2. cables
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Need help with cable mess

Hello forum members. I've been infected by the high end audio virus the past 2 years and in the process have accumulated a mishmash of cables in my always evolving system. In the beginning I ran a Simaudio Moon I-5 with all DH Labs silver cabling and it was just too bright. During the last two years I've switched to copper cables, added a DAC, changed to the Electrocompaniet ECI-3, changed speakers, more cable experimentation...blah, blah, blah.

So here's where I'm at now...

Theta Pearl transport
Bel Canto DAC 1.1 [via Kimber Illuminations D60]
Blue Circle BC 21 [via Cardas Golden Cross]
Blue Circle BC 22 [via Harmonic Technology Pro Silway II]
NHT SW3P sub [via Analysis Plus Sub Oval]
ProAc Tablette 50 Signatures [via Analysis Plus Oval 9 biwired]
Acoustic Zen Tsunami and Absolute Power Cords PCs

I also on occasion swap in Mapleshade Double Helix coax, Cardas Lightning L-15 coax, and DH Labs Silver Pulse interconnects.

After all this time of correcting for flaws by changing cables I'm wondering what I'm missing by not having a coordinated set of cables throughout my system. I've always fought a battle to tame a bright system, and in the process have ended up with a system that is very enjoyable and fun to listen to for extended sessions. However, there are those times that I miss the tinkling of triangles and lifelike top hats that my earlier, albeit lean system produced.

Recently I spoke with Rick Schultz [not the EVS guy] of Virtual Dynamics by phone and Randy Bradley of Bear Labs via e-mail. They both make very appealing cases for switching to their cables system wide. I've read many great things about each of their products and can see the benefit of having some cable coherency throughout. From my equipment list you can see that I definitely suffer from a sort of Frankenstein cable approach. However, I don't have a lot of money to spend. I'm considering getting 2 one meter runs each of the VD Reference ICs and Bear Labs Silver Reference in place of my GCs and HTs and comparing them. Since the Bear Labs are custom made for each order, I'm not sure if I will be able to have the cables simultaneously for a shoot out. The Virtual Dynamics have a 14 day trial period and the Bear Labs can be auditioned for 30 days.

My question to my fellow Agoners is this. Do you think I will realize a noticeable improvement using THESE brands? Will a coordinated cable run from ANY manufacturer be an improvement? Will replacing only 2 interconnects and not the rest of my cables and cords be representative of possible gains? I like the ease with which my system performs. I don't want to lose the midrange fullness, deep bass and naturalness of female vocals I'm hearing now. However, there are times when my system sounds a bit veiled and I was wondering if either of these brands of cables would preserve what I like about my system and at the same time bring some added life.

Thanks!
gunbei
sugarbrie
3,854 posts
 
This is a hard question to answer. I find that cables are component specific. I can never predict what will happen. I get the biggest bang for the buck, with the preamp to amplifier cable and the power cable from the wall to the conditioner. I think it is because both of these cables influence the character of the whole system; not just one component.

I use Nordost, Siltech and MAS. For example: I was using Siltech with my tuner, and was comparing it to another tuner using MAS Grey because I did not have another Siltech available without tearing apart the system. Well I liked the other tuner, so I replaced it in my system and discovered I did not like it as much with the Siltech that was there, so it is being run with the MAS I demo'd it with. I am sure my system would sound fine with one brand, but I am happy tweeking it further with different cables.

As a point of reference for you, I am also running a Blue Circle BC22 with a Motif MC-8 (Conrad Johnson). My speaker cables are Blue Circle's best, the BC92. My power cords are Vansevers except for a Blue Circle BC62 from the wall to the conditioner.

gunbei OP
2,327 posts
 
Sugarbrie, thanks for your response. What you're saying makes a lot of sense to me.

A couple weeks ago I installed an Acoustic Zen Tsunami power cord on my BC22 and was very happy with it, so I decided to look into replacing all my Absolute Power Cords with better ones. After talking with Rick of Virtual Dynamics I guess I got sidetracked into the whole matching interconnect thing. Your response has made me realize that I should make sure my power cords and conditioning are in order before prancing off and spending more money on interconnects and speaker cables. I should take care of my room acoustics too for that matter.

Besides, who cares if I combine combat boots with a bikini as long as I like it. Heheh.
soix
9,456 posts
 
My guess is that the Bel Canto DAC, which is reputed if anything to be a little on the smooth side, combined with the Golden Cross(also reputed to be on the laid back side) may be in large part responsible softening some detail. I would think replacing just the Cardas with the DH Labs would bring a lot more detail back to your system. If that works but goes too far in the direction of brightness then something like the Bear Labs might do the trick. I'd also highly recommend Acoustic Zen's Silver Reference interconnect, which is very full and detailed but not at all bright(at least in my system).

In my experience changing even one interconnect can make a dramatic change in the sound of a system, which I would have thought you would have already found out with all the different combinations you seem to have tried. If this doesn't work I'd look at trying another DAC and/or speaker cables to see if either of these can get you what you want.

I'm not sure about having to match cables from the same manufacturer. I'd think its more important first to have cables that work successfully with the output/input impedance characteristics of the individual components in your system. Hope this helps and best of luck.

Tim
danner
202 posts
 
I had a similar experience with a lesser system. Over time I had a particular combination that seemed to work together but made no sense intellectually. I became convinced that an all Van den Hul cable setup (ics and speaker cable) might hold the answer based on what I had read about the carbon technology used and reviewer/user comments. They didn't. I'm back to what came together piece by piece. -- What's most addictive about this hobby and Audiogon is that we're always wondering what another change might hold in the way of better sound. Something about curiosity and cats comes to mind.
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