Hi- Any one else out there using these Gabriel Gold IC's? I need to know if it is me or if anyone else finds them as good as me. I bought a pair on auction a while back and compared them to my Stealth cables. After about a week of going back and forth I found the Gabriel Golds to have bettered my Stealths and bought more. Is it me? Just wondering what some other folks who bought them think of them. Thanks for the input.
Mlapenta Steve almost always has an ad running. His Agon user name is sts. He's quick to reply to e-mails but it may take a few weeks to get an order filled.He's seems to be running 2-3 weeks behind at all times just based on Agon ads,"word of mouth" and industry sales. It may be worth your looking into The biggest treasures are always the hidden ones bobf
double! The Extreme 2 interconnects sound "double as good as my previos cables at a third of the price. The cables sound very open and natural. Fantastic detail and staging too!
fiddler, Steve told me that the "double entendre" is in effect when it comes to naming his cables. I wasn't sure what a "double entendre" was until I looked it up. Basically a name or phrase that carries with it more than one interpretation. Rapture-1. The state of being transported by a lofty emotion; ecstasy. 2.extreme happiness or delight 3. The biblical definition of the "Rapture"
Revelation Something revealed, especially a dramatic disclosure of something not previously known or realized. There is also the biblical definition of "Revelation" So maybe Evolution will work due to it's "double entendre" dual meanings. Obviously Steve puts as much thought,knowledge and passion into the naming of his cables as he does the designing of them
"Evolution! that sounds like a good name for a GG cable?"
Bobf, unless I am missing something here, I think Gabriel "REVELATION" and "RAPTURE" may have implications about the cable designer's philosophy (I hope so) and I am not sure "Evolution" would fit into the Gabriel product line very neatly, if you get my drift.
how are you making out with your Ayon CD2? Gabriel Rapture AC cord or the BMI? NOS tubes must also be making some improvements? Still using the Rapture interconnects? bobf
A quick follow up on the CD2 with the NOS DR tubes. My oops in installing them was more of my own concern and less of a problem than my paranoia originally portrayed.
The player is now different animal, a pure joy. All the excessive energy is tamed and the microdynamics under control. Huge soundstage with a gentle and warm yet dynamic and detailed presentation. Hard to say 'reinvents your whole cd collection', but it is fun to relisten to things with it. The decays are now extended and I'm really not finding any deficits to my ear with the reproduction from this player. The DAC portion holds up the same high standard.....
Hopefully, I can get more out about it later next month. If anyone has any specific curiosities, shoot me a email.
Hi jd you are correct in your desription as I have tried or owned them all. I also agree that the MK 2 Extreme and MK 2 Revelation are far superior to the originals . That is not say that the original versions did not kick the crap out of my previous big rig cables and I enjoyed them. Older Extremes for what I see them selling for are a steal and a half It is simply the evolution of a great designer. Evolution! that sounds like a good name for a GG cable? bobf
FYI-Gabriel Gold Extreme info regarding older cables. The original Gabriel Gold Extreme had a silver/black jacket and is labeled Gabriel Gold on both ends of the cable.The revised version of the Extreme was labeled Extreme on one end of the cable and Gabriel Gold on the other.The outer jacket remained the same. The latest Extreme MK 2 has an all black jacket and in my opinion is better than both previous Extreme versions. I also think it sounds better than the original Revelation Hope this info clears things up for members looking for used Gabriels on the market. jd
I have the same info, Bobf. Trading out the tubes is a pretty tedious task that requires a lot of care.....I did it but may have dislodged one of the caps on one of the boards....I'll have to get it checked out before I can give it a listen. (Rats!)
Thanks, John. I'll have nore info in a month or so and a more definite forecast.....either 2 or 8 more months to go and I should be a-bloomin'.
The NOS DR's are all from '86 and well matched, so I think they'll be excellent, Darealjaydee. I believe that you are right and hope to find out for myself as soon as I can clear my booboo mentioned above.
From what I've read here the Gabriels seem to be a great match with the Ayon so you got that down Budburma. I have never heard a stock 6H30 sound better than the DR version.The difference was obvious when I upgraded to DR NOS tubes in my BAT.
Hi Budburma- I know someone who has the CD-2 and although I have not heard the player I was told that switching to 80's NOS 6H30DR tubes make a world of difference. Sorry I can't provide more details. bobf
Here are some notes on the Ayon CD-2 that recently replaced my longtime love, the Cary 306/200. First, this is my system as it now stands:
Gear: Ayon CD-2 Karan KAI-180 Squeezebox Duet, Bolder modified and with power Dynaudio Confidence C-1 Sound Applications XE-12S modded to near Linestage Cables: Gabriel Gold Rapture RCA Interconnects and Speaker Cables, Von Gaylord Chincnilla Sig. RCA Digital Power Cords: BMI Hammerhead Gold Mk1 and Mk3 Gabriel Gold Rapture on and off the CD-2 (see below)
Of note, the Karan is a relatively new addition and I had only a short time to listen to it with the Cary, but did listen thoughtfully to the tunes I have used most often for analysis of gear in the past. And, here are those tunes: David Gray: The Ep's 92-94 Shine, Lover John Hiatt: Crossing Muddy Waters Crossing Muddy Waters, What Do we Do Now Dave Matthews Band: Under the Table and Dreaming Satellite, Pay for What You Get, #34 Ryan Adams: Heartbreaker May Winding Wheel Ben Harper: Fight for Your Mind Please Me Like You Want To John Coltrane Quartet: Ballads Say It (over and Over Again) Mike Doughty: Skittish The Only Answer, Looks Steve Earle: Train a Comin' Goodbye, Northern Winds, Rivvers of Babylon, Tecumsah Vallley Sometimes Why: MIddle, Hush Child, Let Down, Hallowell
The soundstage is enormous and fabulous and as good or better than the Cary, while the imaging less precise, but in a very nice way. The images are rounder, a little softer, and larger. With the Karan, the Cary's images were somehow diminutive on a large stage....while that left a lot of black background, it seemed less real than the Ayon. The notes are true on attack, but the decay feels a little attenuated.
The detail is comparable or better, but since the images are larger, there is less separation on vocal harmonies in close proximity. So, with more crowded or complex parts of music there is some congestion that is not so pleasing.
It is a very revealing player, so the recording is stripped of any corrective blurring or bad production for better or worse. And, forget about MP3's, they sound terrible and suck any way.
The ergonomics suck.....Holding on to the slow cooker like top while changing cd's is and true pain in the ass.
It is overall a more musical player with a sweet midrange (more about that below) and bass is very realisitic and well controlled. No bloat, but a ton of energy overall. This abundance of energy presents itself as this nagging bit of forward nature in the upper mids. Truth be told, that is actually always nagging me in my system and in the end it is probably the Dynaudio's fault They are accurate and unforgiving and sound great when piled on with clean power, but require reigning in to avoid listener fatigue. It's their (and my) specific conundrum of needing gobs of power and liking a tubish warmth.
The Ayon does not add the tubish warm I was hoping for, but it has so many good attributes that I am going to try a quad of '80's Rusky DR tubes and see if that will bring it on home.
So, with that aggressive sonic trait demand in mind, the BMI cord is a better match in my system for the player....the Rapture cord has a small of that sonic signature and doesn't work as well right now. But, the new tubes could change things and I would venture is a great match for a system with less tendency towards the aggressive or one that is more laid back and needs a little push towards 'coming alive'.
The DAC portion is very nice with the same caveats as above and is where I really here the MP3 disgusting hashy stuff.
So, overall, I like the CD-2 better than my Cary, but am not blown away by it. I am anxious to hear it with the NOS tubes and see what they brig to the table.
And, to be fair, I have been under the weather for a few months and am bringing a less than optimal attitude and overall gestalt of life to the listening table so my best ears aren't on. So much pig's guts on the table.
Like the man said, "I've been down but not like this before." Don't want to be a whiner, but really and I am holding my own, but for the most part hunkering down in the bosom of my nuclear family wile my friend's are awaiting my inevitable bobbing back to the surface. That's gonna' happen I am sure, just in my waiting chrysalis stage.....patient and expectant of beauty.
Besides, my dog needs a new knee more than I need a new CDP. New knee is good news.
Hi-I think the Raptor( dinasaur also known as dromaeosaurs)came first and is closely related to modern birds. The Raptor was a meat eating bird that apparently came down with a bad case of "mad cow disease" hence we were left with the lame little chicken. The Chicken then began to drop things out of it's butt. What were later to be called "eggs".
The Gabriel Gold Rapture although not in the bird family evolved later as man's quest for audio cables to convey music accurately became within reach.
On this Easter day I must ask " what came first the chicken or the(Easter) egg?" Is the Ayon that good on it's own or are the Gabriel Golds making the player sound better? There seem to be quite a few postings with Ayon/Gabriel pairings although one company has nothing to do with the other. I'm wondering what other cables Ayon owners were using before switching to Gabriels? I don't have an Ayon CD player so I can only speak from personl experience as the Gabriels made all of my existing equipment come to life. Gone are the goulash of different cables for different components. In the case of the Gabriel Golds IMHO they are both the Chicken and the Egg combined into a single entity that brings music to life! and cholesterol free!. They may raise your blood pressure though as you will find yourself truly involved in your tunes. Check them out if you can. Happy Easter
And, Hhilcoat, we are all schizophrenic to a certain extent. BUT, my experience with the raptures was and is the same. Clarity, nuance, realism. Sweet fresh air. It's all about the breath in the music. The Raptures really made my system come to life and have continued to do that through a fair amount of equipment changes. It's nice when your heart is beckoned and you can answer the call without fear of rejection.
Alright, that's it for now....starting to digress too far into the ephemera.
Later!
Oh, the CD2, is pretty phenomenal with astounding detail, minimal and diminishing digital hash after 6 hours, expansive soundstage and separation at first blush. More after the 6-8 hr/day for a week or do breaking in. All Rapture cabled, even PC (better than my BMI HH Gold Mk3 at the moment.....time will tell).
I bought a pair of Rapture IC's from Glory and all I can say is "sweet mother of god" these things have transformed my system. Everything from lower tighter bass to delicate highs. For example, cymbals are remarkably realistic. I'm hearing things I never heard before (no I'm not schizophrenic) and I find myself getting lost in the music in a way I never have. And they seem to keep getting better. Just finished listening and I have never felt this euphoric about listening.
I haven't heard any other IC's of this caliber in my system, so I don't know what others would do, but I'm very happy about the Raptures.
I just purchased a pair of Rapture i/c's and s/c's and yes they are really good out of the box. With only a few hours in my system Steve has indicated that it will improve for the next few days and then settle in. These were cooked before they left Steve's. My previous s/c were GG Revelation 2. I will update when they settle in and I get a better handle on what they can do. But first impression is very very good.
Hey Art....old buddy old pal.....I suggest you just throw those no good LP's away....they have no real value....who wants vinyl these days?.....just send them to me and I'll have them destroyed for you. ;D
hmmmm richard.....tempting.....i just sold off my main table, but still have an old sota moonbeam that might take a liking the the aes.....your closet feeling a little full? i still a couple thousand of albums....can't melt 'em down and sell 'em by weight....
It looks as if you've been busy lately, new speakers and......what???? JPS Aluminata interconnects have replaced your GG Raptures. I haven't heard the Aluminata's yet, what would you say are the differences between the Rapture and the Aluminata.
You can PM me off-line if you do not care to comment on-line.
I'm still holding Art's modded AES PH-1 phono stage hostage in the closet of my listening room; it's a little honey! I know he'll eventually come around for it...he he.
Your thoughts and experiences are el perfecto, Juan. I am loving less stuff...but, while my downsizing journey has freed up a lot of space and cable confusion, I think with the cd2 i may not have saved much dough. But the satisfaction is tremendous with the simplicity and i truly feel i have given up very little in the sonic realm. clean and happy. i will miss my vinyl, but in the end all my tunes are a gesture away and all is well in gotham and denmark and hopefully yugoslavia and our own slice of planetary pie.... best, art
I hear ya Art, that Karan is a fine unit. If I ever decide to go back to SS that would be first in line. I also admit that the heat of the tubes can be a hassle. I've taken to using as quiet a portable fan as I can find, I've tried about 8 or so small fans. It definitely does the job of cooling down the VAC, but yes, it can still be heard faintly from the listening chair when the music stops. However, when the music is playing, I still opt for tubes everytime.
I guess I'm just old school though, as I still prefer vinyl to digital. I just received a new 200g pressing of Holly Cole Trio's Don't Smoke In Bed (ABNC 5006) yesterday and it's sound is so holographic with tubes that I feel I'm in the studio. I'm using much cheaper cables now, as I've downsized, but I find the difference between tubes and vinyl is much greater than the difference in mega-buck cables and less expensive ones. At least for me.
I've heard some very good digital, and I really admire SACD's but for me....vinyl and tubes is like milk and cookies. It's like coming home again after a long trip.....it just feels right.
Then again.....maybe I just like the extra work of tubes and vinyl..... ;D
Yeah, the Stealth's were hard to beat and impossible at the price, but I had a little dough going to an integrated and Steve let me trake in some cables. The Rapture speakers wires are just better than the Stealth's.
I was definitely knowced out by the Triton, but I have an old house with central air and having a window unit in the same room to cool it from the Triton in the summer just wouldn't do. No sir, no way, no how. Still an absolutely amazing integrated.
The Karan is very good and close to the Triton, but tubes is tubes....'nuf said. Having come to that conclusion as many have, it's nice to report that my wife did actually come down and expound on how nice the Karan sounds. Loud and clear. Good to go.
And the all black eastern euro darth vader look of the Karan with the Ayon and the piano black Dynaudio's is, er, Darth! Not in keeping with the house but pretty cool and disappears nicely....visually and sonically.
I sort of modified and stole the tag line from Brian at BMI anyway.....no worries......and happily pass it on to all who feel it.
Good to see your back. I was just reminding those in this thread about you....er....yeah...that's the ticket!
I hope all is well with you and yours.....though I do have to admit that I am surprised that you finally put your Stealth Hybrid MLT's away. I still admire those cables for the $$$. I'm also surprised to see that you have moved on from your Ayon Triton to the Karan.....especially after reading how knocked out you were by the Triton. I still haven't heard the Triton, but I have heard the Karan, and it is very nice.....for a SS amp. It was better than the Jeff Rowland or Levinson integrateds that I heard, but I would not give up my VAC for it.
Jc- so, i am a rapture fan from a ways back and would say you are right on the money with clarity and digital revealing. i have come to believe that tubes are the way to make it really happen right here and now and a server or equivalent with tube dac or cdp/dac is the road to get there (here?).
i had an audio aero capitole mkii se in my sights and went for an ayon cd2. it will also be my dac. check out my system....i just updated it. the digital front from mac on is pretty amazing and the cd2 will jettison the cary when it arrives.
you air right; the raptures are air and you have to have air. that and a burrito will get you through the day.
save your pennies and gather the rapture around you. safe passage home whispered the old lady from the nursing home wearing a bishop's mitre. what i mean is, you obviously have great ears and appreciation and can find the solution for your musical joy. you can listen, hear and see.
my favorite combo was a plinius sa201 with an aes djh sig pre with nos tube and dynaudio 2.8's with the rapture ic's. i wish i had heard it with the rapture speaker wire. save your pennies. killer. more of the same, much more.
if you are using separates, you might try that pre, but as you already are aware, synergy is important.....the dodd battery pre has always seemed like a good choice to get some tubes in there.
email for some digital server/hardrive if you care to.
Hey man, you copping my tag line!? just shucking and jivin you, john. i have to hit the hay, but will interject that the rapture speaker cable is equal, if not superior, in upgrade capacity for a (my) system than the interconnects. more later....g'nite and enjoy the tunes yourownbadself!
Hehe....ah yeah, ProAc, that's what I meant. I was thinking of my friend's ARC/Dynaudio system subconciously I suppose. He has the Contour S 3.4's. Actually I do think the Dynaudio speakers have a lot in common with ProAc's. They're both non-fatiguing, easy on the ears, and very musical, similar to my Verity Audio Parsifal Encore's.
John, thanks for the kind words about my system. My speakers are ProAc 3.8s, not Dynaudios, however. I know what you are saying when you refer to chasing the digital dream. When I listen to analog for a time, it is very difficult to "adapt" back to digital. Digital's shortcomings, at least the ones present in my gear, become much more apparent after listening to analog. I still think I can improve my digital front end and will start my journey soon by borrowing an ARC DAC7 just to hear how significant a difference using a newer dac might bring to the music.
Nice summary, I'm glad that you are enjoying your new GG Rapture interconnects. Also, it looks like you have a lovely system, I'm a fan of ARC and Dynaudio.
I would suggest that you give up on chasing the digital dream though, and just spin some more vinyl. Your vinyl rig looks to be pretty good, and I'm sure it will sound better than any digital gear that you can get....even with a tubed DAC.
Read my reply to Rja on 11/16/07 in this thread to further understand my analog feelings.
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