DO CABLES REALLY MATTER?

calvinj,

My gear includes:

Thiel’s flagship 3.7 speakers (and also Thiel 2.7s).

MBL 121 Radialstrahler speakers

Sources: Raspberry Pi for music server streaming of ripped CDs/Tidal to Benchmark Dac 2L (and a Bechmar Dac1).

Transrotor Fat Bob S turntable, Benz Micro Ebony L cartridge.

Into Conrad Johnson Premier 16LS2 pre-amp.

Conrad Johnson Premier 12 140w/side tube monoblock amplifiers.

FYI: The Thiel 3.7s and MBL speakers are world class in terms of resolution (see any reviews of the 3.7 or MBLs - Jonathan Valin of TAS who reviews SOTA speakers has touted the MBL tweeter as among the world’s best for years - my MBLs use the same mids and tweeters as on their most eye-wateringly expensive systems).

As I’ve been wanting to downsize from the Thiel 3.7s a bit, I’ve kept an eye out for possible replacements for the last two years. Among the speakers I’ve auditioned Raidho, the latest Audio Physic, the newest Focal Kanta 2, the latest Paradigm Persona speakers that everyone is raving about for their beryllium drivers, newer Monitor Audio, Revel, the Magico A3, Joseph Audio etc. None have obviously shown up the Thiels or MBL in terms of resolution. When I get home from auditioning those speakers and play the same tracks on my system, I hear all the details I heard with those speakers...and usually those other speakers were auditioned with high end audiophile cables.

calvinj
@geoffkait what does your system consists of. I’ve seen all these comments but don’t know your system.

>>>>What’s the difference? What good would it do you to know my system? It certainly wouldn’t change my comments. I’m not a big fan of showing off how expensive one’s system is to try to prove a point, like some people. I’ve heard my share of expensive systems that sound like crap. Did I answer your question?

I’ll show you mine if you show me yours. 😳 Please don’t hit me over the head with your Kubala Sosnas. 

Hey, no problem. I’m friends with Keyser Soze.

@prof thanks for sharing you have some great gear. It’s should sound good no matter what. Lol. The best system I’ve heard is the Raidho 5.1 with all soulution electronics and anzus cabling. A guy had a home listening cottage and Raidho came in to set it all up for him. You got some well respected gear. I also believe in spending money on the best gear you can get before spending on cables. My Gato speakers are not well known but I go and listen to a lot of the big name speakers and my speaker competes to me with big boys up to the 25 to 30k range. They have a really clear open see through midrange and tight bass. The treble is the trick though. I use a Cable called clarity natural and it makes the highs sound airy to my ears. My speakers are my last ones. I’m never changing them. I had the revel studio 2 before these but I’m happy I went to Gato Audio out of Denmark. My Dac is made by the brother of the chip maker for oppo they make the Sabre chip. The amp kraudio va 900 is the baby version of the kronzilla. It’s sounds less tubey. It sounds closer to audio research sound wise but with a little more texture. I think you have a great set up. I know you are not a Cable guy but I. My system my cables add just a little of what my ear likes. I’m not putting your point of view down. In my system it works for me. Just keep enjoying your stuff. I only ask what you had in your system because honestly if your gear is not at a certain level it can only perform so well. On cheap or poor speakers cables won’t make much difference. It’s not the case with you you have pretty good gear. @geoffkait I’m not showing off by telling you what my gear is and how much I paid for it. No disrespect but not knowing what gear you running I’m a lot less inclined to value what you say. That’s just my opinion. I don’t know what basevlevel you are at. I was able to have Allnic, veloce, classe, high fidelity, Kubala sosna, Audio research, revel, Sonus faber, Vienna acoustics , clarity Cable, Clarus cables, atlas mavros, audioquest in my system at different times through the last 12 years so my context for what great sound is maybe different based on my ability to have long demos to well respected gear. Any way without knowing your gear I’m less inclined to pay attention. When I hadn’t heard better I did not know better. @prof enjoy the music.