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Cables Galore Speaker cables, Interconnects & Power cords |
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#21
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I look forward to one day having a pair of AQ Wel xlr on band.
I must say the AQ wel speaker wire has been a blessing. Best deal ever. |
#22
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Audioquest Silver Interconnects
Hi Fredrik Linnofil and Steve,
sorry for my late reply but I had to bustle with a very bothering problem with my system. Fredrik youre right, what youve described much better than me is exactly what I did mean. I was wondering if building an unbalanced interconnect with a balanced Silver cable, i.e. a cable with two wires hot and cold and a screen could be a good idea. Linnofil, what you describe is very interesting. Maybe Ill try to make a pair of interconnects with one screen not connected sooner or later... Steve, I guess we meant the same as Fredrik described, right? Paolo |
#23
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Since starting this thread I made some changes and was able to try out a bunch of different AQ interconnects.
I replaced my MC452 with a Luxman 509X, and replaced the AQ Oak with Thunderbird Zero. In terms of interconnects, based on recommendations I picked up Fire interconnects which I really liked. I was also able to get a pair of WEL interconnects at a great price and picked those up as well. Figured it would be good to give my perspective on these cables since I had at one point Earth, Niagara, Fire, and WEL. A few caveats, the Niagaras and Fires were XLR the Earth and WEL RCA. Because of this I had to use my Marantz 8805 (native FLAC Tidal) as the source since it has both XLR and RCA. I noticed a few DB difference between RCA and XLR. As always, all this is system specific. I would have to agree with everyone comments in this thread about the differences between these cables. Form my perspective the easiest way to describe the cables: - Earth: Great soundstage, warm, not so crisp highs/vocals and less instrument separation, but had depth to the sound. Overall a great cable, has an analog sound to it. Vocals are less forward, more blended into instruments. - Niagara: Smaller soundstage, very crisp highs yet smooth, less depth. Vocals more up front, almost in front of music. Great bass, but lacked fullness in the mids. - Fire: Wider soundstage, very crisp highs (also smooth), a bit more depth, fuller mids. Good instrument separation. Vocals up front, more prominent. - WEL: Amazing soundstage, all around crisp instruments/vocals, AMAZING instrument separation, very full sound and depth. Layering was more audible, vocals are more natural and realistically layered in with the instruments. Closest to analog out of any cable I have used. Best way to put it, WEL is a combination of best things from Earth + Fire. First time I put them in and comparing to Fires I thought they were warm and I had lost clarity especially with vocals. As I listened to them more, it was obvious what I was hearing was more natural, realistic, but never losing any crispness or clarity across the entire spectrum. Instead of the vocals being front and center they were more distributed across the proper soundstage. Also heard instruments I hadn't paid attention to as much with the other cables. I really like the Fires as well, I plan on using them for other parts of the system. I recently ordered a Lumin D2 to try out, and will try to do a comparison between the Fires and WELs with the D2 as the source. I may reterminate the WELs to XLR at some point, if I can get over the ridiculous amount AQ is asking for the retermination. I also want to try WireWorld Platinum 8's at some point to compare since I have heard good things.
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Vitus RI-101, Martin Logan Impression 11A, Lumin T2, AudioQuest Thunderbird Zero and WEL |
#24
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__________________ Amp: BAT VK-655SE Pre-amp/Digital: exaSound e32 w UpTone JS-2 Power Supply; SOtM tX-USBultra w UpTone LPS1.2; Apple Mac Mini w UpTone DC Conversion Kit & UpTone JS-2 Power Supply; Squeezelite w Logitech Media Server 7.9.0 Speakers: Triangle Magellan Cello II Cables: AudioQuest WEL XLR, AudioQuest Everest, AudioQuest Hurricane HC, AudioQuest NRG-1000, AudioQuest Diamond USB Rack: Solid Tech Hybrid Tweaks: Omicron Stabilizzatore Armonico & Gold Evolution SE; IsoTek Sigmas GII w Optimum EVO3; Furutech FT-SWS (R) AC Outlet; Synergistic Research Blue Quantum Fuse |
#25
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I would be very interested in your comparison of AQ vs WW platinum 8 if you get the chance to hear the WW cables.
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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 |
#26
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____________________ Charles Updated System Most recent update: AQ Diamond USB replaces AQ Coffee Amps: McIntosh 1.25KW’s (3) set on floor on custom made cultured marble slabs Preamp and DAC: McIntosh D1100 Sources: McIntosh MCD1100 SACD player, MVP881 BR player, MVP851 DVD player, MR87 tuner, Marantz 510LV Laser Disc player, ASUS laptop USB (JRiver Media Center 23) Speakers: Wilson Audio Specialties Alexx Sub-woofer: Wilson Audio Specialties Thor’s Hammer (1) horizontal lie and Wilson Watch Controller (abbr: WC) Cables main system: Audioquest Wel Signature speaker cables and balanced IC (preamp to amps); Wel Signature AES/EBU balanced digital IC for CD playback; Audioquest Diamond optical (1) for tuner, (1) for BR player, and (1) for LD player for total of (3); Diamond USB cable; McIntosh MCT cable for SACD playback; Dragon power cords (5 HC cords and 3 source cords for total of 8); Thunder HC power cord for tuner; cables for DVD player not listed Cables subwoofer system: Audioquest Redwood speaker cable (1); Wolf balanced subwoofer IC from WC to amp; Wind balanced IC from preamp to WC; Hurricane HC (2) and Dragon HC (1) power cords Power conditioners: Audioquest Niagara 7000 (1) and Niagara 5000 (3); (4) dedicated 20-amp lines with no. 10 wire straight out of fuse box Cabinet: Double Custom Woodwork & Design (CWD) solid walnut cabinet on large casters; holds all sources and preamp; also, Niagara 7000; 11 feet minimum distance from speakers Acoustic Treatments: Room and Echo Tunes enough to turn the room into a virtual anechoic chamber if desired; however, at present my room is significantly reflective giving me a bright, vibrant, dynamic, highly resolving, smooth sound free of harshness and grain and perfect for my taste; zero slap echo; gorgeous midrange AC: Dedicated to this room only, an ultra-high efficiency and quiet Trane split system 2.5-ton heat pump with 4 returns; active electrostatic filter and top-grade digital thermostat Room (mancave): 40’L x 15.5’W A-frame; max ceiling height 8’ min 5’; wall within wall construction built of 2 x 6’s; built over garage with custom hardwood floor with gym seal with over 40 Lowes stiffened wooden I-beams supporting floor; complete isolation from rest of house |
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