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Mapleshade versus Stealth

Has anyone tried the Clearview Ultrathin interconnects sold for $85 1M by Mapleshade Records? Or their Clearview Double Helix interconnects, $240 1M? It sounds as if Mapleshade is onto the hugely important truth (IMHO) that interconnect wire should be thin. Stealth interconnects also reflect this truth, many other makers cheerfully ignore it. Would anyone who has tried either Clearview be able to compare it with the Stealth model closest in price? This would be ETS at entry level, a Stealth ribbon model for the higher price. Mapleshade says nothing about the metal used, so probably it's copper, while the Stealths are both silver. BTW, it seems to me that people who wax enthusiastic over such thick (relatively) wire designs as Homegrown Audio's should really give a couple of thin wire designs a try, at a comparable price level. Mapleshade, like Stealth, offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so the experiment would be cheap.
tom_nice
trelja
3,223 posts
 
I would love to hear opinions on this as well. Especially from people who don't normally speak on Stealth. I know Tom_nice is a big proponent of Stealth, and would I like to find out if others feel the same way. What are your impressions on Stealth and Mapleshade? So far, I have heard nothing negative regarding either(but they are only in use by a relatively small number of people). I do wonder when I see some Stealth products on auction why the reserve is not low(sometimes there is no reserve - in case anyone wants to suggest I don't have my facts straight). I once bid on an 8 foot pair of their copper speaker cables. I went to $200. The auction went higher, but still did not meet the reserve. Is there a reason that the reserve was this high? To get interest in cable, there has to be demand. That demand cannot be created without a fair number of people getting the word out(in my opinion). While I would have liked to give them a shot, I will not pay more than what a pair of AudioQuest Midnights go for, without being sure the cable is superior. Silver Audio also uses thin gauge conductors, and is an awfully difficult product to fault on ANY level. I have heard the Hyacinth, and would definitely not be disappointed if I used them in my system indefinitely. And, the new HomeGrown Audio Silver Lace features thinner gauge wire(so maybe now others can join us in waxing enthusiastic). Have to say it is the best cable I have had in my system.
dekay's avatar
dekay
5,552 posts
 
Hi Tom: I have a Mapleshade digital cable on order. I will not be able to form an opinion on it for quite some time as their are too many items that have changed in my system lately (new speakers plus added a DAC). Since the new DAC is why I purchased the new cable, I will be experiencing both units for the first time. When the system settles down I will then audition other digital cables from The Cable Co. and be able to get a grip on what the DAC and cables are doing for each other. I think that a plus of the "light" design will be that it will interfere less with the isolation devices that I use on my CD player and the ones that I will try out on my new DAC. I cannot use the Mapleshade speaker cables because the length of my runs are too long otherwise I would have liked to try them as well. I too wish that there were more write ups on these products and I am trying the cable out of curiosity. Pierre at Mapleshade also seems to be a great guy when I talk to him regarding other system matters. I think that the cable is called The Double Helix and was around $120.00 for a one meter cable -w- RCA's. There is more info at AA Cable Asylum, but I am not as familiar with the reviewers or their system/preference history as I am the members at this site . By this I just mean that if you notice that a poster tends to like/dislike and describe some gear that you feel the same way about it gives you a better reference to go on.
geno
11 posts
 
Tom; I have the Mapleshades double golden helix speaker cable & I really like it. I have updated & mod. Magnepan Tympani 1-Ds speakers,when I first saw the cables I thought no way these small wires are going to push these big old maggies. I think these are one of the best buys in audio cables.Pierre also made me some jumpers for my maggies x-over & I can tell you they made big improvement. My next IC will be the double helix. Gess you can tell I like the Mapleshade products. Good luck in your cable search.
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