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Review: Audioparts, Inc. Mas Signature Hybrid Speaker cable

Category: Cables

Even though I was QUITE well satisfied with the Canare Star Quad 4S11's, I decided to purchase these on the advice of another Audiogoner who had responded intelligently (imo) to my Dakiom review. His experience with the Dakioms was less positive than mine, but our experiences with these cables were both very positive.
As with the Dakioms, I'm NOT affiliated with Audioparts, Inc. in any way, shape or form.
Musical tastes: Classic rock and classical music, divergent categories, but both fun. Also, some jazz. Little else.
Time within system: Not very long, 1-2 weeks, but it was a significant enough sonic difference in my opinion to justify a review.

{NOTE: I've kept the Dakiom feedback stabilizers on the outputs of the amplifier, preamp and CD player.}

These cables replaced the Canare Star Quad 4S11's, which I still think are a fine cable. The Mas are very thick cables.

The difference: >>>MID BASS<<< >>>MID BASS<<< >>>MID BASS<<<

--> The major difference was the newly authoritative MID BASS. Other differences were much more subtle, but the high end seemed smoother and just as detailed, maybe more so. Midrange seemed slightly better, sweeter. Overall cleaner, more detailed and warmer, BUT THE OVERWHELMING DIFFERENCE WAS IN THE MID BASS.

NOTE: For those of you who've failed to glean the main point, it is this: The MID BASS was markedly improved. I was quite surprised at the magnitude of this change.

{I liked these cables so much that I bought the corresponding Mas Signature interconnects even though I was quite satisfied with the ones I already had. The difference with those was more subtle, but I think they're better.}

Associated gear
CD Player: Onkyo Integra DPC 8.5
Preamplifier: Rotel RC 995
Amplifier: B&K ST-140
Equalizer: Parasound R/EQ 150
(USUALLY ON "BYPASS"!)
Loudspeakers: Paradigm Monitor 100V3
Sub-bass: Rel Storm

Similar products
Canare Star Quad 4S11 only
mdhoover
6 responses Add your response
springbok10
711 posts
 
I agree that these are great speaker cables, certainly disproportionate to their modest price. Interestingly, they sounded much better mated with Proac 1s (bi-wired) than with Merlin TSM-Mx, driven by a Jadis OR. The Merlins were better with single runs of Cardas GR. As Bobby claimed.
But the Mas should not be under-rated.
Post removed 
mdhoover OP
695 posts
 
Ryem,
I think these are about $275 new and I paid something like 170 for mine. I don't know how much the other products you mentioned cost. I'm fairly picky and these were certainly (more than!) good enough for me, but others may be less impressed. Thanks for reading my review.
Bill
ryem3
3 posts
 
I tried them and was not. Overwhelmed.they are smooth,but they lack the imaging and detail of some others.voodoo reference or AP solo crystal are better bets,but potentially in another league anyway.
mdhoover OP
695 posts
 
Tvad,
The mid bass became more audible and prominent without any discernible loss of definition, and with increased (not decreased) control. The music has greater warmth with no loss in definition. In fact, the definition seems to be improved. It was almost like adding a subwoofer dedicated to mid bass, but WITHOUT the resonant boom of a cheap subwoofer. The integration with the music (obviously) was seamless, and it was, imo, different than say, just turning up a knob on an equalizer. I can't speak authoritatively on this next point (or any audiophile points, for that matter), but it at least SEEMED to me that the cables were "filling in" a previously inapparent (mid bass) gap in the dynamic range of my system. Since cables are definitionally passive, I THINK, that may be a plausible observation. It may be that they're overly transmissive of mid bass frequencies, and are therefore introducing some bias into the frequency response curve, but I doubt it very much. Even if they are doing that, it sounds so good that I don't care: I REALLY LIKE THESE CABLES.
Bill
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