Transparent Audio cables

My experience is only with Transparent interconnects. I have used both the Plus and the Super interconnects. I believe that you must carefully match them with your equipment. I have a tubed Conrad Johnson preamp and a FET solidstate amp feeding KEF 104s. In my system they cut off the highs and mushed up the bass. I switched over to Nordost Red Dawn and the Highs returned and the bass firmed up. My equipment called for a quick clear revealing interconnect and the Transparents were just too mellow. The Transparents should be used on a slightly bright or overly bright system. I really don't like the fact that you can use Transparent cables as a tone control. I would prefer a cable that passed the signal on without changing the signal as much. That said, I think that before you spend an arm and a leg for their cable, you need to try them with your system.

I auditioned the Music Wave, Plus, Super, and Ultra IC's and speaker cables about three years ago. I found that they each rolled-off at the higher frequencies. In the comparison with other brands at that time, NBS Monitor III, Harmonic Tech Pro Silways, Silver Hyacinths (sp?), JPS Superconductors, Nordost SPM and a few others; Transparent were my least favorite. You really need to try before you buy. The Cable Company, and eAudioNet both have cables you can audition.

I have owned the Supers and have auditioned the Ultras. I own the Reference cables now (speaker and interconnects). I have compared them to MIT and found the two to be quite different as someone said above. I love my Reference cables and am done with the cable search. However, if I was in the 'Super' price range, I would probably try other cables, like Harmonic Tech, Coincident, or Home Grown Silver Lace, etc. More bang for the buck. IMHO

Prefer Siltech, Nordost, and Pure Note. I guess some folks like Transparent since the owner drives a Rolls.

Overpriced: Yes. Overrated: Yes. I've auditioned everything in their line up through Reference XL SS (like $9k/pr speaker cables). Definitely overrated and overpriced, Cardas' entry level line equals or betters the sound and quality to match, IMNSHO. The 47Lab stuff is good, they have a new line too (sort of a Goertz-style ribbon conductor but not as big) that looks/sounds promising.

Look through the marketing rubbish from Transparent someday. Their base of operations in Maine is like a Taj Mahal of high-end stuff. (most of which they probably got for free or cheap of course). They all live like kings, or so it seems. They dont' make their own wire (It's made elsewhere in new england). They sell stuff on accommodation to dealer's employees at 80-85% off retail(!) And you know they still make money at that price. (This is fact, not just postulation) You don't think it's overpriced (and overrated)? I sure do. Most cable is overpriced, but some of it is worse than others, and some sounds better than others... Transparent is at the bottom of the barrel in my book, at least as far as value. I could live with the sound, but just not worth it.
No personal offense intended, btw.
-Ed