Thanks Yes DH Labs still sell bulk cable. I plan to try their top line Corona Power cable for my Amp and their Power Plus Cryo Power Cable for my DAC analog power supply.
DH Labs - Shunyata Cable Comparison
My system for Background:
Harbeth C7ES=XD Speakers
Accuphase P4600 Power Amp
Aurender N20 Streamer
MSB Discrete DAC
This is a new system purchased over the last 6 months. While the system settled in I purchased Blue Jeans cables: Ethernet, Digital XLR, Analog XLR Interconnects, Digital Coax for the Clock connection between the Streamer and DAC and Speaker cables.
Later I upgraded the Ethernet cable with the DH Labs Reunion and the DH Labs Digital XLR. Both these cables provide a noticeable upgrade that I really liked so I put DH on my further upgrade list.I was also interested in the new Gamma line from Shunyata.
The most convenient way to audition cables at home for me is to use The Cable Company's Lending Library. You have 10 days to 2 weeks to evaluate whatever you want to hear. So I borrowed:
DH Labs Air Matrix XLR Interconnects
Shunyata Gamma XLR Interconnects
AND
DH Labs Q10 Signature Speaker Cables
Shunyata Gamma Speaker Cables
I really liked the DH Labs Air Matrix Cryo. It offered a very open, airy and clear presentation somewhat laid back and with a nice a soundstage depth. It was also excellent with voices. The Gammas were also very nice but I found them less open and airy like someone put a lid on the sound.
Leaving the Air Matrix in the system I replaced the Blue Jeans Speaker Cables with the DH Labs Q10s. My quick initial response was that I lost some of the air and the soundstage was not as big so I quickly replaced them with the Gammas which were even less airy and the soundstage did not have the same depth. At this point I was disappointed that neither apparently offered an upgrade to the Blue Jeans.
Thinking about this overnight I felt I really made snap decisions about both cables and I should give each a more extended and varied listen. So the next day I started again with the Q10s. I listened this time for many hours and with a variety of tracks. The sound started to grow on me. I realized that the apparent loss of air was just the Q10s delivering a cleaner high end. Once I became accustomed to this sound I preferred it to the Blue Jeans.
The next day I replaced the Q10s with the Gammas. Again after extended and varied listening I started to notice the strengths of the Gammas: A very refined high end and a deep and impactful bass.I actually started to prefer their sound characteristics over the Q10s even though they were not as open and the soundstage depth was not as deep.
The next day while continuing to listen to the Gammas I realized I missed the extended airy high end and deeper soundstage of the Q10s. Their highs were not as refined but the overall presentation was much more lively and large while the Gammas were refined, controlled and impactful but less lively. As a test I replaced the DH Labs Air Matrix XLRs with the Gammas. The combination of all Gamma was too dark.
I then put the Q10s back in the system and immediately reveled in their larger open and airy soundstage.I then decided to try the Gamma XLRs with he Q10 cables. That was a decent combination that was better than all Gamma or Air Matrix and Gamma but still not as open and lively as the all DH Labs combo.
So my plan is to purchase both DH Labs cables.
I've also learned that I should not quickly dismiss a component. Sometimes the initial difference or characteristic is not a true measure of its overall performance. I really need to listen for several hours and use a wide variety of music to clearly get an understanding of the sound signature of these cables. When I did that the sound of each started to grow on me. My snap judgments caused me confusion and unnecessary retesting.
BTW my Accuphase Amp has a Speaker A/B Selection switch. It has two sets of speaker terminals so I was able to have the Gamma with Banana plugs connected to one set of terminals and the speakers and the Q10s with Spades connected to the other terminals and speakers. This allowed for more convenient switching making the comparison somewhat easier but it was still an adventure.
Next I plan to borrow the DH Labs Coax Interconnects for the Clock and their higher end Digital XLRs. I'll probably try a few of their better power cables at different price points. In my experience DH Labs products really punch above their weight and offer really good value. And I also highly recommend The Cable Company if you want to audition a variety of cables or power conditioners at home.
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I had a similar experience. I tried a DH Labs Air Matrix Cryo vs. a Shunyata Theta (RCA analog interconnects) between my DAC and my preamp. For my application, the difference in the sound between the two cables was profound -- to the benefit of the Air Matrix Cryo. My dealer tells me that the DH Lab's cryo version provides demonstrably more clear resolution and a more linear frequency response. All I can say is that my digital system now gives my analog system a good run for the money. I suggest you try both DH Labs versions in your system. |
@jfrmusic |
Well I bought the speakers first. Then when it was time to get a streamer after listening I just couldn’t unhear the N20. Unfortunately when I demoed the N20 at the store it was also connected to the MSB.. What a combo. So I just decided to go all in for a great source Then looking for an amp that was powerful but not too heavy I focused on the Bryston 4b3. But I also always wanted to hear an Accuphase and once I did again no going back The Streamer, DAC and Amp were all just about the same price. But to be honest the Harbeth speakers are perfect for me and the room I have plus I can lift them. I did audition the Harbeth 30s and Super 5s. Both a lot more money but I really preferred the non monitor like sound of the C7s. They are very open, airy and neutral and have beautiful midrange. I just love their sound. Perfect for Classical, Jazz and Vocals.
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This is more a suggestion, after using Shunyata for 20 years. (part of that time, I also had Nordost, Transparent and Synergistic). Shunyata cables (and Shunyata will tell you this) sound "good" in the first 50 hours, but for those of us familiar with the cable, it's more likely (especially with the newer lines) that one needs at least 125 hours on it. The things that improve over time are: Hard consonants: P, D (on the end of a word, such as "kicked" or "pushed." Usually, those sounds are swallowed up when a singer sings those words. In the better cables (one without a rising lower treble) one can hear the entire word, clearly and fully enunciated. The dynamic range at the louder and softer ends have more "energy." So, if someone hits a timpani, initially you'll hear the "punch" of it, but not the entire overtone structure. As the 125 hours (and that's one of those "somewhere-in-there" approximation of hours) get closer, you hear the entire spectrum, so the sound of the timpani rebounding off a back or side wall is clearer. Although I like imaging and soundstage, I don't care as much about them as I do hearing a presentation that includes ALL the music, and the room boundaries as well (which is usually somewhat expensive to achieve). Floors are rarely heard in the average system. Mine is decent in that respect, but I've had much more expensive systems that revealed the ceiling height, the side walls and the floor. The only amp I had that revealed ALL the boundaries was the Goldmund Mimesis 9, which I had from 1990-1994. But I'm wandering. Shunyata will not reveal all its abilities in less than 100 hours (at the least) Nordost used to take 400 hours or more. I thought, back in 2013, when I got the Tyr, that it had had enough time, but a week later, I was dismayed - when my conductor friend came over - to hear what he heard: a much smoother upper midrange and lower treble and not that "sharp" sound that Nordost embodies before it is fully broken in. Well, Shunyata owners (and you can go to the Whatsbestforum to read about what other Shunyata owners with wildly expensive systems have to say). We ALL insist that Shunyata (before the NR designations) took 300-400 hours to break in. Now, I want to say, we listened mainly to classical, which has vastly more dynamic range than any jazz or pop recording, and is almost always composed of acoustic instruments. If you are listening to the average recording, there's not a whole lot of dynamic range, so the "change" is not as obvious. Just a heads up about breakin time for Shunyata. |
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