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  3. 176826-172197

This cable game is making my head spin

Hello all

I'll start by listing my system for reference.

Pioneer PLX-1000 turntable w/ Ortofon 2M Black cart.

Tokyo Sound Phono stage (A late 90's Japanese Audio company)

Aric Audio Unlimited all tube preamp

Odyssey Khartago w/ upgraded power supply and internal wiring

Divine Acoustics Proxima speakers

Now the story of my Frankenstein cable setup.  When I started purchasing cables I found an independent cable maker online who used silver in all his cables. I had purchased 3 power cables for my phono pre, preamp and amp. Unfortunately we had a falling out and I decided not to purchase any more cables from him. I was very green in the whole cable game and I still am but have learned a bit since. Most notably is how silver can brighten a system and the Ortofon 2M black is known as a bright sounding cart to begin with.

Being on a budget and wanting to upgrade all my interconnects at once I came upon vintage western electric interconnects being sold on here and elsewhere. Purported "giant killers" so I bought those for the time being at $114 a pair. But I needed a phono cable and being as green as I am/was thought you needed a cable with an attached ground and extra shielding. I couldn't find a western electric specific phono cable so I bought an Audio Sensibility impact SE phono cable. For speaker wire I went with the Belden 9497 from the same place I got the western electric. A nice budget cable and also a purported "giant killer". For my turntable I  got a western electric power cable from the same place.

So I'm running 3 silver power cables to phono amp, preamp, amp and a western electric power cable to the turntable. Audio Sensibility phono cable. Western Electric interconnects from phono to preamp and preamp to amp, and the Belden 9497 speaker wire. What a mess right lol.

I want to streamline all my cables so I bought a pair of Audio Sensibility impact se interconnects. Same make as my phono cable. When I put them in between the preamp and amp I was shocked how dull and lifeless the sound was. Granted they are not broken in and only went through the 3 day burn in process Audio Sensibility offers but I was not expecting that dramatic of a change. The phono cable sounds good so maybe it is break in? Or the phono cable being OCC copper is taming some of the harshness of the Ortofon cartridge but the interconnect from preamp to amo is taming it too much?

I'd like to start auditioning cables from different manufacturers in the "mid-fi" price range and actually get this done right this time around. Given my system is there any advice to be offered on where I should start? I don't want things too bright sounding but not as lifeless as the Audio Sensibility (occ copper) either. And I'm a sucker for lush mid bass and mids hence the all tube preamp.

Sorry for the novel and thanks for any help!

 

128x128blue_collar_audio_guy
audio-union's avatar
audio-union
179 posts
 

First, I am an engineer, I make cabling for myself and I sell them.

Mixing and matching cabling to produce a particular sound or solve a problem is a problem in itself. Use one brand, you will be more likely to end up with a good sound. Why use a cable to correct a problem. The idea of doing this just sounds wrong to me.

I like silver in interconnects, but I do not recommend it for power cabling. I prefer copper power cabling of adequate size for the job.

styleman
132 posts
 

"Silver is not a good metal choice for power cables. Use 14ga. or larger copper power cables."

Purely a matter of opinion.  I run silver power cables in my system together with silver digital cables and interconnects. No complaints from me - very happy .  Besides, I want to support "poor" little companies like Shunyata and Synergistic who are on the verge of bankruptcy. 😉

phantom_av's avatar
phantom_av
318 posts
 

Silver Power Cables?

 

So its copper for miles and copper from the panel to the music room then 1 meter of silver apprently will improve the sound?  Im curious!

blue_collar_audio_guy's avatar
blue_collar_audio_guy OP
42 posts
 

Turns out, it was the room.

Have you eliminated your room as a factor?

I have some basic acoustic foam corner bass traps and a small amount of acoustic foam on the ceiling above the main listening position. They tightened the low end up a bit not much but better with than without. 

 

THIS step is where you noted the drastic change, correct?

Correct.

 

Thanks for the suggestions guys I’m checking them out. I do have an Audio Sensibility Impact SE power cable I could try with the amplifier but is it important if its high current? Technically I’m half way there if I want to go the audio sensibility route which is my conundrum now. Abandon ship and start building a loom of another make or stick it out with Audio sensibility? As for the silver debate and the miles of copper debate I’m not getting involved LOL! I may be green but I know about that drama. 😂 Just playing guys. I appreciate the responses. This cabling is becoming more fun if that’s possible.

audphile1's avatar
audphile1
4,159 posts
 

Do you have any isolation feet or vibration control devices under any of your components? Remove them and see if the sound changes. Some of these devices kill dynamics and make your system sound just like you described.
 

As for the cables, I would allow the new interconnects to break in for at least 100hrs and if possible 200hrs to really be able to draw your conclusions. 
If nothing changes then ditch these cables and move on. 

The original Audience AU24 interconnects and speaker cables on a used market for a very reasonable price deliver the type of sound you’re looking for. These will be tough to beat. 
Also Acoustic Zen Silver Reference II or even the Matrix Ref II are worth a shot.

Another experiment to run is to reintroduce all the stock cables back into your set up and re-evaluate.

Good luck!


 

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