Audio envy - dang!


I usually post on AG when I have an issue or concern, so I’m happy for once it’s to praise a new product, in this case Audio Envy’s IC. 

I use an ARC Classic 60 amp with a Herron 1A preamp. The AE cable went between these two.

I run an ARC Phono pre PH3se from my VPI prime as source.
My speakers are Thiel CS2.4’s

Out of the box a bit bright, But after a few hours that just went to strait up transparent - I mean freaking crystal clear. No tonal aberrations. Smooth, with no etched highs. Voices sound right, Natural. Soundstage opened up, as you might expect when things get clearer.

The best part was how inexpensive they were. They made my Cardas Clear Light interconnects I was using sound clouded by contrast. The Cardas was about x3 the cost of the AE’s.
BTW, this wasn’t “I think I hear differences”, this was “I’ll never use those Cardas in this system again, and where is my IPad, I need to order my next set!”

And that’s just what I did.
last_lemming

Showing 10 responses by kclone

Does anyone know if there is something going on at Audio Envy?  I placed on order over 2 weeks ago.  I have sent 3 emails and called a few times to check my order status..  They do not answer the phone and have yet to respond to my emails.  

Update, they responded and let me know my order will be shipping out. I bought the Studio Prestige RCA. I will be comparing it to the Beldon 8402 and the Duelund 16 GA ICs.  How long is burn in typically with these?

I put the Studio Prestige in the system about two hours ago. Sounds great out of the bag, very balanced, well extended and  plenty of detail. I was expecting them to sound hard and bright and then settle in over time. They are not bright in the least. Gosh, if there is truly improvement over the next couple of hundred hours it is just gravy.

Yes, but keep in mind at the time of this posting I only have about 22 hours on them. The AEs have more coherence, detail, and extension. Instruments have more spacing and definition within the stage. Guitars specifically have more crunch. The Duelunds have a little more dryer sound, which I never noticed before until the AEs were in. Where the Duelunds are better is a more expansive stage. But it is early, maybe with more time the AEs will improve in this area? The 8402s are currently another system with the Wharedale Linton speakers. I probably won’t take the time to do a comparison.

I like the IC so much I ordered the SP-14 speaker cables.  I currently have the Canare 4s11, which I really really like.  I also ordered the USB cable to give it a try. 

Will do Jetter. I know the Canare are cheap, but my goodness they seem pretty darn good to me. I haven’t found anything worth replacing them with yet. I haven’t tried extremely expensive stuff as cables go. The most expensive was some $2400 Audience Speaker cables. I have had several pairs below that price point. Clear Day, Supra Sword, Duelund, Western Electric, JSP Labs, Nordust, to name a few.

Jetter, I have the SP-14s.  I just hooked them up, not sure how to hook up the ground wire so I have to call Cap to figure that out.  But just the speaker cables alone, there was a noticeable difference between the SP-14s and the Canare.  The SP-14s sound thick, big, weighty, instruments have a lot of meat on the bones.   The Canare sound kind of thin in comparison.  I would have not thought of that of the Carare, but next to the SP-14s, that is indeed that case.  This is a right out of the bag comparison, so if the SP-14s improve over time, like I said of the Prestige IC, it's just gravy.  

 

Lak, thanks, I get that part, but there are two other wires, one for each speaker cable side, that I assume go on the terminals of the amp. If so which output terminal? I already have Rel Subwoofer wire on some of the output terminals.

 

I took a listen after 14 hours. System is more relaxed overall and the bass is more extended, detailed, and cut out in it’s own space. Very nice!  I should also add I put the Audio Envy USB cable in between the Evo 432 Server and Laiv Harmony DAC.  

Lak, that is not the case with my set.  There are two wires coming out of the speaker cable, one for each side.  There is a separate wire that is not attached to anything that goes to the outlet ground connector.  I will give Captain a call

testiengraber.  Yes, I have the USB, best I have tried.  For USB I have used Audioquest, Kimber Axios and Technerov.