@tomthiel I agree! I don't understand enough about how cables interact with speakers and specific electronics to be able to predict which ones will sound best in my system. To find cables that work well and don't have crazy-high prices requires a lot of patience and extensive trials to compare cables. As far as I know, @jafant is still on his extended cable quest, and I can't promise that I won't keep listening to new cables myself.
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I have some samples of Iconoclast to get into my works. They use similar principles to those Kimber from the 80s (don't remember the name) that were woven, flat, and cost $1K/pair-foot. They were mind blowing. I'm looking forward to the Iconoclast because of their particular pedigree and geometry. They may serve as a reference of reference-level internal hookup wire. But . . . |
roxy - I actually don’t know the name. It was his prototype he brought to CES, possibly around 1980. We used it in our show system and took some flack because the cable cost more than our speakers and power amp combined. Seems like it was a woven mesh, perhaps 3/4"- 1" wide x very thin. I remember Ray saying the insulation (perhaps Silicone) was applied with a mouse during layup. It may not have yet been finalized or had a name. Whatever it was, his cable lifted the veils, tightened the image and the bass and pulled out the stops in a jaw-dropping way. There were industry folks in the room (this was Thursday, setup day, Chicago, June) who were all impressed. Remember this is when ’the industry’ had not yet admitted that wire could matter, therefore it was snake oil. I do remember that Ray wanted us to use his wire for internal hookup wire, which seemed to cost more than the drivers. Out of the picture for us. Sorry I don’t remember or ever knew any more about a model or name. Oh yes, I told Ray about Guarana, the Amazonian stimulant, and he eventually imported it and made a product called ’buzz gum’. Guarana is a left-handed caffein-like molecule that makes work in the Brazilian jungle possible (and pleasant.) To this day I keep some buzz-gum as a conversation piece to spread around our woods’ work crew when I was producing tonewood. . . . But still no cable name. |
@improvedsound Wow, that outboard cabinet is really impressive! The attention to detail off the charts. I see you put aluminum cooling fins on the bigger resistors. Tom had me try a similar cooling mechanism in my build. But it seemed to produce an echoey anomaly. Subtle on many tracks but I heard the best sound without the aluminum heat sinks. One of the advantages of an outboard XO is you can just vent the cabinet, no need for heat sinks. Simply add holes to the bottom and, maybe, top of the rear panel. When I was considering outboard, I imagined the top of the cabinet would just be stainless steel mesh. I see coils on left side of coax and woofer have the same orientation, almost stacked. I suspect those are close enough to cause interference. Here are a couple of resources for your consideration: https://techtalk.parts-express.com/forum/tech-talk-forum/1439851-inductor-placement Finally, the binding posts look like Thiel gold over brass (or equivalent). There are better choices out there, and it appears you have the budget. I used Cardas rhodium over silver. Please hear those as friendly suggestions, not criticisms. You have done a lot of hard work! |
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