Transparent Ultra or Super?

no_money

Excellent!  Happy Listening!

I use a REF G5 PC on my amp. That is fed by REFmm2 power isolator 
with XL power cord. 

if you are looking for current G5 and going through a dealer, that dealer is going to send you back to your local dealer. They are a tight knit bunch. 

Anyone using the Powerisolator (conditioner) w/ their Gen5 cable systems?

Happy Listening!

jasonsim

I plan on auditioning the Gen5 next month in Nashville TN.

Happy Listening!

jasonsim

Thank You for the information.

Happy Listening!

I think you can purchase directly from Transparent. Of course Audio Advice in the Triangle. I have also purchased from Paragon Sight & Sound. They sometimes have deals on used cables. 
Otherwise I’d look on Audiogon and USA Audiomart. Might find a nice used pair for a nice discount. I purchase my pair of Gen5 plus speaker cables used for a fraction of the new price. 

talking: corrected.

Thank You -Guys for talkling about the sonic signatures of Gen5 vs. MM2 series of cabling. Which dealers/retailers can you suggest?
I know of Audio Advice in NC. Whom else? Location?

Happy Listening!

G5 was better, but I would not say it was as big of a step as going up another step in the line has been for me. It was worth it to sell my MM2 off and buy these used. Buying them new would not have been justified I do not think.

Thanks @no_money .  That's what I was looking for.  I think Ultra MM2 are still very good in terms of being able to reveal what's deep in the music.  

Jason,
I upgraded from Ultra MM2 to G5 ultra, it was a step up for sure, but I still plan on going for REF eventually.
I don't think Super G5 will beat out the Ultra MM2.

Do you think moving up the the Gen5 MusicWave Super would be a big improvement?

absolutely..

Thanks for the answers. I have ultra MusicWave MM2 upstairs and they have always sounded great. Have not compared to the Gen5 plus MusicWave. Maybe I should do that. Would gen5 super be better than the ultra MM2?  
I called Transparent and they said no. That they make the new cables to better the previous generation at the same level. Not to better the higher level. Said that Ultra have a better cable geometry. But I guess it depends on the listener. 

Gen 5 plus is sweet spot...equal or better than previous Ultra!

Folks...I went from The Wave 100 speaker cables to Gen5 MusicWave Plus.  Big difference in that change for the best.  Using MM2 MusicLink Plus between my PS Audio Stellar Gain Cell DAC and Luxman L-505uxII integrated amp.  

Do you think moving up the the Gen5 MusicWave Super would be a big improvement?

My speakers in this system are a pair of Wharfedale Reva 3 floorstanders. 

Thanks,
Jason

Gen 5 is a significant redesign of cable and networks.

Q, is Gen 5 same version as MM2 or Gen 5 is Transparent's newer and the latest?

I’ve had a lot of Transparent cables over the years, along with many others, so my experience is large.  Just got the Gen 5 Plus bi wires and Balanced Interconnects.  They are simply astounding cables by any measure.  So much unforced detail, dynamics and physicality to the sound.  Superb texture and nuance with accurate tone as well.  They equal my mm2 Ultra cables.

Wait till you guys get a lift from listening to Gen5 generation of Transparent cables.

I still havn't had time to pull the speakers out into the room, although they are about 54" from the wall now. I have had a chance to listen and compare the super to the ultra xl cables, and they are an immediate improvement.

What I am wondering, is the step up to reference going to be a similar jump in performance? I can audition them also from my local dealer if you say that would be worth doing.

thanks to everyone for the good advice.

Brad

I've never had "XL" speaker cables. I had Transparent Super (the original) in the big system for my Maggies, upgraded to Ultra MM, then upgraded to Reference BiCable (MM) for the Vandersteens.

One thing to keep in mind is that "XL Technology" wasn't really technology in the form of circuitry or hardware; "XL Technology" came about because Transparent got some exotic test equipment to use with their high-end cable (which became "Reference XL," as opposed to the less-lofty "Reference with XL"). They started using the exotic test equipment on a big chunk of their cable line, improving tolerances and consistency. That's why the cables got the "XL" stamp.

MM is a true upgrade, in that it's an actual improvement in the design and materials.

Rex, any experience with the new MM tech. speaker cables as compared to the XL? I have super XL and while they do offer an upgrade to Ultra MM it is still a bit much $$ for me at this time. I might sell this pair to go for Super mm though...

Thanks.

Buehrer - yes, they are. I've got both in my HT system, and the Plus MMs are more extended and more detailed than the Super XLs. I'm slowly migrating the Super XL out of the HT.

I am not considering buying new cables.

I think that the midrange bloat that I have been hearing is due to more of the music coming through and pointing out a poor room acoustic phenomena. I will try to pull the speakers out into the room and see if that clear up the sound.

Rex

are the new Plus MM's really better than the old super xl's? My dealer is telling me this, and I find it hard to believe.

rock on, brad

'Tis a good point, No_money. My experience is that the Plus MM interconnects are better than the Super XL.

Are you buying new? The new MM network might change the story a bit for you. Supposedly the new MM Super would be equal to old XL Ultra. I do know that the MM Ultra IC I purchased was much better than the Super XL it replaced, but I do not have an Ultra XL to compare it too. Good luck.

There's no question Ultra XL has richer, fuller and nore extended harmonics than the Super XL.
Bloated midrange is certainly not a characteristic of Transparent cables.
Changing both interconnects and speaker cables will transform your system.

I agree with Rex, the line should really start with the ultra series, anything below that is not worth the money in my opinion.

I have had most of the transparent line in my system at one point or another and still have the Reference balanced and i use Super Bi-Wires for speaker cables,
You didnt meantion which you were interested and ive had many mixed pairs transparent/non-transparent in my system as well as i am sort of a cable junkie.

I dissagree slightly with Rex in that in my system AQ Python balanced wires sounded fantastic in my all transparent wired system.

In speaker cables i would have to say they are closer than i thought they would be as it was a money no object decision to keep the supers and not the ultras but there was better bass extension and a slightly darker background with the ultras but definately not significant and wayyy above the plus which i have also had in biwire.

In interconnects however the ultras were far superior to the supers in unbalanced

If youre doing balanced the only pairs i have had is super and Reference which of course, was no contest, however, AQ pythons were shockingly good wires
for the price in my system.

Hope this helps.
Greg

First of all - my experience has been that Transparent cables work best in an all-Transparent environment, rather than a mixed-brand environment. I don't think a mix of Transparent and Audioquest would sound good in your setup. I certainly did not care for such a combo in mine.

Secondly - I'm of the opinion that Transparent Super is the poorest value in the Transparent line. It's only marginally better than the Plus series, but is substantially more expensive. I would skip Super and go straight to Ultra.