Got a little "something" coming ...

[jimtranr]

Originally Posted by chessman

Jim and Graham, let us know how the new cables work out for you. Personally, I find choosing cables to be daunting - lots of contradictory information and limited means to do A/B comparisons. Real experiences that include the gear pairings involved are really helpful IMO.

Will do, Randy.

Daunting is right. Just consider your recent experience with burn-in. Figure that you have to wait at least 100 hours (perhaps more) before your new cable is ready for prime time evaluation, and hence comparison with what went before. Whatever your view of the reliability of long-term audio memory, you may still have to contend with filtering out your impressions of the new cable at, say, 30 or 40 hours so that whatever anomalies you heard at that point don't become, unconsciously or otherwise, the de facto comparison baseline for your 100-hour (or later) assessment vis-a-vis the previous cable used in that system.

And even if you have the facility to do immediate cable swaps, you may also have to consider cable "settling time" before you run an A/B on burned-in cable. (Yeah, I know that's a point of contention for some people, but in my experience it's a factor I need to be aware of.)

In any event, I'll base my assessment of the Equinox 6 after at least 100 hours' burn-in. And if I somehow find the will power to be patient enough, I might even stagger the installation so that I do only one swap--probably line stage to amp for starters--and complete burn-in before I install the second one.

Will let you know.

[audiot servant]

Hi Randy,

Have always found choosing cable daunting... choosing speakers and sources is relatively straightforward in comparison. It's more like alchemy than science, possibly because cables seem to be so system dependant and synergy is always a bit hard to second guess.

That said, even after just 50 hours I figure the system and me are in much better shape because of the change to all WW silver eclipse. The lower mid congestion that was a bit of a worry early disappeared at 50 hours and while there is still a touch of glare hanging in the upper mids but I will be surprised if that doesn't ease out as the cables settle in.

I played a Linn recording of Carol Kidd last night and sat there mesmerised at the textures of her voice, the subtle details that come through the silver let me realise just what a great singer Carol Kidd is.

I also listened to the Rene Liebowitz RPO recording of Beethoven 9th (Chesky) and straight up would say that it ranks as one of the best at home audio moments I have yet had, just magic, the blare of the horns, the weaving rhythms, the crazy big choral finale just filled the room and the soundstage was just so right, so properly proportioned. I am unsure yet if the WW silver eclipse 6 are going to prove to be very last word in transparency (only time will tell) but they are clearly beautifully balanced, very detailed, rich and sonorous... I am thinking that I would have to spend a fairly mad amount to do better... I am now listening to Hakan Hardenberger's trumpet and it is just so hauntingly beautiful that I have stopped thinking...

cheers
Graham

PS WIll check in again when they do another 100 hours... and am looking forward to your next update if you get some time to post your thoughts...

Main Music:Meridian Transport>Wireworld silver starlight USB>Pure Music>Mac Air with 256GB SSD>Wireworld silver eclipse 6 IC >Calyx DAC>Shindo Aurieges L>Sanders Magtech>Wireworld Silver Eclipse 6 SC>Magnepan 3.7
Head Music: Audeze LCD2 and AKG 702>Violectric V200 headphone amp
AV: Oppo 95 (coming soon)>Straightwire ICs>Peachtree Nova>Quicksilver GE 8417 monos>biwired Kimber 8tc>Proac Response 2

[chessman]

Here's a dumb question - do wall circuits go through burn-in? It just occurred to me that on top of the whole new loom issue, the Hydra/CD/Preamp was plugged into a wall socket that had NEVER been used. What do you think?

[Masterlu]

Originally Posted by chessman

Here's a dumb question - do wall circuits go through burn-in? It just occurred to me that on top of the whole new loom issue, the Hydra/CD/Preamp was plugged into a wall socket that had NEVER been used. What do you think?

I would say minimal if any on a circuit.

[jimtranr]

Originally Posted by chessman

Here's a dumb question - do wall circuits go through burn-in? It just occurred to me that on top of the whole new loom issue, the Hydra/CD/Preamp was plugged into a wall socket that had NEVER been used. What do you think?

I don't think it's a dumb question, Randy. While I can't speak to the wire running to the outlet from the breaker or fuse box, my recent experience in installing and then using two PS Audio Power Port Premier duplexes suggests strongly that what comes out of them benefits from burn-in (as PS Audio's lit itself indicates). I went through the same listening highs and lows I've endured with speaker, IC, and SACD mod break-in as the outlets went through an auditory progression (and once-or-twice regression) that lasted between 250 and 300 hours.

PS Audio attributes it to the materials used in the duplexes. Whether "stock" duplexes and the "unused" circuits feeding them exhibit the same propensity or need for burn-in, I can't say. But it wouldn't surprise me.

[Masterlu]

Originally Posted by jimtranr

Well, Randy, I have to say that your enthusiasm for your new loom jazzed me enough that I've decided to give Wireworld a shot for a portion of my primary system, albeit on a far more modest scale befitting the facsimile of discretionary income I can scrape up. This morning I ordered a pair of Equinox 6 IC's for starters (to run from my Oppo to my Premier 17LS and from the 17LS to the MF2500). When they arrive and my wife sees them, I'll immediately defend myself by responding, "Randy made me do it!"

And, yes, Ivan knows where they're coming from.

Cables away!

[jimtranr]

Originally Posted by Masterlu

Cables away!

Thanks, Ivan. Looking forward to bringing them aboard.

[chessman]

I am at about 100 hours on the loom now. The most interesting development is that now I hardly think about the cables at all. The cables do not call attention to themselves and now seem to be sonically neutral. Bass is almost back to its old form and is certainly much tighter than at first.

The reason for noticing them tonight (and yielding this comment) is that I am listening to a favorite recording (A Little Night Music) and suddenly realized that I am hearing much more clearly and deeply into the recording. This is a great surprise because I think this CD is very well recorded and I would have told you before that I was not missing anything. But diction is unmistakably clearer, the presentation of complex passages is much better, and instruments have better presence (not louder, better realism).

So, the cables have progressed from "is something wrong?" to "getting better" to "what cables?" to "wait a minute, I just heard something I never heard before." I am psyched to hear what these sound like when fully burned-in.

[Masterlu]

Randy... I'm very happy to hear that the cables continue to impress you!

[audiot servant]

Hi Ivan,

The Silver Eclipse just turned up in the mail and sounded good even just right outa the box... thanks a million and as always... Have a great weekend

cheers
Graham

Main Music:Meridian Transport>Wireworld silver starlight USB>Pure Music>Mac Air with 256GB SSD>Wireworld silver eclipse 6 IC >Calyx DAC>Shindo Aurieges L>Sanders Magtech>Wireworld Silver Eclipse 6 SC>Magnepan 3.7
Head Music: Audeze LCD2 and AKG 702>Violectric V200 headphone amp
AV: Oppo 95 (coming soon)>Straightwire ICs>Peachtree Nova>Quicksilver GE 8417 monos>biwired Kimber 8tc>Proac Response 2