Audio envy - dang!

@pokey77 

Great advice thank! I’ve talked to Capt and I feel really good about the cables.

@samureyex 

If you are looking for a power cord that makes what you are hearing sound more like real music, then yes, any AE power cord will be better than a $50 entry level power cord. In my experience, any AE power cord I tried was better than power cords that I had at the time that were from $1k to $2.6k.

I wonder what kind of improvements I can get with the new Expanded Ocean power cable replacing some entry level $50 ones. I’ve spent a lot of money on audio this month ($1,600), trying to have a bit of self control otherwise I would buy 2 Expanded Ocean right away.

I'm going to email Captain and hear his opinion on this matter.

@tthelen64 the deal won't work for me. I'm not a cable roller so it makes more sense to buy the newest model with the upgrade option and be done. Thanks anyway.

@samureyex 

"Do your Ocean cables have the upgrade option?"

Yes some do and some don't. PM me and I can provide more details if interested.

I second the suggestion of Auva’s over IsoAcoustics. The price difference is negligible vs performance. I am using Auva speaker isolators under my speakers and I’m done upgrading there! 

@tthelen64 those feet are a bit more than my budget.

Do your Ocean cables have the upgrade option?

@samureyex 

I recommend you try the Stack audio Auva 100 speaker isolation feet before making more final decision. I had the Iso acoustics Gaia feet for my Arendal 1723 Towers and much preferred the Avua 100's for cleaner bass isolation from the floor. The Gaias and Auva isolation feet do sound different.

@samureyex 

I currently have a full loom of Ocean and Mega cables and I'm in the process of migrating to the Puritan Ultimate PCs. Anyone considering upgrading to either Mega (c13 or c19) and Ocean cables and looking for a deal, PM me. The Audio Envy line is nuetral, presents a wide soundstage with detail, finesse and dynamics. Not sure what I will thru the process but willing to kick the tires.

2 sets of Isoacoustics Gaia or 2 AE Ocean power cord.... Dang this is a tough one. 

I bought one cable from them a couple years back and their customer service was horrible. They evidently do big installation jobs, and the owner can be out of his office for weeks. No confirmation EMAIL after my order and several voicemails and emails later they finally shipped! Never again.

@samureyex It is $50 per cable additional for the upgrade.  It allows you to order up to 3 cables if needed.  I ordered one and it is a fantastic cable.  Performs way above it’s price point to my ears. All of my power and IC cables are now AE of different levels and I am very pleased with the synergy.

Question about the Ocean Expand power cable, the upgrade says +$50, +$100, +150 respectively. Is the upgrade per cable $50 or are those different upgrade choices?

It feels odd to order 1 cable and have the option to upgrade 3? Maybe it's sort of a charity act for the next fella? 😅🤣😅

@pokey77 

From all that I've read about AE, their cables (especially PC) feel like audio cheatcodes.

@samureyex 

Good plan! 

@samureyex 

I have a number of AE power cords and they are all better than several major brand name cords I've used in the past. I haven't tried the newest Expanded PC with the upgraded ground, but I've just had such good sound with the regular Expanded, P3, & P2 that I've not made any changes. I may just replace the P2 & 3 with Expanded next year but for now I'll just listen to music.

@lalitk Thanks for your reply. I cannot respond back in the PM so I think I’ll do it here. Zavfino was my #1 choice but I ended up going with Veritas cables. For power cords, AE looks fantastic and that will be my plan going forward.

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

Anyone have experience using AE ‘s USB cable?  Any comparisons to other brands?  Just trying to get an idea how it stacks up to other brands. Currently using Audioquest coffee and might be time to upgrade.

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

@kclone, when I received my SP-14s in April 2024 all wiring was connected and all I had to do was plug in the one ground connector. I would describe my listening experience as clean, extended, and the cables simply get out of the way of the music. 

@kclone In my experience speaker grounds go on the (-) or black side of speakers.  I have ground boxes wired on the (-) on one pair and ground purifiers on the (-) on another pair.  

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.  

@kclone, to hook up the ground simply plug it into an unused AC outlet opening made for the ground plug.

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.  

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.

@kclone 

After you have lived with them awhile I would be very interested to hear your thoughts on the SP-14 speaker cables.  I am using the same Canare cables and have been kicking around purchasing the SP-14s.

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. 

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.

Kclone, can you share how AE sounds different from 8402’s or Duelund? Thanks!

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.

Glad you made contact!  Mine took about 200 hours. 

N

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?

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.  

@megabyte, I sent you a PM. 

N

Nutty, do you happen to have a pic. Just wanted to see them. And the price?

@megabyte, I’d encourage you to contact Captain directly for more information. They are available as I have them in my system.

info@audioenvy.com

970- 672-9511 

N

So why isn’t their website up to date? There’s no sp14 far as I can tell. 🤷🏻‍♂️

So why isn’t their website up to date? There’s no sp14 far as I can tell. 🤷🏻‍♂️

pokey77 good luck with the SP14’s! Performing the ground wire termination and installation is a breeze.

N

@nutty 

Your comments make me want to try the SP14s. The SP12s were better than Heimdall 2s, so I can only imagine what the SP14s can do.

nutty

Nice update.  Keep up the excellent work.

Happy Listening!

cd45123 I completly agree with your findings.

rlb61 In my system, the new SP14’s are markedly better and different than the 12’s and worth the investment.  I Would encourage you to consult with Cap for more details and your systems needs.

N

@nutty I had been asking Cap to make a pair of Model 34 SC, but was able to get SP14s and the prototype ICs. With the new Okta and PCs, this is the best I’ve heard from AE

@nutty I have the SP12s and really dig them.What would you say the improvement is between the two cables on a percentage basis?

The SP14's top end is much sweeter than the 12's.  Apparently the ground wire dissipates energy.  In my system it's a much better cable than the SP12's.  

N

Has anyone else upgraded from the SP12 Speaker Cables to the SP14’s? Definitely worth the effort. They are fitted with a ground wire that dissipates energy. The wire slides over the ground pin of your power cord. As always the cables sound fantastic.

Call captain for the details!!

N

I contacted Captain to ask about an XLR to RCA cable to go out from my new API equalizer to my preamp.He said he could make one to my specifications when I was ready. After some experiments with adapters and cables with different wiring configurations the one ordered from BlueJean Audio (Belden wire) worked perfectly but had a slightly grainy texture which actually complemented certain instruments. Vocals not so much though.So I ordered the cable from AE and hoped for the best.

Just received it today and it exceeded my expectations which was simply no more grain.Right out of box it's silky smooth,grainless,and a perfect fit in my system. There is nothing to criticize.I played the same CD that I was just listening to without adjusting the volume or the equalizer.Then chose a few more to try finding something unacceptable.Nope.It's staying.

I didn't think that Iconoclast made a phono cable. I had contacted them about it a few months ago and at that time, they didn't have one and told me that they were not making one.

Has anyone compared the AE phono cable vs Iconoclast phono?