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Speaker cable and brightness control

I'm not new to the Hi Fi world but have gradually developed a hearing issue over the last 10 years that makes me very sensitive to bright, medium to high volume sounds. I have used electrostats for the last 25+ years and it was explained in another forum how the diminishing impedance attendant with increasing frequency can accentuate the perceived "shrillness". This suggestion makes sense to me. So you have some idea of my starting point, my present system consists of the following: Shanling S100 solid state CD player, California Audio Lab tube based DAC, Rogue Audio Sphinx hybrid amp and bi-wired Martin Logan Odyssey speakers.

It was also pointed out that an amplifier with a tube based output stage could improve my situation and I believe that would probably help but, for the same reason that I'm sticking with my ML's, I really can't afford the expense.

This leads me to my question regarding speaker conductors. The varying opinions and arguments on this subject are wide and often contradictory with some saying that there is no difference between the various options, to one self proclaimed audiophile commenting that if you can't hear the difference, you should get out of the hobby. On one hand, I suspect that some differences are measurable but to say that they are so obvious that one should abandon the hobby if one is unable to tell the difference is absurd. In a previous post I pointed out that I seem to be one of those unable to detect differences after comparing a pair of borrowed $5000 cables to my own which would be considered adequate by most standards.

Disregarding these arguments, I would like to know if there are some general guidelines for objective and measurable qualities of speaker cables such as construction material, solid or wound, length, etc. that would give one a starting point in an attempt address individual listening tastes. In my case the goal would be toward reducing brilliance while maintaining detail. I suppose this would interpret to a warmer presentation which some refer to as vacuum tube sound. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
128x128broadstone
broadstone's avatar
broadstone OP
310 posts
 
Thanks, all of you. I'll try to answer your questions as follows: the tubes in the CAL DAC are 12AX7's and the coax and interconnects are Straight Wire, all of which are 1 meter long and I have ordered a Canare cable at the advice of one member. I will be trying different tubes, Noromance, and have ordered the EECC83S's as well.

The speaker wires to the Odysseys have separate conductors and are wound terminating with bi-wire spades at the speakers. The ones to the Jamos consist of paired 18 gauge Radio Shack wound speaker wires. I doubled the 18's because they didn't have anything larger and with this configuration I could bi-wire if I decided to do so. . I'm not defending this approach but I was in a hurry to A/B compare the two speakers to see if the problem was similar in the more efficient Jamo Concert Eights; it is. For this experiment, btw, I used an Adcom speaker selector which I have left in the system for, at least, temporary use.

Even though I have the same issue with these more efficient bookshelf speakers, from a listening standpoint, they are better at presenting detail and tight bass at the lower volumes at which I'm now forced to listen. They remain connected at this point for my general listening.

I apologize if I seem a bit disconnected in my explanations but I started another very similar thread regarding a related issue and I'm overlapping some of the conversations.
newbee
4,767 posts
 
First I agree on tubes for Cal Alpha. JJECC88's have a nice warm tone. If you can afford it, the 'gold pin' edition is probably worth the extra $10. Works for me. :-)

Re Canare wire - I used this for quite a few years. I recently decided to try BJ's 10ga Belden cable, a single wire cable, and I found in my system its sound was much clearer/cleaner than the Canare 4s11. It is not brighter in any respect than the Canare but it seemed to remove a layer of grundge that had become apparent in my system. It's cheaper too if you care to experiment.

Out of curiosity, have you explored room/speaker set up options? I found that paying close attention to set up issues, including toe in and side wall reflections paid huge dividends.
mjmch2003
243 posts
 
I have owned several Piega speakers; I believe the ribbon tweeter could be an interesting approach for you. It does not BEAM it dissipates...very smooth. Just something worth thinking about. When I heard the Gallo Reference speakers, I got a similar sensation: smooth.
mmt
60 posts
 
I don't have a technical explanation to guide you, nor do I expect all technical specs reflect the sound of the speaker cables. I can tell,you I have been going nuts for the past year in my own personal shoot out.

I JUST sold a pair of van den Hul D-352 Hybrid cables that may be what you are looking for. Many might say silver coated or silver cables are claimed to be bright the VDH were absolutely NOT yet retained the detail of the music and had a warm, solid low end which might pair well with the Martin Logans.
I used a pair of DH Labs (on loan from The Cable Company) (no affiliation) which were silver coated and were very bright to the extent I played about two songs before disconnecting.
The VDH were a little laid back for my Spendors but still a terrific cable. I'm still using some of their ICs in my system.
foster_9
1,638 posts
 
Jambalaya, you only played two songs on the DH Labs before disconnecting them? Did you allow time for the cables to settle in with some playing time beforehand?
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