Warm , fullbodied , smooth , and transparent ,, sounds like the perfect woman .
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I am aware of the positive feedback regarding the DCCA powercords, from other threads I read. Horchai what IC were you using with your 740. Virgo_ref Seabreeze, the Eminence gives you more of these sound qualities....or I should say it takes less away from these qualities in regards to the overall sound of a recording Virgo are you saying the Eminence keeps its signature of warm, fulled body and smooth, with more resolution than the Sorce 3 and Master refrence. |
Virgo have had your power cords in sight, considering the source 3 fo CDP and refrence Master for Amp. Recently dis covered your comments about the Eminence, and how you fill about it.So how would you compare the Eminence to the other two I mentioned. What differences would there be. Mrtennis writes: so if i understand you seabreeeze, you are seeking a coherence, balanced frequency response and sufficient resolution without sounding analytical. perfectly said Mrtennis. keep us updated as to when your review is available Thanks again everyone. |
so if i understand you seabreeeze, you are seeking a coherence, balanced frequency response and sufficient resolution without sounding analytical. if this is the case, i have found a trade off, between attaining resolution orand a full bodied sound. i may have an idea, but i can't mention the name of the cable becuase i am reviewing it as we speak. after the review has ben listed on audiophilia, i will let you know. |
Pmboyd, for sure the no name IC is adding to the situation, but they are there temporarly, till the proper IC is selected. As Johnnyb53 mentioned, it is a brighter sound thats the nature of the CDP to start with. Have had my powercord and IC on the 840, and it transformed it into exactally what I am looking for from a IC. The problem there is one my friends made the powercord, who moved, and I dont have his new number, and I actually use two differnt IC's together with a female adapter. One being a Belden WBT ends and the other a Micro Seiki. Together there magic. A friend of mine received a spoll of the Micro Seiki,as he is an importer of Audio, and wanted to test it, made some IC's from it, and our group of about 15/20 audio buffs would get together on weekends, during the winter months. So we were the beta testers. He never did introduce it to the market. Which leads me back to just finding a single IC for my brotherinlaw. As I have the power cord sorrted out already. Do appreciate all the suggestions. |
Hadn't really thought about that, but that's fundamentally true: "Warm" means a tonal balance tilted toward the bass with some rolloff of the highs. Transparent requires fast risetime, which means frequency response way out to the ultrasonic range. I stand by my earlier recommendation of the AQ Black Mamba II for its smoothness and clarity without being bright. However, in my experience, the Cambridge components tend to sound a bit bright and forward. The Black Mambas might help, as well as sitting the CDP on a set of weight-correct Vibrapods. |
Seabreeze, I'm not familiar with your Cambridge Audio CD player, but, considering that it could be your no-name IC that's making your CD player sound bright, not the player itself, you may want to audition what is generally regarded as a neutral cable, as well. A warm cable could, potentially, push you too far in the opposite direction. You never mentioned a price range for the IC you want to buy, information that would be helpful. |
Thanks to all who have contributed. Presently doing do diligence on the recommendations. Ultimately hope to narrow it down to a few, and then buy them here, try them out on the system, the winner will stay, and the others will get sold off. Think that will be the best way to approach this project to get the system to match synergistically. |
For this situation and those values, you'd be hard-pressed to get better for the money than the Audio Advisor's AudioQuest Black Mamba II for $99.95 for a 1M pair. I have many kinds of interconnects, and a couple of types that I like better, but the Black Mamba has going for it the things you were talking about. It's monocrystal copper with six nines purity, so it is uncommonly smooth and organic. It is terminated with *very nice* AQ silver-plated RCAs that run $40/set on their own. It's very smooth and musical, but resolution is good as well, and unfailingly musical. If you want to spend a little more and get more speed and transparency, try to score some Zu Wylde on eBay through the zu_promos vendor. You get the cables with free shipping and Zu's 60-day trial period. The Wyldes were a $300-400/pair interconnect that's been discontinued. I have two pair in my #1 system, and in fact these replaced Kimber Heroes, which in turn replaced the AQ Black Mambas. You can go to Audio Advisor and buy Black Mamba II's on any day in any quantity in any length, they break in quickly and easily, and always sound musical. But if you want a little more clarity, detail, and dynamics without introducing harshness, the Wyldes will do that, but you have to wait for the right auction to come up and jump on it. Also, the Wyldes require more burn-in; they start edgy and require a couple weeks of sending signal through them constantly to smooth out and come into focus. But once you do you'll probably have an interconnect you won't think about replacing for a long long time. |
Seabreeze, You need to indicate what you're willing to spend on the IC. Choices are limited, if little. If around $500, my advice is to use that to buy a used Rega Apollo CD player, or another brand known for being smooth and natural sounding. Cardas Golden Cross is famous for warming up and taming bright systems. In general, stick with copper and stay away from cables that utilize silver. |
Nice equipment...its worth spending the time you are, in order to get him the right IC. Given the Pass being (i recall) fairly detailed, smooth as a class A amp, and (i am guessing) the Cambridge is fairly straightforward...you'll want a cable that maximizes the delivery of information thru to the Pass...and maintains a fairly natural tonality. For value for money and excellent results, you may wish to try the new Sablon Audio Panatella...see the reviews on Six Moons, Jeff Day, etc. At their price, they will easily compete with and many would say better my old Transparent Reference at a third the price. |
Pmboyd, to answer a couple of your questions, Helping a brother inlaw, he just picked up over last weekend a Pass Aleph stereo amp,and he has a Cambridge 840cdp. So he needs a IC to go from CDP to Amp. The CDP drives the amp. Really no name generic IC at this time Also working on power cords for both units, but I think I have that sorted out. |
Hi. as you already know, the ones i've used, in order of increasing cost: Audioquest Emerald ICs were very musical, full and warm. not as detailed though.. Cardas cross or golden cross Transparent Reference Cables (particularly XL older cable newer version MM1 or MM2 Purist Audio Dominus they're all good and fit your description. if you need stuff that would be at the level of ARC Ref series/CJ GAT/etc, the latter 2 imho would be appropriate, and the latter 3 are all up to it. if you are looking for stuff that would work with NAD, the AQ is very good (though of course better cables are still better). |
I have a oldy but goddy Mark Levinson IC Lots of good recommendations coming in ... Thus far we have . Cardas cross or golden cross Transparent Reference Cables (particularly XL older cable newer version MM1 or MM2 Purist Audio Dominus Audioquest Emerald ICs were very musical, full and warm. not as detailed though.. Harmonic Technology Truth Link Straley Reality Cables Gabriel Gold Mapleshade Clearview I'll throw a couple in from others recommendations, I personaly have no experience with them ACOUSTIC ZEN MATRIX REFRENCE Granite 470 analysis plus crystal oval Straight wire Maestro Has any folks out there tried various one's mentioned, what was your choice. More suggestioned welcomed |
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Of the few that I own or have tried the Harmonic Technology Truth Link IC's easily are the warmest and most full bodied and have the most presence in the lower range. I wouldn't exactly call them smooth or rolled off because the highs are still there. There must be hundreds or more out there but these could be one to try to get your hands on for a demo. |
Depends on your budget: Transparent Reference Cables (particularly XL) from 10 years ago...not necessarily the new MM1 or MM2 which are a bit cleaner though still full sounding. Very rich, full but detailed and good bass in particular. i use them and really enjoy them...and while they are warm/full, i dont think many if anyone would say they are bloated or slow. Purist Audio Dominus even more so. Also v expensive Going to the budget end, the old Audioquest Emerald ICs were very musical, full and warm. not as detailed though...brand new they were $400...20 years ago. Probably could pick one up for 35-65? good luck and pls keep us posted! |