Why do my new Transparent cables make my system sound muffled?
(((I bought some Transparent Musiclink Plus cables to replace my Audioquest Evergreen and fairly high-end Monster cables.))) The Rotel Pre with internal DAC should give you a smile. If you can hook back up with Audioquest Interconnects and Solid core Speaker wires I think you will nail down what you are looking to accomplish. The Transparent cables are more on the dark side and while some folks prefer this I agree with your assessment of the AQs cables better clarity or ability to get out of the way of the music. If I were you I'd try some Audioquest Rocket 88 with DBS/ AQ Mackenzies interconnects it should rebuild on what you had but better then evergreen and focus without the shrillness. Many a component has been blamed for what those other brand multistrand cables do. Hey, at least you were halfway there. Best, JohnnyR AQ, Rotel, B&W dealer |
Thank you, Everyone, for your input. Before I give up on them, I will get a multimeter. I need one anyway to work on my motorcycles. Once I get that, I will have a look at those measurements, Al. Given that the 12k input impedance may be an issue, and that the ratio of the output impedance of the pre-amp and input impedance of the amp has some importance (from what I've read), maybe the Rotel pre-amp might make a difference? I know I checked the specs on the Rotel pre-amp as compared to the amp, and they didn't seem to be too bad with respect to that ratio. But, I have no idea what the output impedance is from my Marantz right now. The Rotel pre-amp comes tomorrow, and I'll have a listen to it tomorrow night. I didn't even know they made adaptors for RCA to balanced. I will also check those out. I do like the clarity and separation of the voices, piano notes, etc. But, I was listening to it again tonight, and it seems like the low mid-range is just way accentuated (louder) than the rest of the music. Tones like mid-frequency organ notes tend to overwhelm the rest of the spectrum a bit. Interestingly, Miles Davis sounded amazing on it last night. Just not much else. |
Given that the 12k input impedance may be an issue, and that the ratio of the output impedance of the pre-amp and input impedance of the amp has some importance (from what I’ve read), maybe the Rotel pre-amp might make a difference?If my guess is correct that the root cause of the issue is the interaction of the amp’s 12K input impedance with the network in the cable, changing preamps won’t solve the problem since the cable would still be between the preamp and the amp. Although the preamp change could very well help in other ways, of course. I didn’t even know they made adaptors for RCA to balanced.The adapter shown at the following link should suffice, and costs very little. Cardas also makes such adapters, as do many other suppliers, although the Cardas adapters cost considerably more. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1026927-REG/neutrik_na2mpmf_3_pole_xlr_male_to.html Also, while that approach might resolve the cable-related problem, it would of course mean that you would be using a different input circuit in the amp. Which in turn might result in a difference in the sonic character of the amp itself to some degree, for better or for worse. Good luck. Regards, -- Al |
As a former Transparent owner I have a story to tell. I owned the original Transparent Reference back in 1996. Balanced throughout. It was the most incredible sound I've ever heard. Speakers were Snell Type B with a Krell 20i CD player. Amp and pre were Threshold T2 and T400. I was in heaven and I swore I would never change a thing----until; trouble! My preamp malfunctioned three times and had to go back for service. My amp needed to go back three times for service also. Once, my Snell drivers melted because of direct DC current that made its way to them. I fired up (literally!) my system one day and I could smell something burning! It was the drivers in my Snells. Threshold paid for all repairs. I was blaming Threshold for all my woes at the time. A tech from Threshold did think that the network boxes on the Transparent were confusing the amp. I think he was right. I sold everything after it was fixed as I went through a divorce and I needed money. As I rebuilt my system back over the years I decided to give Transparent a try again. (I didn't think Transparent was to blame yet at this point). I bought another pair of Snell Type B's and Transparent Reference 5 speaker cables. I have a Classe amp. At times the Classe bought go into standby or protection mode. I had a pair of Analysis Plus speakers cables on hand. I was pleasantly surprised by the result. First off, no amp shutting down. Secondly, where I set my volume control to 11:00 position for most of my listening, I now needed it to be at 9:00 position for about the same volume level. I see that Transparent asks their potential customers to summit their entire system information in order for the company to "match" the proper cables for best results. I surmise that troubles like mine prevailed and this is Transparents answer to the problem. I never talked with them as I buy everything used (I even married a woman with three kids!). I don't have the glorious sound I once had in 1996 but it doesn't melt down on me either. Joe |
