primaluna gear, avalon eidolon speakers, cardas

Before making a cable vs sub decision be certain that your Ascendents are well out in the room, in proper reflective placement, and spiked. At this point I'd suggest auditioning a more powerful amplifier.

If your looking for low frequency there is no substitute for a well integrated subwoofer/s especially if you like what your current amplifier is offering you in the mids and highs.

I would preface that every room has different reactions to extra low frequency an individuals goals and taste are very subjective.

That said, I auditioned a Studio III and found it to be very limited by its preferred high level (speaker} connectivity. The supplied cable is so short it limits room placement which is usually critical with a sub without onboard EQ. Compared to Velodyne DD+ system integration was marginal at best.

I'd suggest partnering the 528 with DSpeaker EQ or similar.

Woodworker,

Have you had an opportunity to listen to your system yet and if so perhaps share your thoughts?

Integration has to do with the response of the low freq. unit of a subwoofer. Material needs to be very light and stiff. Velodyne weakest point is there speed in response. For surround it is good, for stereo it is too slow for me. I have proven this in a few tests.

I could not achieve the stealth integration I want and did achieve with the PLW-15 from Monitor Audio. There response and timing is better cause of the combination of carbon and alluminium. This is something I can easily demonstrate to many highend people as I did.

With Audyssey Pro I could achieve also the dynamics and energy coming from the place were the low freq. are on the recording. With Velodyne it is more coming from the sub it self instead of the location were it needs to be.

Tried many speaker cables with Avalons: MIT varies levels, transparent, nordost, acoustic zen, stealth dream, ridge street audio, purist audio, cardas clear. best fit for me was tara lab 0.8. That is with both SS amp and tube amp.

Tara Labs has also a sharp individual focus of instruments and voices. This means you get a more realistic proportion of instruments and voices.

I sold Avalon for over 6 years of time. I never understood why people buy it with MIT. Because the individual focus within the wide and deep stage never will give an intimate image. I also sold MIT for over 6 years of time.

People should listen to acoustic instruments in real. After this listen to Avalon and MIT and you will understand what is missing.