Transparent Audio cables are AMAZING!
I recently acquired my dream speakers, ATC SCM50. I've spent considerable time listening to these in different settings and I knew these were the right ones for me. When they arrived, I just plugged them into my existing system that I had designed for them, and they sounded, well, great. But not the way I expected. All the qualities were there but the tonal balance wasn't quite right.
I figured tweaking location and toe in, balancing with my sub, and finding the sweet spot would resolve it but after a couple of weeks I just couldn't get it right. I always trust my ears so I started to consider what else to do.
I was using the same Cardas Clear speaker cables that were in place. I thought a change in cables was worth a try but the idea of finding the right ones was daunting. I only had one other pair of cables. Transparent Audio Musicwave Plus, first generation from 25 years ago that I bought on impulse a couple of years ago for $150. I tried them a few years back and didn't like them in that system but I kept them. I also bought two pairs of the same model RCA interconnects in that same purchase that sounded great and have been using them since.
I had to re-terminate the speaker ends since ATC isn't spade friendly. When I switched them out and listened, my jaw dropped. Not only did the tonal balance sound like I expected, but the sound stage became a huge holographic field I couldn't ignore. I don't have to listen for it, it's just there. The only thing that spoils it is opening my eyes and seeing my small room.
It's clearly the best $150 I ever spent. Of course, now I want the next step up in Transparent cables, but for now I'm just thrilled to hear this amazing sound.
swede58 The Transparent Ultras are a good cable. But the Reference line or higher is much better. I had the ultra in mm1(i think or one before the MM level) it was a long while ago. when i moved up to the Reference MM2 the change was very noticeable. When i moved up to the Referent XL the change was even better. I left Transparent and went to High Fidelity Cables . And are very happy with the upgrade change..
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@ghdprentice - I have the SS integrated Audionet Humboldt which doesn’t have the SS stridency of other/older SS offerings. I’m currently using Tara Labs The One CX. Will Transparent SC be a good match? |
@kennyc What about the Tara Labs cables now that make them not a good match? What are you wanting now that is lacking? Seeking advice for cables that alter the tonality, .i.e., more emphasis on one frequency range and/or less emphasis of another, to compensate for tonal coherency issues elsewhere in the system is a forever battle to satisfaction, and a very costly one. Get rid of cables lacking tonal coherency and then focus on improving resolution, dynamics and retrieval of harmonics, etc.
Sadly, honestly, no it's not. And compared to what?
"Noticeable", "Better", ........., in what way(s)? Is there more clarity, less smearing from one note to the next, .... etc.,? Where's the beef? As I stated before, in the MM2 generation, you have to go one more level above the XL, the model that has "Transparent Reference MM2" on the network box, to where the magic starts. This is one level below the MM2 Opus. The XL is dimensionally flat. I can't imagine the additional flaws of the Ultra which is two more levels down in the product line. Have these been resolved in Gen5 and 6? If so, then why are there 9 models in Gen6? Even Porsche has kept the 911 to 4-6 models each year for decades. Trying to keep up with all the improvements, at a 50-100% price increase at each step, only to learn that yet another new generation is out, which "redefines the state of the art", only results in us getting in quicksand. A top model where the engineering team went all out to put out their best product, and two to three more product lines produced with time and cost savings, to give a hint of their top product, should be sufficient. If you are itchy to try another, make every effort to try-before-buy. The cable company handles this somewhat at the new product level, but at a cost. There are some hidden treasures out there on the used market. It would save everyone a major headache if we could try first rather than rely on comments, "cable X sounds great in my system".
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@jafant - simply curious, merely seeking future upgrade options if I decide for a change. Have yet to try my Tara SC as I just moved and am digging myself out of the sea of boxes from 35ys. Great news is I now have a relatively dedicated audio space now. |
