2. cables
  3. 1387817264

Finding 'The weakest link" in my stereo

So I ahve been pretty happy with my system. Decided to try aa new cable: Cardas Parsec. I wanted to replace the main sevenmeter run from preamp to amp, but decided to try a one meter Parsec first, just to see if it would be an upgrade or just a lateral move.

So i get the wire and stick in in my setup choosingthe link between my VAC Standard (I use it for a glorified tube buffer) and my pream Bryston BP-26.
The wire I had in there was some KCAG I had cut and with Kimber Ultraplate RCA.
So i am pleasantly impressed with the Parsec.
And didnot even realize the former cable was a "Weak Link".
Interesting.
(The immediate expereince was listeningto some hadyn string quartets (Naxos) from a box set, when the cable arrived via FedEx. So I put the new calbe in and immediately started listening.The big difference was the sound was not 'steely' as before. I thught it was just the recording was that way. Not so. Here it is the third day, and while listening to other items between, right now I am back to the Hadyn quartets box. and the sound is far more enjoyable. So good luck was found in buying the Parsec, and happening to choose the particular connection to change.

So what are you eperiences with finding the weak link in your cabling?

(i realize this whole post is not a question, but it is high time was started using these forums for more than newbie questions and perplexing problems. And I invite others to post things they find interesting.. So we can discuss the issues.)
elizabeth
schubert
4,867 posts
 
All I know, or think I know, is that if you have more than source you need to put the best you have between your pre and amp.
jedinite24's avatar
jedinite24
1,502 posts
 
Amen to that. I'd love to see more postings for interesting things too rather than pricing questions from lazy people who refuse to do any research.

For me I found a system weakness through a cabling audition. I tried a pair of Black Cat Audio Morpheus speaker wire some time ago. Per my normal procedure I set up a break in rig to burn in the cable for about 2 weeks straight. I then took the Morpheus speaker wire and put it into my stereo system. I found that with the Morpheus speaker wire and the DH Labs ICs I had in place the music was dull and on some tracks the highs were unbearable. I found I had a big mis-match all around and didn't have the funds to go all Black Cat Audio ICs so I had to start from scratch cabling wise. So I guess I had all sorts of issues and not one weak link.
nonoise's avatar
nonoise
4,382 posts
 
Mine were the ICs between my integrated and CDP. I tried some Darwin Silver ICs and the improvement was more than subtle.
More, and better defined bass.
A coherence that I've previously not thought possible (since I thought I had that base covered).
A larger and more naturally proportioned soundstage.
More air on the higher end with better ambience as well.
They were also the easiest to break in with the shortest time I"ve experienced.
All in all they took about 45 min to an hour to fully settle in which makes me believe there are way too many cable makes out there that don't understand dielectrics, or cables for that matter.

All the best,
Nonoise
kijanki's avatar
kijanki
3,575 posts
 
Elizabeth, Cardas "House Sound" is often described as warm.

I was looking for good speaker cables for my class D amplifier when I finally found complain about Acoustic Zen Satori stating it is overly warm/full at the lower midrange. That's exactly what I need, I exclaimed, since my amp was a little weak there. It is match in heaven - male voices have "chestiness", cello sounds like cello and I sound happy.
raks
468 posts
 
I never subscribed to the theory of limiting the cost of my cables in comparison to the cost of my equipment. My weakest link has to be my Theta Intrepid amp but I can't convince myself to part with it.
More to discover