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Kubala-Sosna Elation Speaker Cables

I am presently using a pair of Kubala-Sosna Fascination speaker cable in my system. My system net worth is about $18-20,000 excluding cables. The CD player is Roksan M3, Pre-amp is Vinnie Rossi Lio with tube stage, Power Amp is Vinnie Rossi VR120 (Solid State). Speakers are Dynaudio Focus 260 floorstanders with Dynaudio Sub 600. The system is fairly neutral but tipped to mid/upper frequencies.

There is a pair of Kubala-Sosna Elation speaker cable for sale here on Audiogon. The temptation is killing me to purchase them but at $4800 there are reservations. I am not in a position to audition them first so I will have to purchase them.

My question is: Do I need a much more expensive system to appreciate the Elation's full potential or will the step up to them be considerable regardless of the cost level of my system?

I realize it is a hard question to answer definitively so I guess it is probably for those who have made an A/B comparison at some time.

Thank You!

routeman21
7 responses Add your response
routeman21 OP
110 posts
 

Alan,

What inexpensive brand(s) of cables did you replace the expensive ones with? Just curious, I'm not saying they will or won't have synergy in my system.

Thank You!

jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
While there are plenty of guidelines on how to set up a system, they are only that, guidelines.
I certainly haven't spent that much on speaker cables, though I have looked, and been tempted. I know some fellows who have more money tied up in cables/cords then they do in equipment, but in my mind, that is the lunatic fringe. They seem to be happy though, so I certainly don't object.

Some folks insist on speakers being 75% of your budget, some say cables 10-20%, some say source should be your primary expense. That's why this hobby is so much fun, there are so many paths to audio nirvana.
Whatever floats your boat.
whart's avatar
whart
3,037 posts
 
I have had the K-S Emotion in my system for a long time- power, interconnect and speaker cables. The Elation had not been introduced when I bought them. I upgraded one interconnect to the Elation and could hear the difference. However, I think it is probably unnecessary for you to spend this kind of money for your system. The question I would ask is what is it about my system that I think needs to be improved, or changed, and then try to approach that, rather than viewing an expensive cable as a panacea. The only reason I gave you my background is to say that I'm not a hater of K-S or of fancy cable. 
good luck,
bill hart
ahendler
416 posts
 
The cost of cables does not indicate the quality of sound. I recently replaced $5000 worth of cables in my $40000 system with $300 worth of cables . The inexpensive cables are much more musical than the high cost cables and I am selling the high cost stuff
Alan
routeman21 OP
110 posts
 

rcprince,

You're right, the Fascination is not an overly bright cable but it will give me some upper frequency sizzle & snap if the CD or vinyl source dictates it. I'm willing to live with some brightness (not overly) as long as the tradeoff is appreciable refinement.

Also, I switch off with another speaker cable, the Stradivarius from Voodoo Cable. It has a Silver/Copper alloy and is clearly brighter & provides more detail than the Fascination but I like it in it's own way. The Voodoo is clearer & cleaner but the Fascination is richer & more dense with acoustic guitar vs. the Voodoo. Also, both throw wide soundstages. Right now I am waiting to borrow a pair of Voodoo Cable Stradivarius Cremona speaker cable. The Cremona is an upgrade of the original Stradivarius. Refinement is what I'm looking for with the upgraded Voodoo but at the expense of little bit of brightness. The tweeter on the Focus 260 does have some energy but I rarely am fatigued with the sound of it unless I turn the volume up too high. I borrow cables from the Cable Company here in Pennsylvania. They have a wide variety and I have borrowed a lot throughout the years. There is a fee but that amount can be used towards the purchase of cables. Unfortunately, they don't carry Kubala-Sosna cables.

Thank You!

rcprince
3,070 posts
 
The Elations would, in my view, be overkill and might upset the balance of your system.  Your system seems to be nicely balanced as it is, and the Fascination is not an overly bright cable.  The Elation will be considerably more extended at both frequency extremes and much cleaner sounding (I have noticed that about the entire K-S line), so if your system is tilted to brightness now it might be more so with the Elation.  It is a great cable, but it might reveal more about your system than the music it's playing, not a good thing, IMHO.
jafant's avatar
jafant
19,602 posts
 
routeman21-

my rule of thumb regarding cabling is this;
Cabling should reflect 10-20% of your system cost.
Said cost can be full retail or used/demo pricing.
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