La45, not yet Steve should be shipping mine today or tomorrow. Hopefully I'll be able to post something late next week after they settle in for 100 hours or so. |
I will be comparing the Extremes to Virtual Dynamics Master ICs. |
John, I do agree the VD cables are more power, dynamic, and the presentation is more forward. However, can you elaborate on the comment regarding natural sounding instrumental colors and hues. Any specific examples you can cite.
On a side note. I decided to also include a couple other cables in the comparison. Namely the Oritek X-2 and Ridge Street Audio Poemia!!!. I tend to rotate these cables in and out of my system for variety purposes.
I'd also like to ask a question regarding shielding and noise. My understanding is that the Gabriel Gold Extremes are not shielded. Has anyome who used the cable had any issue with RFI or noise as a result of the lack of shielding. |
Well there are a 100+ hours on this cable right now. I am very pleased with the results so far. As others have said there is excellent layering and increased air. There is a natural feel to the music, especially with cymbals and vocals. At first the bass was a bit bloated and the imaging a little off, but these pieces have snapped into place over the last dew days.
Steve is a great guy to work with and at the auction prices the Extremes are a great deal. I haven't done any comparisons yet to other cables, but will do so over the next few weeks.
BTW - mine came with copper Eichmann plugs. Is this standard? I believe I like the copper version better than the silver. |
Bobf, I have the Gabriel Gold Extreme cables, not the Revelation. |
Thanks John, you've clarified things for me. I have a better idea of where you're coming from and I do agree with you on some of your points. The VD interconnects are a different animal in my system than then PCs. In fact I think I prefer the VD PCs more so than the interconnects at this point. The interconnects are great, but they do lack that live ambience which is something I notice in spades with RSAD Poemia!!!
BTW - since I now use a TVC I moved the Z-der block to the transport and use it with a Nite II PC. I have the Master on my DAC and am thinking of getting a Z-der block for it.
On another note. I received my Gold Extreme cables today and put them in the system. They replaced the RSAD Poemia!!! between my DAC and preamp. For the time being I'll let the VD Master stay between the preamp and amp. I am using VD Master speaker cables as well. I listened to a couple of CDs and had to turn down the volume. It wouldn't be fair to comment further at this point until the cables have settled in a bit and have a 100 hours or so on them. |
Well I just bit the bullet and bought the GG Revelation RCAs from Steve to go with my GG Extreme RCAs. My plan is to run the Revelation from DAC to preamp and the Extreme from preamp to amp. It will be interesting to hear how this sounds. |
I just received my GG Revelation ICs a couple of days ago and they are still burning in. I do agree with most comments here (and John's for the most part) as to the sonic quality of the GG cables based on my experience with the Extreme. I can also respect John's opinion. I have not heard the Jade Hybrid, but have heard the Vermeil (I'm probably one of the few who returned them).
I think the Jade Vermeil is a great cable and I believe John describes the sonic qualities accurately. However, in my system and based on my tastes the Vermeil did not beat out the Oritek X-2, and in fact in comparison lacked that little extra sparkle on the top end. When I got the Extremes and they were properly burned in they beat out the X-2.
I did notice a slightly wider and taller soundstage with the Extreme cables. However, my room size and dimensions have always caused soundstage issues. So could the soundstage be much wider and taller as some report? Possibly, I'll never know until I move and have a more appropriate listening room. I do know that the GG cables agree with my tastes and I'm anxiously awaiting the burn in of the Revelations so that I can better evaluate how they sound in my system. So far initial impressions are favorable. |
Not to get into semantics here, but I am curious if recessed sound could come from room factors just as easily as it could come from a cable. |
Bobf, I was away on business last week and have a trip this week as well. The cables have about 150 hours on them. They have been slowly opening up. I can see where they have taken the sound up a couple of notches from the Extreme. The soundstage is a bit wider and even taller than before, but most importantly is the better layering and increased space between the instruments. I imagine they will get a little better over the next 100 hours. I still have not tried them in conjunction with the Extremes. Right now they are between my TVC and amp. Eventually I'd like to move them to between the DAC and TVC, with the Extreme between the TVC and amp.
I do like these cables better than the Jade Vermeil I had. I also prefer them to the RSAD Poemia!!!, but I think the Revelation and Poemia!!! could also make a nice combination together. I have been taken by surprise by another set of "mystery" cables (of which I bought two pairs) that are currently between the DAC and TVC. In conjunction with the Revelation the sound is the best I have heard from my system in some time. After I compare this combination to the Revelation/Extreme I am also going to run the two "mystery" cables together as well. I'll post some more thoughts as things develop. |
John,
I received the cables on 5/30 and they were being burned in for a few days (about 110 hours with signal running through them 24/7) until I had to leave town. I got back Thursday and I continued the process for the last two days so by my count that is about 150 hours. |
Last weekend I listened to the GG Revelation and Extreme combination. I ran the Revelation from DAC to preamp and the Extreme from preamp to amp. I was so impressed with this combination that I traded up and am getting another pair of Revelations which should arrive tomorrow. I will probably have another update in a couple of weeks.
On another note, the "mystery" cable and Revelation combo was excellent as well. In fact it was on par with the Revelation and Extreme combo. The "mystery" cable used from the DAC to the preamp added a little more bass slam to the mix. However, I did not like using two pairs of this cable in my system. A little too detailed for my tastes.
If anyone is interested in a cable that uses quality silver conductors in a minimalist design with Eichmann silver connectors contact Audiogon member quackfat (also known as someyoungdude on AA). While I call them the "mystery" cable I believe they are known as the Silver Reference II. These haven't hit the market yet but are available for trial at very fair prices. |
I now have 250 hours on my newest Revelation. With both pairs of Revelations in the system I have noticed more space and airiness, combined with some of the best front-to-back layering my system has ever produced. Quite the 3-D and musical experience IMO. I'm completely happy with these cables. I just wish Steve's bi-wire speaker cables were more affordable as I could definitely envision a completely GG wired system. |
"I've read a lot of Steve's feedback (sts) and many members love the sound of the Revelations right out of the box. I'm sure once they break in they must be gushing with greater appreciation."
Yep. |
Bobf - I have two pairs of the GG Revelation. I posted a while back here on some of the cables I have directly compared them to including Oritek X-2 and RSAD Poiema!!!, as well as the Silver Reference II cable offered by Audiogon member quackfat.
Indirectly, I made some comments as to my preference for these cables over the Jade Vermeil and Virtual Dynamics Master. |
Jafox, glad you like the Haley. I've had mine for about 2 years now. One of the better audio buys I have made.
The Jade Vermeil to me is a fine cable. It just lacked something at the top end that didn't make me want to replace my Oritek X-2 cables. I had always intended to try the gold version but never got around to it. Maybe sometime I will try the hybrid. JD is a great guy and I'm happy for his success with these cables. I think at times we all have to remember we hear differently, and our systems and listening environments are not identical. So it does not surprise me to hear your opinion which I can respect.
However, in my system the Revelation is a cable that does not present a flat sound stage. Could it be more 3-D? Maybe, then again my listening room could be better and that in and of itself could make for a more 3-D sound stage. I posted previously that a recessed sound stage could easily be the result of room acoustics or speaker positioning, just as easily as it could be from the cable. I'm not suggesting this is the case with Jafox, but it is certainly possible. |
Jafox, thanks for the additional comments. I only hope to one day have a listening room where I can spread my speakers a couple feet more apart. Perhaps when I move in a few months.
Are you using the Mongoose PC with the Haley? I purchased mine before this option was available. I use a Oyaide Tunami GPX and have no issues with it. |
Jafox - feel free to email me offline. I'm interested in your findings. |
