Pure Audio Project Trio 15 - Silversmith Audio Fidelium internal wiring upgrade


PAP owners, I am looking for guidance on the benefits of upgrading the internal wiring on a PAP Trio 15 w/Voxatix 1.6 driver to the Silversmith Audio Fidelium cables and whether the benefits of the upgrade only really manifest themselves when the internal wiring upgrade is paired with the SA Fidelium speaker cables. The few comments on I have found on the PAP website laud the upgrade but I cannot tell whether the internal wiring was the only change made.

I would appreciate hearing from anyone that has experience with this upgrade or can guide me to post or review that addresses this issue.

The balance of my system consists of a PS Audio DirectStream DAC Mk.II, Auralic Ares G2.2 Streamer, PS Audio PerfectWave SACD Transport, PS Audio BHK Signature Preamp and PASS x250.8 amp.

rsimon

Since you are looking at alternatives to upgrade your Trios, at some point you might want to experiment with different capacitors in your crossover.  I know a custom builder who makes some quite expensive and nice sounding speakers and amplifiers and he tunes the sound to his and his customer's liking with choice of capacitors in the crossover.  He particularly likes vintage paper in oil caps from the likes of Western Electric and Aerovox, but, he also uses modern film caps from Audio Note.  I've heard the difference and it is quite substantial.  What he really hates is the sound of Mundorf caps--he finds them to be dry, analytical and unpleasant.  He can hear them when they are employed in amplifiers too and does not like the sound.  He also employs different internal wiring for tuning the sound. 

The thing that is missing in most speakers these days that is so critical to getting a speaker tuned--to the taste of the owner, to the room acoustics, and to the other gear in the system--is an L-Pad for adjusting the level of the drivers.  It is crazy, to me, that designers think they have got it just right for every circumstance.  I think adding an L-Pad would be another step in upgrading the speaker.  The Trio I heard sounded really good, but, I bet it could have been made more to  my taste with such control of driver levels.  My speaker came with level controls for the midrange and tweeter, but, because the midrange control only allowed for three setting, I put in an L-Pad instead and it is really useful for tweaking the sound.

Thank you all for the tips: wiring upgrades, different Caps, L-Pads and the like.  Ideally I would like to listen to these upgrades in my system before I commit.  I think step one is ringing PAP to see if I can get a loaner on some of these upgrades.  

Stay tuned.

I have my Quintet 15’s w/ Voxativ Field coils wired completely from Amps to drivers using Anticables speaker wire, I’m running the "FLEX" series from the amps to the crossover, then double runs of the bulk 12 AWG wire to the drivers. I have them twisted with negative positive to prevent any capacitance effects. I have been truly blown away by this set up and it costs a fraction of other solutions. A lot of speaker builders Cheap out on internal wiring and crossover components. The stock wire PAP sends with the speakers is just average. If you can, upgrade the crossover components to the premium Mundorf products PAP recommends. You will be amazed by the difference these make and are definitely worth the price.

Agreed, the Anti-Cables are the best I've ever heard on the Trio 15. I just run a single 12 GA wire, and 3.1 wires from Amp to Speakers. I did purchase the upgraded caps and resistors from Mundorf , that also made a significant improvement. I really like the sound I'm getting now. I didn't think the Fidelium ribbons added much and I didn't like the way they connected to everything, very awkward connection. Yes, and the price is right!

 

I am intrigued by the different wiring up grades.  My Trio15s shipped with Van de Hul CS 16 (red cable) and Van de Hul CS 12 (black cable) for the three runs between the cross over and the Voxatix AC 1.6 driver and each of the two 15 inch woofers.  I have corresponded with PAP about obtaining a loaner set of Silversmith Fidelium internal wires and it appears that they may have a set for in home trial.

I will post my impressions in the event that I receive the Fideliums..  

Thank you all again for the input and helpful suggestions.