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Have problem choosing cables XLO or Tara Labs ??

I currently have a setup which I think is too slow, vocal image is a bit too small and forward. Hi-Freq is also dim and not as accurate. I used Digital SetUp with XLO digital cables and was satisfied. But I changes to a single box player so I am using my MIT MI-350 CVT and found the above problem... Not as fast and accurate, not as punchy and kind of dim with a forward soundstage. I am thinking XLO or Tara Labs will fix the problem since they are faster and more accurate cable. MIT was in my choice but I change to MI-350 and problem still exist. I like fast punchy accurate sound with pin point focus... Anybody with any suggestion? I have XLO 1.1 or 1.2 Signature or Tara Labs AIR 1,2,3 or Decade in mind... really don't know because I never heard Tara Labs. Are they faster and more accurate than MITs and XLOs?? Please advise...
infinity_audio
blueswan
211 posts
 
I also like Tara Labs. I use the Decade from DAC to preamp and Air 2 everywhere else. The Air 1 is just a bit too revealing and fast for my taste, and the Air 3 comes off a bit thin. Got them all used right here! Cannot afford The One but maybe some day...
infinity_audio OP
186 posts
 
I need more help, please keep posting answers for me, still debating...
bob_bundus
1,834 posts
 
You may be focusing in the wrong area...
Have you experimented at all with upgrade AC cords? Every cord sounds different & even behaves differently on different components. Also experiment with isolation & coupling tweaks (cones, shelving, footers). You can do your tuning in different ways & if changes in interconnects don't help then perhaps it's time to try out something different. Line conditioning is another gray area in that respect.
infinity_audio OP
186 posts
 
I have achieved to the best I can do with isolations and power cords. I tried 6 different materials for isolation and a total of 6 power cords.

Isolation I tried:

Isolation Bearings
**Isolation Cone (Alluminum)(Currently using, Best Result)
(Thin down the boomy bass, better focus & accuracy but thinner mid)
**Isolation Cone (Solid Rosewood) (Unbeatable Mid, boomy bass)
**Isolation Platform (Air Pump) (Lowered in accuracy & resolution)
**Isolation Platform (Solid Wood) (No improvement)
**Isolation Stand (Standesign) (Better accuracy & focus)
Isolation Shelf (QS&D) (No improvement)

Power Cords I tried:
**Virtual Dynamics Power 3 (Hi-Freq Roll Off, tight bass)
**XLO Reference 10a (Good silky tuby mid, better hi-freq definition) (Currently Using)
**TekLine PC-8 Signature (Damping factor is high, sound too solid)
**XLO PL1000 (Better bass response than 10a but instructment seperation is not as good)
**NBS DragonFly (No Improvement)
**PS Audio Ultimate Lab (The best, but should use it with the player, double it's cost and eff. ratio not as proportional as XLO 10a)

I have a vpi db-10 on top, it damps it a bit, more seperation and more involving after it was placed.

I currently switch from MIT-MI350 to Van Den Hul, I think the Ind. of MIT doesnt really match, MIT should sound like that but it's now ok with the Van Den HUl. Can be faster and more accurate therefore hunting for XLO & Tara Labs... Advices are greatly welcome!
infinity_audio OP
186 posts
 
I always try cheap tweaks with iso. and pc. before I goto an expensive IC upgrade. I have many many toys to play with, and by the way, a lot of them are unuse, s I will be happy to try them out and use them if I could, before I buy any $500 IC.
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