Sakura Systems OTA Cable Kit

No, Gaincard doesn't have to be used with 4708 OTA Cable kit. I think this became obvious for everyone glancing through numerous reviews where reviewers wouldn't use it even if strongly suggested as a far better solution from what they've been using.

What you have to take care about when using other cables is:
- you can't have bannana speaker connectors connected to gaincard's output terminals. Spades are ok, although some of those monster spades tend to ask for a wider head screw as replacement for the stock ones.
- female RCA connectors on all of 47Labs gear are gentle. As with other gentle things in life, you don't treat them with a brute force. overtightening of the macho-type male connectors may damage chasis RCA connectors. btw, they are made that way on purpose.
- very thick and heavy cables can affect mechanical properties of the Gaincard (and they are important for the sound!)

I can see no reason for having S version connected with Coincident speakers. What I would do, if I were you is to go back and have a listen of:

a) 25w Gaincard and two 25w Power Humpty
b) 25w Gaincard and ONE 50w Power Humpty

You may end up with a better result and some money left in your pocket.

As a starting point, my advice would be to stick to 4708 OTA Kit and only after growing up with Gaincard for a while to investigate other cable options. Or, alternatively, just keep the cables you have (unless they are really completely incompatible ones) and look for new cables after a few months. By no mean it is carved in stone that everyone must use 47Labs cables. Some of us just like them.

Best regards,
Sead

I think you should try the OTA speaker cables with the Gaincard. Very soon they will tell you the truth: every, I mean EVERY other speaker cable manipulates with music.
Than, you could try the OTA cables as IC's....

Hi Ivo,

I thought you went for vacation?
Funny, we live like two blocks away from each other and we meet here. :-))
My point was that Gaincard will work with other cables as well. Possibility is that most of these cables may do injustice to it but I have no problem with that, as long as Gaincard is not accused for revealing some nastiness in the rest of the setup (and funny how people easily jump on accusing Gaincard - if revealing is the crime, yeah, let someone bring the rope, the bastard amp must hang! Dunno, must be something in the size of it... and they say size doesn't matter... hmm.)
Now, having lots of people using OTA these days in non-47Labs setups, it is kind of unusual to look for something else for Gaincard. Still, we both remember well that you were not unhappy initially using Yamamura as IC with Gaincard and that it took me quite some time until I had you let 47 cable properly burn in and realise its full potential as IC.

Best,
Sead

p.s. One of my former dealers used to hold a weight on Gaincard, claiming it sounded better taht way. I really couldn't do anything about it.... except to take him off the dealers list. :-)

Hi Sead,

I'm still here. You know, my system sounds so good these days so I can't leave...
Yes, I was so happy with the Yammamuras as ICs with my Gaincard. I agree with you that Gaincard sounds very good with other cables but, as you know, its full potential is given only with the Storatos. It's the same with the whole 47 Laboratory system, including digital cables and, what I consider as the essential point, power cords. Considering that OTA cables are so affordable (comparing to the all mega-bucks, thick, heavy, stupid full-of-all-kind-of-coloration cables) it's logical to supply them with the Gaincard and with other 47 Lab equipment.
I've recently heard Storatos as a ICs in my friend's non-47 Laboratory system and I was amazed of how much improvement they brought.

Regards,

Ivo

Thanks Sead,

I just received a van den Hul 90 degree phono plug and I'm going to rewire the 3 feet between the arm base and phono stage. I wonder if I can gently crimp the sockets internally so that I don't have to use solder ? It's worth a shot.

You have an astonishing product in this cable. This must be the closest thing to connecting components with air. Have you considered making condoms ?

Keep up the great work.

Mark