I've tried the speaker cable and it very good but very stiff. My only objection was the lowest of low notes were very muddy. The mids and the highs were very uncolored otherwise. |
I just replaced all my Cardas Golden Reference with SC3. I found them more extended top and bottom. I don't found lower notes muddy but bass runs deeper and not as dynamic as the CR. For you, It might be room reaction as there is more bass extension. The CR have tube like mids and more punch in mid-bass. System depended as to which is better. |
I previously owned the Cardas Golden Reference interconnect and speaker cable and still own the JPS Superconductor 3 speaker cable. I agree with Luna's impressions of both on every point. I feel the Superconductor 3 is an excellent sounding cable top to bottom. See if you can audition it in your home system. |
Forgot to mention when I auditioned the SC3's I was comparing to Nordost Frey and Vahalla. I also brought them over to my local Nordost dealers system so I did compare them in two different rooms and systems. Again it was only the lowest of the low notes was the muddy/thumpy sound heard. Because of that I decided on the Frey's. |
I tried them as part of a multicable shootout when I was recabling my system. They are very good sounding cables but a bit etched for my tastes and too difficult to work with in my application--very stiff and unwieldy. In the end I found that Emperical Design offered IC and Power cables that were very nearly as good for a LOT less money and Dynamic Design speaker cables that were better sounding and much easier to work with. Just my experience with my system and room. |
I am going to compare the SuperConductor 3 vs the Kubala Sosna Fascination or maybe the Expression. I have been using the SuperConductor + (about 14 years)so I haven't really experimented too much with cables lately. Will be an interesting comparison. I just ordered a pair of Magnepan 20.7's to replace my 3.6's and I need to move to single wire runs for the speaker cables (using bi-wires on the 3.6's). I have heard that the Kubala are excellent but run a tab bit to the warm/romantic side of neutral, which may be just fine for my rig. My preamp is a Hovland HP 100 (tube) and I am using Cary 500 MB (SS). |
Have you done thecompare yet? |
The Kubala cables arrive today. I have the JPS and Fusion Audio now. I will update this posting with my impressions sometime next week. |
Started serious listening comparing the JPS Labs, Kubala Sosna, and Fusion Audio interconnects. Initial impressions lead me to believe that the Kubala Expression are to the 'warmer' side of neutral, definitely richer and warmer than the JPS and Fusion Audio. Not necessarily a bad thing, just an observation in my rig. The JPS SuperConductor 3 speaker cables are sounding very good; like these much better than the SuperConductor 3 interconnects. |
Stickman, could you please comment on the SC3 speaker cable relative to the highs/treble. I am sure they throw a great sound stage and are very high resolution, but how smooth are the highs? Do they seem absolutely neutral or is there a slight lift in treble? Is there zero listening fatigue in the highs?
For those that find the solid core SC3 wire a bit "unwieldy" JPS has recently released the SC V cable which is stranded (vs solid core). It is a large awg, but is easy to work with due to it being stranded. Thinking of using the V for a home theater application. Thanks |
Stickman, could you please comment on the SC3 speaker cable relative to the highs/treble. I am sure they throw a great sound stage and are very high resolution, but how smooth are the highs? Do they seem absolutely neutral or is there a slight lift in treble? Is there zero listening fatigue in the highs?
For those that find the solid core SC3 wire a bit "unwieldy" JPS has recently released the SC V cable which is stranded (vs solid core). It is a large awg, but is easy to work with due to the stranding. Thinking of using the V for a home theater application. Thanks |
So far I like the SuperConductor 3 speaker cables quite a bit. The sound stage seems larger, more 'bloom', more layered, with better decay, and better detail than my DH Labs Q10. The highs are extended and sharp when they should be, but not bright or fatiguing. I could live with this speaker cable on my Magnepans. Like most JPS cables, they are STIFF and unwieldy, but since I leave them put once I make the choice that doesn't concern me too much.
So far I am not getting positive results with the SuperConductor 3 interconnects; they seem a bit etched and bright to my ears as compared to my older SuperConductor + cables. I definitely hear more detail with the 3's but I also hear more background noise and the etched sound is not worth the extra detail; most likely not the right cable for my rig, but I am going to play them some more just to be sure.
The Kubala Sosna cables sound very good but they fall on the other end of the spectrum, definitely on the 'warm' side of neutral. Not sure however if I like all this warmth either; more listening is required. One thing that I will try is using the SuperConductor 3 speaker cable with the Kubala Expression interconnects and see how that 'balances' out the tone.
Still working on this! |
Gelaw,
I auditioned the sc3 speaker cables early this year. Their synergy in my system was fantastic. I concur with stickman451 and luna on their description of the sc3's characteristics. I simply loved my system's sound with them installed. However, I was less enamored with their cost, so I decided to try a number of other cheaper cables in the hope of finding a pair that would provide the same level of satisfaction afforded by the sc3's. The closest I have come is with PAD aqueous aureous praesto rev cables, but they just can't match the sc3.
BTW, I tried the new jps sc-v speaker cables in the hopes of getting sc3 performance at a discount. No way. The scv cables had fantastic drive, impact, bass and transparency, but lacked tone and feeling or body in my system. They were great with impact music, but sounded lifeless without the ability to transmit the emotional aspect of something like Scheherazade. For me the sc3 does it all.
Regards |
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Thank you, this was very helpful. |