Transparent Audio Quality

Transparent are… well, transparent. I bought my first pair, speaker cables about 30 years ago. They sounded terrible on my system: solid state with revealing planar speakers. Twenty years later I bought Sonus Faber speakers with upgraded electronics and the warm cables I had stifled the sound (Cardas Golden Reference). I pulled out the old Transpaent speaker cables and I was shocked at how great they sounded. These were top quality cables, the problem had been my system was way too analytical and tinny sounding.

Since then I have upgraded all my components and what they need is as neutral an interconnect and cable as possible since they are really great sounding components. Transparent is the answer…. I upgraded through Generation 6 Ultra… they are amazing. The difference between generation 5 and 6 is large. Some folks say that the Ultra Gen 6 sound like the previous orpheus. I have almost all Transparent Ultra gen 6 on my system. Fantastic interconnects / cables if you have great components and want to hear them. If they are a bit inferior components I recommend Cardas… they are ever so slightly warm and cover up deficiencies in components.

I use Transparent interconnects and they have a great trade in/upgrade program. I was just on their site looking at Y connectors and after seeing your post will order them, thanks. 

Thanks ghdprentice and Kota1. Didn’t consider the trade-in program. I will follow up on that.

Just sold my Transparent Ref MM2 SC and regretted immediately until I found a good replacement at the fraction of the cost. Good cable, but at an outrageous price. Will I purchase Transparent again, NO, and the only reason is because of the cost. I believe you can find cable just as good at a fraction of the price. Will I sell my current Transparent ICs and Power cables, NO, because they are good cables. My only other complaint is how bulky they are. They are pythons. My power cables seem to break at the connectors because of the weight of the cable. This is my 10 years of experience with this brand of cable. I probably will sell my power cables, but I do like my ICs Ultras. 

Hi Harris4crna,

Thanks for sharing. Yes the prices of the latest Ultra and higher are really on the dear side for my rather humble pocketbook. But I get what you are saying on keeping your Ultras. May I ask what type you have discovered to be as good for much less money?

@harris4crna please share what the cables are that you found at a fraction of the cost and with the same quality? 

Audio Note Lexus cable. 

The AN will change the sound signature, but clarity is on par with the Transparent Ref cable IMHO. Plus it matches better with my Accuphase and Franco serblin speakers. 

Interesting. Thanks. I will research these further.