Graham IC70 v. Furutech Silver Arrow
Dover, you are probably correct saying that the advantage is with the shorter cable in the SUT to phono position (ie in comparing the 1.2m Ag-12 and the 30cm VH DIY cable). I included this disclaimer. I've certainly found that low capacitance appears to be an important factor in this position - and my short DIY cable is about as low as you can get without placing inside the chassis. I believe the (good sounding) Ag-12 is quite low, about 55pF, but the DIY cable is more like 5-10pF. My other point - the Eichmann copper/gold vs Eichmann silver - is more valid because this was a direct substitute on the same cable/s in various positions throughout the system. |
10-30-12: Syntax Syntax, sometimes its difficult to tell if you're being serious or sarcastic. The clear audible improvement of the silver Eichmanns (over the copper/gold) is somewhat perplexing (to me).....why should it make such a difference given the various other (inferior) materials/sockets etc in the signal chain? I suppose the possibilities for further gains could drive the neurotic audiophile crazy. |
Tobes Your comparison of phono cables between the step up transformer and the phono stage is irrelevant because the signal coming off a moving coil cartridge is current not voltage. Your step up transformer converts the signal from the MC from higher current/lower voltage to higher voltage/lower current. In this situation the cable impacts from LCR differences in the cable are radically different. Basically from step up to phono you want as little wire as possible because the signal now has very little current after the transformer, signal losses are potentially higher due to the lack of current to drive the wire. Now as far as phono cables go, the shorter the better. I have compared my own skinned/stripped MIT ( raw cable ) in 18" lengths and these will sound better than almost any phono cable beyond 1.2m regardless of cost. If you want the best - short as possible, even if you have to rearrange your equipment. Otherwise you are simply swapping tonal colourations and different losses from one cable to another, whichever flavour you like - Neopolitan, Chocolate or French Vanilla take your choice. These flavours will vary again with cartridge/phono stage. 1.2m and beyond, I would use MIT Oracle |
The reason is very simple, Silver can carry 6% more information than best copper, 15% more than gold plated connectors (AES Standard). When silver lot is used, then you have the possible transfer line. but normally the loss will start then at the cheap Preamp (8.95$ / pair) inputs :-) You will hear an improvement but it is far away from the maximum... |
I'm not touting the VH Audio cables specifically for phono use - just noting that, in my system, a lightly sheilded version of that cable with the silver Eichmanns outperformed the Ag-12. More pertinent is that the criticisms I've read of the Graham IC-70 sound similar to the shortcomings of the copper/gold Eichmanns. If I owned that cable I would definitely be investigating the silver Eichmanns, which redress these shortcomings. Like I said above, I was very surprised by the difference in the connectors. |
Yes, both of my IC-70s had the stock Eichmanns. I like the Silver Breeze a lot, too, and replaced my AG-12 with it, mostly because I needed a longer cable and it's difficult to buy Furutech cables in anything but the stock 1.2m. I found the Silver Breeze to be more open than the AG-12 though perhaps with less tonal density. Still, I like the AG-12 enough that I'm keeping it, even though it's just sitting in a closet. All are very fine. Don't know the VH Audio. |
10-28-12: Wrm57 Curious if your IC-70 came with the copper/gold Eichmann plugs (it appears to use those in pics I've seen)? I recently replaced the copper/gold Eichmann bullet plugs on all my silver interconnects with the solid silver Eichmann bullets and was very surprised at the improvement in clarity and smoothness(as in less grainy, more open, refined and realistic). A very audible and significant improvement - especially so given this is the same plug, just different conductor material. FWIW, I found that a short (shielded) version of these VH audio DIY silver interconnects, with the silver Eichmanns, to be more open and natural/revealing than the Furutech AG12 RCA-RCA cable (that I was using between my SUT and phono stage). The comparison may not be completely fair because the DIY cable is about 30cm vs 1.2m for the Furutech AG-12. I use the Silver Breeze DIN-RCA cable from my Phantom II to the SUT. |
I switched to a Silver Arrow on my Phantom II and prefer it to the IC-70. I compared them directly in my system and found the Silver Arrow to offer everything the Graham does plus its more balanced through the frequency range, more relaxed without losing detail, more focused, and a bit blacker in its background. The IC-70 (of which I've owned two) subtly emphasizes the frequency extremes at the expense of the middle and has a bit of artificial edginess relative to the Furutech. I think the Graham is an excellent cable but the Silver Arrow clearly sounds better in my system. I also have an AG-12, although I'm not using it at the moment. While I can't precisely compare the two Furutechs because one's a DIN and the other RCA, intended for different tonearms, I'd extrapolate to say the AG-12 is fatter tonally, perhaps a bit colored compared to the Silver Arrow, and with a touch less articulation and spaciousness. Still, an outstanding cable and probably the best value I can think of among phono cables. The Silver Arrow is crazily more expensive (even though I got it used at 40% of list) but it's also step up from both. |
Different presentations between the two Furutech's according to this reviewer at The Audio Beat. http://www.furutech.com/a2008/reviewc.asp?r1_no=138&r2_no=556 I use a Hovland Music Groove 2 but have always wanted to try other phone cables in my system such as the Graham or the Furutech so it was good to see this thread today with some owners responses. |
