Double your pleasure with same cable throughout?



Howdy sports fans,

I’m a bit aprehensive and certainly more than a little confused about recent events and would really appreciate some insights from those who have done a likewise effort…. I'm talking about runing SAME BRAND and/or brand & model IC throughout a system. As to culminate this venture by so doing, will be a fairly costly thing and thus delay my finishing things up with my sys…. though I'd rather a delay than a re-do. Been there, done that, on the re-do thing.

I’ve been in the hunt for a different XLR IC from my preamp to amp lately. I found something quite interesting during that process. After (and still), trying several previously ‘untried’ brands in that spot, along with some of the same brand/model, as was/is already exsisting upstream, I’ve thus far found that the EXACT same brand as the source to preamp cable provides the greatest enhancement. The same brand & model, even more so…

Is this common?

Perhaps much of the ‘cabling’ going on in the majority of systems I see here at Audiogone in the various posted systems is a ‘cost’ driven exorcise. Can’t say for sure… and perhaps not, though surely it would be understandable were it so. Given the results, which really speak for themselves, I fail to understand Why then, aren’t more systems running the same brand IC and/or even the same model IC, as wel throughout a system?

Using a MIT Mag 3 on my source, and inserting another MIT offering between pre & amp, remarkable improvements were realized. First was the Shotgun S2, and following it, a Mag 3…. I stopped there as info I gained about which level of IC should be put where seems to indicate the source IC should be of a higher level than the pre to amp IC... or the same, but no further up than the upstream IC as a general rule.

Is this simply a thing MIT has going for themselves? Would even greater positive attributes be realized by adding MIT speaker wires too? Or maybe that’s too much of a good thing?

Or is this just a fluke?

I’m still looking and have a few more items to review before making my choice… but it’s getting closer to ‘buying time’ and I thought I’d ask those in the know… still I want to try both Synergistic REs Ref, and Nirvana SX & SL, as well before deciding. Other cables I've put in have been from decent to outstanding, for the most part thus far, but 'same same' sure has the edge right now.

SURE DO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND INFO…
blindjim
Jim, you're going to get responses on both sides of this issue. Here's what I think about that:

If most of your electronics (particularly amp and preamp) are from the same manufacturer, you (should) already have a built-in system synergy. In this context BTW, "synergy" means that the equipment has been designed (we hope ~!) to interface together electrically to have perfect impedance matching giving best energy transfer and faithful signal transfer. All the cables have to do is get the signal from one component to the next with the least editorializing of their own! In this case you want neutral cables, all from the same manufacturer. If your components are (in addition to being from the same maker) of the expensive highly resolving kind, then you want neutral, high definition (low time smear) cables, also from the same manufacturer. Why from the same manufacturer? Because then the cables, as a group will all have a uniform sonic effect in your system. If it's not right, then you know what to do: either change cable manufacturer, or try their more expensive line! (This is where a good dealer or The Cable Company comes in handy!)

On the other hand, if you have equipment from a variety of manufacturers, cables from different makers may be better suited to interface certain components. Here I would start with amp-preamp, speakers, source-preamp, and finally PCs in that order. This insures you'll best be able to hear the effect that changes in each successive system location have on the system as a whole. That's why PCs are listed last, because any effect they could have might go unnoticed if auditioned earlier in the scheme of things. Some folks consider this method as using cabling as a sort of "tone-control" or equalizer, to adjust/balance the sonics of their system. I suppose one could think of it that way, but to me, it's just using your ears to discover the best electrical interface between components. Then if after trying a variety of cables in a certain location, you still don't like the way it sounds, you need to change the component, not the cables!

If you look at my system, you see I have the same cabling throughout. I also have equipment from the same manufacturer throughout -- except for my CDT/DAC. So that's the one interface where I tried a few different brands of ICs, and (without prejudice) still chose one from my principal manufacturer. One might look at my system and think it's almost too resolving; but in fact it's very easy to listen to for hours and hours. I attribute a lot of this capability to the cables -- not the "sound" of the cables, but the fact that they allow all the components to work together as an engineered "ensemble" as designed.
I'm almost using all Synergistic Cable, and have found that in my system your conclusions about using the same manufacturer and type make a big difference. The more mine becomes wired with the same family of wire, the more impressive the system sounds. I will eventually have at least all Res Ref in my system from the interconnects to the power cords.
Good luck!
Nsgarch
thanks. Not sure how the measuring tape will find how resolving my system is... SCD xa777, vk5i & vk500 w/BAT pk., w VR 4JR's. some other mass media items too, but the former is the focus. What you say does make sense. I sort of thought about things to that end as well... and even to the point of considering getting a BAT CDP, or at least a 'balanced' CDP to make the whole thing balanced... as I do think I'm missing some degrees of what it could be capable of given both sides of the signal are rendered, instead of just half of it... the XA is single ended out to the balanced only in & out pre. I don't think I'm encountering loss, just not the full wave extravaganza that could be possible. I think.

Sgr
'preciate it pard'. I'm getting the Syn Res Ref in soon enough... I've another cable in curently from VooDoo... Bruce's top IC, THE ULTRALINEAR. Tried his Silver ref as well... and use his power cords, which I really enjoy over the others I tried prior to making those purchases from VooDoo. Though the IC's are brandy new and still runing in, they sure do a good job and in some areas they do quite well. A significant step up from my previous Cardas NR.

Based on your input here, I take it you really dig the Syn line up... though one thing you said about having the entire system runing RESOLUTION REF got my attention... It's my understanding the RES REF is more a mid range oriented cable... is that so? I'll find out soon enough.. Just thought to ask... Thank you kindly.