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Now I know what they mean by a bright cable.

Have an Integra Research RDC-7 pre amp with balanced outputs. When I first got it I used Better Cables XLR balanced for my front two channels and it sounded great. However I fell in love with a DH Labs Air Matrix ad and swapped them out. Long story short the DH Labs in my system is so bright, the music sounds unnatural and definetly causes listerner fatigue. I swapped back the better cables and the difference is unmistakeable. Perhaps the DH Labs might be good on tube equipment but wow it sounded like nails on a blackboard on mine. What causes a cable to sound so bright? Is is silver vs copper?
darrylhifi
viggen
817 posts
 
Hi Sean,

You're probably right regarding the impedance matching of cables and components.

However, this seems to be a simple case of the user having to get used to a more revealing audio cable. The DH is, to me, more revealing than Bettercable, and it is, perhaps, revealing the weaknesses in his system. The brightness is, perhaps, inherent in his system, which he is masking by using the lesser quality cable, or, should I euphemistically say, the warmer cable.

Furthermore, it doesn't seem that Daryl has plugged in the DH lab cable for more than a few minutes. Unless he bought it used, the cable doesn't seem to be burned in. However, even used cables needs to be burned in for at least a few hrs in my experience. But, he didn't state any information on this issue, so it's all assumptions.

For these reasons, I doubt the cable is the culprit.
darrylhifi OP
498 posts
 
IT PROBABLY HAD 500 HOURS ON IT. AT LEAST. AND I COULD TELL THE DIFFERENCE BLINDFOLDED. AS FAR AS MY INTEGRA RESEARCH RDC-7 , ITS THE BEST TWO CHANNEL SOUND I HAVE EVER HEARD.
jmc
2 posts
 
In what sense did you fall in love with these cables if they sounded so horrible in your system?
viggen
817 posts
 
He said he fell in love with the advertisement.
rlb61
362 posts
 
I had the same problem. Was using the Air Matrix when I changed CD players (went from Cary 303/200 to MF Nu-Vista 3DCD). The Air Matrix were well-burned in and were still somewhat bright when I used them with the Cary. But, my ears were aching after I used 'em with the MF. I initially attributed it to necessary break-in on the MF, but the brightness remained. I then switched to a pair of Transparent Links (for connections to CD and amp) and the brightness was gone. I've tried other ICs in the system which are not silver over copper and there's no brightness.

I think system synergy is extremely important, as my experience shows. Interesting side note ... my tape deck (Nakamichi DR-8) was sounding a bit dull so I used the Air Matrix on the tape deck. WOW! Tape never sounded so good - great detail and palpable bottom end. You really DO have to experiment with ICs to get the sound that's right for your ears.
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