who makes your fav cable loom in 2021?

douglas_schroeder
Jim, simply put, the three lines of cables are all designed similarly, according to modeling and measurements

Though I have not compared in my room all three, just the top of the line, Galen explained it to me as the cables having three levels of refinement/definition. There is not a skewing toward different sonic signatures, as happens when the geometry and construction as well as conductor material are changed.

The sonic signature is similar in all three, but the degree of refinement improves as one goes up the line.

blindjim>
well, that does help out. Thank you.

would you say it is likely the aspect of diminishing returns is applicable as well to the presumably good, beter, best levels of refinement inherent in each modle?


@sns
Perhaps I misunderstood Blindjim's question, I assume           d he was asking about new model cables introduced in 2021.


blindjim>
my bad. sorry. lookibng back I see how things might be misconstrued.

if I wanted to ask about current wires being considered SOTA I would have said:

Which 2021 cable looms are you using in your system? instead.

i figured the topic here asks for a wider set of feedback. input then might be on what is new, but the thrust as I inquired is on current systems using perhaps new or older means to loom an audio outfit.

in my brain it seemed ‘crystaline’.

up there too.but at times I have blind squirrels juggling knives


williewonka
@blindjim - you asked...
who makes your fav cable loom in 2021?

I like my DIY designs the best - see link :-)

blindjim>
Exact ah mundo! what are you using now. that’s all. thanks.


sns
Can attest to quality of DiY Helix design. I now exclusively use this design for all my power cords, and I've owned or demoed top of line or near top of line from Purist, Synergistic, Shunyata, Elrod, VH Audio,


blindjim>
Ditto on the brands you named having been in one of my rigs or another thru the years.

the aspect of their actual design revolving around the ‘helix’ configuration however, did escape me… then. but no longer.

a Taipan helix Alpha PC and an Elrod statement III PC remain my favs. albeit there is the occasional Virtual Dynamics, some VooDoos, and lately a pair of audio Envy I alluded to earlier. I wish I had never sold off my other Taipan Helix Alpha’s.

big THX!!

blindjim, you asked, "would you say it is likely the aspect of diminishing returns is applicable as well to the presumably good, beter, best levels of refinement inherent in each modle?"

As I have not heard all three levels of Iconoclast Cables, I am not in a position to answer that question. One must have an experience with a product's different models to be able to discuss whether there are diminishing returns as the higher models are considered. What would constitute diminishing returns? Different performance levels, performance relative to another set, or performance relative to a subjective pricing schema? The entire question is fraught with difficulties and a great deal of subjectivity. I prefer to discuss what set of cables outperforms other sets of cables, and the sonic characteristics of the cables. "Diminishing returns" doesn't really convey any usable information.  :(

Would I expect Iconoclast to suffer diminishing returns more than any other cable when moving up a product line? No, I would not. 

Hi Doug,
Many thanks. anecdotal and subjective feedback comprise the wealth of the rhetoric, choices, topics, who’s hat is in who’s camp, tubes vs sS and vice versa.

I sort of thought, after the fact your response would come back as you posted. No problemo.

I agree on leaning hard on personal eXP as to what is truly better and not merely different. albeit even than to convey such an account in many instances the contributing factors not being told but which are influencing the presentation, e.g., the room itself,the ancillary goods up or downstream, individual preffs, how pedantic a hobbyist is, are they gear hounds or easily satisfied? etc.,

loads of circumstances can muddy up those waters a bit or a lot when one gets him or her self sold on the whatever piece as being better or best.

best for them?

best to date?

better is the objective. of course but how much better and for what price, as cost will always be a factor for the majority of hobbyists.

the threshold of diminishing returns is a given. Only its actual impact is the question.

ultimately one has to pull the trigger on something at some point to find out where truth and honesty reside in any component. As the costs escalate just putting your finger on the trigger, let alone pulling it also escalates anxiety levels and might preclude ever truly resolving the matter..

iconoclast have sure peaked my interest so … maybe… just maybe.

we’ll see.

tremendous thanks

@blindjim - re:...

blindjim>
Exact ah mundo! what are you using now. that’s all. thanks.

I am using the Helix Image (Air) as posted on my web site

• with the double Live wire and a single helix neutral wire
• all wire is UP-OCC copper
• the live wires are bare UP-OCC copper each inside their own Teflon tubes
• the neutral on the power cables is stranded UP-OCC copper with Teflon insulation

My choices reflect

• what I am personally prepared to spend on "wire"
• what provides the best "Bang for the Buck" to my ears
• my own personal threshold of diminishing returns.
  

I have tried other fabrication options like the Double/Double neutral variant and Mundorf Solid Silver live wires for the Live, but found they provided less benefit than I thought they might be capable of.

• UP-OCC solid silver might be an option that caould provide a significant boost in performance 
• but that's way beyond this mere mortals budget

Other prefer the Double/Double approach and on more capable systems, they appear to convey the benefits better than on my own system.

Other brands of power cable I have auditioned include

• Van den Hul
• DH Labs
• Furutech

Hope that helps - Steve