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I've come to the realization...

I want cables that will give my ears a rest.

I've come to the realization that my ears are rather sensitive (to the point of pain) to what some other audiophile listeners and reviewers find exciting and acceptable. I like to listen to the music firstly.

I work as a concert piano technician I am privilaged to be exposed, up close and personal, to real and actual top-notch instruments both American and European.

Over the years, piano voicing has become my specialty, and I am now sought after for this service. I find that some of my most discriminating clients and institutions completely defer to me for the voicing of their instruments.

All this to say that my ear is highly trained and very skilled in reference to actual instruments.

Also, some years ago, I retailed audio in a high-end store in the SF Bay area. Some of our brands were CJ, Rowland, Quad, Apoggee,Thiel, Benz, Koetzu, SME, MIT, etc.

Last year, I decided to upgrade my speakers from the original Quad ESL to the then critical darling the Gallo Reference III. To my ears, this speaker is better in most ways that I care about.

Having first broken-in and then listened to my speakers in several venues, and with a great variety of inputs and amplification, I have concluded that the reviewers of the Gallo speaker must be using better cables than I am, or must have a high tolerance for a shrill and tipped up tonal balance.

Putting tubes behind me, I was an early adapter (before the hype) of the NuForce monos, and I feel that these amps currently represent one of the very best values in amplification and is not considered to be a "bright sounding" amplifier. I found the sound of the top-end of these amps to be smoother than my EL-34 based reference tube amplifier.

When using a preamp, I insert the Sonic Euphoria autoformer PLC, a component known for its neutrality.

I have used vinyl and tube CD players as sources with the Gallos and the tonal signature is never completely relaxing to me. Currently I am using the Squeezebox 3 for a source, with a modified linear power supply.

For speaker cabling, I started out with some OCOS, then tried Alpha Core M1-2, and in a quick attempt to save my hearing, switched to some almost 20-year-old MIT 750. It helped.

As interconnects, I have experimented with using Ven Haus Pulsars. A great value, Chris's product transparently spotlights the midrange, and has great bass and dynamics, but features little depth, and is still much to lively for me. I tried original MIT 330 (not very transparent by today's standards, but coherent tonally and good soundstaging, I'm sure the MIT sound has come a long way since 1988). And I tried Magnan Signature (fabulous soundstaging and tonality but alas, compressed dynamics).

I still need something much smoother or laid back in the 5-10k hz range than any of these designs, + added warmth in the lower midrange wouldn't hurt either. And, I want great dynamics.

Cardas Golden Cross and Golden Reference seem to be a common suggestion for taming brightness and hardness and providing a smooth and warm tonality. MIT also has this reputation. For my buget, used these cable are still cost prohibitive. Zu is cheaper, and is voiced for Zu speakers, which are decribed as being somewhat forgiving in the highest octaves.

Any lower cost solutions? Interconnects in the >$200-300 used range. Speaker to $400 or so. What have you found.

Experience valued over conjecture, or the parroting of reviewers.
Thanks for your help,

for the music,
earthpulse
mtrot
804 posts
 
I just picked up a set from a fairly new outfit by the name of Audio Art Cable. They only have two ics, the IC1(copper) and IC-3(copper/silver coated). Mine are the IC-1s for $45. They have gotten some very positive reviews.

The reason I mention them as a reply to your post is that the sound is just like what you described you were looking for. I campared them to a set of Tara Labs RSC Prime, which is, admittedly, an older product, but still pretty nice.

I compared them with the Dave Brubeck Take Five CD. The biggest difference was in the sax solos. With the IC'1s, the sax was so smooth and listenable, while through the Taras, the sax was more "edgy" and "jumpy". This was accomplished without undue loss of treble. The Tara's had a little more clarity on the highs, not much. The piano also sounded really good on the IC-1s.

I only have about 8 hours on the cables, so it remains to be seen how they do after the suggested 80 break in period.
mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
i owned the quad esl--2 pairs for 7 years. i'm surprised you gave them up for anything else.

i have never heard timbral accuracy like the quads from any other speaker.

alas, you may need an equalizer, with that speaker, or a resistor accross the speaker terminals.
earthpulse OP
58 posts
 

Friends, the alert Tvad has read carefully and discerned my inconsistency.
I have made a blunder. I refered to the Cardas Golden Cross I do own, as the Cardas Golden Reference I do not.

Long live Golden Cross.

Thank you for the opportunity to clarify,

For the music,
montytx
138 posts
 
You chose wisely. Cardas Cross was the first that came to mind. As an aside, for others who may keeping up with the thread, Tara Labs Reference Gen. II, interconnects and speaker cables have become rather inexpensive and will tame the digital nasties and brightness and impart a somewhat analog signature. The downside is a slight dip in the mids and a roll-off of the top. Truth of timbre in the mids and authoritive bass with good pitch definition is a strong suit. I wouldn't recommend them except in isolated cases of a much needed taming of frequencies around 2-6K.
baywatcher
1 posts
 
that I may need new interconnects. Has anyone experience with the MA line from MITcables.com? They seem to have come a long way from the MIT-330 and MIT-750, at least price wise. Would appreciate any suggestions, comments. I am using Nak 1200 headunit and Milbert tube car amps to Spica TC-50 two way speakers mounted in the back of my SUV.
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