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  3. 150109-24

Analysis Plus Solo Crystal Oval 8...OMG!!

I seriously can’t believe what these cables are doing to the sound in my rig.  I had them awhile ago and couldn’t justify the price (used) so I pulled back and returned them.  I grabbed them again yesterday since my local stereo shop still had them hanging there. 

Well let me say that I’ve always been a believer in cables making changes to the sound because I can hear it but I’ve never had speaker cables that changed the sound as dramatically as this.  The way it’s untangling the music, the way its making everything sound real, the way it’s full top to bottom without any harshness is pretty crazy.  

This is on a system that isn’t highly resolving yet all of these differences are completely noticeable.  I’m not talking about a little more resolution here, a little more top end sparkle there, fuller bass here...  I’m talking about did I just get a different amp, this can’t be the same dac, these can’t be the same speakers, kind of changes.

I’ve had this sound in my systems before but that was with higher end gear for sure... it makes me wonder how much I was leaving on the table without these cables in my rig at that time.


Have any of you had similar experiences with the Solo Crystal 8’s as well?  I’m thinking that these are end game cables for me.
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decooney
1,992 posts
 
jtcf754 posts11-02-2019 11:26am@jtcf +1 Relax and enjoy:) Exactly what I'm doing now.Hoping to be able to post with my winning combo soon too.

Good to know.  Curious to see what you come up with.  If my system had most tubes that were super laid back, somewhat veiled over, and speakers that were not not revealing, I could probably make two pairs of the AP Crystal Solos in series work. Yes, I do lose some sound stage size and depth and micro detail when mixing in other non-AP Crystal cables for the 2nd pair.  That is the drawback. Kinda bummed as the AP Crystal Solos do so many other things really well, like no other cable I've ever tried in any of my current or prior systems.  

However the right mix of AP crystals with other type ICs in the signal path can produce a more pleasing tone and musical lushness. I ran into a similar situation with running two pairs of "Clear" Cygnus type cables with Cardas on loan.  The lower version cables like Parsec worked out much better in certain spots, only at the source.  Not doubled up. Same situation here.  Perhaps its just finding that "window" in each individuals setup and hearing sensitivity at certain frequencies.    
jtcf's avatar
jtcf
1,617 posts
 
I feel like I'm so close now to getting things in balance.I pulled out some old cables from my audio junk box and tried them in different configurations to try and get a handle out where more warmth or leanness would be effective.Don't laugh too hard now,but yesterday a very good combination was WireWorld between Dac and Pre,M.A.C.copper between Pre and Amp (too smooth and warm),until a Gabriel Gold Revelation ic (remember those?)  replaced the digital cable from transport to Dac.Then WOW!Texture,color,timbre were all outstanding.The GG was sort of whitish/bleached out in the upper mids though.If you're done laughing now....
I'm waiting for the ZenWave demos and hopefully one of those will work in place of the M.A.C. then maybe/ maybe not a new digital cable,and done!?

The tubes I've swapped in and out of the dac each sound good but different from each other,no real winners there.Amperex were sweet and transparent,Reflectors have excellent bass,GL euphonic,the original 5977 minis are detailed.
decooney
1,992 posts
 
Found the midrange "spike and glare" culprit with my new AP Crystal ICs.

Swapped my new 1.0M (200hrs) pair to my amps, and moved the longer 1.5M pair (400hrs) to my DAC. Fixed. Also the sound stage and voices stepped back a little too, not so forward now, picked up some upper detail (not harsh), with added lower bass weight too. Makes absolutely no sense, but it worked.

Difference?
The only difference between the two pairs is (.5M) length, 200hrs more use on the longer pair and they are one year older.

I did read once on another forum where folks were complaining they were hearing digital glare running too short of RCA ICs with DACs.

Not sure why, but the results were instantaneous for whatever reason... I plan to call Rob at AP to see if they made any changes to types of purity of OCC copper or soldering used as a guess.... both of the same pairs of cables are still in the same signal path, just arranged in a different order now. Strange.





jtcf's avatar
jtcf
1,617 posts
 
That is really interesting.I know that a too short digital cable is troublesome,but ics too?Every little thing really does matter even if it shouldn't.I'll be interested to hear what Rob says.I'm still waiting impatiently to demo other cables.The last piece of the puzzle I think.
decooney
1,992 posts
 
@jtcf 761 posts
11-09-2019 10:09pm
That is really interesting.I know that a too short digital cable is troublesome,but ics too?Every little thing really does matter even if it shouldn't.I'll be interested to hear what Rob says.I'm still waiting impatiently to demo other cables.The last piece of the puzzle I think.

It might be more believable if there was a difference in version or connector types or different type internal wire used, but these are the same version cables and visually in every way, just 1.0M vs. 1.5M and slight age/use difference - that's it.  My buddy ended up with a 2.0M pair of AP Crystal IC in a used system he purchased at an audio show.  I remember the MFG factory guy just saying the liked the longer ICs better in that particular all tube system.  While I've read it written many times over the years,  many note "use longer ICs" and "shorter speaker cables", perhaps some truth to this with digital source components. It's extra noticeable on more inferior recordings played via high resolution streaming services through my tube DAC. Yes, tried many different tubes in my DAC, different preamp tubes, and nothing rid that upper midrange glare.  Then swapping the 1.0M and 1.5M IC placement did at the DAC.  Kinda having a hard time wrapping my mind around this one. 
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