Analysis Plus Interconnects

I use the AP solo oval crystal ICs with Oval 9 shotgun bi-wire and found them to sound great. I wish I could say that I've auditioned against a lot of other cables but they were recommended and I've never had a reason to doubt them. I know they do sound much better then the cables they replaced.

The Oval 8 will reach its optimal performance level after a minimum of about 300 hours.

Let's put this in very basic terms. You cannot go wrong with A+ wires. The Solo Crystal 8 are excellent offering detail, specificity and musical sound. The only way to improve on them is to shotgun them with a matching pair of A+ silver speaker wires. The Solo Crystal ICs are neutral, fast and specific. I have recently compared my A+ wires with Audience, Revelation, Shunyata. I cannot find enough reason to spend more money or any real reason to give up either the A+ Solo Crystal or Silver. There are definite trade offs, such as AU 24 quietness but they do not have the same high end. Or the inner harmonics of the Shunyata but with a loss of sounstage depth. Revelations have a lower noise floor and are more musical, but do not have the same amount of specificity. You pick your trade off. They are all wonderful wires. Pick a price and pick a sound. For me, I am staying put with my array of A+.

Hi,

I have the same question as Oz since I am trying out a 12 ft pair of Solo Crystal Oval 8 bi-wires to Magnepans. Very musical cables, good micro detail, smooth, dynamic, but is this "old folks wire":)?

My main complaint is that they are way too pleasant. A piano concerto I listen to is very dull with the A+, and certain instrument fundementals that are very noticable on other wires are almost MIA on the A+. Granted, my favorite cello concerto is as good as I've ever heard, the midrange is a thing of beauty.

I am curious as to what changes sonically occur from hour 1 to hour 75 of break-in? Do the A+ cables ever perk up?

Do the A+ IC's counter/match with the speaker cable to produce a more neutral sound that is less dull, or does one just have to make some sacrifices for the many virtues of the A+ Oval 8?

Rathbone

Rathbone,

After a little over 100 hours on the speaker cables I think they sound pretty good. I wouldn't describe them as you have though, they have plenty of excitement and extension both top and bottom. My only fear was of the midrange and it came around nicely.

I think I have come to the conclusion that they aren't the best match with my S&B TVC preamp. Although they sound good, I have had better results with an active preamp in the chain with the AP cables. So I have one on the way and will be selling my trannies and Seiden switch here on the 'Gon. But anyway, I digress. These are great speaker cables, especially when considering the price. At some point I may investigatate the ICs too.

Oz