Doug Schroeder Method, Double ic

Well, there's a bold statement! 

I can say the the improvement is remarkable in 'realism' for me and in all realms of sonic descriptors and segments. All the qualities I love about the GG Rapture are amplified as if on steroids.
 
It's also true that I was using a $200 IC (used price) which I really liked quite a bit. The SM with 2 of them and the y-splitters is a large step up; it should be acknowledged that it's now almost 3x the price. BUT, it's definitely sounds to be outstripping the law of diminishing returns!

HA! HAVE is right in my backyard almost. Driven by there and wondered what they were many times.....elephant head and all...

I put two pairs of Gabriel Gold Rapture (one 'r' version) on Audio Sensibility Impact SE splitters from my CDP/DAC (Cary 306/200) and tube integrated (VPI 299d) this morning and am slack jawed at the changes. Provocative. Compelling. A surprise birthday party kind of questioning astonishment.

I see more silence between images and hear more detail/microdyamics - a LOT more -  are what I've first noticed. I'm happy to post more after a bit for all the normal reasons.

I'll also say that I was even a little taken aback by the added detail placing emphasis in ways that change the balance in how I heard/listened to some familiar recordings. Kind of disturbing if you like the familiar staying that way...But cool if you're alright with shifting landscapes, changelings and shape shifters. Love a good shape shifting.

AND, my curiosity is already piqued over what contribution the y-splitter themselves are making and what the benefits might be of straight up 'double double' construction/design from the originators - some head-to-head with Teo's in-house double double vs. 2 pair w/y-splitters.

Anyway, pretty impressive difference right off the starting line. Bound to be fun to see where this sound-track runs and what soundscapes there are along the way.

My ears tell me that cabling matters everywhere. The vast majority of my audio adventure has centered around cabling, because it's easier and cheaper than component swapping and can make as big a difference...of course, finding the right (enough) components first should take precedent. That being said, my system is proof positive that they don't have to be 'perfect' to get to a great space. I generally work from the walls out and start with power cables, then i/c's, then s/c's...then wash, rinse and repeat! Not so much anymore, but that's definitely the way it went...

Several years ago I sold off my big rig and downsized because of shifting financial sands. My system is still beyond what a "normal" person might consider reasonable, but here, among my peeps, you know what I mean. I've felt a little put off by it's sound, but have really learned to sit with it instead of obsessing over the next improvement and stop listening so much to the equipment instead of the music. It was a strange moment to have obvious defiicits in sound point out that I had forgot to relax and enjoy the tunes!

SO, the Schroeder method was doubly (triply?) welcomed by ratcheting way up the sound of my system, satisfying my tweaky pull and really making listening to the tunes through this system insanely fun and deeply satisfying. It took a while for the Audio Sensibility Impact SE's and the cables to settle in, but now the soundstage, imaging, detail and (most importantly for me) round, involving presence is SO improved that I can't wait to get home and listen and I don't feel like I've sold myself short with my 'downsize'. I guess I'm grateful that I had to downsize to get back to the tunes and the Schroeder method came to my attention when I could settle into it...and for the method itself, of course.

It's an odd impetus to feel like analysis of a new tweak is more like pulling out the red pen and looking for what might not be working or what could be better rather than what's improved. That's never my intention, but often where I end up. The improvements with this tweak are not subtle and range from the describable to the ineffable where words fail and only emotion from an experience, identified and shared by others, can "descibe" it.

Thanks, Doug, you (and this) rock.

FWIW:
Audio Sensibility Impact SE's
w/ Gabriel Gold Rapture r 's CD/DAC ( Cary 306/200) to Integrated (VPI 299D)
w/ Twisted Pair Designs Ascents Phono Pre (AES PH-1 modded to DJH) to Integrated

An aside - Art Almstead has been an OEM cable maker over his garage for many cable companies for inexpensive to very expensive boutique partners and hand makes Twisted Pair cables that are really remarkable in that disappearing, no signal loss or sonic signature way - not too pricey and....welllll...awesome!
http://www.twisted-pair-design.com/

Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy....that's it!

Back to your previous post, Doug, and not to nitpick, but expense and quality don't necessarily go hand in hand. I imagine many if us spent plenty of money on wires....and gear...with sometimes disappointing results.

Gabriel Gold and Twisted Pair Designs aren't overly expensive, but of considerable quality in design, construction, components and, most importantly, sonics. I've listened closely to many, many cables and can say that with some degree of confidence. Taking it personally would be too silly for words (ha!) - these are those rare cables that are worth the more than the price of admission for me and worth a listen anyway.

That said, I've listened to them in other's systems with variable results - and so it goes!