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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
 
celander

Thanks for the feedback.

I don't know about focus on aesthetics? Have you ever seen the Soulution 530 Integrated? It is one but ugly amp. My wife told me it looks like a college dorm fridge. Definitely not a good looking amp. The Pass Labs XA-160.8 Monoblock are awesome looking but they just got beat out by a college dorm fridge...lol My Magico S5 MK II looks exactly the same as my S5 MK I but I do like the new Platinum color better though. My old ones were that brown color and the new color is much better but they look like twins and cables they are in the back so can't really see them?

Well I do like your idea about earth grounds. I want to try one of those grounding boxes. Do they work well. I am not really familiar with those components? Do you use one? Is there one you recommend?
Thanks  
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fsmithjack OP
605 posts
 

inna

Yes so you are committed to quality cables as well so that's good to know. Its just tough to put as much into cables as you have into your electronics but now a days if want your electronics and speakers to bloom at their best its the price we must pay.

I think the % of total system investment for cables has grown and as they keep getting better so do the electronics. As the electronics get better they now respond or take more advantage of the even better electronics so its all related.

The cables ends of the XLR IC's feel like like plastic where they plug into the back. I guess is carbon fiber or something but feels like and looks like plastic. Its really light and doesn't even lock but just rest in there. Kind of odd.     
inna
5,245 posts
 
My philosophy is to keep cables at least one step ahead of the active components because in this case I should be able to hear everything the active components are capable of. The same with power cords.
Signal transmission is very important, and it is difficult and quite expensive to design and make great cables. Good cables - not so difficult, as I understand.
Kubala Sosna has high reputation but not the highest. Besides, active components/cables match thing.
Out of curiosity you could try mixing Stage III and KS cables and cords in different ways and see what happens. First, I would put just one Stage III power cord on the Soulution amp and leave KS interconnects and speaker cables where they were, along the KS power cord on the dac. Sometimes, and I don't generalize, with the right power cord on the integrated difference between various but excellent interconnects and speaker cables can be less. But it won't disappear.
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lak
3,516 posts
 
I've read that Stage III Concepts is known primarily for their power cords and not other interconnects but that's not to say that they don't sound good. It would be interesting to talk to the importer of the product to hear his opinion. http://aaudioimports.com/ShowBrand.asp?hBrand=13
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dave_b
2,267 posts
 
Yeah, S3C seem to be heavy on blending metals and hand made hyperbole. Good luck with that stuff. I would seriously consider upper level MIT cables before deciding. You have no idea how holographic and tonally right your system can sound unless you try them. Joe Abrams has valuable advice as an industry veteran and can have MIT cables made for you at terrific prices. Check him out before you get fleeced. I think your kinda shopping for Gucci when considering the S3C cables.
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