Yep...who needs to go to the gym when can just lift huge bags of money to keep in shape. The bags read "Bank of the Land of OZ..." on them!
Bob
Bob
NEW Cerious Technologies Upgrade - Graphene Matrix Cables
CT Graphene Matrix Cables:
I have been using the CT GE cables for almost two years.
I recently traded up for a full loom of CT Graphene Matrix cables, including speaker, interconnect and PCs, and I wanted to share my experience. I started by replacing only the ICs to try and hear the differences.
The new Matrix interconnects sounded better than the GE immediately after install. I found the original Graphene Extreme ICs to be good but not on the same level as the outstanding GE speaker cables. As break-in started to clear things up, I can hear more clarity and detail not heard before. The ICs are incredible on their own and at the 30 hour mark, I can hear a clear superiority over the GE ICs. I recently started using the Teo Game Changer ICs and preferred them over GE but the Teo has now fallen to the new Graphene Matrix ICs. My Teo’s were and are great, and it is stunning to experience Cerious Technologies commitment to making great technology better.
On the third day of listening to the GM ICs. I couldn’t wait anymore, Having too much fun. I then installed the speaker cables and power cords once I had a pretty good feel for the sound of the GM ICs.
With the full loom of GM cables running in they are going through some strange changes and definitely need time to settle down before realizing what they can really do and very important Bob says to not move them. Since I have a home office I can let them run in all day. I’m at around 120 hours now and they are still improving. Here’s what I’m hearing:
Extended highs and tighter lows.
More detail and better low level listening
Drums are tighter, more clearly defined. So real is the snap of the snare drum. The bass has more depth, seemingly goes deeper, lower. This aspect stands out the most.
I am not in the industry, I’m not an engineer, I don’t work for Cerious Technologies, but I am a fan of the cables and am enjoying what my system is capable of.
I’m closer to my own pinnacle of sound reproduction than ever before.
Lance
I have been using the CT GE cables for almost two years.
I recently traded up for a full loom of CT Graphene Matrix cables, including speaker, interconnect and PCs, and I wanted to share my experience. I started by replacing only the ICs to try and hear the differences.
The new Matrix interconnects sounded better than the GE immediately after install. I found the original Graphene Extreme ICs to be good but not on the same level as the outstanding GE speaker cables. As break-in started to clear things up, I can hear more clarity and detail not heard before. The ICs are incredible on their own and at the 30 hour mark, I can hear a clear superiority over the GE ICs. I recently started using the Teo Game Changer ICs and preferred them over GE but the Teo has now fallen to the new Graphene Matrix ICs. My Teo’s were and are great, and it is stunning to experience Cerious Technologies commitment to making great technology better.
On the third day of listening to the GM ICs. I couldn’t wait anymore, Having too much fun. I then installed the speaker cables and power cords once I had a pretty good feel for the sound of the GM ICs.
With the full loom of GM cables running in they are going through some strange changes and definitely need time to settle down before realizing what they can really do and very important Bob says to not move them. Since I have a home office I can let them run in all day. I’m at around 120 hours now and they are still improving. Here’s what I’m hearing:
Extended highs and tighter lows.
More detail and better low level listening
Drums are tighter, more clearly defined. So real is the snap of the snare drum. The bass has more depth, seemingly goes deeper, lower. This aspect stands out the most.
I am not in the industry, I’m not an engineer, I don’t work for Cerious Technologies, but I am a fan of the cables and am enjoying what my system is capable of.
I’m closer to my own pinnacle of sound reproduction than ever before.
Lance
657 responses Add your response
Tuffy72561, Yes I have been able to now use the CM on m y mono blocks and complete the entire loom. Excellent sound, very happy. The GE's are still very good, actually better than most other cables. genjamin, Congrats, You should be impressed, I know I was. jsm71, Yes, I agree the speaker cables are awesome. ozzy |
@lancelock How would you describe the differences between the Teo and the Matrix IC's? I have Teo GC interconnects currently, and have been considering stepping to the new Teo GC II's, or possibly Teo Ultra's. But the Ultra's are in the same ballpark price as the Cerious Matrix. Hard for me to justify jumping into that price league, so I might have to settle with the GC II upgrade path, but any of your thoughts might help. |
My Matrix SC's and 4 PC's arrived yesterday. Had an issue with one of the PC's, but the other three PC's and SC's are working fine and in the system making music. First impressions cold out of the box were very promising! Martin Sexton, Ray Lamontagne, and Stevie Ray Vaughn all sounded very realistic! Highs weren't as open, detailed, or extended as I have heard on my system, but I assume they will open up over time. But the midrange was very engaging, and the midbass/bass had a nice increase in weight/heft, and overall a very dynamic sound that was working great for this kind of rock music. Looking forward to the break-in process. |
maxima95, I own the Furutech DPS-4 with the Furutech NCF nano connectors and the Cerious Technologies Matrix cables. These cables are both very good but do something different. I have found that the DPS-4 provides more bass (deeper bass also) while the Cerious Matrix is a little tighter in the bass. I guess it depends on what you like. ozzy |
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I think yoby here had ordered and received a Matrix pc with the stock connectors and one with the NCF’s. I’d be curious what he thinks now after having both if the NCF connectors were worth the extra cost. Of course he could have already had them and just sent them to Bob to install but none the less it would make for a great follow up comparison. |
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I picked up a set of NCF connectors for about half price from a dealer here on Agon to put on a DPS-4 cable and while they’re great and probably the best connector available I still feel they’re overpriced. They definitely improve the quality of the DPS cable but compared to the Matrix with stock connectors I prefer the Matrix. They’re both excellent cables and can see it just coming down to the individual system and personal preference but with Bobs trade in value the Matrix is a no brainer. I had both cables on my Melody AN845 and Lampizator Atlantic dac. Currently have each component with a Matrix and Matrix sc’s to the speakers while having a DPS-4 on the 1800 conditioner that feeds both units and I’m getting tremendous sound. I agree with ozzy that the DPS has deeper fuller bass than the Matrix but the Matrix just has an uncanny way of detailing the music without any glare or harshness that makes it easy to listen to. I think the DPS has a deeper and warmer all around sound, some would say organic, and can see depending on the system some could prefer it. Would love to get more Matrix pc’s but it might be a while before I do :( |
Hi t_ramey: Like you, I bought the Fururtech NCF connectors at a discounted price. The sound of them is clearly superior to Bob's stock connectors, which IMO are average. I have Furutech FI-28 (R) connectors on all of my other AC cords (Marigo), and I believe you get 90 % of what the NCFs have to offer ($95 vs $350 each). The Oyaide P- 004 have a sound identical to the Fururtech FI-28s at about the same price. Where did you buy the DSP-4 cable? Jeff |
@yoby Wow, good to know about the FI-28 R. I usually get my bulk cable, at least the Furutech, from Chris at VH Audio. He’s always got good prices and ships fast and is a pleasure to deal with. I’m wondering if the contact openings on the FI-28’s are large enough to take the wire from the Matrix? They should be similar to the NCF’s, you think? |
I feel the need to comment on the connector issue here. The one of my four PC's that had an issue was due to the Furutech FI-50 carbon connector (non-NCF material, but otherwise the same as the NCF design). There was buzzing noise and a puff of smoke from the connector before the power conditioner's circuit breaker tripped. After removing from the system, I opened up the connector, and it appears the spacing of the screw terminals for the wires are wider than with the stock Viborg ones. This made it pretty hard for Bob to route the wires from his thick/stiff Matrix wire bundle into the screw terminals and secure well. It makes any torque you put on the power connector more capable of pulling the wires out of their screw sockets and potential for short circuiting. This appears to be what happened in my case. As a result, I'd be very careful about these Furutech connectors, making sure there's enough wire slack for really solidly securing them in screw terminals, and adequate wire insulation between Matrix wire bundle and screw terminal itself within the housing. The very heavy-duty thick and stiff Matrix wire bundle creates quite a bit of torque on the connections as you bend it around to deal with system angles. |
Yeah, it was a bummer. Bob has been very responsive and is replacing with a new cable with the stock connectors. I still have one Matrix PC with the Furutech FI-50 connectors that I've been burning in and will be able to compare to a stock Matrix PC once they've burned in sufficiently. I'll have 144 hrs on the PC's after today. Will probably do a comparison this weekend - so they should have well over 200 hrs on them by then. |
Hi everybody...Bob from Cerious... Connectors are such a pain. Everyone has a favorite! We try to offer the best possible performance at the lowest cost. We demand intrinsic value. Many connectors today are little more than jewelry and are actually more poorly made than the knock offs that cost 1/10 the price. We do not use Viborg connectors. We do have our connectors custom made by the parent company to our parameters of plating and clearances. It is fascinating to deal with Chinese companies who can make anything you want - you just have to be very specific about what you want. Now...addressing Furutech connectors. I have never had an experience with Furutech connectors that was positive. While it is impressive to polish the internal metal parts to a high shine, the parts of the connector that screw together to clamp the connector housing in place over the cable so it does not spin requires some friction only available with a rough surface. My son had to reef on the connector to get it even close to being stable. It still had movement and wound up shorting by how much pressure was exerted on the internal conductors. Those of you who have dealt with us in the past know that we go more than the extra mile to take care of our customers. We can no longer deal with Furutech connectors. Just too difficult to work with in the configuration of the Matrix conductors and damping jacket. Thanks everybody! Bob |
That’s funny Bob you mention that some of the knock off connectors are being made better than other name brands. When I received the set of Furutech NCF’s and started to terminate them my first thought was how much cheaper they felt in my hand compared to the Chinese knock off FI-50’s I’ve been using that someone here shared (I believe it was lak). https://www.ebay.com/itm/1-Set-Copper-Rhodium-Plated-US-AC-Power-Plug-Carbon-Fiber-Connector-Adapter... The knock offs seem easier to work with as well. To me these cheap versions are on par with the standard Furutech FI-50’s whereas the NCF’s are clearly superior sounding with their nano crystal formula being the difference but for $500 to $700 more depending on where you get them. |
It's amazing how much connectors can affect the sonics. I've even been amazed at the difference between gold, silver, and rhodium connectors. So I'm sure it's a balance of finding connectors that provide great sound, as well as reliability and cost. I'm glad that Bob, who has lots of experience and does this every day, is figuring out this balance and complimenting his cable in the best way possible for us. Dave |
Well, I've just been putting loads of time on the new cables. I also have a new amp in the house as well as some new Jupiter output caps in my preamp. So, I've been running in everything 24/7 at low levels, with occasional active listening some evenings. I have a group session at my place on Saturday, so have been trying to put as much time on everything as possible before then. Cables should have around 500 hours on them by Saturday, with the Jupiter caps around 400 I think, and the amp at a little over 200 hours. After our session, I hope to do some comparisons between the Graphene Extreme cables, which are still in house, and the Matrix. Since each set of cables take time for their sound to settle after movement, it's not really possible to A/B properly. Anyway, I share my impressions sometime next week I expect. I also hope to compare the Furutech FI-50 to the standard Matrix - since I still have one functional Matrix with the FI-50. Again, hopefully by next week. |
genjamon, Best I can add is I went from the Cerious Extreme to the Matrix and it was a serious (pun intended) upgrade. 68pete, Surprisingly I have never tried/owned Transparent cables. I guess once I seen pictures of the insides of one of their attached "boxes" I decided against trying them. Funny, there is not much mention about Transparent cables these days. I have however owned MIT which are perhaps similar. ozzy |
Thanks for the responses! I was curious because I've had power cords with rhodium connectors, and I can tell the sonic signature every time. For me, there are some things to like, but other things that kind of bug me. Many love rhodium, but perhaps I'm just a gold or silver connector guy at heart - even for power amps. :-) Dave |
