For Those Who Are Unaware of The Cable Company

@decooney 

Re: "the good news"... exactly! 

@riaa_award_collectors_on_facebook 

Sent you PM

I don’t agree that their prices are somehow out of line.

The guy I’ve ended up working with is unfailingly patient and has never pressured me to buy anything. It’s a collaborative relationship, not a dictatorial or manipulative one. He’s let me keep cables longer than stated on the website.

Once, when he was on vacation, I talked to another guy who I did not like at all. I simply waited until my guy was back. Yes; at times he gets very busy and I may have to wait a couple days for a response or call back but I don’t mind this. No big deal.

If you want to go the buying used, trying and selling what you don’t like route, then clearly TCC is not for you. For me, selling gear is an unavoidable part of the hobby but not something I want to do any more than necessary. Nor do I want to deal with buying new cables and hoping they’ll burn in before it’s time to return them.

I find the opportunity to try several.cables from different manufacturers at a given price point from one source a very convenient and practical way to go. 

@axeis1 

Makes perfect sense. I don't contact them unless I have a specific sonic goal in mind and money in hand.  I can see how dealing with "tire kickers" could get old very fast!

I prefer to establish long-term relationships with businesses. I guess this is an old-fashioned idea that I picked up from my dad, but at any rate, it requires mutual trust and knowingly wasting someone's time is not a particularly effective strategy for nurturing trust. 

@goldfishx 

No idea how much time and money I’d have wasted if I did this blind

 

Yes; this is the whole point!  

BTW, it would be a mistake to assume all silver cabling is bright. This simply isn't true. 

@goldfishx 

I’m not knowlegeable enough myself to assert what "the rule" is.  I’ve had silver cables that did lean toward the bright side, silver cables that were neutral and one that was on the warm side. None were power cords, however. Generally, I shy away from anything that would shift the system as a whole toward brightness. 

I just bought and posted about Darwin Natural 2 silver ICs. They are notably transparent but not bright. And If I hadn’t just committed to a power cable upgrade, I would’ve auditioned Darwin’s ac offerings. In fact, if I had the $, I’d try an entire loom of Darwin but that’s not doable at present.

As mentiomed, The Cable Co. doesn't carry all brands. 

@lalitk 

I fully acknowledge that everyone hears differently and no two systems are the same. After experimenting with an all-silver loom in my own setup, I’ve found that silver cables are best integrated with a copper loom. A trial is needed with different positions in your system for the most effective outcome. In my experience, going full silver can lead to an overly etched or fatiguing top end unless balanced properly, regardless of brand. 

To clarify, I wasn’t making any assumptions or assertions re: an all silver cable loom. My recent acquisition of the Darwin Natural 2 IC pair has simply inspired curiosity about exploring it just to discover what it might sound like. I don’t buy cables I can’t demo at home and return, if necessary. I'm definitely not one who prefers tipped up sonics. 

@lalitk 

And I was merely reiterating my experience with a possible outcome of all out silver loom for our readers.

Yeah and I appreciate that. Even though the suitability of any piece of gear is (in my opinion) best judged when heard within the system it’s destined for, in the same room, by the same set of ears, this doesn’t mean there aren’t broader recurring patterns/relationships/factors or that it’s not common sense to pay attention to them. I think this is one of the advantages of a forum like this -- helping one-another recognize such things. 

@jpan 

The thing about the Cable Co. is you get to try the cables in your system at home—over time. It was always my ears that I trusted to make the final decision. 

 

+1

@lalitk 

BTW, what a spectacular system you’ve built!  

@lalitk 

Yes; major room constraints and yes, passion for music, too. 

At this point, my focus is "good enough" when it comes to sonics.

Emotional and physical engagement are most important to me. 

Any hint of fatigue or sibilance immediately takes away my desire to listen. As do dry mids and sloppy bass.  If the system sounds "slow", my body won’t fully be on board. 

I’ve learned the above through making mistakes. 

Down the road, I’d like to try some different speakers and try an outboard DAC, again. The Hegel and it’s onboard AKM DAC are a little rolled off on top and I’d like to see whether I could get a bit more extension without opening the door to fatigue/sibilance. My previous Aqua La Voce DAC (burr brown) yielded better bass but the upper mids were fatiguing. I just upgraded ac cables, which restored much of the bass. As you know, it’s an ongoing balancing act. 

Anyway, that’s my story, in a nut-shell. Thanks for your encouragement

@lalitk 

You just described the very traits my audio system embodies and deliver in spades.

Ah, well, maybe I’m heading in the right direction, then!  

I was actually considering that Aero DAC but the descriptions of its tone emphasizing upper mids and highs gave me pause. Instead, I bought a used Mojo Mystique XSE, which sounded very dull in my system. I’ve always believed I favor a warm sound but this  experience made me realize one can have too much of a good thing. I returned the Mojo and instead, focused on improving bass for this upgrade cycle. In hindsight, the Aero might’ve worked really well. I shall keep it in mind for the future. 

@lalitk 

You just never know until you try a component in your system

Experience has proven this to be true! 

There are just way too many choices in this category 

True, again!    

@eltabor 

I have no experience with them. I started out with Audio Art, about 15 years ago, as they were very affordable, offered a return policy and the owner Rob Fritz is one of the nicest guys I've encountered in the business. 

At a certain point, I could afford to spend more so I opted to explore other possibilities. Utilizing The Cable Company's lending library seemed a highly practical way to go and having had a very positive initial experience, I've (for the most part) stuck with them ever since. 

@mashif 

I have, with only one exception always dealt with Steve Aug. He was on vacation or sick at the time and I did not like the other guy to whom I was directed, so I simply waited until Steve was available again. What you are reading in these posts by those of us who've dealt with him is not hyperbole. 

So, trust me when I say that Steve is a VERY upright guy. I don’t know who the other salesmen are, but "In Steve We Trust."

+1