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Kill Top End Extension - All Silver Ribbon Cables

Hi Guys,

I have a system were ALL the Interconnects and Speaker cables are all Pure Silver Based Ribbons from PSC Audio. http://www.pscaudio.com/ Would any of you know, whether this would be a BAD idea, if my current system is a tube based setup. I guess I'm wondering if this whats killing the top end extension in the music. ie. the nice shimmer on the cymbals. I've changed all the tubes on the pre-amp and the Amp is only about 2 weeks old. Furthermore, the pencil valves on the CD player have also just been replaced.

System Configuration
Amp: 13E1 Tube Monoblocks
Pre-Amp - Supratek Sauvignon
CD Player - Audio Aero Capitole MKII
Interconnect: CD to Pre - PSC Custom Pure Silver Ribbons (1 mtr)
Interconnect: Pre to Power PSC Custom Pure Silver Ribbons (2 mtr)
Speaker Cables: PSC Custom Pure Silver Ribbons (2 Mtrs)

Many Thanks to all that reply...
clipsal
montytx
138 posts
 
I agree with Sean. Don't sell your Argent cables short. They are quite extended at both frequency extremes and still mighty fine cables.
sean
6,231 posts
 
What is a desirable impedance for speaker cables and what is desirable for interconnects are two different things. As such, using the same materials in the same geometry for both types of cabling can result in different problems in the circuit. Where those problems arose would depend on what geometry was used and where the resultant impedance was best suited for.

This is why i it cracks me up to see companies using identical cable designs for both their interconnects and their speaker cabling, as they should be quite different by design. Yes, the same or extremely similar materials can be used, but the geometries and net impedances should be measurably different.

As such, it's quite possible that your interconnects will work fine, especially with tubed gear that already has higher impedances to deal with. We are talking about thousands of ohms here. On the other hand, the amplifier / speaker portion is all of very low impedance, where just a few ohms can make a measurable difference.

Whether or not the speaker cabling is responsible for the majority of problems that you're encountering obviously remains to be seen. It's possible that you have other problems elsewhere in the system and you're running into a compounding effect. Sean
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eddykaled685
27 posts
 
In a great system I have found ribbon cables to be superb. Nothing compares to the "sense of space." I own the Pure Note Enhanced Paragons (over a year) which replaced my old Nordost Valhallas.
clipsal OP
80 posts
 
I suppose many of you are correct in saying the equipment just needs to burn in a little. I'm guessing if the SET amps are using the V-Cap capacitors, the waiting period may be even longer. Does anyone know the characteristics of V-Caps as they are burning in?

I'm also concerned about this oscillating problem when potentially using Ribbon based cabes in SET tube amps.
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dgarretson
2,617 posts
 
Sean, I was fooling around with some 9' DIY silver/cotton speaker cables & would appreciate your thoughts. Each phase is a 4-braid litz weave of four Audio Consulting 24 awg solid wire strands inside four 2mm cotton sleeves. I found that treble response became more extended when I twisted together the two 4-wire bundles representing the two phases (as compared to running the two phases separately across the floor.) Do you think it's worth going a step further, and weaving all eight strands of the two phases into one 8-braid? This would bring all +/- strands closer together and in a uniform geometry.
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