Kubala-Sosna Elation! & Emotion PC's & Emotion XLR -- am I about to be in trouble???

[vintage_tube]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Bob.......Proper way for what? Is his response or rebuttal to your discoveries going to cloud or alter your opinion?

Not at all Dan -- just a courteous thing to do since he was kind enough to send the cables w/no time limit. I still have all the cables hooked up and listening now.

He's a very understanding individual who realizes this or that in one system may have different results in another.

My write up is completed -- won't wordsmith it one iota.

Bob

[vintage_tube]

Okay, a bit late but too much on my plate to have met the suspense date I made earlier regarding an A/B of these cables against the Isoclean Super Focus (C500P and MCD500) and Wireworld Silver Eclipse 5.2 PC's (amps).

The time is available and here is my impression after a lengthy A/B (as originally written a week or so ago).

Strange experience with these – and I’ll try and explain.

The Elation! PC on the MCD500 only – all other PC’s were what I had (Isoclean Super Focus on the C500P and WW Silver Eclipse 5.2’s PC’s on the MC2301’s). Volume was set at 44 throughout the auditioning.

Without a doubt there was more bass however I lost some micro dynamics – especially the bell ringing on Ella Fitzgerald, Clap Hands Here Comes Charlie, track 3, My Reverie. On Track 1, Night in Tunisia, the opening of the music has slightly more bass and it was w/o a doubt deeper & cleaner sounding (only slightly deeper than the Isoclean SF cables), and a smidgen clearer with the Elation!.

Then I inserted the Emotion XLR on the MCD500 with the Elation! PC. Still lacked the micro dynamics but it greatly improved. So, I switched back to the Isoclean SF PC on the MCD500 with the Emotion XLR’s, to me I had the deeper bass I had with only the Elation! PC I mentioned above BUT the micro dynamics I missed using the Elation PC! Cord only returned in spades.

Afterwards, I left the MCD500 with the Isoclean Super Focus PC, the Emotion XLR’s and then inserted the Emotion PC’s on the MC2301’s. Wow, nice combo IMO. I picked up a bit more bass (slightly more so than with the Elation! on the MCD500 as mentioned above) and there was a noticeable increase in the micro dynamics (Eva’s finger snapping on Cheek to Cheek (Track 1 of Live at Blues Alley) were as natural as could be. Her voice clearer, cleaner, just in the room. Ella’s pronunciation on My Reverie was crystal clear and the background micro dynamics in your face.

Finally, I tried the following set up – Elation! PC on the C500P, Emotion PC’s on the MC2301’s, Emotion XLR on the MCD500, and Isoclean Super Focus on the MCD500 and once again the system lacked the micro dynamics with the Elation! PC – swapped the Elation! power cord with the Isoclean Super Focus and bingo – just as the paragraph above stated. Nice, clean, sharpe deep bass, cleaner sounding, and the micro dynamics reappeared.

Keeping the Isoclean Super Focus on the MCD500 and C500P. In my mind the Elation! actually took away from what I was accustomed to hearing. So, once again the Isoclean Super Focus cables proved their mite (as they did during the C500P/C500T vs. ARC Reference 3 shootout a few months ago, if you recall).

The WW Silver Eclipse 5.2 PC’s and Silver Eclipse 6.0 XLR’s are very good products – however; like all cables, they have they can add or detract from the overall, in-total synergy of a system. Having said that, they are an excellent cable for the money – great bang for the buck.

So, bottom line – I really enjoyed the Emotion XLR’s, and the two Emotion PC’s placed in strategic places within my system. However, having said that, I have had nothing but praise for the Isoclean PC's and believe their performnce has a special synergy in my system. Without hearing them on the amps, I'm willing to go that route. The Elation! PC for $1.8K was sub-par in my system and I was quite dismayed by it’s performance.

Yesterday and today I concentrated on A/B'ing the GenalexGENGP 12AX7's with the Emotion PC's on the amps and Isoclean everywhere else (except MT10). What I'm planning to do is A/B btween the Emotion XLR and the Wireworld Silver Eclipse 6.0 on the MCD500 and note the pros/cons of the XLR's (there is a considerable price difference).

Having said all the above, I'm definutely leaning towards acquiring 2 Isoclean Super Focus cables for the MC2301's. Dependent upon the XLR A/B; go in the direction it takes me.

Suggested Retail prices:
Elation PC, 1m, $1800
Emotion PC, 1m, $1100
Emotion XLR, 1m, $3K

Bob

[cmalak]

Congrats Bob on finding the right mix of ICs and PCs to take your system to the next level. Nice write up. Enjoy

[vintage_tube]

Originally Posted by cmalak

Congrats Bob on finding the right mix of ICs and PCs to take your system to the next level. Nice write up. Enjoy

Thanks Cyril -- it is an effort to do these A/B write ups. Synergy is an important factor which is not easily attained -- too many variables that depend upon availability to try them.

Bob

[cmalak]

[vintage_tube]

Just ordered 2 Isoclean Super Focus 2M Power Cables. Should have them next week. Looking forward to having them on the MC2301's. Will provide a brief review after they have been in awhile.

Bob

[soundslikemusic]

The Emotion PC's are just addicting. They are a bit pricey but well worth the price of admission. I wish i can put KS cabling throughout my system.

[vintage_tube]

For me, Isoclean is the cats meow. Wasn't too impressed with K-S; especially with all the recent K-S hype.

Bob

[jdandy]

Bob.......Did those two Isoclean Super Focus 2M Power Cables show up yet? Those are going on your MC2301 amps, correct? What do you think?

[vintage_tube]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Bob.......Did those two Isoclean Super Focus 2M Power Cables show up yet? Those are going on your MC2301 amps, correct? What do you think?

They did show up Dan, and able to put a few hours on them before departing.....cannot give a single impression of the SF PC's alone as I also threw in the Isoclean SC-102 speaker cables at the same time.

Since first learning of Isoclean, I've been very happy with their line of first rate products (as I came from Shunyata land prior).

Bob