Alexc, they maybe MORE forward than AudioQuest cables. Both are solid core construction, with smaller diameter conductors, to minimize "skin effect". AudioQuest cables, to me, are dead in the middle cables. MIT(not good with tubes, IMO), on the easy side, Kimber and WireWorld on the forward side. HomeGrown do not exhibit the harshness of Kimber. You should give the cables a few weeks of listening. You may wake up one day next month and say, "Wow! These cables are great. Everything is there". Actually, your AQ are quite good. To me, as good as most of the exotic stuff. Just doesn't have the "newness" of the new megabuck cables. By the way, what type of tubes do you have in your power amps? You may be able to smooth things out via pre and/or power amp tubes. |
You can make cable equal to ANY manufacturer. Two others to try are HomeGrown Audio or Orca Design. From HomeGrown you can buy copper wire for $0.39/ft or siver wire for 2.80(or $1.80 for 50+ ft)/ft. Both copper and silver are 22 gauge solid core, 99.999% pure, and teflon insulated. Basically, Kimber's copper or silver wire; only solid core(sounds MUCH better), rather than stranded. However, the improvement in sound in going from stranded to solid comes at a price, it is more difficult to braid(but the results are more than worth it). Orca Design is the importer for Axon wire. They also supply some of the highest of high end companies with speaker components(in case you're scared of their unknown name). Components such as Focal drivers, Solen and SCR capacitors, etc. I believe they are the same company that makes JMLabs speakers. You can buy a product which is basically Audioquest Indigo or Midnight(depending on the gauge you buy), for $1/ft for the thicker one(11 ga.). You can also buy the single conductor insulated wire used in this cable, and roll your own. Axon also sells connectors that are better than you find on a lot of wire(gold plated copper, not gold plated brass), for $1 - 2! In fact, they carry locking RCA connectors that seem identical to WBT for $4.64! And if, you want to copy someone else's that's easy too. You can buy Axon, or even MIT's wire(among other companies - available, believe it or not) and make your own cable. Of course, you will save a truckload of money. |
Is the sound improved since last week? You may also look into KT88 tubes, when that time comes up. If you are unhappy after one month, maybe you should re-insert the AQ to make sure it is as good as you remember it. Good luck. |
I know a lot of people(musicians and recording personnel) who work at a few VERY high profile recording studios. Two of the more famous ones are RuffHouse Records(a truckload of Grammys in the past five years) and Riversound Studios(owned by Donald Fagan and Gary Katz - have recorded the BIGGEST names in the business). Both handle the lion's share of recording/mixing/producing of music made on the East Coast. Neither of them use anything more esoteric than Radio Shack quality stuff. You are quite correct about certain studios using exotic cable, but it is by far the exception, as opposed to the norm. I almost NEVER come across a person in this field who has heard of even AudioQuest(they all know Monster, some know Phoenix ala car stereo). |
Mastering studios don't use $1200/meter interconnect. Actually, the majority of people in studios do not get into cable. I know many who always mention Monster Cable when talking of going to a "good cable", because they are working on a SPECIAL project. It is a different industry entirely, one not caught up with our paranoia |
Bob Ludwig is THE Moses of record production. Most of the others are the of Norm Peterson ilk. It would be nice if musicians and record producers were also audiophiles, but it usually doesn't happen. I have converted many a music person(usually on a steady diet of Jolida, Rogue, and Manley StingRays), but it has been a long and steep uphill road. |
Thanks for the clarification, Carl! I haven't followed the whole corporate relationship as closely as I should have. My interest was always on the hobbyist end of their business, not the finished speakers. In the past, I have built speakers using Solen, SCR, Axon, and Focal components. I found some of the Focal drivers not the best to my ears(generally the tweeters). I am not saying they are not first quality, or the equal to anyone else's, just not right for me/my tastes. SCR caps were the best when a high capacitor value was needed. I preferred the sound of SCR to Solen in direct comparison. SCR used a 7 micron film, Solen used a 5 micron film(not that that is the reason I preferred SCR). For lower value capacitors( < 20 microfarad), as well as inductors and resistors, I preferred products from other companies. Back to the topic at hand, I adamantly feel we can equal the big guys' cables. The finest materials must be used, not Home Depot "electrical grade" copper. At least as important as the materials is the geometry of the wire - all of which is easy to reproduce, in most cases. Wire geometry is often what distinguishes one company's wire from another. And the determining factor in why a cable sounds great in one system, poor in another. The markup(from raw material acquisition all the way to customer purchase) is as obscene as anything in this field. If this was in a typical industry(i.e. one driven by economics, rather than status and emotions - or even mass or mid grade electronics), first grade copper interconnect would be less than $30/m, silver less than $100/m(both with typical generous industrial markup). We have even heard manufacturers claim their $1000 cable could be easily marketed for $100, but it would never be able to viewed of having the same "sound" as the other $1000 cables by the "audiophile community". Good Luck to all of us DIYers!!! |
Sdcampbell, how are you? You've now had the HomeGrown Audio silver interconnects for about a month now? What are your impressions? Are you using tube gear? I have found the cable to be stellar with tube equipment. Extended, clear, open, yet liquid. But the solid core silver prevents it from being bright(at the expense of flexibility). For those of you who don't know about this product, it is a teflon insulated, 22 ga. solid silver interconnect. It is a copy of Kimber KCAG, using solid silver conductors(instead of Kimber stranded). And, it is sold for $70 for a 1 m terminated cable! You can also braid & and solder it yourself for $40. Hopefully, we will one day see a wire revolution. But, it cannot happen without our realization of the scam the wire companies have committed on our hobby. |
