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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
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
1,004 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
19,915 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
1,004 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
medwardo's avatar
medwardo
27 posts
 
I originally had the Transparent Super with my Sophia 3's and then upgraded the cable to Transparent Reference. I think I got the Ref SCs about 4 years ago, so they are not current models.

Biggest change I heard was in 3 areas: 1) more coherent, organic sound overall, 2) the "Wilson hot treble" from the Sophias cooled down tremendously,  and 3) bass tightened up substantially. Also, music seemed more in the room and less from the speakers.

In my system, it was more like a component-level upgrade than a cable change. As well it should be for the price.

I got a great deal on the upgrade from Super > Ref from my dealer, but I'm not planning to upgrade the SCs again as the cost is just too high.   
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