My system is big planars and all tubes (pre, monoblocks, CD). I appreciate alot of air in my system. The old stuff was 15 year old Monster Cable ICs and Kimber speaker cables (black and grey twine), and some more recent Supernal biwired speaker cables (unshielded). The system presented alot of air around instruments and voices. I did come to notice that the cables also presented some unwanted noise -maybe not so much noise.... rather a lack of crispness and clarity.
The Reality Cables immediately took the life right out of my system -first IC, second IC, then rolling in the biwired speaker cables. The system seemed completely dead. I thought something was wrong. I checked circuit breakers, etc. I checked the cable direction. I checked and evaluated dozens of different test cases. I rolled the cables out of the system in reverse order. The life came right back into my system. I thought perhaps the cables needed burnin, so I ran them round the clock for a week. No difference. Gregg then sent balanced ICs as well as SS ICs for evaluation. Same result - no life. After almost two weeks, I finally gave up.
I think that maybe there is some electrical uniqueness that presents itself between the VTLs, the Maggies, and the Reality gear that simply doesn't make for a successful combination. Listener57 conjectured that maybe Gregg was using this certain noice reducing film (sorry, I can't remember the name) that caused everything to sound so deadened. At the end of the day, I don't really know why the cables didn't perform. But I felt like I did everything in my power to give the Reality gear every chance for success.
For me, the JPS gear (purple sheath, RCA jacks - the cheaper stuff) was quiet, crisp and clear. I felt that many reference tracks I listen to (typically jazz, vocal, instrumental) for evaluation came to life in a refreshing way that I hadn't heard before. Maggies can play highs very high. I noticed that the JPS helped tone down the excess noise in the highs. And I felt that the JPS made hard rock sections a bit punchier or full bodied.... which I like as Maggies are not necessarily known for deep, heavy bass sections.
I'm sure there are better cables than JPS. Over time, I might like to try the Red Dawns or other loftier gear just for grins. But at this time, the JPS seems to be hitting the mark with my system. This experience has taught me just how much difference that cables can make in tuning a system.
Jp1208, it's interesting that the characteristics that make for a shortcoming in your system makes for a benefit in mine.
