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#1
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Reccomendations needed for balanced interconnect to MC402
Hello friends. I'm repeating this post since I like to hear the thoughts of McIntosh owners on synergy with my mc402. (I love the smell of rebellion in the morning!) I got rid of my old name David10024. I'm just David now.
I'm thinking of tweaking my set up by adding a balanced copper interconnect between my computer and MC402. Right now I have all silver interconnects. It is very detailed but maybe just a tad on the bright side. Any recommendations on a balanced interconnect cable that would slightly sweeten the mid-range and add a little smoothness to the highs? |
#2
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You have XLR analog out of your computer?
Beside the point, I really like the WireWorld Silver Eclipse 5^2, silver coated copper. Wonderful speaker, zero ear fatigue, and that is on XCS350's (10 tweeters screaming at you...)
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Main: McIntosh XRT1K MDA1000 MC402 | JL F113 | Bryston BUC-1 | WireWorld Cabling | RGPC1200C | PPP
Office: Bel Canto S300iu 24/96 | KEF LS50 | REL R218 | WW Mini Eclipse | 18 TB Media Server Mobile: McIntosh MX406 MDA5000 MCD4000 MCC420M | JM Lab/Focal Utopia |
#3
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The Lynx L22 is a pro audio PCI card that has an audiophile following. It has balanced outs that can be set at consumer voltage or higher pro voltage. In the latter case it easily drives an amp directly with no problem. This is usually the way I use it.
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#4
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Welcome David.
Guys, I recruited (rescued?) David from AK after his post was moved from the McIntosh forum to the Thinking Out Loud forum . I promised him good responses from the former big-hitters at the AK Mc forum, so let's give him a warm welcome and help him find the right cables. At the low-end of the price range, I've found Tributaries to be a good value and a good match for my sonic preferences. But I might be too far out in the "some like it warm" category for my input to be of value to you. I definitely found silver interconnects hard to take - even with the relatively forgiving Sonus Faber Auditor I had when I tried a few different brands of silver interconnects. Alberto Last edited by Alberto; 04-08-2009 at 07:24 PM. |
#5
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Nice to see the whole gang over here. Thanks for the rescue Alberto! I have to admit, this feels like a 60's thing!
Just some background, I tweaked my computer's operating system slightly following the recommendations of Cics the creator of the Cics Memory Player. For those who are not familiar it is a method of setting up a computer to have minimum activity other than what is necessary to play music files, which are played from the memory (cache?) not from hard drive reads. With just a few changes, I began to hear details like I never have before. The problem was that it was fatiguing over time. I'm trying to get the system re-balanced without giving up all the new new found resolution. |
#6
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#7
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Hi David, nice to see you. I am using the DAC in the sound card, ie the analog out. It does have a digital out which I do not use, and of course, also records. I have a custom silver balanced break out cable coming from the card. The cable that came with it is copper. The balanced breakout cable goes into a switch box so I can switch to my preamp if I want to listen to vinyl. I was thinking about changing the silver balanced interconnect (HGA Silver Lace) that goes from the switch box to the amp.
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#8
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David.......I have to agree with Alberto's comment regarding silver plated copper interconnects, in that some manufacturers cables seem to heavily favor the upper octaves. Even different series of interconnect cables from the same manufacturer's line can sound better or worse. I discovered the Wireworld Silver Eclipse 5.2 series balanced cable to be too bright for my taste, yet the new Wireworld Silver Eclipse 6.0 series balanced interconnects are so detailed and smooth from the lowest octaves to the highest octaves, I find it difficult to belive the cables are from the same company. The new Wireworld Silver Eclipse 6.0 balanced interconnects are excellent.
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Dan STUDIO - McIntosh C1000C/P, MC2301 (2), MR88, Aurender N10, Esoteric K-01X, Shunyata Sigma spdif digital cable, Sonos Connect, PurePower 2000, Stillpoints, Furutech Flux 50, Michell Gyro SE, Michell HR Power Supply, SME 309, Ortofon Cadenza Black, Wireworld, Sonus faber Amati Anniversario LIVING ROOM - McIntosh C2300, MC75 (2), MR85, Magnum Dynalab 205, Simaudio MOON Neo 260D-T, Schiit Audio Yggdrasil, Aurender N100H, Shunyata Sigma USB cable, Micro Seiki DD40, Ortofon Cadenza Blue, Nakamichi BX-300, Sony 60ES DAT, PS Audio P10, Furutech Flux 50, Sonos Connect, Stillpoints, Wireworld, Kimber, PMC EB1i, JL Audio f113 VINTAGE - McIntosh MA230, Tandberg 3011A tuner, Olive 04HD, Sony DTC-59ES DAT, McIntosh 4300V, JBL 4312A |
#9
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David,
Are you using an outboard DAC or the sound card to do the D/A conversion? Some of the copper cables you may try will help somewhat. Cables are usually not as effective as some more important factors that contribute to the overall result. The problem with many of the computer based sources is that you will usually not get the proper "weight" and "tonality" even if the sound card is very good to great. They all tend to "bleach" the sound somewhat. Have you notice how most of mid-fi sounds relatively the same? There is always that sense of lack of weight to the sound, it sound light weight and too lean with "not enough meat on the bones". Often with the lower end DACs and computer sound cards, the sound is accurate and has enough resolution, in a word true to the recording as far as details go but it doesn't sound as believable making vocals too lean, the highs too crisp and bass is often too dry and lacks body. This is mostly because of the choice of capacitors and resistors in such devices. What differentiates the high end audio and other devices such as audiophile grade outboard DACs from mid-fi and computer sound cards is the choice of much more expensive components that add the realism in the form of weight, scale and proper tonality back to the sound. If you are using the Sony's DAC, then your problem will mostly be with the room itself being too reflective. You can certainly try some copper cables, it will help a little but I don't think it will get you all the way there. |
#10
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Quote:
Alberto |
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