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Stage III Concepts Cables - Any Advice/Feedback/Thoughts is deeply appreciated.

I have a mixed loom of Stage III Concepts Cables on loan to me from a local dealer and need some help.  
There is hardly any user/owner/member/end used type of info out there so I wanted to reach out. 

Here is what I am demoing now and below is the why...

Stage III Concepts GRYPHON XLR 1.5m Interconnects   
Stage III Concepts MAGNUS 3.0m Speaker Cables
Stage III Concepts MINOTAUR 2.0m Power Cable
Stage III Concepts KRAKEN 1.5m Power Cable

Here is the why:

I received my new Magico S5 MK II Speakers 2 weeks ago upgraded from the original S5's.  
I wanted to upgrade my pre and amp but was waiting to hear my new S5 MK II's with my present gear first. 

Magico S5 MK II Speakers
Pass Labs X250.8 amp
Simaudio Moon Evolution P-8 pre
Bricasti M1SE w/built in ethernet media player
SGC sonicTransporter ethernet Roon server w/Uptone Audio JS-2 LPS
Kubala-Sosna Emotion Full Loom 

I loved my new speakers and so sold both my Pass X250.8 amp and my Simaudio P8 pre.
I bought Pass Labs XA-160.8 Monoblocks and was driving them direct with my Bricasti M1SE as pre/dac.

I was happy and while looking for a pre I stumbled into a local guy that had a Soulution 530 Integrated.
I thought you know what lets try it and if I like it then I will sell or trade my Pass mono's for a pre or use 530's preouts.

To make a long story longer I put it in my system and low and behold I like the Pass amps better. Maybe not a huge surprise as Pass gear is killer but then I phoned the local Soulution dealer to pick he brain. 

He told me the Pass amps should not sound better with S5 MK II's and it was due to the match of my Kubala-Sosna cables which work great with Pass, ARC, Ayre, Krell, etc. but Soulution is a different animal and needs a different cable. .
I thought OK here we go... Here comes the big old cable sales pitch but to be fair I called him. So I listened.

He loaned me the cables I have listed above to prove what he was saying was true.

You know what happened. Low and behold he was 100% right and they blew my mind. No snake oil but real results.  

They sound insane and actually really good with my Pass amps too but the match with Soulution is breath taking...

Now I see why the Soulution amps are darn expensive. They should recommended cables like Spectral and MIT does.  

So with so little info out there I wanted to ask for you guys for any and feedback, or opinions.

It is really expensive stuff and sure there is some savings because some is former gen cables and they are demo's but still its really expensive stuff so I just was hoping I could get some more info from you folks.

Sorry for long write up but wanted to share my thoughts and my situation and ask for some help on these.

Thanks 
       





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fsmithjack OP
605 posts
 
Thanks  dave_b,
Yes I was going to keep my Pass mono's until I heard the Soulution 530 with Stage III Concept Cables and heard that elusive...wow like I've never heard before.

I wrote this thread because these cables cost as much as Pass mono's so just kind of trying to decide. Great stuff cost great money. I never spent this type of money on cables so kind of nervous and was hoping to get some feedback. 
inna
5,245 posts
 
In certain serious audiophile circles, outside Audiogon, where cost is rarely a consideration, three cable brands are most often thought of the most highly - Purist Audio Design, Stage III Concepts and Echole. I am only familiar with Purist, but I have trust in someone who knows them well. He says - top level. He uses Purist in his system, by the way.
You hear right. Cables are components as well and match is very important too. You might consider trying both Purist and Echole before buying Stage III cables if possible. If you do try Purist start with Dominus and then maybe go even higher.
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stereo5
2,766 posts
 
I never heard of the cables you are auditioning, but if the Solution amp which is already extremely expensive needs cables that cost in the upper 4 figures to 5 figures, I would pass on them.  I just can't see why a piece of wire would cost 8K or 12K as it is just wire and there is probably 300% mark up on them.  Plus, if you do buy the cables and you upgrade again in the future, you will probably take a bath on the resale of your cables.
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fsmithjack OP
605 posts
 

inna
Thank you so much, this is the exact type of information I was hoping to hear.

A couple of the cables are expensive but semi-normal for really good cables.

The Stage III Concepts KRAKEN 1.5m Power Cable and the Stage III Concepts GRYPHON XLR 1.5m Interconnects are just crazy expensive but these seem to be the straw that mixes the drink.

Unlike those other audiophile you spoke of for me cost is always a big consideration so I approach such a product with caution only because I have to but that said these cables unleashed a level of sound quality that I have never experienced before in my life. Not in my room or dealer or show. Of course many times dealers just have mix and matched stuff through together and shows we all know the problems those rigs face but man did this experience strike me. 

Not with a $55k amp nor $40k speakers nor $30k class a mono blocks nor $15k DAC's has my system ever responded like it did with these cables but then again $15k for a single pair of Interconnects and a power cable I guess will do that.. 

I plugged them in and was like - holly @#%& what is this?

Man I wish they just didn't cost so much because it sounds so good its almost like cheating. It's like they have access to something none of others are even aware of.

I mean how could ever the cable effect deniers every argue with what I heard. Night and day does not do it justice. Smack right between the eyes was more like it. I am smitten and now its either time to pay or let that sound be something I am chasing forever forward. Couple of crappy options really but we all know this hobby can get expensive and fast and especially when you leg or two stuck in the high end cable rabbit whole which is where I seem to have found myself....    



  
jetter
1,035 posts
 
fsmithjack, sometimes I get the feeling that your perfect sound is any sound that is different than that which you heard before.
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