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Transparent Ultra or Super?

I am wondering if anyone can help me decide if it is worth it to go straight to the Ultra XL cable from transparent audio, or start out with the Super XL. Price is not an issue here. I am curious if anyone has compared the two cables, and if so, what the differences are?

I have heard the Transparent music link plus cables, and they seem to have a bloated midrange "haze" in my opinion. Is this a trait of the Transparent line, or is it an interaction with my components?

I am running the following system:
Krell KAV 250CD
Krell pre-amp
Krell KSA 250 amplifier
Hales Revelation Three speakers
Audioquest Type 6+ speaker cables
Well Tempered Classic turntable
Benz Micro Glider 2 Cartridge
Acoustech PH-1P phono stage
Audioquest Ruby interconnects

Thanks in advance for any help!!

Brad
bfuehrer

Showing 4 responses by rex

rex
245 posts
 
First of all - my experience has been that Transparent cables work best in an all-Transparent environment, rather than a mixed-brand environment. I don't think a mix of Transparent and Audioquest would sound good in your setup. I certainly did not care for such a combo in mine.

Secondly - I'm of the opinion that Transparent Super is the poorest value in the Transparent line. It's only marginally better than the Plus series, but is substantially more expensive. I would skip Super and go straight to Ultra.
rex
245 posts
 
'Tis a good point, No_money. My experience is that the Plus MM interconnects are better than the Super XL.
rex
245 posts
 
Buehrer - yes, they are. I've got both in my HT system, and the Plus MMs are more extended and more detailed than the Super XLs. I'm slowly migrating the Super XL out of the HT.
rex
245 posts
 
I've never had "XL" speaker cables. I had Transparent Super (the original) in the big system for my Maggies, upgraded to Ultra MM, then upgraded to Reference BiCable (MM) for the Vandersteens.

One thing to keep in mind is that "XL Technology" wasn't really technology in the form of circuitry or hardware; "XL Technology" came about because Transparent got some exotic test equipment to use with their high-end cable (which became "Reference XL," as opposed to the less-lofty "Reference with XL"). They started using the exotic test equipment on a big chunk of their cable line, improving tolerances and consistency. That's why the cables got the "XL" stamp.

MM is a true upgrade, in that it's an actual improvement in the design and materials.
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