Firochromis,
I left a comment on your system page regarding the Ocellia cables.You can`t go wrong with the ASI or Ocellia, They share similar strengths.I just found the Ocellia ultra resolved yet very organic and a bit more relaxed and refined than the ASI. The Ocecilla Silver Reference allows you to hear the smallest nuance and inner detail without sounding analytical(the emotion comes though).I`ve heard the Cardas Clear in a friend`s VAC based system(not mine).The Clear is a very good IC IMO,neutral character,transparent and musically involving. But in a direct comparison to the Coincident IC I found them near identical in performance in the same friend`s system.The Coincident was a tad more forward/upfront with terrific dynamics and transparency, tonality was the same for both.The thing is the Coincident is much cheaper than the Cardas and was it`s equal without question.
Regards,

charles1dad April 16, 2012 19:27

Hi Charles,

I'm searching an interconnect between my pre and power amplifier. Currently my options are ASI Liveline and Cardas Clear. I know you were using ASI liveline with joy on your Coincident system so I want you to ask if you have ever compared it to Cardas Clear in your system? Any opinions with Cardas' ?

Regards

firochromis April 16, 2012 07:08

The Takasuki 300b tubes have replaced my Shuguang Black Treasure tubes in my Coincident Frankenstein amplifier. The BT have provided me with truly good sound and zero problems with heavy use, it`s a fine tube. The Takasuki is a stunning tube and is superior to my BTs on all levels.Just wonderful realism and natural purity of tone,timbre and harmonics. This is a music lover`s 300b tube of the highest order,

charles1dad February 23, 2012 18:01

I seem to prefer (slightly) the "un" on the Pass ss and the big Cary 805AE's and the "s" (again, slightly) on the more delicate 300b's and 2a3 amps. The s's are 2 yrs old, the un's were new in early Jan so they may change a little more with time. Herculean effort over...time to go right brain. Enjoy!

onemug February 20, 2012 14:54

Hi Onemug,
One month of testing ACcords, for 3 systems(and 9 amplifiers) that`s quite the herculean effort.Did the type of cord mate better/worse with your various amps, SET vs tube PP vs SS ? You have certainly earned the right to just relax and enjoy lots of music.
Regards,

charles1dad February 19, 2012 23:15

"I`m curious to know what differences you find comparing the power cords."

It's been a month of "listening" to cords and I'm real glad it's over. I wouldn't have gone there but I have 9 amps in 3 systems that are hooked up and ready to go depending on mood and needed a few.

Result: I don't have a preference for either the shielded or unshielded. They both can do nice things. There might be a little more of that "dynamic contrast" thing with the unshielded cord but the shielded one is fine. I'm sure there are times of the day when RF/EMI and the such are polluting the air more than at other times making it hard to do a true/fair evaluation. I'm just glad I found what I needed and can go back to "listening" to music.

Having the same wire for a cord as what's in the amp (like you do) sounds like a great idea but not possible in my case. Now I can leave "well enough alone".

onemug February 19, 2012 19:16

Onemug,
In principle and theory I prefer unshielded (simpler is often better I`ve learned)cables.However since the Coincident AC cords have worked out so well I`ll just leave well enough alone.

charles1dad February 04, 2012 12:30

Right now I seem to be favoring unshielded for my Pass ss. In a few days I will move them over to my 300b/2a3 biamp system. I'll report back here.

onemug February 04, 2012 03:48

Onemug, the Coincident AC power cables are shielded. The Ocellia ICs and S. cables are not shielded.I`m curious to know what differences you find comparing the power cords.

charles1dad February 03, 2012 20:12

I like SF's premise about the insulation. It's a fact that silver is a better conductor than copper. Some insulation has a higher absorbtive factor (I think EE's call it "soakage"). It makes sense to me that if you put poor quality insulation on a faster conducting material that you would get more smear. I'm sure there are many other possibilities for why silver can sound not so good.

I like the idea of copper a/c cables. As good as silver is, when there are miles of copper coming to a house and copper wiring inside an amp, putting 3 or 6 feet of silver in between seems counter-intuitive. Having the same a/c wire that is inside your amp seems like a path to "SET Bliss".

I'm currently doing an experiment between almost identical power cords only one is shielded and one is not.

Do you know if your Coincident power cords are shielded or not?

onemug February 03, 2012 16:23

Hi Onemug,
It`s good to hear from you as always.You used the term 'honesty', that`s the perfect choice for silver cables if they`re propoerly implemented. I do feel there`re poorer quality silver cables that can sound bright and a bit harsh. With high quality silver I just think they reveal the true voice of a sysytem`s makeup.I do find trasients,substain and decay of notes are well preserved.

My prior ASI cables were really fine and are a mix of copper,silver,and some gold. These pure silver Oellia take it a step further with even better and fuller tone,overtones,higher resolution and some how improve the ease and effortless character(purely natural and no hifi artifacts).

Onemug, the maker of these cables(Samuel Furon) believes in 'natural materials' for insulation, his choice is paper. What ever the premise they are superb.
Ironically my power cables are 100% copper by Coincident. I got these cables when I got the Coincident components.
The exact same copper wire is used in the linestage, amplifier and in the speakers so certainly there`s some continuity involved here.In the end it has worked out exceptionally well for me.
Best Regards,

charles1dad February 03, 2012 12:58

Our paths seem to cross again. I started using silver/teflon sc's and ic's several years ago. I was very hesitant on doing so because of a "brightness" issue I've read about re silver cables.

There is no brand name to these, a friend (recording engineer) makes these for studios, a few friends and an occasional Gulfstream Jet (I can only dream of one of those). He sent me some, tried them, now they connect everthing in my systems.

I hear the qualities that you have described. I also remember hearing an improvement in the attack of a note. Our SET's do such a good job with the fundamental and especially the decay but I had never noticed that very brief moment leading up to the fundamental before. Do you hear that?

And here is a suprise for those who think silver is bright: I'm using these for sc's in my vintage system. Early solid state and silver, oh oh???. No, it sounds wonderful. It's just an "honest" cable. I have a feeling people have bright systems to begin with and the intro of silver just exposes it "honestly". For them, copper with thick insulation probably works better. I'm not surprised you like yours so much. Your system has so much to offer and the silver gives you more.

For power cords, what are you using and your thoughts/feelings on them?

onemug February 02, 2012 18:15

After 10 days of further listening I can say the Ocellia Siver Reference cables are just marvelous. They`re simply transparent and provide an open clear view into the music.Tonality and timbe/harmonics is first rate. Their best attribute is the natural unforced presentation. A further step closer to musical realism.

charles1dad February 01, 2012 20:43

Ocellia wow! for the past year i`ve been very pleased with the excellent ASI Liveline cables. They`re transparent,dynamic and have exceptional tone,the best and most 'live' sounding cable I`ve heard in my system.
Well, the Ocellia Silver Reference cables equal the ASI Liveline`s transparency,energy and live like presentation.

What`s unexpected is the'superior' nuance, tone,timbre and harmonic overtones of the Ocellia.They have supreme tone and musical flow along with superb resolution. The rarity is the pure natural sound(simply organic bliss) that`s fuller and more complete in tone and innate instrument/voice color saturation than the ASI without sacrifice of pace,transients and energy.The sound is so alive and breathing with flesh and humanity, utterly convincing IMO.

The ASI cable was better than any other cable I`ve personally heard up until now. The Ocellia(French Canadian) flies beneath the audiophile radar but is a truly ultra tier product if 'natural' and effortless realism is the objective. It has significantly improved my system further into this natural-organic realm.

charles1dad January 22, 2012 01:30

I feel the same way, glad I discovered Coincident. My speakers completely disappear with most recordings also, but the image is usually between them. On a very few the image extends outside the boundary of the speakers and that's very cool. Seems to always occur on the left side and that's the side with more distance between the wall and speaker. On the right side I have 27" from the center of the drivers to the wall. On the left it's 63" but the rack is between the wall and speaker which probably has some kind of effect. I'd like to her them in a symmetrical room with at least 40" to the side walls.

jeff_ss December 23, 2011 23:58

Hey Jeff,
Thanks for the compliments,I appreciate them very much.
I took a look at your system, we do have a lot in common, I`m sure glad I discovered Coincident products a few years ago.
My right speaker is about 32" from the side wall. The left is near an open room(no side wall). Despite this type of placement it works out just fine. The speakers disappear with most of my recordings.I look forward to more future thoughts on your system page.

charles1dad December 23, 2011 23:41

Great system Charles, similar to mine, and we have the same taste in music. I have the same amps but use the Coincident Statement Phono Pre since vinyl is an important part of my listening experience. It has an input for a CD player or similar component like a DAC, so handles my needs. But I sure would like to try it in combination with the Coincident Statement Linestage to find out what it would add to the sound. The 101D tubes are suppose to make it a most special and transparent preamp. Regarding your room setup, how far are your speakers from the side walls? I wish I had a wider room or could put my speakers on the long wall. I expect I'd get more imaging outside the boundaries of the speakers. I also have more space to the left of the left speaker than to the right of the right speaker due to the irregular shaped room.

jeff_ss December 23, 2011 22:00

Ekwisnek,
Hello and thank you,I really appreciate your very kind comments.I plan no changes in the forseeable future, I`m so content.
Regards,

charles1dad December 20, 2011 21:08

I love this system. I always have since it was posted. Such wonderful synergy, I'm sure with the Coincident components. This is surely one of the few systems on the 'gon that I envy. I would love to hear it; I'm sure it sounds as good as it looks. Well done!

ekwisnek December 20, 2011 18:55

Fiddler,
1)I have no experience with the LSA at all and hav`nt commented on its sound(how would I know?)
2)The last thing I`m interested in is a debate about who has the better sounding system, this suggests inseucurity and quite honestly immaturity IMO.
3) I`m sincerely thriiled with the music reproduction my system provides and hope you feel the same toward yours.
4)You have very strong opinions(emotional) regarding a system you have`nt heard.

Take Care,
Charles

charles1dad December 20, 2011 12:24

Fiddler, Charles is a perfect gentleman, and did not make that course statement. I did. And it was trite, audio hyperbole....agreed. A more accurate statement or generalization would have been "the LSA is more suited for systems built around particular types of tube amplification."

That brings me to my next question for you: LSA + Hypex class D monoblocks? Or do you still prefer your modded Supratek which had more "three dimensionality"? Please explain.

agear December 20, 2011 06:27

Charles1dad,

I came to read your comments on the Coincident Statement and the TRL Dude. After reading your comments between the two, I had to laugh at the remarks about the Lightspeed sounding fine in LOWER RESOLUTION SYSTEMS.

I will put the resolution of my system up against yours any day. Rather arrogant assumption on your part wouldn't you say. I suspect many would say you have a nice system, but certainly not the last word in resolution. Just sayin'.

fiddler December 20, 2011 03:00

Agear ,
Thanks and happy listening to you also.

charles1dad December 14, 2011 23:31

Agreed. Again, kudos on your system. I wish we all lived a little closer to one another to get the opportunity to do more listening. My wife and I moved from Minneapolis to Charlotte, NC in 08 and are slowly getting grafted into the community here. Happy listening....

agear December 14, 2011 22:50

"Circular logic abounds"
I could`nt have said it any better, but they`re very content, so to each their own.
I`m certain you enjoy your Dude as much as I do my CSL.
Charles

charles1dad December 14, 2011 22:20