Having said that, for those with components such as the MPS-5 and DartZeel, thus striving for the ultimate sound ... Herve's cables are beyond reproach, and a good value at $5-600 a pair. |
Dave, good value is my Audioquest ITA 1/1 with ITC-24G/BNC terminations as interconnect from MPS-5 to Dart pre through the 50 Ohm Zeel in/outputs... that sound at that cost is value my friend. |
Hah, send me one please...
Let me say, the AP Solo Crystal Oval wasn't that far away and I'd have to put the AQ in my own system for a few days to pick a "winner". That tells me that the AP is certainly a good "value." |
Dave, I thought the Audioquest SKY was good when I tested it a while back, they have something way beyond the SKY now at 3X the price too ... try that! |
At the RMAF, I extensively heard the PD driving Audioquest "SKY" balanced ICs into Rowland equipment. That was an excellent sound. Everytime I heard the Sky injected into a system it was a positive experience.(I heard it later in an Esoteric system, replacing unbalanced ICs) I think the Sky was more open than the Analysis Plus that I referenced up the thread. Still, I'd need more evaluation time to ultimately decide which I preferred, but the Sky is certainly top echelon.
Dave |
I'm currently using the Evolution Acoustics interconnects from Playback to Dart pre and I am evaluating a gold BNC terminated audio cable by Audioquest. This cable has a very pure central copper conductor, the cable costs nothing and sounds amazing ... for costing nothing. I've had a whole technical discussion with Herve about it. For anyone interested send me a PM. |
I tried my MPS-5 into the Rowland Continuum 500 using the Analysis Plus Solo Crystal Oval RCA ICs with good results. I moved to the AP balanced ICs, giving the same overall balance and only slightly quieter background. Go balanced if your pre-amp allows it.
Dave |
Rgs92
Thanks for the info, just received my unit 5-hrs ago been playing it constantly since unpacking it. |
I have also jumped upon the zeel bnc interface bandwagon and while it is still breaking in, it sounds already better than my previous interconnect |
mps5:
wxhxd(inches)= 17.1 x 3.5 x 16.7
weight=29 pounds |
What is the weight and dimensions of the MPS-5, I have one on the way and I need to start thinking about shelving and isolation.
Now you guys have been using the Zeel BNC interface to the Dart-Pre for the last few weeks how do they sound compare to your hi-priced inter-connectors. |
Radioheadokplayer,
I own the darTZeel amp and preamp combo and added the Playback Designs MPS-5 this past June. At the same time I purchased a 1.5 meter zeel BNC cable(s) for the MPS-5 interface to the darTZeel preamp.
I also own a pair of Transparent Reference MM and a very current version of the Stealth Indras, both single ended.
Had I not owned the Transparent and Stealth cables, and was then able to audition all three before making a purchase, I personally could not justify ten times more the price (more in the case of the Transparent cable) over the zeel BNC ($600.00 for 1.5 meter pair) in my system.
In my system the zeel BNC is the primary interface used. I do (from time to time) insert the Transparent and Stealth cables for something slightly different. They are both very good cables in my system and I do not have plans of selling either of them.
As a suggestion, before investing the $600.00 for the zeel BNC, you can purchase rather inexpensive 50 OHM/BNC cables that will give you an idea as to what you can expect from the Playback Designs 50 ohm BNC interface to the darTZeel preamp. I did this (amp to preamp) when I first purchased the darTzeel machines and the "zeel" BNC was not available from darTZeel. Later I added the zeel BNC to interface the amp and preamp which added a valued sonic improvement.
One last thing that I would share with you should you try the BNC interface. The BNC input you choose on the darTZeel preamp will require some break-in time as was suggested to me.
|
I use Stealth Indras with my MPS-5. They have that last bit of clarity and openness in the bass and liquidity and body in the highs that is subtle but very valuable (to my ears, at least).
A close second are my Kubala-Sosna Emotions. All of my cables are RCA terminated. This was also the case with former CD players. |
i just (last night late) got the 1.5m pair of 'zeel' BNC cables and they are installed. first impressions are positive (certainly nothing negative percieved....but it's early). i had been using the $13k Transparent Opus MM2 1.5m RCA and i also have the $4k+ Valhalla 1.5m RCA to compare.
ask me (or i'll post something on my system thread) in about a month and i should be able to give you my impressions of the zeel interconnect between the PBD and the dart.
i really hope they are in the ballpark with those 2 'uber and ultra-uber' cables which will allow me to sell something to fund my other excesses.
of course; the Opus is amazing and the Valhalla only slightly less so. |
