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Which Transparent speaker cable to chose?

Hello, recently I decided to upgrade my speaker cables as I got also some new gear. My current cables are Van Den Hul Revelation hybrid. They used to play wonderfully with my previous Naim system, but I feel I could get much more from my new system by an upgrade. I took for auditioning the Transparent Musicwave Super cables and listened to them for a week. HFs were hugely improved - much more air, clarity, piano sounded fabulous, probably at some points a bit exaggerated, but overall big improvement. The issue, however, was that I lost most of my mid bass and probably some of the low bass as well. In general it was like my system lost some rhythm and pace, but got much more transparent. I switched cables several times during playback of various music and always the result was the same. I took my decision that I am not ready to sacrifice the body and pace of the music (at least for me it sounds like that) for some more air, so I returned them a day ago. Now I am wondering as there are some tempting offers for second hand Transparent Reference cables, but no option for audition, could I get much different and hopefully better result from them or I should go for another option? In other words what should I expect from the Transparent Reference different than from the Super? Thanks in advance for your feedback.

My system is:
MSB M204 monoblocks
Lamm LL2.1 deluxe preamp
Evo essence music server
Magico S5
All interconnects are AudioMusic
stibi
68pete
1,005 posts
 
i like Transparent and have used them for years and slowly moved up the  line. Yes the base did get better up the line.  From the Reference line up they are better than a lot of cables below the Reference line you should be able to find a cable for less that is close or better. Just remember that from the Reference line up, Transparent calibrates the speaker or interconnects for the equipment they are used with. Cables that are calibrated for their connected equipment sound a lot better than the same cable not calibrated.(Which makes it hard to audition their cables at Reference level or higher). There are several Transparent dealers her on Audiogon that sell used Transparent Cables. They will ship the cable to Transparent for the recalibration then ship to you. Takes a little longer but well worth it. Once the cable is recalibrated and registered to you. You can trade up the Transparent line through a Transparent dealer.
Good luck
stibi OP
51 posts
 
Thanks 68pete, great advice. In fact I was not aware of this calibration stuff. You just saved me couple of thousands for used Reference cables that probably have been calibrated to another system. I will check with the seller.
68pete
1,005 posts
 
stibi
If you have the model number and serial number of the cable or interconnect. Transparent can tell you what it was calibrated for and if it needs to be recalibrated for your use.
enjoy Pete
jafant's avatar
jafant
19,929 posts
 
68pete
Big fan of Transparent here. I used to own Musicwave Super MM2 IC and PC in an older system. Are you using the Gen5 cabling? I have not had an opportunity to audition this series.  I will second Transparent 's excellent customer service.  Good people.  Happy Listening!
68pete
1,005 posts
 
Hello jafant
I have Reference MM2 for my speaker cables and Reference XL in xlr for my interconnects MM2. All calibrated for their equipment they are connected to. No longer have a Transparent dealer close, so i have not heard the Gen 5 in my system have heard it at audio shows. Just for short listening periods. I do like it.
Pete
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