12-Jul-2014, 17:55
I have cables from very different topologies, and i can reliably tell some from others.
Regarding Speaker cables:
Kimber TC8: musical, relaxed, balanced. Moderate 3D image (8 threaded multistrands crossing + and -). "Full" sound.
Goertz MI2: more 3D, less relaxed.(2 parallel flat copper cables, one on top of the other and very close to each other- like an extended capacitor)
Mapleshade double helix: seems like a hotrod car: more extended bass and treble, much more deep and wide 3D image; but not relaxed at all. In high RFI area, it can be tiring to listen for extended periods. "Bare" sound. (4 solid, thin conductors, twisted in a special pattern 2 by 2, and intended to keep both couples very separated)
Not able to pick differences between Ethernet or USB cables (though none is special)
Regarding power cables (and compared with plain power cable)
Mapleshade clearview power cable: more extended in bass and treble, but not relaxing. Some days, depending who knows what, completely unlistenable. Others, giving the best music ever (normally late night listening)
Eupen VMVB (3 closely twisted single strand 2.5 sqmm, embedded in a ferrite-loaded compound and shielded, DIY finished). Much more relaxed than either standard and mapleshade. Much more "silent": black background. Can listen for extended periods without fatigue. Mids are more pronounced than with the mapleshade: a more full sound. This material was bought directly from a normal "cable" factory by the reel, where it is sold for labs that need to isolate measurement equipment from RFI. Later I have seen that some lower material made by the same company has been sold by Audusa in the UK and by JPS labs (with an oter sheath as Digital AC cable)
I think that in current RFI-heavy environments, the ability to pick or avoid RFI can be heard, since our equipment is not linear and RFI from different sources can eventually inter-modulate down to the audio band. As well noise can eventually reduce headroom of amps too. (And RFI can be external or internally generated)
Regarding Speaker cables:
Kimber TC8: musical, relaxed, balanced. Moderate 3D image (8 threaded multistrands crossing + and -). "Full" sound.
Goertz MI2: more 3D, less relaxed.(2 parallel flat copper cables, one on top of the other and very close to each other- like an extended capacitor)
Mapleshade double helix: seems like a hotrod car: more extended bass and treble, much more deep and wide 3D image; but not relaxed at all. In high RFI area, it can be tiring to listen for extended periods. "Bare" sound. (4 solid, thin conductors, twisted in a special pattern 2 by 2, and intended to keep both couples very separated)
Not able to pick differences between Ethernet or USB cables (though none is special)
Regarding power cables (and compared with plain power cable)
Mapleshade clearview power cable: more extended in bass and treble, but not relaxing. Some days, depending who knows what, completely unlistenable. Others, giving the best music ever (normally late night listening)
Eupen VMVB (3 closely twisted single strand 2.5 sqmm, embedded in a ferrite-loaded compound and shielded, DIY finished). Much more relaxed than either standard and mapleshade. Much more "silent": black background. Can listen for extended periods without fatigue. Mids are more pronounced than with the mapleshade: a more full sound. This material was bought directly from a normal "cable" factory by the reel, where it is sold for labs that need to isolate measurement equipment from RFI. Later I have seen that some lower material made by the same company has been sold by Audusa in the UK and by JPS labs (with an oter sheath as Digital AC cable)
I think that in current RFI-heavy environments, the ability to pick or avoid RFI can be heard, since our equipment is not linear and RFI from different sources can eventually inter-modulate down to the audio band. As well noise can eventually reduce headroom of amps too. (And RFI can be external or internally generated)
Oslo: sources: Mac Mini/Itunes/Audirvana, glassfiber toslink/Mapleshade clearview USB to D200;
Double helix to Gallo Strada 2 with mapleshade stands, TR3 subwoofer.
Spain: Oppo 95 vacuumstate modded, Kimber select 1021, Linn Classik Movie Di to Gallo Solos through Goertz Python cable
Double helix to Gallo Strada 2 with mapleshade stands, TR3 subwoofer.
Spain: Oppo 95 vacuumstate modded, Kimber select 1021, Linn Classik Movie Di to Gallo Solos through Goertz Python cable
