Need "warm" interconnects advice


Hi, I need some advice on IC cables.
I'm looking for warmer, lusher, more romantic, "gold" type of sound - interconnects...
It seems to me my system is a little bit too detailed and precise. I'm preferring gold/silver or alloy cables, like Gabriel gold or Silnote.
Any advice would be appreciated :)
audiobb

Showing 5 responses by audiobb

Thank you all for your help.

Mapman - Setup is :

Silverline Sinfonia speakers (heavily modified)
320/520 B XLS single-ended amps (for powering up from 80 Hz)
Rythmik-Audio 15" subs X 2,Rythmik-Audio bass amplifiers X 4
Quad CDP-2 (soon to be changed), Promitheus copper TVC.
GG Revelation (Quad -> TVC), Silnote Poseidon Signature (TVC -> 320B amps),Nordost Valhalla (double run) speaker cable.

SE tube amps are wired with silver/gold Mundorf wire.
Speed, clarity, transparency,details - it's amazing..

Zd542 - This is more a "personal preference" than a problem.
I agree with your logic, cables are not for fixing problems. What led me to this thinking, is the result I got with changing from copper ICs to GG wire few years ago.

I will change from Quad+TVC to Sabre custom-made DAC. Sabre is very strong on details, speed - which my system already has in spades.So I'm more concerned when that change happens, not to further speed up and "cold" the sound.
Also, speakers will be placed on Aurios Pro soon, which could also result in a similar change in sound.

What about Jade cables? Anyone had some experience with them?So far, I've heard only good things :)
I really want to thank you all. This is what I love most about audio - the community, the people... the willingness to help.

But especially,Jafox.I just can't believe someone would really loan their mega$$$ cables to unknown person.I'm speechless. Faith in humanity - partially restored.
Thank you so much.

It seems the general opinion is the Valhalla is responsible for this in my system.I think that's right. Actually, I took a lot of effort to tame the "tubey" sound, to add detail, speed etc.

Valhalla was bought after reading JD's review of it.

One must always find that balance between musicality and resolution that suits their own personal tastes. Not everyone is looking for just details, some folks enjoy musicality.

This is exactly what I meant.It seems I was too successful in adding speed and clarity to the system.

I will make another 40 cm bi-wiring pair of speaker cable. I have some Gabriel Gold Rapture R speaker wire that I bought 2 years ago.Then I will see what happens after Valhalla is out.

I guess that should be step No. 1.
Then see what happens.
Definitely GG Rapture r will be done next. I will post resulst, I am also curious to hear them.
I ordered Furutech spades today, as soon as they arrive, I will make the cables.It will probably take few weeks for these to arrive, but I will post results.
My GG Revelation is older than rapture R, and I still consider it a great IC cable.I wouldn't call it warm, I think it's tonally neutral. However these cables needed 350-400 hours of burn-in.
3 days ago I placed my large speakers on Aurios Pro + tungsten-carbide balls.
It made a big improvement. The highs are more silky, everything got a certain "sweetness" and "liquid" quality.
Images are better, there is a "floating" quality to the sound now.
Soon I will make Gabriel gold Rapture R speaker cables and test them against Valhalla.
But Aurios already pushed the system in the right direction.
Hi everyone,
          Thank you for all of your comments. Since than, a lot has changed.

1.
        I picked up a pair of GG Reflection V2 ICs. I like the Silnote Audio  ICs, but they lean more to the detailed side. GGs do have a slight golden hue - not a "warm" sound that changes tonal balance, but more of a timbral change that sounds less detailed and more musical.
They work better with Valhalla speaker cables.

2.
        I built my own USB cable - big difference. Just losing the +5V wire from the cable improved everything a lot.

3.
        I did not build the 40cm speaker cable from my GG Rapture speaker cables. I didn't find them to be resolving enough, they seemed too "dark" in the tonal balance. Too much bass, not enough high tones.
it wouldn't be good for the speaker cable for the midbass-midrange-tweeter part of my system.

4.
       I just lowered the "sponges" on RAAL tweeter for only 2-3mm. It improved sound a lot. Better cohesion with midrange, more natural sound.
       This I would not believe if I didn't hear it myself.
       SAME radiating surface, not smaller. Only lower for 2-3mm.

       I forgot to mention that Valhalla is ONLY on the top 3 drivers in my speakers- 7" midbass, 2" midrange and RAAL ribbon.
       Bass drivers (2 x 12" + 2 x 15") all use Oyaide Tunami speaker cables.

 
       I am very happy with the sound now. Much better balance between details and musicality.
       I agree, our ear also "matures" with time, we  also get used to our system and time changes things.