Gabriel Gold IC's are they really this good?

Hi Steve, I think this has me just as baffled as you. I can't explain the changes but my ears bear witness to them. I might mention that my hearing is excellent. I always protected myself from loud concert music when I was young by sitting in the back or by putting my fingers in my ears (at a Sly and the Family Stone concert) or with ear plugs or even walking out (I walked out on Smokey Robinson and the Miracles) -- unlike some of my audiophile friends who now have hearing loss. As you know I live overseas. There are lots of EMI/RF issues in my area. Most of the tweaks I have added to my system that are designed to address these problems produce results that are not subtle. The Gabriel Golds sounded incredible out of the box but they sound even better with every tweak I add to the system. Which tells me they have incredible "hidden" potential. The challenge for me is to find what I need to do so that the Gabriel Golds sing with their full potential. I'm sure that adding the SR PowerCell 10SE line conditioner soon -- and some more tweaks -- will elevate the whole system and will show just how good the Gabriel Golds and the Merlins and the EMM can really sound. The system is already well on its way.

EMM CDSA-SE and GG Reflection (rca) = excellent match

Sutts, I second that emotion. I am using the GG Reflection PC, SCs and ICs, as well as other non-GG cabling. Also, changing the stock EMM fuse to the Furutech T2A (green) has made a big improvement but adding EVS Ground Enhancers and Synergistic Research MiGs has improved the sound even more -- sound stage wider and deeper and more full and more detailed.

I've been reading and reading till early morning hours; what a great thread! I'm rather new to Audiogon but definitely understand the need for speed, dynamics, imaging, depth etc. and it sounds like Steve's GG effect has made music much more enjoyable to many. I call a toast to the man:)

The best tweak was when I installed a matched pair of 1958 Mullard Ecc82 long plate tubes into my preamp for the first time and was escorted straight to nirvana. Wow!

I don't even have a power conditioner (don't laugh); everything is plugged in to the walls directly (one circuit with premium 12 gauge wire to the meter). My IC's are Audioquest King Cobras and a pair of custom silver plated IC's for the mains.

My question is, if I go with a GG Reflection power cord (for starters; I can't afford to buy one for each component) and connect it from the wall to a multi plug power strip to feed all other components, would that impart the GG sound characteristics I've read about to ALL my gear?

Or should I get the Reflection IC's as a first tweak?

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

Personally, I'd go for the IC before the PC.