Expect to receive it in 2 days. I'll need to burn it in a bit but as always I'll sneak a listen approximately 10 nanoseconds after I get it plugged in :-)
Not sure what the Rapture will do to me but my wife thinks I should be "caught up and taken away" for being in this expensive hobby.
I will share my thoughts on the Rapture wire probably by the weekend. Best- Joe |
Joe,
When I first installed the GG Rev./Rapture in my systeam I was mad as .... because the wire I was using was a $3000.00 retail price ( Audio Note/Kondo ) cable that was not even in the same ball park as the Rapture. |
Joe,
What say you on the Rapture? |
Speaking of auditions whatever happen to that GG Rapture/Tara Labs Zero showdown Glory.
Did the Tara win as I see you have a Rapture for sale.
Don |
|
Sorry for the delay folks. I have been experimenting with a variety of power cords and cables in order to determine the best overall combination. System synergy is so underappreciated. I need more time to evaluate the cables since I find that after a certain amount of time changing things around I begin to second guess myself. Overall, the Rapure is the best cable I've had in my system but to be honest I have not auditioned many in the same league as the Rapture. Among other things the Rapture does well, it passes very low frequencies like no tomorrow, and with great control. More to follow... |
Jc4659-I've experienced the full spectrum of the Gabriel Gold cables and have heard every incarnation.The Rapture reveals every little nuance and detail as if the music was being played live and not coming from a speaker.
I've owned the "big dollar" Stealth,Siltech and others and nothing could match the gg's when it came to music replication.What you own and what you play is what you'll hear like nothing else out there.
bobf |
Here's my take on the Gabriel Gold interconnects as they performed in the context of my system. I listened mostly to female vocals but also just about every other genre to get a feel for these cables. I'd be happy to provide specifics but omitted these to keep this brief. My first GG cable was the revelation mk 2 and I stated my listening impressions of this wonderful cable in a post above. I was using the revelation (rev mk 2) on my ARC CD-2 and a short Signal Cable silver resolution from pre to amp. I won't repeat all my comments on the rev mk 2 except to say it was like looking through clean glass. If the rev mk 2 is like looking through clean glass, then the Rapture is like looking through clean air. It is incredibly clear and revealing with a lower perceived noise floor than the revelation and this cable is fast- allowing music to start and stop, to attack and decay as it naturally would if it were live. However, there is a caveat. And this is the reason why I took longer to post my impressions because I was frantically swapping power cords, conditioners, CD players, and interconnects. I could not use the Rapture on my CD-2 as it ruthlessly revealed a slight grain in the upper mids especially apparent in female vocals. I tried a meridian player and the grain went away but the sound was warm and lifeless so I went back to the CD-2. Aside from this, the Rapture beat the rev mk 2 in every way. Clarity, clarity, clarity, and a deep articulate low end that I didn't even know my system was capable of. This cable breathes. I find it interesting that the rev mk 2 was able to hide what I presume are well-hidden digital nasties from the CD-2 but the Rapture revealed these warts so easily. However, with the rev mk 2 on my CD-2 and the rapture on my pre the sound was the best balanced, most clear, most musically involving I've ever experienced from my system. You know things are right when you start listening to very familiar CD's at a volume a significantly louder than you normally listen. I could have easily returned the rapture and got another rev mk 2 (and steve would have gladly done this for me) but recognizing the strengths of the rapture wire, and the weaknesses of my digital front end, and knowing that at some point I will likely move to a server-(tube?)dac combination I decided to keep the Rapture. Next to the Rapture, the revelation mk 2 is still an outstanding cable but if you feel you've assembled a state of the art system, you owe it to yourself to try the Gabriel Gold Rapture. |
Nice comments-There is definately no pollution in that Rapture Air.
Bobf |
JC,
Great write up.
Sounds as if you have been cought up like the rest of us Rapture owners. |
JC,
Nice summary, I'm glad that you are enjoying your new GG Rapture interconnects. Also, it looks like you have a lovely system, I'm a fan of ARC and Dynaudio.
I would suggest that you give up on chasing the digital dream though, and just spin some more vinyl. Your vinyl rig looks to be pretty good, and I'm sure it will sound better than any digital gear that you can get....even with a tubed DAC.
Read my reply to Rja on 11/16/07 in this thread to further understand my analog feelings.
Cheers,
John |
John, thanks for the kind words about my system. My speakers are ProAc 3.8s, not Dynaudios, however. I know what you are saying when you refer to chasing the digital dream. When I listen to analog for a time, it is very difficult to "adapt" back to digital. Digital's shortcomings, at least the ones present in my gear, become much more apparent after listening to analog. I still think I can improve my digital front end and will start my journey soon by borrowing an ARC DAC7 just to hear how significant a difference using a newer dac might bring to the music. |
Hehe....ah yeah, ProAc, that's what I meant. I was thinking of my friend's ARC/Dynaudio system subconciously I suppose. He has the Contour S 3.4's. Actually I do think the Dynaudio speakers have a lot in common with ProAc's. They're both non-fatiguing, easy on the ears, and very musical, similar to my Verity Audio Parsifal Encore's.
Enjoy the tunes,
John |
Hey man, you copping my tag line!? just shucking and jivin you, john. i have to hit the hay, but will interject that the rapture speaker cable is equal, if not superior, in upgrade capacity for a (my) system than the interconnects. more later....g'nite and
enjoy the tunes yourownbadself! |
Jc-
so, i am a rapture fan from a ways back and would say you are right on the money with clarity and digital revealing. i have come to believe that tubes are the way to make it really happen right here and now and a server or equivalent with tube dac or cdp/dac is the road to get there (here?).
i had an audio aero capitole mkii se in my sights and went for an ayon cd2. it will also be my dac. check out my system....i just updated it. the digital front from mac on is pretty amazing and the cd2 will jettison the cary when it arrives.
you air right; the raptures are air and you have to have air. that and a burrito will get you through the day.
save your pennies and gather the rapture around you. safe passage home whispered the old lady from the nursing home wearing a bishop's mitre. what i mean is, you obviously have great ears and appreciation and can find the solution for your musical joy. you can listen, hear and see.
my favorite combo was a plinius sa201 with an aes djh sig pre with nos tube and dynaudio 2.8's with the rapture ic's. i wish i had heard it with the rapture speaker wire. save your pennies. killer. more of the same, much more.
if you are using separates, you might try that pre, but as you already are aware, synergy is important.....the dodd battery pre has always seemed like a good choice to get some tubes in there.
email for some digital server/hardrive if you care to.
best regards and enjoy the tunes////// |
Hey Art,
Good to see your back. I was just reminding those in this thread about you....er....yeah...that's the ticket!
I hope all is well with you and yours.....though I do have to admit that I am surprised that you finally put your Stealth Hybrid MLT's away. I still admire those cables for the $$$. I'm also surprised to see that you have moved on from your Ayon Triton to the Karan.....especially after reading how knocked out you were by the Triton.
I still haven't heard the Triton, but I have heard the Karan, and it is very nice.....for a SS amp. It was better than the Jeff Rowland or Levinson integrateds that I heard, but I would not give up my VAC for it.
Cheers,
John |
Sir John-
Yeah, the Stealth's were hard to beat and impossible at the price, but I had a little dough going to an integrated and Steve let me trake in some cables. The Rapture speakers wires are just better than the Stealth's.
I was definitely knowced out by the Triton, but I have an old house with central air and having a window unit in the same room to cool it from the Triton in the summer just wouldn't do. No sir, no way, no how. Still an absolutely amazing integrated.
The Karan is very good and close to the Triton, but tubes is tubes....'nuf said. Having come to that conclusion as many have, it's nice to report that my wife did actually come down and expound on how nice the Karan sounds. Loud and clear. Good to go.
And the all black eastern euro darth vader look of the Karan with the Ayon and the piano black Dynaudio's is, er, Darth! Not in keeping with the house but pretty cool and disappears nicely....visually and sonically.
I sort of modified and stole the tag line from Brian at BMI anyway.....no worries......and happily pass it on to all who feel it.
enjoy the tunes!
Best,
Art |
I hear ya Art, that Karan is a fine unit. If I ever decide to go back to SS that would be first in line. I also admit that the heat of the tubes can be a hassle. I've taken to using as quiet a portable fan as I can find, I've tried about 8 or so small fans. It definitely does the job of cooling down the VAC, but yes, it can still be heard faintly from the listening chair when the music stops. However, when the music is playing, I still opt for tubes everytime.
I guess I'm just old school though, as I still prefer vinyl to digital. I just received a new 200g pressing of Holly Cole Trio's Don't Smoke In Bed (ABNC 5006) yesterday and it's sound is so holographic with tubes that I feel I'm in the studio. I'm using much cheaper cables now, as I've downsized, but I find the difference between tubes and vinyl is much greater than the difference in mega-buck cables and less expensive ones. At least for me.
I've heard some very good digital, and I really admire SACD's but for me....vinyl and tubes is like milk and cookies. It's like coming home again after a long trip.....it just feels right.
Then again.....maybe I just like the extra work of tubes and vinyl..... ;D
Cheers,
John |
Your thoughts and experiences are el perfecto, Juan. I am loving less stuff...but, while my downsizing journey has freed up a lot of space and cable confusion, I think with the cd2 i may not have saved much dough. But the satisfaction is tremendous with the simplicity and i truly feel i have given up very little in the sonic realm. clean and happy. i will miss my vinyl, but in the end all my tunes are a gesture away and all is well in gotham and denmark and hopefully yugoslavia and our own slice of planetary pie....
best, art |
Art,
You are running a high fever on the vinyl thing.
It will break in time and when it does then you will realize that analog is like an addictive drug that you must have.
Kind of like wondering away from home a bit. As Dorothy said, "there's no place like home". =8^) |
Does Gabriel Gold have a web site?
Thanks |
Glory,
I'm still holding Art's modded AES PH-1 phono stage hostage in the closet of my listening room; it's a little honey! I know he'll eventually come around for it...he he.
-Richard |
Hififan61,
I don't believe he has a net site. He sells mainly through Audiogon under the user name: Sts. Search Gabriel and his ads will come up. |
Hey Gary,
It looks as if you've been busy lately, new speakers and......what???? JPS Aluminata interconnects have replaced your GG Raptures. I haven't heard the Aluminata's yet, what would you say are the differences between the Rapture and the Aluminata.
You can PM me off-line if you do not care to comment on-line.
Cheers,
John |
hmmmm richard.....tempting.....i just sold off my main table, but still have an old sota moonbeam that might take a liking the the aes.....your closet feeling a little full? i still a couple thousand of albums....can't melt 'em down and sell 'em by weight.... |
Hey Richard....closet feeling full? i still have my old sota moonbeam and a couple thousand records....and an open input on the karan....
C'mon Glory, sharing. What up with the JPS? |
Hey Art....old buddy old pal.....I suggest you just throw those no good LP's away....they have no real value....who wants vinyl these days?.....just send them to me and I'll have them destroyed for you. ;D
Cheers,
John |
Bud,
On second thought that fever you have is long lasting so you can send the LP's down my way. I will pay for shipping.
|
Glory you shook my universe "8^)
my decision is easy as I do not have the funds to buy the JPS
to all others (fwiw)
http://www.stereophile.com/cables/407jps/ |
I just purchased a pair of Rapture i/c's and s/c's and yes they are really good out of the box. With only a few hours in my system Steve has indicated that it will improve for the next few days and then settle in. These were cooked before they left Steve's. My previous s/c were GG Revelation 2. I will update when they settle in and I get a better handle on what they can do. But first impression is very very good. |
I bought a pair of Rapture IC's from Glory and all I can say is "sweet mother of god" these things have transformed my system. Everything from lower tighter bass to delicate highs. For example, cymbals are remarkably realistic. I'm hearing things I never heard before (no I'm not schizophrenic) and I find myself getting lost in the music in a way I never have. And they seem to keep getting better. Just finished listening and I have never felt this euphoric about listening.
I haven't heard any other IC's of this caliber in my system, so I don't know what others would do, but I'm very happy about the Raptures. |
Hi -
Thanks for the kind comments.
Please feel free to e-mail me with any questions regarding the GG cables regarding application,etc
take care
Steve |
Ok, guys, the LP's are not up for grabs yet....
And, Hhilcoat, we are all schizophrenic to a certain extent. BUT, my experience with the raptures was and is the same. Clarity, nuance, realism. Sweet fresh air. It's all about the breath in the music. The Raptures really made my system come to life and have continued to do that through a fair amount of equipment changes. It's nice when your heart is beckoned and you can answer the call without fear of rejection.
Alright, that's it for now....starting to digress too far into the ephemera.
Later!
Oh, the CD2, is pretty phenomenal with astounding detail, minimal and diminishing digital hash after 6 hours, expansive soundstage and separation at first blush. More after the 6-8 hr/day for a week or do breaking in. All Rapture cabled, even PC (better than my BMI HH Gold Mk3 at the moment.....time will tell).
Enough the tunes! |
Budburma* How is that Ayon CD player working out?
Rapture or BMI ac cord ?
bobf |
Bud,i'm also curious? hows the CD 2?
Using Raptures with it?
don |
On this Easter day I must ask " what came first the chicken or the(Easter) egg?"
Is the Ayon that good on it's own or are the Gabriel Golds
making the player sound better?
There seem to be quite a few postings with Ayon/Gabriel
pairings although one company has nothing to do with the other.
I'm wondering what other cables Ayon owners were using before switching to Gabriels?
I don't have an Ayon CD player so I can only speak from personl experience as the Gabriels made all of my existing equipment come to life.
Gone are the goulash of different cables for different components.
In the case of the Gabriel Golds IMHO they are both the Chicken and the Egg combined into a single entity that brings music to life! and cholesterol free!.
They may raise your blood pressure though as you will find yourself truly involved in your tunes.
Check them out if you can.
Happy Easter |
Hi-I think the Raptor( dinasaur also known as dromaeosaurs)came first and is closely related to modern birds.
The Raptor was a meat eating bird that apparently came down with a bad case of "mad cow disease" hence we were left with the lame little chicken.
The Chicken then began to drop things out of it's butt.
What were later to be called "eggs".
The Gabriel Gold Rapture although not in the bird family evolved later as man's quest for audio cables to convey music accurately became within reach.
bobf |
Here are some notes on the Ayon CD-2 that recently replaced my longtime love, the Cary 306/200. First, this is my system as it now stands:
Gear:
Ayon CD-2
Karan KAI-180
Squeezebox Duet, Bolder modified and with power
Dynaudio Confidence C-1
Sound Applications XE-12S modded to near Linestage
Cables: Gabriel Gold Rapture RCA Interconnects and Speaker Cables, Von
Gaylord Chincnilla Sig. RCA Digital
Power Cords: BMI Hammerhead Gold Mk1 and Mk3
Gabriel Gold Rapture on and off the CD-2 (see below)
Of note, the Karan is a relatively new addition and I had only a short time to listen to it with the Cary, but did listen thoughtfully to the tunes I have used most often for analysis of gear in the past. And, here are those tunes:
David Gray: The Ep's 92-94
Shine, Lover
John Hiatt: Crossing Muddy Waters
Crossing Muddy Waters, What Do we Do Now
Dave Matthews Band: Under the Table and Dreaming
Satellite, Pay for What You Get, #34
Ryan Adams: Heartbreaker
May Winding Wheel
Ben Harper: Fight for Your Mind
Please Me Like You Want To
John Coltrane Quartet: Ballads
Say It (over and Over Again)
Mike Doughty: Skittish
The Only Answer, Looks
Steve Earle: Train a Comin'
Goodbye, Northern Winds, Rivvers of Babylon, Tecumsah
Vallley
Sometimes Why:
MIddle, Hush Child, Let Down, Hallowell
The soundstage is enormous and fabulous and as good or better than the Cary, while the imaging less precise, but in a very nice way. The images are rounder, a little softer, and larger. With the Karan, the Cary's images were somehow diminutive on a large stage....while that left a lot of black background, it seemed less real than the Ayon. The notes are true on attack, but the decay feels a little attenuated.
The detail is comparable or better, but since the images are larger, there is less separation on vocal harmonies in close proximity. So, with more crowded or complex parts of music there is some congestion that is not
so pleasing.
It is a very revealing player, so the recording is stripped of any corrective blurring or bad production for better or worse. And, forget about MP3's, they sound terrible and suck any way.
The ergonomics suck.....Holding on to the slow cooker like top while changing cd's is and true pain in
the ass.
It is overall a more musical player with a sweet midrange (more about that below) and bass is very realisitic and well controlled. No bloat, but a ton of energy overall. This abundance of energy presents itself as this nagging bit of forward nature in the upper mids. Truth be told, that is actually always nagging me in my system and in the end it is probably the Dynaudio's fault They are accurate and unforgiving and sound great when piled on with clean power, but require reigning in to avoid listener fatigue. It's their (and
my) specific conundrum of needing gobs of power and liking a tubish
warmth.
The Ayon does not add the tubish warm I was hoping for, but it has so many good attributes that I am going to try a quad of '80's Rusky DR tubes and see if that will bring it on home.
So, with that aggressive sonic trait demand in mind, the BMI cord is a better match in my system for the player....the Rapture cord has a small of that sonic signature and doesn't work as well right now. But, the new tubes could change things and I would venture is a great match for a system with less
tendency towards the aggressive or one that is more laid back and needs a little push towards 'coming alive'.
The DAC portion is very nice with the same caveats as above and is where I really here the MP3 disgusting hashy stuff.
So, overall, I like the CD-2 better than my Cary, but am not blown away by it. I am anxious to hear it with the NOS tubes and see what they brig to the table.
And, to be fair, I have been under the weather for a few months and am bringing a less than optimal attitude and overall gestalt of life to the listening table so my best ears aren't on. So much pig's guts on the table.
Like the man said, "I've been down but not like this before." Don't want to be a whiner, but really and I am holding my own, but for the most part hunkering down in the bosom of my nuclear family wile my friend's are awaiting my inevitable bobbing back to the surface. That's gonna' happen
I am sure, just in my waiting chrysalis stage.....patient and expectant of beauty.
Besides, my dog needs a new knee more than I need a new CDP. New knee is good news.
Those are the notes from my very own underground. |
Hi Budburma-
I know someone who has the CD-2 and although I have not heard the player I was told that switching to 80's NOS 6H30DR tubes make a world of difference.
Sorry I can't provide more details.
bobf |
From what I've read here the Gabriels seem to be a great match with the Ayon so you got that down Budburma.
I have never heard a stock 6H30 sound better than the DR
version.The difference was obvious when I upgraded to DR NOS tubes in my BAT. |
Art, sorry to read of your health misfortunes. I pray your ailments dissipate ASAP and you can return better than ever. Thanks for the review.
God Bless,
John |
I have the same info, Bobf. Trading out the tubes is a pretty tedious task that requires a lot of care.....I did it but may have dislodged one of the caps on one of the boards....I'll have to get it checked out before I can give it a listen. (Rats!)
Thanks, John. I'll have nore info in a month or so and a more definite forecast.....either 2 or 8 more months to go and I should be a-bloomin'.
The NOS DR's are all from '86 and well matched, so I think they'll be excellent, Darealjaydee. I believe that you are right and hope to find out for myself as soon as I can clear my booboo mentioned above.
Peace out and enjoy the tunes! |
FYI-Gabriel Gold Extreme info regarding older cables.
The original Gabriel Gold Extreme had a silver/black jacket and is labeled Gabriel Gold on both ends of the cable.The revised version of the Extreme was labeled Extreme on one end of the cable and Gabriel Gold on the other.The outer jacket remained the same.
The latest Extreme MK 2 has an all black jacket and in my opinion is better than both previous Extreme versions.
I also think it sounds better than the original Revelation
Hope this info clears things up for members looking for used Gabriels on the market.
jd |
Hi jd you are correct in your desription as I have tried or owned them all.
I also agree that the MK 2 Extreme and MK 2 Revelation are far superior to the originals .
That is not say that the original versions did not kick the crap out of my previous big rig cables and I enjoyed them.
Older Extremes for what I see them selling for are a steal and a half
It is simply the evolution of a great designer.
Evolution! that sounds like a good name for a GG cable?
bobf |
A quick follow up on the CD2 with the NOS DR tubes. My oops in installing them was more of my own concern and less of a problem than my paranoia originally portrayed.
The player is now different animal, a pure joy. All the excessive energy is tamed and the microdynamics under control. Huge soundstage with a gentle and warm yet dynamic and detailed presentation. Hard to say 'reinvents your whole cd collection', but it is fun to relisten to things with it. The decays are now extended and I'm really not finding any deficits to my ear with the reproduction from this player. The DAC portion holds up the same high standard.....
Hopefully, I can get more out about it later next month. If anyone has any specific curiosities, shoot me a email.
Enjoy the tunes! |
how are you making out with your Ayon CD2?
Gabriel Rapture AC cord or the BMI?
NOS tubes must also be making some improvements?
Still using the Rapture interconnects?
bobf |
"Evolution! that sounds like a good name for a GG cable?"
Bobf, unless I am missing something here, I think Gabriel "REVELATION" and "RAPTURE" may have implications about the cable designer's philosophy (I hope so) and I am not sure "Evolution" would fit into the Gabriel product line very neatly, if you get my drift. |
How about "The Armageddon"? Now there's a marketing campaign I'd like to see!
|
fiddler,
Steve told me that the "double entendre" is in effect when it comes to naming his cables.
I wasn't sure what a "double entendre" was until I looked it up.
Basically a name or phrase that carries with it more than one interpretation.
Rapture-1. The state of being transported by a lofty emotion; ecstasy.
2.extreme happiness or delight
3. The biblical definition of the "Rapture"
Revelation
Something revealed, especially a dramatic disclosure of something not previously known or realized.
There is also the biblical definition of "Revelation"
So maybe Evolution will work due to it's "double entendre" dual meanings.
Obviously Steve puts as much thought,knowledge and passion into the naming of his cables as he does the designing of them |
double! The Extreme 2 interconnects sound "double as good as my previos cables at a third of the price.
The cables sound very open and natural.
Fantastic detail and staging too! |
