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-   -   The Audioquest WEL Signature RCA has been arrived (https://www.audioaficionado.org/showthread.php?t=43899)

GBP 09-24-2018 11:23 AM

The Audioquest WEL Signature RCA has been arrived
 
So there it is now. The AQ WEL signature in the RCA version. A used version, five years old, with the new connectiontype.
It replaces my beloved Fire which i bought this year. It is the connection between preamplifier and power amplifier.

The system was warmed up for an hour while I was sitting in the office.

First I heard three familiar pieces with the Fire and then I replugged it to the WEL. At first I thought "Hmm, that's it now?". Maybe I expected too much, because the WEL does coest 8200 Euro vs 3300 Euro. But it only differs from the Fire - as far as I know - by even bigger plugs and more air around the single cables. And nothing else.

So plugging back again to the Fire and yes, there is a difference! :)
With the WEL I heard more crackling in old recordings. With Singer-Songwriter more reverb on the voice. There's also a little bit more "downforce" and very little more easiness in the bass here and there.
That was just a 30 minute test. Which one should make by the way without wine...

Anyway it doesn't go on in this area now. I have arrived here at the end. That's it. This connection is really really done. It cannot be better.

Now it applies to replace the AQ Oak and quite urgently the preamplifier (a Rotel RSP-1572). But since my main source is HDMI (a small HTPC delivers Tidal and Netflix and movies and all the music, connected via AQ Carbon), it's hard to find a good replacement. I won't need more than two channels plus subwoofer and don't know where to upgrade to.

What would you do? If the only source is supposed to be a small computer.

joey_v 10-02-2018 08:14 PM

I went from Oak to a WEL speaker wire and it was no contest. You should do the same

Congrats on the WEL rca!

GBP 10-03-2018 02:29 AM

I'd do it in a blink of an eye - but i'm not that rich. :(
But always looking what's new on the second-hand market. There's where i catched the WEL RCA for 1700 instead of 8200 Euros. Same seller has a pair of Wildwoods but way too short.

The WEL RCA is wooooonderful. :)

joey_v 10-03-2018 06:41 AM

I got all my wels on the 2nd hand market as well, no sense in paying inflated new prices if I can help it.

I had them sent to AQ headquarter in California to ascertain provenance as well.

johndoe21ro 10-04-2018 11:13 PM

Someone got infected with AudioQuest-itis! :D
__________________
Amp: BAT VK-655SE
Pre-amp/Digital: exaSound e32 w UpTone JS-2 Power Supply; SOtM tX-USBultra w UpTone LPS1.2; Apple Mac Mini w UpTone DC Conversion Kit & UpTone JS-2 Power Supply; Squeezelite w Logitech Media Server 7.9.0
Speakers: Triangle Magellan Cello II
Cables: AudioQuest WEL XLR, AudioQuest Everest, AudioQuest Hurricane HC, AudioQuest NRG-1000, AudioQuest Diamond USB
Rack: Solid Tech Hybrid
Tweaks: Omicron Stabilizzatore Armonico & Gold Evolution SE; IsoTek Sigmas GII w Optimum EVO3; Furutech FT-SWS (R) AC Outlet; Synergistic Research Blue Quantum Fuse

GBP 10-05-2018 06:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johndoe21ro (Post 934370)
Someone got infected with AudioQuest-itis! :D

Noooo. Never ever. *cough* :)

joey_v 10-05-2018 04:17 PM

*cough* *sneeze*

GBP 11-03-2018 03:35 AM

First off, wow!
I recently bought a new preamplifier. A Cambridge Edge NQ. A really wonderful, very modern device. It replaces my old Rotel AV preamplifier and tops it relatively well.
Anyway, I now have the possibility to wire via XLR and not only via RCA.
Therefore I had my used WEL sent to Audioquest to mount new XLR connectors. Yesterday the cable came back after one week.
Price: 0. Great!

Now I heard about my AQ Fire for a week and always thought that there was something wrong with my system. Or if I have something on my ears.
Now with the WEL with XLR: I think it sounds better again than with the old plugs. First because the plugs are really new now and then because it's XLR.
Now I'm REALLY impressed by the WEL!
As if I got new ears.

Wow!

joey_v 11-03-2018 01:31 PM

Wel is awesome


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