I just got my first set of AQ cables over my MIT's (top of the line stuff) and the Lapis XLR are the best I've had in my system. I'll be upgrading to the Castle Rock speaker cables from my MIT MH 770 CVT pretty soon too. Still love the MIT and you may also. It does do all these things properly, however since Vandy uses AQ cables, I think it makes sense for me. Anyone want MIT shotgun or the 8' 770's,lol. just let me know.
Congrats on the SKY. |
You just can't go wrong with any of the AQ cables. They have been the most neutral ones I've found all along the line. The higher up you go, the better you will get. The sound floor is just quiet. I have the XLR Niagara as that was the best price point for me and I'm so happy. I have a ton of the top of the line MIT cables that are still awesome, but the AQ's are unreal. I've heard the Nordost and it's hard to say which is better side by side as the systems are different and the rooms are different, but I've heard AQ vs Nordost at a dealer who sells both (not the Sky's though). I felt that AQ was much more neutral and just sounded more 'right' and musical. It was a very very revealing system that I heard them with and a more neutral cable just made more sense to me. |
How do I add an extra battery to it? Do you just buy another 72 and add it? If you take it away the stage collapses. I'm surprise the one poster didn't like it.
Great choice on the Oak's an Wild XLR. I can only afford the Castle Rock speaker cables along with the Lapis XLR's from DAC to Ayre AX7e.
What is your system? Who's your dealer? I"m using Audio Connection as John is on this board and knows his stuff. |
Makes sense. I haven't hear Monitor Audio in years. So many of the companies lines are opposite of what they used to be. I've enjoyed much of the Pass stuff I've recently heard. His First Watt stuff hasn't impressed me that much, but I've never been that low watt amp guy. It's just me I guess. |
I meant to say Niagara in my last post not Lapis, lol. SF, it's interesting as Sky and Wild will sound different with different electronics. Sometimes Sky will actually be better depending on the system according to a dealer I was speaking with about this. He then did a demo. It will depend on what you want. The Wild will be much more open etc.., but the bass on the Sky can be better in some systems. Like everything else in audio, it will depend. That's why it's so important to hear things live when you can or get a dealer who knows your ear/budget etc... as they can steer you in the right direction as systems purchasing is so different from just getting the 'top rated'. Bottom line is that you can't go wrong with the DBS Audioquest cables. |
Bo, thanks for sharing. I love my Niagara. I can't afford the Wild, but in time maybe. I have been an MIT guy for ages and I still love my wire, especially my MH770. It's not biwired and I just got the Vandy's so I can't use it on them, hence I'm selling them. That said, the higher end AQ cables just sound right with low noise floors. That reminds me that I need to get some ads out there sell a ton of gear, lol.
Can't wait for your Wel review. I've heard it and it is the best system I've ever encountered (Vandy 7's and AR ref gear with Musical Surroundings Vinyl). |
Very interesting. I assume you have used the MH770 CVT cables. I felt they were, at the time, the best I had heard with my Quicksilver mono's. I've been very happy with them, but I will have my new Vandy Treo's with AQ Castle Rock's in my system hopefully next week. I really can't wait and have heard everything you said last week on the Vandy 3Asigs with top Ayre gear and some upperline AQ cabling. Not totally sure what John was using in the systems we heard. |
Bo, I agree about looking for the best system within a budget. I've always gone that route. I never buy the top rated products etc...I listen to systems and go from there. I think most end up just getting top rated components because someone else says they sound great, but together they may suck. Where is your store? |
It's interesting to hear the various interactions of cables on systems. Price isn't always the best monitor, however I have yet to hear another line of cable that is even close to AQ right now. You have to have good equipment as whatever your price point, but isn't that the whole idea? I never understood using cables to 'tune' a system. That doesn't make sense to me. Just get the best system put together than you can and hook it up with neutral cables that let each piece do it's thing. I don't want to hear the system, I want to hear music. By changing wires and cables it's easy to hear the differences if you have revealing equipment. Sometimes I think folks systems aren't put together properly in the first place and they will never get the cable to help it out because they can deliver what's NOT there in the first place.
Cool journey you are on Bo. I love the story. I always used to be the go to guy that everyone would ask about their purchases. I'm sure many who are on this board have similar stories too. Being a consultant for anything is always fun. I have MS and haven't been able to work in 9 years. I missed helping folks and started to consult for wellness and health and supplement since, like audio, there are so many companies who make claims and can't back them up. I get upset when folks push their products and tell you that they are better than everyone, when in fact they aren't even close. PM me if you have time. thanks. |
Bo, I completely agree. I've found just a few in the business who care about quality and helping people. I spent the last year listening to everything I could so that I could sell off three of my systems and start from scratch. I didn't have a lot to spend, but I'll put my system up against any other near the price and I bet mine will be more musical, enjoyable and fun to listen to. I was fortunate to get an Ayre from a close friend for next to nothing and I bought a system rather than components. I paid extra to use a shop and I'm happy. The products I bought have a smaller mark up and less profit for the owner, but he stocks and sells a lot of them because the put them together and they sound right. What are some of the lines you use? I'm sure others are curious to see what you feel sound great together. thanks. |
funny, but Richard Vandersteen said the same thing. He is an engineer and he sees what sounds best and then tweeks it. I so wish I had a better grasp on what you are talking about. You should offer a course. This is one reason I love working with John at Audio Connection (as so so many of you guys). He gets it and does the same thing as you. Some of your statements on the Sky vs Niagara or Wild are word for word what he was saying as we critically listened two weeks ago. Top end gear and you could hear the differences in cabling big time. A few times he told me to save my money and get what's in my range as it sounded better in the areas I care more about than the more expensive speaker, cable, amp, DAC etc...
It's all about the system approach. Wish you were in the states as it would be fun to sit down and talk audio for hours. |
