out the middle tone. I'm not willing to give up much, if any, of the detail and imaging that the Red Dawns offer. If I can't get a well-balanced tone without giving up image, then I can be happy with my current set up. It seems to me that the speaker cables may be the easiest to replace, but I'm pretty much a noob when it comes to speaker cable qualities. Warmer tone (no matter how little) always comes at the expense of clarity and detail, in my experience. Does anyone with similar speakers and system tastes (other Apogee, Quad or Martin Logan owners, possibly) have an opinion? Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.
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- 13 posts total
- 13 posts total