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Preferences and system dependent

I want to share my recent experience with different speaker cables in my system. My comments must be taken in the context of my system/room and my preferences. I'm not saying cable X is better than cable Y. I'm simply describing what I heard in my system. In the past two weeks I've been able to compare Nordost Odin 1, Audience Frontrow, and Shunyata Alpha v2 speakers cables to Clarus Crimson in my system.

Nordost Odin 1- My initial thoughts were wow...great detail across the audio spectrum. The next day I listened for a couple of hours and I felt fatigued, what I initially loved ended up being too much of a good thing in my system.

Audience FrontRow - Had the best 3-dimensional soundstage of all of the cables. Lead singers were pushed in front of my speakers, which gave the illusion of a deeper soundstage. Ultimately everything sounded too mellow and bass articulation was soft compared to the other cables. My wife described the FrontRows as mellow/boring.

Shunyata Alpha v2- They are much better than I remember the Alpha and Sigma series 1 being. Comparing them to the Crimsons were more about trade-offs. Soundstage width and detail was equal across the audio spectrum. My wife thought the Alpha's portrayed voices slightly more naturally, but at the same time said, " voices sound more live with the Crimsons". The most significant difference was the Crimsons produced deeper and more articulate bass.

Please note I'm not talking night and day differences. I am talking about differences that are easily heard when changing cables.

ricred1

Showing 3 responses by ricred1

ricred1 OP
2,067 posts
 

mikelavigne,

"don’t kill the messenger." Why would I do that? You stated your opinion and I don’t take any of this personally.

I have a dedicated well treated room(20’x26’x9’). I recently had my speakers set-up by 3ma Audio(Luis) and he removed a couple absorbers, because my room was too dead.

"the Odin is for a mature sorted out already balanced system". It's my understanding that individuals that have gone from Odin 1 to Odin 2 find the ladder both fuller sounding and more balanced across the audio spectrum. So, if I audition Odin 2 and love it, what would that say about my system?  Based on my listening experience, I submit my system is balanced and that’s why it’s easy to discern differences between cables. That being said, everyone has different preferences and my opinion is just my opinion.

 

ricred1 OP
2,067 posts
 

mikelavigne,

No right or wrong, just friendly conversation. I always appreciate your input, it makes me think! 

You also need to take in consideration that my system isn't at the level of your system and that's okay. So, what I hear in my system will be completely different from what you would hear in yours. I can only comment based on what I hear in my system/room.

ricred1 OP
2,067 posts
 

ghdprentice,

Thanks for your comments. "Clearly what you hear will be highly dependent on your equipment." I agree and that's why I titled the thread preferences and system dependent. When Luis was setting up my speakers, a client of his came to my house to return the Odin 1's he had on loan. He decided to keep his Tara Labs speaker cables and Luis told him he could dropped them off at my house, in lieu of shipping them to Houston. After Luis was done setting up my speakers, he wanted me to hear the Odins in my system. My initial thoughts were wow! After a couple of days I thought they were fatiguing, but the differences inspired me to listen to several other speaker cables. 

My other point is there are no absolutes. Components(including cables) will sound different depending on the the system. There isn't a cable/component that is the best or will work in every system. I could hear the Odin 2 speaker cables and come to the same conclusion as you.

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