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from CAT5 to Kimber 4TC--where's the bass?

Hello! I'm fairly new to all this, so I hope you'll bear with me. Recently, I purchased a Cambridge Audio D500SE CDP from a dealer who was going out of business. He threw in 2 pairs of Kimber 4TC cable (8')at a _very_ good price. I was excited. When I arrived home, I hooked up the CDP to my Cambridge Audio A3i int. amp. and sat down to do some a/b comparisons between the Kimber and my DIY CAT5 cable (made following the FFRC recipe on the TNT website). In both cases, I biwired my speakers. I felt the Kimber really opened up the top end and slightly improved the midrange, but in comparison to the CAT5, the bass had almost completely disappeared. I mean, I could hear the bass and it was very tight and very lean, but the "punch" was gone. My speakers (PSB Image 4Ts) are certainly no monsters with the bass to begin with, but the Kimbers made them sound like small, high-quality bookshelf speakers. This problem existed whether I was playing the CDP or listening to vinyl on my Rega P3 (so I know it's a cable issue). I listen to about a 50/50 mix of older acoustic blues and a variety of pop. With the blues (e.g. Fred McDowell), the absence of bass isn't really a problem, and I like the Kimber very much; but when switching over to pop (e.g. Stevie Wonder), the Kimber doesn't come close to cutting it. So, I'd like to find a cable that combines the good qualities of both cables. Do you have any suggestions? I live very close to AudioAdvisors' H.Q. in MI, so comparing cables would be easy. I prefer buying used, I'm not married to bi-wiring, and I'd like to stay under $250. Thanks again.
shersta

Showing 2 responses by sean

sean
6,231 posts
 
I have 4PR, 8PR, 4VS, 8VS, 4TC and 8TC. They are all slightly lean sounding, some more-so than others.

While i am not directly familiar with the TNT variant of CAT 5 speaker cables, i found the Chris VH 54 conductor / 27 pair design to have phenomenally powerful bass. I do think that the TNT version is constructed somewhat differently though and not as heavy of a gauge, so i don't know how closely your results would parallel mine.

As someone else mentioned, why not use the TNT CAT 5 for bottom end and the Kimber for top end in a bi-wire configuration ? Sean
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sean
6,231 posts
 
Shersta, try looking into some Goertz MI-2's. These have a slightly richer, fuller sound with a more delicate and airier treble response than the Kimber's. They tend to sound very romantic and are quite pleasing overall. The midrange on these is extremely "seemless" as they present a very coherent picture from top to bottom. You can try these out for several weeks if you buy from directly from Goertz. They sound pretty close to what they will sound like long term right out of the package.

While i don't think that your Cambridge will need them, you might want to discuss the need ( or lack there of ) of their impedance compensation networks. Goertz supplies these free of charge if they are necessary.

For the record, i think that Nordost's sound a little sharper, faster and more focused but are lacking in warmth and "musicality". They came across as being analytical without being overtly harsh or bright. If you could obtain the amount of speed, detail and focus that these cables have with increased warmth and bottom end extension, THEN we might really have something.

Keep in mind that these are simply my opinions and suggestions and others results and observations will probably vary according to system and personal likes / dislikes. Sean
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PS... Your description of the Kimber / CAT 5 combo sounded like a Cerwin Vega speaker : )
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