Best Phono Cable for SME Series V

E-mail sent. I am hoping to hear back about possible shipping options. I have an APO mailing address and according to the web site, they only use FEDEX and not USPS; the only way I can receieve mail. I called, Max was not in. Hopefully I will hear back soon, then I can make some meaningful responses to this thread. I think your system (Neil) is pretty well balanced and I am pretty sure that you worked, slaved and sweated alot to get to where you are, as I did, hence the high resolution capabilties. Based on what you are stating, I think I might be in the same state of mind when I do get to try these cables, upset yet ecstatic at the same time.

My only comment so far is that stock VDH MCD 501's seem to work pretty darn good; however, based on other opinions, those who have upgraded from the 501's to other cables, there is room for improvement. Man, just when I thought it was good enough.

Ciao,
Audioquest4life

Great improvement at very low costs is to replace the stock SME V headshell leads with high quality ones: I swapped the standard ones and installed Ortofon LW1000S - huge improvement for just 120,00 US $ !!
Regarding the tonearm cable: I´ll try Nordost TYR vs. Cardas Golden Reference as both are said to have great synergy with SME V and my Lyra Delos. PAD is unfortunatley not common in Germany.

I use the relatively inexpensive Furutech AG-12 which Fremer and Dorgay positively reviewed and like it very much. More natural than the VDHL.

Holy smoke. I received my Silver Breeze last week and upon initial listening impressions I have to say that the Silver Breeze is an excellant cable.

Voices that were articulate before were even more pronounced and holographic. The effect is that voices seem to pop out of nowhere more then before with an added emphasis of the acoustic atmosphere of the venue. The shading of the timbers seemed to be even handed and equally impressive in regards to smooth flowing music with exact details but no sharp edges. Bass seemed to be a little leaner compared to the stock SME V VDh cables, however, I have not allowed for proper break in and thus my my initial thoughts on bass may be skewed, the same can be said for the my initial thoughts on the aspects I mentioned, so these are preliminary impressions, but overall great so far.

I used an Earth Wind and Fire, September, original Quincy Jones produced, non audiophile pressing to listen. The trumpets in September appear in scale and sound lifelike when played. I play trumpet so that is one aspect I like to key in on and use as a reference.

Thanks Max for such a great product. I will provide more information as I allow for break in and listening pleasure.

Ciao,
Audioquest4life

On my SME V, I have progressed through the Graham IC50, then moved up to the Silver Breeze (great value for money, IME), and settled upon the Stealth Audio Hyperphono.  The Graham IC50 was clearly an improvement over the VdH cable, and the Silver Breeze a very nice improvement over the IC50.  Then I tried the Hyperphono, which just made the music come so much more alive in my system that I was stunned.  I have enjoyed it now for ~6 years, and I like it, too, when I switch in my Graham Phantom II.  I'd love to hear the top line PAD....

One very strange thing:  my phono system always had a low level of 60 hz related hum going on in it - - never too obtrusive, but present in the silent passages of a piano sonata's slow movement.  Just like groove woosh and ticks and pops, I learned to listen through it.  When I switched to the Hyperphono, this just disappeared!  Cannot tell you how or why, but it is a distinct plus.  There is NO hum even with the volume knob cranked way beyond a level you could play a record with.  Curious, indeed, and most welcome.