Speaker cables for Wilson Audio

[soundslikemusic]

Originally Posted by PHC1

Harbeths and Wilson are a different breed for sure. Harbeths cabinet is actually designed to have resonance as part of sonic signature...

Because of the harbeth resonance, it adds coloration-> which has a certain sound that is pleasing to some ears, while coloration to some ears.
I respect both & I like both sounds... depending on the music you play the with, both can sound great !

[two dot]

Just curious...

What gear is driving the Harbeths?

[soundslikemusic]

Originally Posted by two dot

Just curious...

What gear is driving the Harbeths?

Same amp as the Wilsons: Luxman, Accuphase, Bel Canto digital amp, etc...

[two dot]

If you had to pick...

Wilson or Harbeth????

[soundslikemusic]

Originally Posted by two dot

If you had to pick...

Wilson or Harbeth????

I kinda had a feeling you were going to ask me this.
hmm. I've lived with harbeths for 5 years or so and i know what they do very well and not.
Ive only lived w/ the S3s for about two weeks & I'm liking what I hear but I'm also missing something from my Harbeths.

to answer your question. Its too early to tell because I still have to match the S3s with different amps, maybe try different cables and try it in a different room.
I very much respect and like what it can do to certain music which my harbeths cannot quite attain. But i also miss the midrange magic of my harbeths.
Harbeth is like a Koetsu in cart, Wilson is like a Dynavector xv1s in cart.
Wilson is a more complete speaker, balance should you say.
Harbeth is more midrange oriented but has a certain "magic" and charm to it.
I can't answer that question right now... perhaps time will tell...
But having both would be the best.

[two dot]

Thanks for a very honest, very thoughtful answer.

I wonder why it is that almost no one can master the magicial Harbeth midrange????

[soundslikemusic]

Originally Posted by two dot

Thanks for a very honest, very thoughtful answer.

I wonder why it is that almost no one can master the magicial Harbeth midrange????

You know, I have alot of audiophile friends from all over the country come to my place & some of them have super hi end speakers.
DYnaudio C4s, Temptation, Sonus Elipsa, Maxx2s, Magico Mini, Watt Puppies, Maggies 3.6s, etc.... most of them admit that while the Harbeths don't do the bass very well, the midrange is "something else" and they have yet to hear that midrange in another speaker. SOmething about the mids to the lower midrange of the Harbeth is truly special esp when you listen to Nat King Cole or stuff with double bass, cello... Wow- its fantastic!

[Ricjor1]

I received Silver Audio's Jet Stream and Appassionata inter-connect a couple of days ago. In addition, I received Silver Audio Symphony 48 speaker cable. I have the Jet Stream going from CD player to preamp and Appassionata from preamp to amp. Prior to Silver Audio, I had Kimber Hero inter-connect and Clear Day Audio Double Shotgun speaker cable. I began by having my wife listen to some of her favorite music with the lights off. She immediately said, “That I changed something”. It was apparent from the first note something was different. I don’t want to exaggerate, but this is what I heard: Soundstage bigger, detailed, but smoother than before, bass fuller, more defined soundstage, inner detail that was missing before, at one point my wife said “that she could almost see the singer move closer to the mike”, I believe that was the result of the cable’s ability to highlight subtle changes in dynamics. Since this is the first relatively expensive cable that I’ve heard, should I listen to other cables?

[soundslikemusic]

Try auditioning the transparent cable called "Plus" MM2 speaker cable- $775 for 8 feet pair. & the matching Plus Interconnect for $360. I wouldn't be suprised if the Transparent would sound similar or better than your more expensive SilverAudio.
A friend with a Maxx 2 had a pair of $3000 siltech speaker cables.
We tried the $775 Transparent Plus (new out of box) for kicks.
We both preferred the fuller, smoother, refine sounding, more kick in the bass PLus over his Siltech cables.
He ordered the Transparent Reference Speaker cables in effect.
But again, YMMV. Good luck & have fun.

[Coppy]

Serge... if your still tuned into this thread... I'm using MIT Magnums with my WP7s; soon to be Sashas, with great results. Given the shared background of Transparent and MIT I assume they share much of the box technology and thus sound. Do you agree? Thanks.