Transparent Ref XL

Kenny T,

Maybe they tried to bamboozle me, but I did actually inquire about "updating" the Reference with XL to the latest series at that time and the response was that it would be $4k - $8k depending on what I wanted to "update to". My assumption was that they had changed the wire as well as the "guts" of the network.

Your post has piqued my curiousity, so I think I will take another run at Transparent with the "update" request.

Thanks and Happy New Year!

Kennyt.

Quote from TA's website:

"Any OPUS MM, Reference MM, Reference XL or Reference cable with MM Technology is eligible. (Please note: Cables with XL or older Technology cannot be updated due to differences in cable stranding design — however, these cables DO qualify for the Upgrade Program.)"

Transparentupdateprogram

I think I was in a similer situation, with my system as you are. From about the middle of a piano and up it seemed subdued and lacked the air or delicaly I wanted. I was using Transparent Super xlr's mm2 and Ultra mm1 sc, not the same as reference but everything was smooth, but too smooth for my taste. I had a pair of old straight wire xlr's and put it between the pre and amp and instantly noticed a change towards what I was looking for. I didn't want to make the same mistake that Ive done in the past, which is throwing $$ at it, so I very systematically swaped in 1 cable at a time in a particular position and gave it time for me to get used to the change. The Transparent mid range when I used them seemed fuller and I'm thinking that is because it subdoed the highs. I tried cables from Zu, Mit, Acoustic Zen (good) and am presently using Grover Huffman across the board which I like very much. I also think you may want to try changing like your source cable with a different brand without a network filter to open things up a bit. Hope this helps GG

TA cables are exceptionally aesthetic and can sound remarkable in a compatible system. However their "upgrade" program is mostly brilliant marketing.

When they price their "vastly superior" new cables (MM2) identically to their previous line (MM1) it sounds like a great bargain but the first thing it does is suppress the resale value of the previous line. Great for new customers but sort of sticks it to existing owners of their previous best technology.

IMHO, it is a not so subtle "enticement" to existing owners to upgrade for multiple thousands of dollars since they've effectively undercut the resale value of the "old" cables on the open market.

To me that is reprehensible and one of the reasons I jumped off this expensive carousel. That I found other cables I prefer had something to do with it as well.

But I have to thank their unique upgrade program for getting me to where I am today.

Transparent cables are hit or miss depending on the components and they do filter the signal like a brick wall filter does above 20khz, hence they can sound soft and closed in on some systems. MIT does not have in-line filters and offers impedance matching technology for a better fit with any system. You can try them from the MIT lending library through Joe Abrams at Equus Audio and then purchase them new for a huge discount. If you love realistic sound reproduction (I'm around live acoustic instruments quite a bit), MIT get's it right!