Hello Teejay!

I´m building a new system and i´m considering change all my cables. I have acoustic Zen Silver Ref II and Audioquest Vulcano speaker cable. I´m considering for ICs the Absolute and for speaker cable the Double Barrel or the Absolute.

Is possible for you to speak a litle about the absolute line of Acoustic zen? Do you think the absolute is a major step over the Silver Ref? Did you test the Absolute speaker cable or the Double barrel?

My amp is the ASR emitter II exclusive amd I´m considering the Von Schweikert VR-5SE. Here where I live is impossible to test this kind of cables but I liked a lot the previous products I owned from Acoustic Zen!

Thank you very much for your help
Best regards
Mike

asradict January 09, 2007 01:25

System edited: I just got through with a round of auditioning different linestages and found the Bent Tap linestage to be a little more "organic/musical" then my Placette Active linestage, so the Tap is my new reference. I'll post a review here on the GON in the next few days.

teajay January 08, 2007 06:24

Chris, my experience with digital cables would confirm your assumption, just because a cable is 75 ohms does not always lead to excellent sonic performance.

The two cables that you were seeking information on regarding their sonics I have never personally heard, so I can't be helpful, sorry about that.

As you know, by looking at my system and reviews, my reference is the Stealth Sextet. I virtually never call any piece of gear the "BEST" in the world, however if the Sextet is not the best digital cable around today, it ranks right at the top of a very short list.

teajay November 04, 2006 05:40

Tj, according to experts a digital S/PDIF cable should have 75 Ohms characteristic impedance. If a cable has these characteristics, it should sound very good regardless of price. But in practice the bunch 75 Ohms cables (from RadioShack to Purist Audio) sound not very alike and some are better than others. So this 75 Ohms thing will not guarantee that the cable is fine sounding, do you agree with this? Do you know the Silver Stream digital interconnect from Silver Audio? And what do you think of the Wireworld Gold Starlight?

Chris Hie (The Netherlands)

dazzdax November 03, 2006 19:32

Ah yes, the balance between type 1 and type 2. That is why there is no "best" IMO since everyone has a slightly different operating point. It all becomes relative to people rather than equipment - and people definately are tougher to nail down. :)

I asked the question mostly from the point of view of how your different pieces of equipment compare to each other, but I suppose that happens automatically. We favor the same types of attributes (my first three are the same as yours, a very european order I might add) but rated our equipment somewhat differently it seems. Interesting how much room there is for subtle differences. But then again, that is where it all hinges! Thanks,

Arthur

aball October 10, 2006 01:06

Aball, thanks for the interesting question. I would like to answer it in two ways.

1) My most important priorities regarding specific sonic attributes are the following in rank order:

Natural/accurate timbres

Macro-dynamics/speed

Transparency/details

A wide/deep soundstage with air around the different players and a natural layering in the stage

Extension on the top and bottom

These are the factors, especially the first three, that I am trying to obtain in the overall sonic signature of my system because it allows me a good taste of the "real thing" with the greatest amount of ease to get into the music. It's like my brain does not have to work as hard to enjoy the music.

I find that even if a system's overall sonic signature contains things like great bass, razor sharp details, great speed, but offers up these virtues with any degree of harshness/etch/brightness or without having what I call very subjectively "musicality/liquidity", I find the overall experience either unpleasant or I can admire it on an intellectual level, but not enjoy or ease into the music. On the other hand, I have listened to system's that are so euphonic, totally extreme Type 2 flavor, that the music has no PRAT or aliveness and it sounds like its stick in molasses.

Now, that my overall perspective has been articulated, on to the specific pieces in my system that get me the overall sonic signature I'm listening for.

Mg-20's being planar speakers with one of the greatest transducers of all times, their ribbon tweeter, offers a slightly type 2 sound, with great details and a natural soundstage which sounds very much like real music. They do not offer pinpoint imaging, but a very natural perspective compared to most box enclosure designs.

The Pass Labs XA-100's are almost a perfect match of the warmth/natural timbres/liquidity of a type 2 flavor, along with great dynamics/transparency/speed of the best of type 1 virtues.

The Placette preamp is dead in the middle of the two flavors, and just let's the music flow without adding or subtracting anything that's not already upstream in the system.

The Accustic Arts combo, along with Stealth Sextet digital cable, are very detailed and with great speed, but has a slight to medium type 2 flavor overall.

The line conditioners, both on the front end of the system and the back end offer great transparency,virtually no noise floor and very powerful dynamics, so I would say these virtues are more a type 1 set of flavors.

Finally, all the wires in my system, including the power cords, are slightly type 2 flavors, but offer enough clarity and details, so I don't end up with what I would call a "fat or overripe" sonic signature.

So, like everyone else, I want the best of both type 1 and type 2 flavors in a totally perfect balance in my system,
well, I can at least dream about it, and that's been my goal as I learned what sonic factors would lead to what I was seeking from my system.

Hope, that's helpful, and that I answered your question in a way that is clear and precise

teajay October 08, 2006 06:02

hi Teajay

I just read your "reference DACs" thread for the first time today. I have come to the same conclusion as yourself concerning the "2 categories of sound." I find that split for every type of equipment I have used so far. Same goes for people's personalities too. I was happy to read someone else who noticed that and was able to put it in such concise wording.

My tastes generally reside in category 1 and I have assembled my system with that bias - but I like to visit the other side too. The McIntoshes fall in category 2. My MC240 is the very definition of catergory 2 and my other amps, Kora Aries are the very definition of category 1. Which one I choose to use depends on my mood and the type of music I feel like hearing. But the Prima and the 926s tend to keep the sum total in camp #1.

So I am curious as to how you feel your system breaks down. I don't have first hand knowledge of any of your pieces but knowing their category will give me a good idea of their style.

Thanks,

Arthur

aball October 07, 2006 18:37

How about some pics?....truely an awesome system!

shadorne October 07, 2006 17:12

System edited: This transport is the new Accustic Arts reference and was built by Accustic Arts to bring out the best performance out of the DAC1-MK4. I will share later on how much of a difference it made in my system, compared with the Ensemble transport, after it has a chance to break in.

teajay August 23, 2006 10:15

System edited: The new Accustic Arts Transport is the partner to my Dac1-MK4, it brings out the best performance out of the DAC. I will share later on how much better/different this transport sounds compared with my older Ensemble transport in my system.

teajay August 23, 2006 10:04

System edited: The new Accustic Arts DAC1 MK4 has replaced its older sibling, the MK3, because it's sonic signature is on a higher level and brings my total rig's performance to another level of naturalness/musicality.

teajay May 17, 2006 06:26

Congratulations on assembling a real Dream System.
What is most telling is your pleasure at being placed in the presence of the great musicians whose recordings you love.
After attending a memorable live performance, it is always an audiophile's dream to re-create that special emotional connection with the players which is unique to actually being there. Seems you are in that zone now.

listener57 April 23, 2006 00:19

System edited: A major move to replace my Pass Labs X-350.5 with a pair of Pass Labs XA-100 monoblocks to power the midrange and ribbon tweeters of my MG-20's. I'll post a review shortly on these great sounding monoblocks.

teajay April 07, 2006 05:50

System edited: I have just replaced my Pass Labs X-350.5 with pair of Pass Labs XA-100 monoblocks to power the midrange and ribbon tweeters of my MG-20's. I'll be posting a review shortly with the details concerning the sonics of these monoblocks.

teajay April 07, 2006 05:34

System edited: I have replaced my Pass Labs X-350.5 with a pair of Pass Labs-XA 100 monoblocks to power the midrange and ribbon tweeters of my MG-20's. These are the best sounding amps I have ever had in my system. I'll be posting a review on the details regarding their sonics, shortly here on the GON, after I collect my thoughts regarding what makes them so special/pleasing to me.

teajay April 07, 2006 05:26

TJ, the Accuphase combo is from 1992. According to you the Accuphase gear you once owned sounded warm/musical. I would describe the sound of my digital gear as neutral and detailed but a bit lean throughout the midrange, not the typical Accuphase house sound I guess. I also own an Accuphase A-50V class A power amp, which does sound warm and full. Maybe it's because I'm using isolation transformers with the transport and DAC. Those trannies clean up the sound from noise and RFI, but could also alter the tonal balance towards the lean, like ferrite beads can do if used abundantly.

Chris

dazzdax April 05, 2006 18:08

Chris, to directly answer your qusetion, I have no experience or knowledge regarding using a output coupling transformer between a DAC and pre-amp. Sorry.

Regarding your digital front end, are your Accuphase pieces, from about the late 80's or early 90's, or are they later more recent offerings from Accuphase? I used to have Accuphase reference digital gear years ago, and found them "warm/musical", but lacking details/dynamics/prat.

I believe the new Digital gear around today is a vast improvement over the older gear and is very competitive with analog these days.

So, maybe what you are experience is not a technical problem, but your digital end possible showing its age compared to newer gear.

If, I'm confusing your digital pieces with older models, then what you are concerned over sonically might be something more with synergy in your system. Let me know what happens.

teajay April 04, 2006 04:34

Hi TJ, I'm an audiophile from The Netherlands. After 12 years listening to CD's only, I've bought a turntable! The analog set up is chosen carefully and sounds pretty good. In comparison with analog my digital rig sounds a lean in the midrange and laid back. It has also less PRaT than analog. I know that analog and red book CD are not comparable to each other, but I think there is way too much difference in tonal balance between my digital and analog set up. At my friend's home there is less difference in tonal balance between his analog and digital gear. The gear he owns sounds good but are not high end btw. I wonder if there is some technical problem in the digital chain, for example impedance mismatch. Do you have suggestions regarding this problem? Do you have experience with using an output coupling transformer between the DAC and preamp?

System: Accuphase DP-90/DC-91, Wireworld Gold Starlight, Accuphase C-290V preamp, Pure Note Paragon Enhanced balanced interconnects, eAR 1001 ICEpower poweramps, Cardas Golden Reference speaker cable, Dunlavy SC-V loudspeakers.

Chris

dazzdax April 03, 2006 19:04

System edited: Just got through auditioning the Jaco AC line conditioner built by Running Springs Audio and it totally surpassed my Richard Gray pieces, so its my new AC conditioner. I will post a review here on the GON to share what this piece added to my system. Its quite terrific in its effect on my system's overall sonic signature.

teajay March 25, 2006 21:09

System edited: Just got through audtioning the Stealth Varidig Sextet digital reference cable, and it bettered my old Artistic Arts Vacuum Digital reference, so its a keeper! I will post a review here on the GON to share what I heard. It's a fantastic cable.

teajay October 13, 2005 18:40

System edited: Just did a two week audtion of this DAC and found it to be better than my old reference (Ensemble HI-DAC). Its a keeper! In the near future I will write a formal reveiw for the GON.

teajay August 05, 2005 07:15

System edited: Just audtioned the new Acoustic Zen reference wire the Absolute. Brought the whole system to a higher level,so their my new reference in my system.

teajay May 05, 2005 07:40

hi,

I like the calssic horns with jazz. I use Klipsch Fortes with a Cary SLI-80 Signature in the 50 watt triode mode. I want to move to the Cornwalls or Bells in the near future.

I was using B&Ws and they soak up power, better for ss and not tubes, for a while, but they seem to laid back for my taste. The Fortes are up front, with good imaging and real solid bass ... no sub required.
Larry

larry510 May 01, 2005 17:26

Hey, I'd like to get in on this LP purchase thing. Email me if YOU are serious

ozzy62 April 20, 2005 18:46

Thanks for your succient kudo about my system.I have totally replaced my extensive vinyl jazz collection with Cds which now total about 3500 to 4000 disks.If your serious about purchasing the Lps let me know,we can work something out.It was not necessary to use an attenuator to match the gain in my system.My room is length=38 feet,width=15 feet, and ceiling height=half the ceiling is 8 feet, the other half goes up to 20 feet in a gentle slope.

teajay April 20, 2005 06:35