Psag,
I love it -- "It may sound good, but its not." I got a good laugh when I woke up this morning. |
Psag,
I got a second good laugh this morning -- "They stay away from things that don't make sense, regardless of how they may sound." |
Douglas_schroeder,
Please re-read the OP. It says "in my system". |
Douglas_schroeder,
You stated "I suspect Sabai may not have even tried the Shunyata cable alone ..."
Really? Sorry to disappoint you. |
Douglas_schroeder,
You stated "I don't need to hear anyone else's rig ..." Congratulations. I'm glad to hear you've got it all figured out.
But you got it right when you stated "you can't judge because you haven't heard my system". I think this is quite an obvious observation -- clear, direct and to the point. Although there may be "no solid ground" for you with "such methods and logic".
By the way, here's a hypothetical situation. Your best audiophile friend invites you over. He's been doing some odd experiments, much to your surprise. He tells you he's running a cable or 2 in series and would like you to have a listen. Your response:
1. You're not interested in hearing this crap. You already know it's a crock of BS. You have it figured out already.
2. OK, why not, power up and let's give it a go.
Would you choose #1 or #2?
I am not taking about a "philosophy of audio" in any respect -- let alone one that is "superior" to another. I am only talking about what works and what does not work in my system. As stated clearly in the OP. Plain and simple.
Zd542,
You got it right when you stated "That sounds to me like he tried the cables both ways." I have done extensive testing with Shunyata digital, IC and PC cabling alone. In my system, may I repeat "in my system", the series cabling I use is superior to the Shunyata cables used alone. I suspect this may be because of the synergy created -- both cables using identical OCC copper wire that has been cryogenically treated. Series cabling with my Elrod cables does not work at all. The sound seriously degrades in this case.
Knghifi,
You make a good observation about the S-30 driving my speakers. But since I use Paul Speltz auto-transformers I have headroom of about 30db -- often more -- on most recordings, and headroom of 15db to 20db on the "worst" recordings. There is no distortion at all in the SQ.
Charles1dad,
I just loved the Raidhos when I heard them. I already had the S-30 in my system. I knew it would be a gamble with the Raidhos. Michael Borresen (Raidho) and Ralph Karsten (Atma-Sphere) both expressed concerned to me about this. And, in fact, there was little headroom when I first paired them up. But the addition of the Paul Speltz auto-transformers solved the problem. I am more than delighted with the sonic results. |
Zd542, you may be correct about that, but it seems that Sabai has been using cables in series for a long time. If you are right, and he tried the Shunyata cables, but they were not to his liking, then I'm sure you would agree the proper solution is to eliminate them, not add additional cables. All an individual is doing when adding more cables in series to correct a perceived problem is making a potentially better system worse; unnecessarily doubling the length of the interconnect, which deteriorates the sound, adding unnecessary connections, which deteriorates the sound, and mixing a so-so wire with a better one, which also deteriorates the potential. Not a good solution at all, and this is so whether in Sabai's rig or anyone else's.
If his ears like what he has done, great! But it's not a better way to build a rig.
A better way to build a rig is to find a better/more appealing cable and lose the series approach. |
Sabai,
Thanks for your reply, I understand, increasing the load driven (ohms) benefits the OTL amplifier.
Charles, |
Michael Borresen (Raidho) and Ralph Karsten (Atma-Sphere) both expressed concerned to me about this. Should listen to Michael and Ralph. But the addition of the Paul Speltz auto-transformers solved the problem. I am more than delighted with the sonic results Obviously you're not delighted with the sonic results and trying to solve the thinness by adding cables in a series. You're making a bad situation worse. I Googled reviews on your speaker and reviewers are using VTL 450 and best results a Rowland 625, 300wpc SS amp. Well, it's your system so attack however you want. |
Douglas_schroeder,
You stated "a so-so wire" when referring to top-of-line Furutech cables. Well, as I have already stated, the facts are that all Furutech products use only top-quality OCC copper -- deep cryo-ed -- identical to Shunyata cables. In an attempt to differentiate them from Shunyata cables these important facts are tossed out your window. Sorry, there are no brownie points for this sort of thing.
As I said earlier I am glad to hear you have it all figured out. This is like listening to naysayers who are experts in snake oil and BS meters. We all know how this manifests itself on the forum. I remember the old days when Jack Bybee was considered a voodoo practitioner. Do you know how many people sneered and scoffed and LOL-ed at the mere mention of the name Bybee? Now Jack Bybee is venerated as the grandfather of the "tweak" era.
But some people don't need to hear things -- they simply know in advance what is worthy and what is not thanks to iron-clad theories -- theories that are beyond question. As I said earlier, I'm glad you have it all figured out. Congratulations. |
Charles1dad,
You're welcome. Paul Speltz auto-transformers are a marvel. I highly recommend them for systems with a similar mismatch -- one that is easily rectified. |
Sabai, thanks for the clarification regarding trying the Shunyata cables alone. But, as I said I am done discussing this with you. |
Knghifi,
Thanks for your opinions. Come visit some time. Theories and opinions are be important but the ears always win out over here. |
Knghifi,
I forgot to mention that Ralph was the one who recommended the Paul Speltz auto-transformers. If you do a little Googling you will discover that many people have taken his recommendation and the results have been unanimous -- the same wonderful results that my ears have witnessed in my system. |
Unless you've eaten there before it's hard to know how the food will taste simply by reading the menu. Which does not stop some folks from claiming they can. |
Sabai, a clarification for your and the community's benefit; when I used the phrase, "... so-so wire," I was referring to the Shunyata cables you said were thin sounding. |
Douglas_schroeder,
I am using the latest Shunyata Alpha cables. |
I've ordered the Beethoven septet and a Andras Schiff(Beethoven Piano Sonatas Volume 7) CDs. My classical music knowledge and collection is very small compared to jazz music. So far I am attracted more to cello than violin(I do enjoy this instrument however).I have listened to some YoYo Ma and others. My favorite classical up to this point is Mstislav Rostropovich playing Bach cello music, this I really like. Admittedly my sample size for classical is tiny. There's much for me to explore. |
Thanks for your opinions. Come visit some time. Theories and opinions are be important but the ears always win out over here. Thanks for the invite. If I'm in your area of the woods next time in Far East, I will contact you. I forgot to mention that Ralph was the one who recommended the Paul Speltz auto-transformers. If you do a little Googling you will discover that many people have taken his recommendation and the results have been unanimous -- the same wonderful results that my ears have witnessed in my system. Wow, Didn't realize Paul Speltz auto-transformers capabilities. So with my 88db 4ohm speakers and a 33'x25'x15' room, I can buy any amp regardless of size and power as long as I have a Paul Speltz auto-transformers? Thanks for the tip. |
H sabai, In regards to your 10-11-14 post to me, LOL!, very funny, but I agree with you ole chap, sorry it took me so long to get back to this thread, drop back by the tara thread when you get a chance, cheers. |
Charles1dad,
If you like cello you may also like Starker, du Pre and Fournier. |
Audiolabyrinth,
No problem. Glad you enjoyed it. |
Q: "Psag when choosing equipment for your system how do you judge its worthiness for your home listening pleasure?"
A: I listen to it. |
Sabai,
My apology for the Beethoven post, that was meant to go elsewhere, sorry.
Charles, |
Yes. The Shunyata Diamond back power cord I have is noticeably a bit thin in my system compared to other power cords I have. Which are DH labs Power Plus, Wireworld Sliver Eclipse's 5.2. But I have no idea why and I don't really care because my system sounds so unfairly good I am embarrassed. Well, so I guess I really do care. Anyway because my system sounds so good I go to bed every night worrying somebody may sneak in and steal it. Or just mug me for it. Who knows. But I have quit worrying about my cable being thin or overweight or ugly or anything else, as you can see other worries have replaced that worry. Got to go it sounds eerily quiet outside my place right now. |
Knghifi,
You're welcome. There are 3 connection levels with Paul Speltz auto-transformers. Paul has detailed information on his site. If you have any questions about how to use the auto-transformers with your own speakers I am sure Paul Speltz and Ralph Karsten will be glad to respond to your messages. |
Thanks Psag,
My only point is that there's no avoiding the listening process when judging satisfaction with a component or complete system. |
You're welcome. There are 3 connection levels with Paul Speltz auto-transformers. Paul has detailed information on his site. If you have any questions about how to use the auto-transformers with your own speakers I am sure Paul Speltz and Ralph Karsten will be glad to respond to your messages. Actually I do have experience with Paul Speltz auto-transformers with Atam-Sphere M-60. Preamp was SMC VRE-1C driving Acoustic Zen Crescendo with similar efficency as your Raidho. Overall SQ was very good but felt under powered in the bass region. With the amazing Paul Speltz auto-transformers, one wonders why Atma-Sphere offers M-60, MA-1, MA-2 and MA-3 when all they need is S-30. |
"Thin" could mean a couple of things here. One possibility is that certain frequencies, most likely in the midrange and/or upper midbase, are being suppressed. Or, the highs and lows are being accentuated, if you prefer. Another possibility is that the cable is accurately conveying the "thin-ness" of the recording, whereas most other cables are adding distortion that is perceived as "full-ness". Given the general excellence of Shunyata cables, I suspect its the latter. |
