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!”
Negative topic headers is my brand, don’t worry about it.
My Yggdrasil has two sets of SE outputs which makes testing interconnects easy. In one group are "World’s Best Cables" interconnects. These are simply Mogami pro cables with nothing-special connectors. Running a quick test, switching back and forth between the two cables using a remote for my preamp, showed there WAS apparently a difference. The AE cables seemed to shift the soundstage making it a little wider. Sometimes, but not always, piano seemed more forward / louder.
That was just a quickie I’m doing a more thorough comparison
@madavid0,I do not even own a single Audio Envy product. But when I helped a friend setup a new system, we put these in his system. If any new person starts his "hifi journey", Audio Envy and Clear Days would be my starting point for them. These are really good cables.
The great deal of overwhelmed positivity over these cables is a red flag to me.
Going over this comment and reading about your latest posts makes me think that you are either an introvert or a person who has a lot of negative thoughts.
Below are your top threads:
Purifi Class D: Junk? Honest Amp Reviews: Impossible? Tonearms: Ripoff? Job amps: Suck? High End is Dead?
Whatever disappointments you might have had in the past, I hope life brings joy and positivity to you in the near future.
I've ordered 5 IC, 2 SC and 3PC after auditioning one AE Studio Prestige IC, Just the one IC connected to my 110db compression driver into waveguides elicited an easily heard improvement, especially transparency initially..
The great deal of overwhelmed positivity over these cables is a red flag to me. Use of extreme hyperbole over cables is concerning.
The fact is I discovered Audio Envy a few years ago in the market floor of an audio show, I forget which...possibly AXPONA? The low price of these modest, lightweight cables lured me over. I chatted with the owner for a bit. Thought what the hell, sounds like it would be a great phono interconnect and bought a set. When I put them in the system I don’t recall them wowing me, blowing my socks off, being a revelation, game-changer, "transparent" (as if there is any other kind) or anything of the like. I didn’t think they were bad. Since they seemed like a cheap, safe bet I got another set and a power cable too.
This thread has inspired me to critically test these cables. If this is social media marketing campaign they’re going to be sorry for drawing my attention. But if the hype is true than I’ll be added to the choir.
Ok appreciate it. Yeah, might as well buy both, they’re quite the deal. Went with the SP-9s earlier and they stack up well against stuff that’s much more from some big brands.
I do not think the two cords are sonically different, they both possess exceptional tonality and transparency.
Explaining ‘what would happen’ is like taking a shot in the dark since I am not familiar with your audio system. Using a ungrounded power cord on a integrated is like using a cheater plug. Typically you do that to reduce hum from ground loops of connected equipment. Using a ungrounded PC on a integrated which draws the most current may become susceptible to RFI interference not to mention potential safety hazard (electric shock or fire).
I would consult with Captain at Audio Envy before you use 2p on a integrated. Sorry, I have not compared the sp6 vs sp9. His cables are so affordable, I would just get the latest SP9.
Hi lalitk, thanks for the quick reply. I was actually wondering if there were sound differences between the two. What would happen if I was to use the 2p with my integrated?
btw, have you compared the sp6 speaker cables vs the sp9s?
Not sure if you’re asking about differences in sound but in any case you should use Ocean 3p (grounded) for integrated. The 2p is ungrounded and in grand scheme of things should be only used on a source component in conjunction with 3p.
Clarity is clean and clear. Being able to easily hear and delineate different threads or lines of music. Each individual voice in a chorus for example.
Presence is one aspect of clarity, primarily in the upper registers, and especially in the fine details of "ess" sounds, where it starts to verge into sibilance. But sibilance is all "sssss" and usually too much of it. Presence is sometimes used to mean closer to sibilance, but also more favorably in the sense of providing the fine details that tell you something is really there and not just a recording of something that was there. When this is really what you’re talking about we say palpable presence, to emphasize the feeling of really being there.
So palpable presence is more like what you mean. But then you said "in their room while they record" which that calls for a lot more than presence. Now you’re talking the Full Monty, not just palpable presence but now your room is gone and replaced with theirs. That calls for superb imaging and a seamlessly wide, deep, and enveloping sound stage. Something very hard to achieve with anything less than exceptionally deep smooth and articulate bass.
Which is odd, to find that presence is mostly upper register, but the highest form palpable presence also calls for the deepest bass. And yes it is odd. Oh well. Don’t make the rules. Merely report them.
@lalitk I do definitely want clarity. Perhaps I’m incorrect but I associate clarity with “presence”. One thing I’d like my little congregation of equipment to do is to have that “in the room presence”. Like you’re in their room while they record.
Received my first order - one P2 Ocean PC and one Mega M3 (grounded) PC. They arrived yesterday in pristine condition and appear to have outstanding build quality. I plugged them both into the wall in my office to start the burnin process. I had a chance today to put the M3 on my power amp straight to the wall, it had been plugged into the wall in my office for 22 hours. The M3 sounded good right out of the packaged but I'll reserve judgement until I get a week or two of burnin on it.
Not knowing your system, It would be hard to say if AE will give you the warmth you’re seeking....what you get with AE cables is better transients, timbre and openness in the music. The cables are very fast and transparent and they convey exactly what your components are capable of, no coloration whatsoever.
My system has plenty of warmth because of my choice of electronics. I couldn’t be any happier with my decision to go with AE cables.
If you’re still interested, I can only suggest you to contact AE for one on one consultation.
I am looking to go all AE (RCA+Speakers) but I have to admit the comment about being less warm than Morrow is a concern. I am running SP4 speaker cables and a Ma3 between preamp and power amp and I would like a little more warmth. AE had been the plan but now I'm hesitant.
I have recently added AE Phono Deluxe cable to my analog rig. The DIN connector (straight) is of decent quality and it fits snugly in my SME arm output socket. The shielding is spot on. The cable is very transparent and the sound is extended evenly across the spectrum. Nothing over the top, just right! No matter what I am listening to, the sense of ‘realism’ through this cable is simply unmistakable. All in all, a remarkable phono cable for the money!
I've had (nearly) all Audio Envy power cables, interconnects (including a couple of XLR cables), and speaker cables in my 2-channel system for about a year now. Just super pleased, and did not hesitate to generate a new order when the need recently came up.
When I tried the O' nestian 4:3 against my older version MA 4 xlr's between pre and amp, I loved the upper mid to top end extension as well, almost felt the cables were already burned in, but in the end the sacrifice of lower mid fullness and bass extension was to much to leave on the table, I gave them plenty of time to fill out but never happened for me. In the right setup as with all things they are fantastic cables with a no brainer price tag to boot!
I just wanted to add how pleased I am with the O’nestian 4:3 XLR in lieu of the Morrow MA6 between my Pass Xp15 and pre amp. This is not a knock on the Morrow. It sounds smooth, full, inoffensive, but just lacks that treble extension and air that the AE has, and the Morrow is something like 3x the price. I'm a sucker for accurate ride cymbal decay (being a drummer) and the AE O’nestians just decay naturally. Keepers for sure. Anyone interested in a pair of Morrow MA6s? LOL.
I received my Audio Envy package today. Set of speaker cables, xlr cables and an ocean 3p cord.
Disclaimer is I have not plugged them into the system yet.
First thing noticed is they're really light and flexible. The ocean 3p cord almost feels like a toy when compared to my other cords. One may wonder is there any shielding going on and is there a decent amount of conducting material inside. But of course these are all just physical perspectives and visual perception.
I will chime back in once more after I have placed them in the system and listened for a bit. If you're used to or prefer looking at audio jewellery or big chunky cords with fancy plugs and connectors, these may not be for you.
Got a pair of the speaker cables today. Very good detail and separation of instruments. There’s a nice clarity and openness that is noticed immediately. What’s nice about these is, as with the Silversmith Fidelium, you notice the change immediately when switching these in. I just ordered the power cord, because I imagine there’s an audible change to be had there, too. For the price, why not?
Not a cable searcher here. But damage to my long Pre-Power IC necessitated a change. Stumbled across the AE threads on here which piqued my interest, in part due to claims of low capacitance being an advantage in long runs, mine being 25'. I'm floored. Was looking for a little better leading edge without losing listenability. Wasn't prepared for the increased truth of timbre, honesty of voices and the authenticity of horns that these cables brought forth. Honestly, I was just hoping I wouldn't lose bass, warmth and musicality. Sometimes increased resolution comes at the expense of the emotional connection. In this case however the emotional connection jumped out of the system. We hear music lovers sometimes use the wife as a barometer regarding sound quality, in part due to a lack of expectation bias on their part, possibly even a negative or neutral expectation bias due to concerns about fostering further expenditures. My wife has no analytical side as pertains to music, it's all about the connection. So yesterday she's asking me what was the last song she listened to the night previous, then tells her brother in law it's now her favorite song. Thing is, she's been hearing it for 30 years.
We all know your world revolves around Purist and Magico’s. Keeping an open mind in this hobby of ours can be quite rewarding. Try it sometimes, you may learn a thing or two 😊
Will be interested to hear about your audiosensibility dc cables. I purchased the silver dc cable from Paul Hynes but have no experience with any other dc cables. You can IM me so we don't go off topic on this Audio Envy thread.
@pokey77 yeah man the waiting is a killer nowadays. had a bit of upside today; received a farad super 3 lps (my fourth one..) and their level 2 silver dc cable. My goodness the silver dc cable is such an audible improvement over the Gotham cable I got from Ghent Audio! I have two silver signature dc cables from audiosensibility otw as well and can't wait to see what those will bring to the table.
I appreciate the update. I know your predicament. I waited two full months for a Paul Hynes SR4T linear power supply to power my EtherREGEN - it arrived a week ago. It was worth the wait!
After 45 hrs burn in of my AE pc it continues to open up more , tone is more balance sweeter and smooth, 100hrs is when they are maximize in their performance, this is according to Waltersalas (agon member) very knowledgeable audiophile, Iwas tempted to use cable cooker, decided not .
Folks, you can count me as a fan of AE. I started with the 2p power cord which made an immediate improvement. I recently got their speaker cables, and the first words that came out of my mouth were also "Dang!"
I was a bit skeptical at first in the sense that I was expecting some changes but was not prepared for what I heard. The soundstage width and depth improved almost immediately. There is more flesh to the bones so to speak, instruments have more heft and better definition, and the sound is overall more, for a lack of better word, 'refined'.
My previous cables were the Clear Day Double Shotgun. While good for the price I paid, I always felt the were a bit too hot at the top, and made some organs like piano sound a bit tinny. I don't know if my cables were somehow broken, but boy the difference is very, very noticeable. I used to read cable reviews and always wondered if the authors were waxing a bit too much, but I'm definitely a believer now. I'm sure the more expensive cables from the likes of Nordost or Audioquest are better, but I don't know if anyone can compete at the price I paid for the AE cables.
I'm currently trying out AE
O’nestian 4:3
XLR between my Pass XP15 phono and my preamp. It is replacing a Morrow MA6 XLR, which I've enjoyed for a couple years and is quite a bit more expensive. Compared to the Morrow, the AE have notably more "air" and more extended decay to the cymbals, and TBH overall seem less "warm" and overall neutral compared to the Morrow. Will see how my ears react over the next couple weeks, sounds very good so far. Already have AN
O’nestian GL between my preamp and amp, those are there to stay.
Hi guys good to here the good news about AE cables , I went on a search for cables that could perform excellent at a price that wasn't to crazy , my last cables were from tullerium q at about $1600 for speaker cables and $1200 for rca $1000 for power cord s , I found AE then I started a thread hear on this site and I chatted with @ lalitk and I decided to try them , my sytem is full loom AE , I even compared the tullerium q silver diamond coaxial to AE coaxial $1500 to $150. AE is a special cable , the only piece in my system that doesn't have AE is my mcintosh c2200 tube preamp it likes the tullerium q black power cord better it's $1000 power cord but my amp is fine with the AE
This thread has been quite useful to me. I am doing some system upgrades and may well try some from Audio Envy as I will need new digital and interconnect cables.
Bkeske it seems like you end up liking AE Cables, they are truly amazing Cables, Iam on my way to order 2 more pc, and one more phono Cable for my SME tt.
You know, my fault in a way, but I purchased my first two sets right at the same time as I improved my phono rig a lot. So, unfortunately all that sonic improvement happened at the same time when installing the new Audio Envy IC's. That said, after a couple weeks with all the new 'stuff' installed, everything did become more transparent overall. And can only imaging the AE IC's were the difference.
The new set will be going between my phono stage and preamp, so after today, will have a full AE cable 'chain' on my vinyl analog rig through to my amp.
For my digital rig, I chose to check-out Silnote for a digital cable from my CD player to DAC, and Silnote IC's from my DAC to preamp. Very pleased with those as well, but still have AE from my pre to amp in that chain.
Not guessing, I also own SP9’s and the terminations with copper sleeves slides perfectly into the banana barrel of ETI. All you do then is gently tighten the two screws to hold the wire inside the barrel.
After maybe 15 hrs of play and using cardas sweep burn in , my phono Cable it sounds more quiet, one thing I notice is the natural sound of voice and instruments, I use to get crosstalk hum from my Denafrips Dac Ares, now it’s gone , including radio station frequency pick up.This is truly an amazing phono Cable.
It appears you’ve ordered the SP9’s with ‘bare’ copper sleeves terminations (same as I did). No doubt, they require bit of care while making connection with binding posts. If you’re concerned with possible short which shouldn’t be the case if they are tightly secured. But in any case for your piece of mind, you may use something like ETI bullet plugs (I just uploaded a pic on my system page for your reference). It’s the last pic, the ETI Link banana plugs are the best I’ve found and they seems to be tailor made for AE wires with copper sleeves. They hold the wire very securely.
Bkeske it seems like you end up liking AE Cables, they are truly amazing Cables, Iam on my way to order 2 more pc, and one more phono Cable for my SME tt.
My SP-9 speaker cables came in last night. I replaced the PAD cables I had and the immediate difference appears to be more clarity and not as dark. They appear to add or take away nothing, at least compared to the PAD cables. My only complaint is the spade design, it’s nothing like I’ve seen before. I’ll try to describe it: so for one wire, say the + lead, imagine it runs down to a plastic “V” with the two legs each about 1/8” inch wide by about 1/16” thick and about 1/2” long. The wire comes through a barrel of plastic and the end of the “V” where the wire splits into a “V” shape and follows down each leg of the “V”. Then what appears to be a copper tape binds the wire to the leg and acts as the conductor for the signal. So you slip it over the binding post and when you tighten down the post the copper tape is pressed down forming the connection. In practice I don’t know if this is the best approach, but you have to be a bit careful since the splayed nature of the “V” geometry means the outer most edges of the “V” could potentially hit the adjacent “V” on the adjacent binding post and cause a short.
Just ordered my 3rd pair of IC’s. Ordered them about a week ago, and was notified yesterday that they have shipped. My first two pairs took much longer. Guess I got lucky on this order, as I was prepared to wait another couple weeks+ before shipping.
I ordered my speaker cables ten days ago, still no word from AE. I wish they would keep some in stock for a quicker turnaround. I know ... first world problems :)
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