#101
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Agree 100%
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Preamp: McIntosh C1100T/C1100C, McIntosh MX180 Amp: McIntosh MC611 (2), MC601 (3), MI254 Digital: McIntosh D1100, McIntosh MCT450, Meridian 808v6, Aurender N20, Aurender ACS10, Oppo 203 Analog: McIntosh MT10, Hana Umami Red Phono preamp: Simaudio Moon 610LP, 820S Signal cables: WW Gold Eclipse 7 speaker cables; Shunyata Sigma v2 XLR (2); Sigma v1 XLR (2), Transparent Ref XL (MM2) XLR; WW Silver Eclipse 7 (4) Digital cables: Shunyata Omega USB, Omega Ethernet, Sigma Ethernet; WW Platinum 7 Coax, AES/EBU Switch: Innuos PhoenixNet Power: Audioquest Niagara 7000, Audioquest 5000, Audioquest Dragon, Hurricane PC, Shunyata Alpha HC, AQ NRG Edison outlets, (8) 20 amp dedicated lines, 125 amp subpanel Speakers: Wilson Sasha DAW, Dynaudio Contour 30, Dynaudio Contour 25C Subs: REL s/812 (6), REL s/510 (3) Accessories: HRS M3X2 shelf (MT10), Stillpoints Ultra II v2 w/ bases (21), Ultra SS (12), Mini (12), LPi v1 Sound treaments: Artnovion |
#102
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An all-Super IC setup is $5360; I can't afford that, frankly. Not all at once, for sure. This would be a 1m pair, three 1.5m pair, and two 2m pair. Some creative system re-configuration could shave one 1.5m pair off that and a 1m pair could replace another 1.5m pair, if I don't mind the visually awkward result. I would mind, however.
I'm still exploring (when I have a chance) the improvements the HPPCs have wrought, which are showing me what the Plus ICs were actually doing that I didn't hear before. What I could do at some future point is get one pair of Super and put it on my pre/power connection to see if there's a difference there; if there is and it's significant enough, then I could maybe get a 1.5m and 1m pair for my two main sources (SACD and Blu-ray) at a later point, with the Plus ICs moving to non-critical sources and displacing the Kimber Hero that's still on those (and which still sounds good to my ears). That's a more likely scenario. Meantime I sent an e-mail off to my contact at Transparent to see what he thinks. It was he who encouraged me that the HPPCs were just fine for my 501s and the Premium PCs weren't necessary. He's also the reason I went up to Plus instead of the MusicLink I was considering initially.
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SOTA, Grado, SME, Van den Hul, Gingko turntable setup; Pioneer Elite LD, BDP; Sony OLED TV; Magnum Dynalab tuner, antenna; MIT S-video cable; Pangea HDMI cables; DVDO video processor; McIntosh SACD, preamp, power amps; Telefunken Black Diamond preamp tubes; Kimber IC; Transparent IC, PC, SC; Mirage speakers; PS Audio, Shunyata PC; Audio Additives RCA caps; Furman power conditioning; Sanus: racks Last edited by prepress; 08-02-2017 at 04:05 PM. |
#103
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I heard from Transparent, and the main point is cost vs. performance. My contact tried Opus speaker cables with his MC452, and he heard a difference, but that's seriously over-cabling the 452. I agree with him.
He went on to say that in reality, Super or Ultra would be a good match for my C2300/MC501 connection, but my more measured approach is a good move (i.e., perhaps trying out one pair of Super to see if I hear a real improvement). Any trial would be best on a source, most likely CD. See, now I'm curious about this, and I should be looking the other way.
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SOTA, Grado, SME, Van den Hul, Gingko turntable setup; Pioneer Elite LD, BDP; Sony OLED TV; Magnum Dynalab tuner, antenna; MIT S-video cable; Pangea HDMI cables; DVDO video processor; McIntosh SACD, preamp, power amps; Telefunken Black Diamond preamp tubes; Kimber IC; Transparent IC, PC, SC; Mirage speakers; PS Audio, Shunyata PC; Audio Additives RCA caps; Furman power conditioning; Sanus: racks |
#104
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Not sure what it means, but I sent an e-mail to Stereo Exchange (from which I bought two pairs of Plus in 2016) via their new website, inquiring as to whether I could get a pair of Transparent Super ICs to try for a week or two at home. I let them know I'd been in touch with Transparent and that a pair could be shipped out to them for this purpose. Lo and behold, the e-mail came back undelivered! The message was "Info wasn't found at stereoexchange.com." There is a bunch of suggestions from Office 365 on how to fix this, apparently for Microsoft Outlook (which I don't have). Perhaps this is a sign I shouldn't go down the Super road.
For sure, I balk a bit at spending almost $1k for a mere pair of 2m interconnects, but I wonder if there's more music to be had, as per 2fastdriving. Then, there is a Greg Weaver write-up in the current TAS on a system at AXPONA wired with—you guessed it—Transparent Super. He raved about the sound. I'm not familiar with any of the equipment, but his comments had me balking at my balk. And, there's always Innovative Audio to try as well. They are an "Ultimate" dealer, meaning they carry the entire line with systems set up and wired with Transparent and I'd think more likely to have a direct comparison in-store, even. Or, I can just take an expensive chance and buy a pair, hook it up, and see what happens. I have to think more about this, I'm afraid.
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SOTA, Grado, SME, Van den Hul, Gingko turntable setup; Pioneer Elite LD, BDP; Sony OLED TV; Magnum Dynalab tuner, antenna; MIT S-video cable; Pangea HDMI cables; DVDO video processor; McIntosh SACD, preamp, power amps; Telefunken Black Diamond preamp tubes; Kimber IC; Transparent IC, PC, SC; Mirage speakers; PS Audio, Shunyata PC; Audio Additives RCA caps; Furman power conditioning; Sanus: racks |
#105
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Oh, well.
I have ordered a 2m pair of Super interconnects from the Transparent store. I decided I didn't want to expend the time and trouble (more the time, which is quite precious these days) of going to a dealer and arranging an audition. So I am taking what I've already termed an "expensive chance." Most likely the Supers will arrive next week. The intent is to put them on the C2300, replacing the non-Gen 5 MusicLink Plus there now. If that config sticks, the MLP will move to the LD player. Once I'm satisfied the Supers are "broken in," I may move them to my SACD player to try there, putting the MLP back where it was. That's very dangerous, for if there's more improvement with the Super/MLP chain than the Plus/Super one, it opens the door to consideration of an all-Super IC setup, or Super on sources and upgrading the MLP to Gen 5 Plus (both too much money now). What I could do is have the current Plus ICs upgraded to Supers, which I'm sure is less than all-new Supers. If I prefer the Plus/Super chain, or there's no real difference between the two chains, then the Super stays on the 2300 and I would consider going Plus on the tuner with the MLP going to the LD player as mentioned previously (SACD and BD have Plus already). I could remove the Aragon phono pre and go straight to the 2300 with the TT as well, saving the expense of an additional pair of ICs. A die of some kind is now cast, so we'll see what's what.
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SOTA, Grado, SME, Van den Hul, Gingko turntable setup; Pioneer Elite LD, BDP; Sony OLED TV; Magnum Dynalab tuner, antenna; MIT S-video cable; Pangea HDMI cables; DVDO video processor; McIntosh SACD, preamp, power amps; Telefunken Black Diamond preamp tubes; Kimber IC; Transparent IC, PC, SC; Mirage speakers; PS Audio, Shunyata PC; Audio Additives RCA caps; Furman power conditioning; Sanus: racks |
#106
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Quote:
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#107
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Quote:
But the Super ICs arrived yesterday. I put them on my C2300, replacing the MusicLink Plus, as planned. First thing I noticed is the Supers are thicker than the Plus, though I don't know if this is due to bigger conductors or not. I played a couple of CDs, about 90 minutes total. This is mostly to get some hours on them. The first was a solo piano disc of Beethoven. The second was Antonio Carlos Jobim's Wave. Though the Beethoven CD's not that familiar, the piano sounded like a piano pretty much. The Jobim disc, on the other hand, is quite familiar, and on a track or two I noticed some details I hadn't before. Not to say they weren't there previously, but I was aware (or more aware) of them now. Maybe the Supers found some details the MLP didn't; I'd have to go back to the MLP to be sure. Also, if the Super behaves as the Plus did, I can expect the sound to smooth out some, especially on top. That will take more hours.
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SOTA, Grado, SME, Van den Hul, Gingko turntable setup; Pioneer Elite LD, BDP; Sony OLED TV; Magnum Dynalab tuner, antenna; MIT S-video cable; Pangea HDMI cables; DVDO video processor; McIntosh SACD, preamp, power amps; Telefunken Black Diamond preamp tubes; Kimber IC; Transparent IC, PC, SC; Mirage speakers; PS Audio, Shunyata PC; Audio Additives RCA caps; Furman power conditioning; Sanus: racks |
#108
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Quote:
It's quite obvious that I'll have to start paying more attention to finances, which is why it's unlikely I'll go all Super ICs; the one pair on the 2300 will stay, and because I like what I hear so far I may just "Plus" the remaining sources that still have Hero and call it quits on that. It's occurred to me that I need more in the checking account to fall back on in case any gear needs repair or replacing (if repair isn't an option). The only gear I have that's still under warranty is my main BD player, and maybe the 102, so I need to be ready. We'll see what, if anything, changes down the road. the NY Audio Show returns in November, and I bought a ticket. That might not have been smart, but I'm going anyway.
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SOTA, Grado, SME, Van den Hul, Gingko turntable setup; Pioneer Elite LD, BDP; Sony OLED TV; Magnum Dynalab tuner, antenna; MIT S-video cable; Pangea HDMI cables; DVDO video processor; McIntosh SACD, preamp, power amps; Telefunken Black Diamond preamp tubes; Kimber IC; Transparent IC, PC, SC; Mirage speakers; PS Audio, Shunyata PC; Audio Additives RCA caps; Furman power conditioning; Sanus: racks |
#109
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Charles.......Tempting fate, uha? .
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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 |
#110
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I plan to beat it. Unless Legacy Focus SEs are on sale at 50% off.
Having been free of Tostitos Hint of Jalapeño tortilla chips and Breyers gelato for well over a month, I'm confident.
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SOTA, Grado, SME, Van den Hul, Gingko turntable setup; Pioneer Elite LD, BDP; Sony OLED TV; Magnum Dynalab tuner, antenna; MIT S-video cable; Pangea HDMI cables; DVDO video processor; McIntosh SACD, preamp, power amps; Telefunken Black Diamond preamp tubes; Kimber IC; Transparent IC, PC, SC; Mirage speakers; PS Audio, Shunyata PC; Audio Additives RCA caps; Furman power conditioning; Sanus: racks |
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