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I've just got the 0,6 OTA power cords for a trial. The cables were well burned-in: they spent some time in a 47 labs system. The IEC connectors are made of a very light plastic, from Japan. The cables are longer than usual: over 3m. These power cords were designed for 4 power supplies/components: 1 AC plug and 4 IEC connectors. My 47 labs setup consists of 2 power supplies so 2 wires in this setup are excessive. I think it will degrade a little bit the effect of these cords. After only 2-3 hours the sound stabilized so I started to listen.
The first impressions are very good, I would say excellent. The sound opened up beautifully with more air in the treble region. Extension is better, both in the bass, which is now fuller and has more weight, and in the treble that sounds cleaner and smoother, with no grain at all. The soundstage is now bigger (positively, the proportions are just as they should be) spreading in all directions with more space between instruments and voices.
Also, the dynamic is improved. Everything breathes more easily with a lot of details. Voices sound smoother and more natural.
The 0,6 OTA wire as a power cord brings new improvement in my 47/essence setup. It brought power and dynamic without sacrificing anything from the 0,4 wire’s virtues. In fact, the 0,6 OTA surpasses thinner wire in every respect.
One thing concerning the bass: it's certainly fuller and deeper but I notice a hint of softening in the mid-bass region. Is it because of the 2 excessive IEC plugs that just «steal» some AC power? I don't know, but I'll definitely get some 0,6 OTAs (for PCs) for myself.
Ivo |
Slawney: You're welcome. Yes, 0.65 OTA that is now in my system was used in 47/Konus room in Frankfurt.
I was listening to 0.4 OTA power cords for almost a year so all of my comparisons are between 0.65 and 0.4 power cords.
The electricity in my house is bad, very bad. My house is the LAST ONE from the transformer station so everybody takes the AC power before it comes to my Humpty/Dumpty supplies. I'm going to make dedicated line from the circuit board in the near future. Maybe I'll get something with that. I was thinking to use 0.65 OTA as a power cable from the circuit board to the wall AC outlet. |
Dave, I'm sorry I didn't reply on your post. I was on vacation last week, no internet, no hi fi. No, I didn't try to run 0.65 OTA from the wall outlet to the circuit box. I just made a dedicated line for my hi fi wall outlet with no changing the wires: my electrician just rearranged the circuit box. The improvement was obvious from the first moment. I already mentioned that, when I tried 0.65 OTA as a power cord, I noticed a certain softening in the bass region. Now, with the dedicated AC line, the softening just gone.
I'm still thinking of using the OTA as a power cord between the box and the wall outlet. I have some concerns: the box is very far from the wall outlet - more than 12 meters so I need 24 meters of OTA. Than, I don't know whether to put OTA in a kind of a tube or to leave it free, but in that case I don't know how to fix it on its way to the AC wall outlet. Practical problems. And we all know that OTA is so sensitive on twisting or tightening.
Regards,
Ivo
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Slawney, I was thinking about the new thread on the 47 labs new cables. But, isn't it too early for that? Shouldn't we wait for some time until the others get chance to listen to these cables?
Regards,
Ivo |
Hello Sead, here is my small contribution to the OTA cable discussion.
I definitely prefer the Storatos speaker connection with the bananas in the setup. My impressions, after a number of trials with and without them in the system, were that the bananas reduce distortion and harshness, while giving more air and naturalness to the sound. Everything seems smoother but more open and relaxing.
Using of bananas is very simple but you should be careful when plugging in the banana in the speaker binding post: do that slowly without rotating the plug.
Best wishes to everyone
Ivo |
I would never twist the OTA cables, even in the 5" distance. The degradation in sound occurs in any kind of twisting. They have to be free and loose in order to achieve the best performance.
Ivo |
Bwhite, I'm glad that you find proper cables and that you returned magic, involvement and right speed to your system.
After all, OTA is a lesser cable design and its main purpose is to connect 47 labs components, nothing more.
But, you have to admit that OTA has struggled very good with your esoteric cable designs!
Happy listening,
Ivo |
Bill, I've been using the OTA as power cords for more than 8 months. The sort of changes in sound was similar to those when I installed OTA as speaker cable and interconnect. That means that all kind of colorations and dirtiness just disappeared (I was using Transparent and Electrocompaniet power cords before). For me, the OTA power cords brought the final word to 47 labs "sound".
Both Humpty and Dumpty are connected through the ONE AC plug into the ONE AC wall socket. All metal parts from the plugs (both IEC and AC plug) are removed (screws, etc) except, of course, metal pins that go into the wall socket. There is no ground connection. The wires are not shielded; it degrades the sound.
Best regards,
Ivo
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OTA cables are so natural and neutral that they sometimes present how the rest of the system is bad. It's not the problem of OTA, it's the problem of poor source, amp or speakers.
Then, people put some thick, heavy, mega-buck cables and think that they get the "emotion" back.
OTA is "too fast"? No, OTA paces perfectly in my 47 labs/Essence setup. And it paces excellent in a non-47 labs systems.
Cables that “manufacture” sound are, obviously, good complement to the same kind of electronics & speakers and everything together works “perfectly” to mask the music and to enter hi fi.
Fortunately, I avoided that!
Ivo |
Bwhite, my name is Ivo Sunjic. I'm 45, married, no kids. I live in Sarajevo. I'm economist and I work, from time to time, as a film production manager in the Saga film production company in Sarajevo. But, most of the incomes that I make is through the offices I rent here in Sarajevo.
I'm an audiophile for 25 years. Tried a owned a lot of so-called high end gear.
I listen to 47 laboratory Flatfish/Progression/Dumpty CD player, Gaincard/Humpty amp and Konus Audio Essence full range speakers. Cablings are OTA, from power cords to interconnects and speaker cables.
No, I'm not registered here in Audiogon. Honestly, I didn't think it was important. And, I'm not a person who like to discuss so much about the audio through the internet. Sometimes it is difficult to express your feelings in English language. I sent 4-5 posts to the Audio Asylum and a few posts here, on Audiogon. Oh, yes. I registered my system on Audio Asylum's inmate systems. I made a couple of contacts with some good people asking for their advice and that's all. I have to admit that's poor internet biography to get some credibility on Audiogon.
Sead and I share the same passion for audio for years. We live in the same town and of course we know each other!
So, I send posts only when I feel it's important to say something which would be useful to someone. Your statement that OTA could be "too fast" just made me wish to say something.
I have to say that the quantity of sarcasm and irony from the following posts really surprised me :(
I really sorry if I offended you, that was not my intention. I appreciate your efforts in order to achieve good, natural sound from your system.
I hope you believe that I'm not a ghost!
Best wishes,
Ivo |
As I’ve been listening to the 4719 speaker cables for some time, I'll try to put some light on this Junji Kimura's new design. The new cables are 12mm wide, 0.1mm thick OFC ribbons "dressed" in a very thin tubing. You can cut the ends of the cables with scissors to shape them upon the connectors of your amp and speakers. My cables came already prepared for the Gaincard /Konus Essence terminals. The only thing I did was to make them 2mm shorter in order to avoid their contact with the Gaincard's body. The cables are very soft and it's easy to cut them. But they are not as brittle as the OTA cables. With careful handling you can terminate these cables to the amps and speakers many times with no trace of damaging.
IMO, these speaker cables are superior to the OTA in every respect. My concern was how the 4719 will act in the terms of speed (accuracy), rhythm and timing because we all know how the OTA is good in these areas. No, the 4719 don’t fall behind the OTA. I have to say that 4719 kept all attributes of OTA but lifting most of them on a higher degree.
Regards,
Ivo |
Hello David! I have never listened to the Alpha Core Goertz speaker cables so I cannot judge them. OTA replaced Yammamura speaker cables and interconnects in my system and I could only say that the OTA surpassed Yammamuras easily. No, the OTA is not praised too high.
I already wrote a few words about 4719 cables so I will repeat them. Not the big thoughts but it could be useful for the others:
"From the first moment it was clear that we have a winner here: 4719 is a better speaker cable than OTA. Better in every respect. From the deep, full and well-controlled bass to the full-bodied and smooth midrange and treble, the new cable is superior.
4719 has rightness and coherency in the best OTA manner. Timing and rhythm accuracy was also well preserved from the OTA. The sense of ease and smoothness prevailed during my listening sessions with 4719 cables but not at the expense of dynamic shading or slam.
4719 speaker cables present the most challenged musical information effortlessly with no trace of strain or congestion. There's more authority in sound: it seems that everything is presented more .
Tonal colors are more distinct with 4719, with more contrasts in the instrument timbres. Example: cymbals now sound more metallic (but smooth) or acoustic guitar has more body with clear distinction between strings (plastic or steel) and wooden body. Everything sounds more natural and real."
I think that the price of 4719 is OK. The prices of other "high end" cables and interconnects are not OK.
Best wishes to everyone! |
