I currently own the Marigo Apparition 5.6 and think the Transparent digital cable is better based on what I heard playing it on my system. For the other cables, I would go audition Transparent or Synergistic. The Ridge Street Audio, while good, are not in the same league as the other cables you listed in my opinion.
Help with speaker cables and interconnects
My system comprises a TAG Mclaren CDT20R Transport linked to TAG's DPA32R Pre/Dac. This feeds a pair of Audiolab 8000MX monoblocks, which are wire to Monitor Audio 20SE's. Current wiring is LAT interconnects and Audioquest Indigo + speaker cable. The sound is very clean, but somewhat cold and lacking in weight. The Audiolab/Monitor Audio had plenty of power when used witha marantz cd63KI signature Cd player, but this appears to be lacking with the TAG gear. I have tried using Nordost Valhalla digital between CD & DAC and Valkyrja between pre and power amps. This gives amazing detail, but again lacks the warmth. Any advice would be very welcome. Muz.
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Hello. I have used a pair of MA20SE speakers for some 10 years now. I used to drive them with Krell KRC pre & KSA-150 power combo. with a Trichord modified Teac P-700 transport Theta G3 DAC. Wires were home made using a combination of silver & copper conductors. Sound balance in my previous place (10 x 15 ft room) was OK, slightly on the lean side. The 20SEs do have a slight tendency to sound lean, with a "clang" (as described by Martin Colloms in his review from many years ago) in the presence region which solid state electronics can exacerbate. Now that I have moved to a bigger place, the balance became too lean. To correct, I have tried various cable changes - interconnects from Tara Labs Air 1s; to Siltech SQ28 G5 and Speakers from XLO to Audioquest Gibraltars. I finally settled on Eichmann Express 6 I.C. & bi-wired speakers. I would say the richer sounding cables amongst the ones I tried were the Tara Labs Air 1 I.C. & the Audioquest Gibraltars. However, I would also add that changing cables to correct tonal balance is rarely 100% successful. It sound like your problem is caused by that change in the front end. In my case, I can tell you that the most beneficial effect I had in making the sound less lean was in changing the Theta G3 for a Musical Fidelity Trivista 21 DAC. So you might consider trying alternative CD/DAC combos too. One last thing, if your 20SEs have been filled with sand in the base cavity, remove them. Sand filling leans out the sound even more. |
Are they not working for you, Snook2?http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cl.pl?cablspkr&1125341470 |
10 months later and I have now managed to get closer to the sound I am looking for. This was achieved by adding another pair of Audiolab monoblocks and changing all the interconnects to Purist Audio Venustas - WoW what a difference! The sound is much warmer now with added weight - I now find myself spending hours going thro' my CD collection. In reality, I suspect that the PAD cables have been the key factor here, I'm sure I could have got away without the extra mono's, but hey, I can continue to build on this. I must say however, IMHO whilst the PAD's are very good, the Nordost's were more holographic and better at conveying the human voice. Interestingly, I also think that the LAT digital DII mark 2 cable is better in my system than the PAD Venusta digital and represents excellent value for money (unfortunately, I wasn't able to do a comparison with the Nordost Valhalla Digital. I believe the weakest link now is my speaker cables which I have narrowed down replacements for to:- the PAD Venustas (cable seems a bit too thick for my liking) or the Nordost Valkyrja's - unless anyone else has got any suggestions..... |
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