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Interconnect suggestions for Audio Research Ref 5SE?

Recently acquired an Audio Research Ref 5SE to replace my LS-16.

Had been totally pleased with the open organic sound of WyWire Diamond interconnects with the LS-16 but find the Diamonds to be rather bright with the Ref 5SE, emphasizing the mic and the very top of female vocals.

Have reached out to thecableco.com for a few samples from their library....Shunyata Alpha, Cardas Clear,...amongst others.  I also have a pair of Nordost Valhalla 1's coming from another vendor for consideration.

Really excited about the 'grunt' and more forward sound the Ref 5SE brings to the game as it helps with presentation on the Grand Funk, Allman Bros, John Mayall, etc. I listen to...along with the acoustic, jazz, and classical....that make up my primarily vinyl collection (Audio Research Ref Phono 3, VPI Classic 4, Proteus Transfiguration)

But, so far, am missing the open organic clarity I guess the LS-16 and Wywire brought to the table. 

The Cardas and Shunyata seem a little recessed, the Nordost Frey seemed a bit recessed and analytical. They all resolve the brightness but seem to be holding back everywhere else.

I've been going back and carefully leaving the various cables in place for at least a few days...

looking for suggestions... Kind regards, and thank you in advance!

fanotunes
fanotunes's avatar
fanotunes OP
49 posts
 

@audphile1 So, I just added a couple photos to virtual system and will have to flesh that out further later.

Yes, I had been borrowing from The Cable Co, for the most part. Though another vendor loaned me a run of Valhalla. I have returned all of that at this point and have picked up two runs of Sigma X found on Audiogon. 
 

I have a run of Sigma X between amp and pre-, and the other run between pre- and phono stage. I have a run of WyWire Diamond between pre- and CD player, and have a WyWire Diamond phono cable as well.

Having only just installed the Sigma X and played very few records and CD’s, would say the Sigma has done much to mitigate the brightness I found in Ricky Lee Jones’s and in Joni Mitchell’s voice, for example. The Sigma seems to carry more weight, fleshed out body, more mids than the Valhalla. Like the Valhalla, the Sigma seems a bit clinical when compared to my recollection of my LS16 with the Wywire Diamond throughout. The LS16 was more musical, a bit warmer, and has more air, but seems a bit wimpy compared to what I am listening to right now. The Ref 5SE definitely has more weight, more ‘grunt’.

Right now, I’m wondering whether I made a good move with the 5SE…may should have spent my money on a REF6

tomic601's avatar
tomic601
13,693 posts
 

The RM-200 which is a fantastic amplifier by a genius ( RIP RM I do miss you ) is a hybrid amplifier… 

tomic601's avatar
tomic601
13,693 posts
 

Also the advice about Cardas settling / relaxing time is spot on and also as w most cables watch bend radius.   

fanotunes's avatar
fanotunes OP
49 posts
 

Roger Modjeski was very cool! I remember fearing I had bought someone else’s problem when I picked that amp up used. I called Music Reference and actually got Roger on the line. He stayed on the phone with me while I inverted the amp on my kitchen counter, pulled the bottom cover, and then walked me through the amp with my multimeter…checked out everything right over the phone with me! Very cool!

audphile1's avatar
audphile1
7,857 posts
 

@fanotunes thank you for posting the photos. 
If I may suggest… move speakers closer together. They seem to be spread apart a bit much. Unless it’s just a camera angle. 
I would start with 84-86” between centers of woofers. Moving speakers closer together should add weight and body to bass and mids and mitigate some glare in the highs. You can experiment with this at no cost. See if it changes the presentation. 

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