2. cables
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New cables...

Greetings,

I'm new to the forum, at least in so far as posting goes, but I have used it for reviews in the past.  I recently made an equipment upgrade, and hence decided to do the same to the cables.  I'm not sure if I notice a difference, other than the money that is no longer in my bank account.  First, the back ground.

My last speakers were a pair of Sonos Faber Venere 2.5, which were hooked up to a NAD M3 amp.  When I first paired these pieces of equipment, I was using 3 meter length, High Diamond 2 cables, bi-wired (2 pairs of cables, hooked up to the four pairs of terminals on the amp).  The rest of the pieces in the system were the NAD M5 SACD player, the NAD M4 tuner and the Gold Note PH10 phono preamp.  My turn table remains the impressive Acoustic Solid 111 Metal placed on top of their dedicated isolation platform, and paired with their WTB213 tone arm and fitted with the Benz Micro Wood L cartridge.  The interconnects that I was using were High Diamond 2 RCA on the SACD player and the Tuner and Cardas Iridium RCA on the phono stage.  Initially, I was using the stock power cables for everything, plugged into a run of the mill, $20 hardware store power bar.  At some point in that systems' history, I upgraded the speaker cables to the Cardas Parsec bi-wired (also 3 meter), and bought a Cardas Iridium power cord for the M3 amp.  To be sure, I noticed an improved difference in the sound, which I attributed to the Cardas speaker cables, more than anything, though it may have also had something to do with the Iridium phono interconnect as well..

Fast forward to this past fall, and I came into some money so I decided to upgrade the speakers to the Sonus Faber Olympica III speakers, the Simaudio Moon 700i V2 amp, and the Simaudio Moon 650D CD transport and DAC.  Initially, I kept all of the cables and power bar the same. They remained in place from October 2019, until yesterday.  I think that time frame gave me plenty of time to get to know the sound of the system, and for everything to get broken in.  

Yesterday, I decided that with the obvious jump in improvement with the three pieces, I should take the plunge and upgrade the cables and power bar as well.  I purchased Cardas' Clear Cygnus 3 meter, bi-wired speaker cables, two 1 meter Clear Cygnus interconnects, one RCA for the phono stage and one XLR for the CD transport, two Clear Cygnus 1 metre power cables, one for the amp, and one to connect the impressive Cardas Nautilus power strip to the wall.  The Cardas Iridium power cable that I previously had was moved to the 650D CD Transport, and I used the stock power cable that came with the 700i V2 amp for the NAD M4 tuner.  

What has surprised me most, is that lack of difference in overall sound that I have noticed.  To be clear, those cables and power strip cost $8000CDN, plus tax!!! (inset appropriate emoji here).  Is it my ears?

Regards, Jared Purdy
128x128jaredpurdy
jaredpurdy's avatar
jaredpurdy OP
7 posts
 
After having run the new cables for most of yesterday and all of today, I can definitely say that I now hear a difference.  I'm not sure what adjectives to use, but there is even greater clarity than what was there before.

Given the number of cables that were changed simultaneously, it would be difficult to say which one made the most impact, but I'm inclined the think that the speaker cables and the phono pre amp cable are likely the biggest contributors to the improved sound.  I can only imagine that with additional break-in, the sound will improve more.  I believe the break-in period for cables to be in the 100 hour range.  If I'm wrong about that, please feel free to chime in.
lak's avatar
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lak
4,529 posts
 
A few comments that I'd like to make and I agree with your conclusion other than I have no idea which cables made the largest impact.
IMO it takes perhaps 150 hours of use and non-movement of all cabling for the system to settle in. I know this is a debated theory but you know what I have found to be true for myself.
It's very had to tell what differences the cabling makes if you made more than one change at a time. I realize when we purchase new cabling etc no one wants to wait for one item to break in before we add the next new piece.
I truly believe with a lot more hours of playtime you will hear an additional improvement.
ellisr63's avatar
ellisr63
4 posts
 

@lak I did the same on mine, but mine is even wors.. I added the XLRs end to end so I would have them burned in too at the same time.  Now I did have my Valhalla broken in already since I had them for a month already and left my equipment on 24/7 for a few weeks and then 3 days with the burn in cd. I currently adding more XLRs, Power cords, and USB Cables. Next week my DIY xangsane 9003ag speaker wires will be in, and the following week my Odin 2 Gold speaker cables will be in.

 

Gonna be some serious listening going on to see which combo of wires I like the best. Then start allover again with the surrounds.😀

kennyc
1,182 posts
 

+1 @lak a day or two is not enough for cable breakin. 150-200hrs is somewhat standard. 

audphile1's avatar
audphile1
4,176 posts
 

Get 200hrs of signal thru the new cables then re-evaluate. Sometimes the difference is more apparent when you go from best to worst and you realize what you’re missing.

Also, few additional items to consider-

1. bad room acoustics will mask differences between cables and even between components. Any reflective surfaces like tiled floors, windows on the side of the speakers…anything that will cause the sound to bounce or create slap echo will impact what you are able to hear.

2. speaker placement and listening chair position relative to speakers - if not properly setup it will negatively impact your system performance and will most likely negate any gains possible with cable upgrades. 

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