Transparent Audio IC's and Speaker Cable

I agree with hifir. Try going if you can to the super speaker cables as well. I've owned a lot of cable brands...transparent is pretty good. everything does something a little different. If not, maximize on the connection between source and preamp first, then amp to speaker, then preamp to amp. AC cords can make a big impact. Do you/can you install dedicated AC lines with isolated ground? Not much $'s, big help.

I would stay away from the Transparents. From my experience, they act as nothing more than tone controls in their apparent quest to eliminate RFI, etc. I switched to DH Labs' Q-10 Speaker Cable and Air Matrix interconnects. They are FABULOUS and won't break the bank.

If you like the transparent sound, stick with them. I have found that the plus level is where things start to get interesting sonically and at the super level the sound is quite special. So, start with the speaker cables first, either with the plus or, if possible, the super. That being said, I would suggest you think of upgrading your cd player first. While the cambridge is a great player, your system would benefit from a better source. I believe this would provide you with greater sonic benefits for your money than a cable upgrade.

Thanks for the responses guys. I really like the sound of Transparents so I plan on sticking with them. However, if I get a chance to listen to some other brands of cable, I will do so, and who knows, maybe I'll find something I like better. I do plan on upgrading the CD player, but not for awhile, because i'm saving up to get something in the 1.5k range (possibly a used Arcam 23FMJ, or maybe a DAC). Plus the isolation shelf I made really breathed new life into the Cambridge. JFrech, unfortuneatly I live in government housing, and can't mess w/ the wiring. At least I don't think I can. I will eventually upgrade to Super or possibly Ultra level speaker cables but I just don't feel like spending more than $300 bucks right now. That's enough to upgrade to an Ultra IC or Plus speaker cable. I'm leaning towards either improving the IC now, or just saving until I have $500 to get a used pair of super speaker wires. But that's hard to do when I'm also eyeing a nice new Taylor acoustic guitar. Why did I have to pick not one, but two expensive hobbies?

Regards,
Gil

Hey Gil, I also have GAS (guitar aquisition syndrom)and the desire for a killer rig. A: get the taylor first. B: listen to it a lot C: listen to your transparent cables. By the time you get through C i bet the transparent are up for sale. I compared Supers to Harmonic Tech Truthlinks with pro-9 biwired speaker cables used in both cases (VTL tube amp and pre, dunlavy athenas and an ARC CD-2. The supers had an apealing midrange warmth, no top end and a bloated lower end. The truthlinks were a whole lot more neutral and realistic.

There are suposedly a lot better cables out there compared to the truthlink (i'm way to lazy to look) but the pro-9 seem to hold their own in the cable bashings. The ht are going for $150 to $200/m for the ic with the cheaper cost more prevalent on this site and the pro-9 are about $500.00 for 8Ft. Try the ht, you can always sell em again