First results: Valhalla---Ensemble.


I received the long awaited Ensemble cables today. These cables are very well build and made in Switzerland.
I compared the interconnects to the Valhallas first and was thoroughly disappointed: Half of the dynamic, (micro and macro) where suddenly missing, lots of details had disappeared, so I had my reservations when I hooked up their speaker cables. Same story.
So I decided to put the Valhalla Interconnects in and just swap the speaker cables. With the Valhalla ICs and the Ensemble speaker cables the system sounded awesome.
I was then swapping Valhalla and Ensemble speaker cables like crazy, but to the best of my knowledge, I could not hear any difference between the two. I think these Ensemble speaker cables are outstanding and defended their place against the Valhalla very well.
I then called my Ensemble dealer and he told me that all the cables are brand new and not broken it.
I should give the ICs around 100 hours and then put them to the test against the Valhalla again, the same goes for the speaker cables.
It this is true, the speaker cables would easily beat the Valhalla then and the Ics would be up to par with the Valhalla.
Does anybody know if burning in cables can make such a difference? Had I to decide today , I would buy the Valhalla Ics and the Ensemble speaker cables.
But I still have a whole bunch of other cables coming in and will keep you updated.
tekunda
Re: the Ensemble ICs'- if you are talking about the Dynaflux- give it some time. I am quite happy with them...
I have been using Ensemble products for about a year now, and YES they take 100 hrs or more to break in! I thought they sounded very good when I first got them, but after about 6 weeks, and after 3 months in the case of the Isolink power transformer I bought to plug my CD player into, they really came to life. The details and dynamics are unmatched by anything I've heard in my system, but I have not come close to the Valhallas. I was using Transparent Reference interconnects and speaker cables before the Ensemble. I have now replaced all the Transparent with Dynaflux and Masterflux, and am ordering a pair of their speaker cables (called the Megaflux) as well. Plus I have bought as many of their power cords as I can for all of my components. Anyway, for your comparison purposes, I hope you can keep the Ensembles for a few weeks so they have a chance to burn in. If you think they sound as good as the Valhallas, you will have saved yourself a BUNDLE. Keep us posted on your results.
Sarah
Will break-in really get more detail and dynamics? Break-in from my experience usually gets me the opposite on cables too bright and detailed new out of the box.
Right on Sarah! Hey- re: the Isolink, I haven't picked it up yet. I DO have all the power cords and Mega Powerpoint outlet strip. Will the Isolink yield a large improvement? (CDP is Audio Aero Capitole 24/192).