2017 Honest Cabling that doesn’t promote bankruptcy

I have owned both the AQ Niagara 72V DBS ICs and the Synergistic Research Tesla (various models) & Element-series actively-shielded cables. Both apply DC power to the dielectric, albeit by different designs (battery vs "MPC" wall wart power supply). I found both to sound excellent and sold me on the notion of charging the dielectric for improved sound quality, most notably the improvement in reducing the noise floor.

The AQ method provides a much cleaner installation with the battery packs attached to the cable and no external wiring, but the SR active-shielding allows tuning of the power source (via cost-effective mods to the MPC by fellow-member Michael Spallone) and changing the Tuning Bullets (introduced with the Tesla SE and carried on to the Element series).

Michael’s mods were a step-function improvement in sound quality across the board and the SR tuning bullets provide audible changes in the upper-frequency character of my system. Very nice to have the ability to slightly alter/tune the highly-hearing-sensitive upper-frequency region where the enjoyment of cymbals and female vocals is especially sensitive (to me) to open-ness and also glare depending on the individual system’s proclivities in that region.

Both cables provide excellent sound quality in my experience, but I personally give the nod to the SR implementation for the reasons noted above.

Dave

cycles2 > Yes, over the years I always had a full loom of matching SR cables & typically purchased their most costly model starting years ago with the Tesla Apex series, then Element CTS and most recently the Atmosphere Level 4 line.

Blindjim > my first cable purchase was entry level spkr wires in active config. They arrived non active. Did not want to mess with sending them back and waiting what ever time, and just kept them with a rebate from the cost diffs. Still got them.

Since SR went to their Apex lines and beyond, I’ve lost interest in SR. Too expensive, and too complicated. Amd too many other ‘necessary’ add ons to make existing cabling better.

Would have been OK if all of the SR cabling had been improved upon, but it appeared to me, only the $1K and up stuff got better. Reportedly.
Mostly, it merely got different.

Apex: It/they did not mate well with former SR ICs and why I sold my Resolution reference ICs which IMO, were the best pre to amp links I’ve had yet. Even had SR rewire them to SE from XLR when I made a system change. I liked ‘em that much.

Following the RR exodus, the best mix were Shunyata Altare $2K MSRP or so… and a pair of Nirvana SX Ltd… and the SA sig 10 active spkr wires. In that order.

I’ll look into HT Links first, probably. Maybe, they’ve gotten better at imaging and bass. The IIs ain’t bad, but I’ve heard better, for better money, of course.


Pops > pops > Trickle first, sell after, when possible.
I am currently using a loom of Kubala-Sosna Fascination, IC’s, SC and PC’s. They are a very solid match to my system which includes Thiel speakers.
I seem to remember you had MIT’s for a while. I have owned and tried a ton of those...

Blindjim > yep. Had MIT Magnum 3 as source cable to line stage pre. Always wanted the MIT Mag 1s. never did get ‘em. Adding more MITs was not the answer for me. It bleached out the sound too much.

When the SR Resolution Ref left, I added in Harmonic Tech’s Magic lnik II as power line IC.

Kubala always interested me. For about a minute. Seeing the preice tags blew me away immediately. Oil well.

Upper end audio equipment buying and or trying is like sleeping with a celebrity. Until you have done it, you only have the fantasy. Once done, it might just be the fantasy was better than the actual experience.
Results vary greatly.

I’m seriously inclined to go with an ‘all one brand’ harness this tmie around. PCs, however, have proven vividly, mixing there can really get some interesting outcomes.

We’ll see.

Kubala always interested me. For about a minute. Seeing the preice tags blew me away immediately. Oil well.

No doubt, KS are not shy about their pricing.  Would love to try Emotions but no way I pay the asking rate.  

I've recently been smitten by Morrow cables as they seem to provide a neutral path for those pesky electrons, and have brought some sparkle to the gear heap. I ordered more of them recently, so I'll report back in a couple of months when they're properly settled in. I like to do the "break-in" myself so I can verify the changes…I remember a specific moment over a 7 minute period that I noticed a .0047% increase in soundstage width, but it was a metric increase and I barely had time get it translated  to inches before I had to return to my nap.

cycles2 > SR will continually introduce new technologies & tell us why it's so much better than last year's model they raved about.

Blindjim > that seems a constant among all the makers of audio gear despite the fat their position on their latest SOTA gear is the best yet.

It’s the law. They have to.

Too bad some items in audioland are so ‘mercurial’. Especially cabling.


Pops > more or less, I’m fully on board with your idea.
I am currently using a loom of Kubala-Sosna Fascination, IC’s, SC and PC’s. They are a very solid match to my system which includes Thiel speakers. I have had them about 3 years and have craved to upgrade to the Emotion level. And there I go again - trying to get into 4 figure cables again. Since I retired recently they are just a little pricey for me
I seem to remember you had MIT’s for a while. I have owned and tried a ton of those...
have you tried KS cables. Full bodied with nice tonal balance -

Blindjim > thanks all so far.
I’ll try this again. As my last reply did not get posted.

RE MIT cables IMO work well here or there but not front to back. They ‘bleached’ the sound when too many were in the chain.

RE KS cables. Full bodied with nice tonal balance –
They also demand fat wads of cash. Its highly doubtful I’ll land in KS world anytime soon.

There are only a few ultra high end wires which I believe I’ll try, once the spkrs and amp (s) land here. I’m also inclined to see what happens when one brand is inserted throughout, albeit, maybe not the exact same model, or maybe even then.

I simply despise the prospect of spending $10K or more and likely a bunch more, on freakin’ ICs and spkr wires!!

I do indeed get the notion cables matter. More than a little. But, If there is insanity in this hobby, it is spending multiple thousands on cables. Especially, if its just on one link in the chain!!!!! Wow.

That said, I still have enough PCs for example, which totaled well into the thousands in MSRPs and roughly half that in real costs. Yet, the outlay was/is substantial… and OMG, going forward it will be once again. .