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For Those Who Are Unaware of The Cable Company

If you are shopping for new cables and are intimidated by the enormous range of possibilities, The Cable Company might be of interest to you because: 

1) Their cable lending library is an affordable means of borrowing already burned in cables and auditioning them at home. 

2) They offer individualized advice based upon your budget, gear and sonic preferences. 

3) Return/refund policy. 

There have been some complaints in the past about salesmen pushing particular brands. This hasn't been my experience, however. I've repeatedly sought out the guidance of one particular guy and I couldn't be more satisfied with how I've been treated and the sonic improvements. If you are intersected, PM me and I will provide you with his name. 

They don't carry every cable in existence. Nobody does. But they carry a much greater range than anyone else I know of. Accordingly, my last 5 out of 6 cable purchases have been from them. 

 

stuartk
stuartk OP
3,514 posts
 

@lalitk 

And I was merely reiterating my experience with a possible outcome of all out silver loom for our readers.

Yeah and I appreciate that. Even though the suitability of any piece of gear is (in my opinion) best judged when heard within the system it’s destined for, in the same room, by the same set of ears, this doesn’t mean there aren’t broader recurring patterns/relationships/factors or that it’s not common sense to pay attention to them. I think this is one of the advantages of a forum like this -- helping one-another recognize such things. 

@jpan 

The thing about the Cable Co. is you get to try the cables in your system at home—over time. It was always my ears that I trusted to make the final decision. 

 

+1

 

stuartk OP
3,514 posts
 

@lalitk 

BTW, what a spectacular system you’ve built!  

lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,798 posts
 

@stuartk 

Thank you! I really appreciate that. And from everything you’ve shared here and your interim system —your passion for music and your thoughtful approach to the hobby really come through. It’s clear you’re navigating some real constraints with both space and aesthetics, but still making the best of it and planning ahead smartly. 

stuartk OP
3,514 posts
 

@lalitk 

Yes; major room constraints and yes, passion for music, too. 

At this point, my focus is "good enough" when it comes to sonics.

Emotional and physical engagement are most important to me. 

Any hint of fatigue or sibilance immediately takes away my desire to listen. As do dry mids and sloppy bass.  If the system sounds "slow", my body won’t fully be on board. 

I’ve learned the above through making mistakes. 

Down the road, I’d like to try some different speakers and try an outboard DAC, again. The Hegel and it’s onboard AKM DAC are a little rolled off on top and I’d like to see whether I could get a bit more extension without opening the door to fatigue/sibilance. My previous Aqua La Voce DAC (burr brown) yielded better bass but the upper mids were fatiguing. I just upgraded ac cables, which restored much of the bass. As you know, it’s an ongoing balancing act. 

Anyway, that’s my story, in a nut-shell. Thanks for your encouragement

lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,798 posts
 

@stuartk 

 

You just described the very traits my audio system embodies and deliver in spades. It’s just not the tonal beauty we seek to create, we also need equal parts coherence, immediacy, and physicality without any listening fatigue.

As far as DAC, look into LTA Aero DAC. Based on your preferences, it may be the piece you’re missing.

Good luck with your journey! 

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