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any love for Chord ICs?

216.190.112.141
Posted on October 4, 2016 at 11:42:52
gkirkos
Audiophile

Posts: 201
Location: Seattle
Joined: February 6, 2015
I'm considering some of the midrange Chord ICs (Cadenza Ref).
I've heard the low end ones (Chord Cobra). Bass was solid but the mids were pretty grey.

Looking for synergy with a Rega Saturn CD player. I have a Cardas GR on it now, it's very good but a little too revealing. But the midrange is pretty sweet.

 

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current wire 'too revealing'. a wire is not gonna solve your problem. (IMO), posted on October 4, 2016 at 14:08:11
Smelly_Socks
 The wire you are now using is decent (and actually not too revealing!)
If you are having a problem with the highs? Which I would guess you are meaning by revealing..
Well IMO a new IC wire is not gonna be able to solve it. What you need is something fixing the highs coming out of the CD player.

The ways to do that are: get a power conditioner. A power cord for the CD player which can clean up the highs..
Or a tube buffer of some kind between the CD player and the preamp.
Even ferrite clamps on the IC from the CD player may solve the problem.

Now I am a total high frequency maniac.
And on my cheap as dirt CD changer to a nice DAC.. I use a dedicated conditioner. AND a tube buffer. (A used for $1,400 VAC Standard tube preamp new $4,500, which I use just as a dedicated tube buffer for my digital.) I tried a cheap $150 Chinese tube buffer, but itwas not good enough for my tastes, though it helped.. Thus my stretch to the VAC as a tube buffer.
This approach works for me.
And my highs are spectacular to my (6ft ribbon tweeter) Magnepan 3.6 speakers.

I would think a powercord 'could' do the job of a conditioner..
And the idea of the Ferrite clamps on the IC.. AudioQuest used to make some big ones which would fit over the diameter of the IC you now use. I do not know if they still are made.
Added: the AQ ferrite are no longer made. I am linking to an Amazon product whic is 3/8" and should fit over the IC you now use.

Anyway, these are my suggestions.

 

RE: current wire 'too revealing'. a wire is not gonna solve your problem. (IMO), posted on October 4, 2016 at 14:18:19
ahendler
Audiophile

Posts: 5151
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Joined: January 24, 2003
 "(6ft ribbon tweeter) Magnepan 3.6 speakers."
Actually the ribbon is 55"
I have 3.6's and it just might be the best tweeter in the world
Alan

 

Cable swaps..., posted on October 4, 2016 at 15:51:24
Duster
Manufacturer

Posts: 17117
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 25, 2002
 Finding both synergy and personal preferences via cable swapping is a valid proposal, even going so far as to seek a more polite sounding cable for a particular application that a listener finds to sound too "analytical", too revealing vs. a cable that may provide a presentation that (for example) does not push detail and other stark listening cues too far forward at the expense of dynamics and other aspects of PRAT that one might consider a more "musical" presentation. Perhaps the OP might provide more information about his goal.

IME, when it comes to inline ferrite filters, there has been no situation where I've found a ferrite bead to do anything good when placed on a well-designed cable or power cord. A ferrite bead adds inductance which may do well for non-audio applications, but it tends to be a real downside for audio use other than taking the rough edge off a cable or component with edgy transients, but at the expense of overall audio performance. A ferrite filter is better implemented by placing a ferrite bead on the cord of a noisy non-audio device that might pollute adjacent audio gear. A cable upgrade or lateral move replacement cable would a better option for the OP to choose, IMO.

 

I m baically cheap. So I ofer the cheapest solution in my posts The ferrite is the cheapest solution only.., posted on October 4, 2016 at 16:07:31
Smelly_Socks
 I have not used ferrites myself for many years on IC. But back in the day Mid 80's.. they did enough.
I agree a ferrite is really for powercords. (and then also a cheaper afterthought fix)
(Though one is built into the Cardas $900 one meter current powercord. and others)
But a ferrite could be used on an IC as a cheap bandaid.

I mention again, that at heart I am cheap as Hell. And usually try to offer the least expensive solution.
Even when I myself decide to blow $3,000 on an IC. LOL
I pretend to myself: noooo... I never spent THAT much.. Not me....

 

RE: any love for Chord ICs?, posted on October 5, 2016 at 05:42:36
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15524
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 I have been curious about Chord cabling as well.

Taylor at Goldprint Audio in North Carolina is very helpful.
Consult him to get an opinion.

 

Smelly socks was right, posted on October 5, 2016 at 08:20:34
gkirkos
Audiophile

Posts: 201
Location: Seattle
Joined: February 6, 2015
I tried a different PC (Cardas) on the CD player and it tamed the highs.

Should've thought of this, I've done it so many times.

Thanks.

 

Glad it worked. Which Cardas PC? nt, posted on October 5, 2016 at 10:00:27
Smelly_Socks
 .

 

RE: Glad it worked. Which Cardas PC? nt, posted on October 5, 2016 at 13:09:44
gkirkos
Audiophile

Posts: 201
Location: Seattle
Joined: February 6, 2015
 Just a plain jane crosslink

 

RE: Glad it worked. Which Cardas PC? nt, posted on October 5, 2016 at 13:39:45
Duster
Manufacturer

Posts: 17117
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 25, 2002
 Do you mean the Cardas Twinlink power cord? Cardas Crosslink is a Cardas speaker cable model, and a Cardas interconnect model.

 

RE: Glad it worked. Which Cardas PC? nt, posted on October 5, 2016 at 15:38:06
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15524
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 I do find Cardas to be too warm or too rolled-off for my taste.

 

RE: Glad it worked. Which Cardas PC? nt, posted on October 11, 2016 at 15:10:17
gkirkos
Audiophile

Posts: 201
Location: Seattle
Joined: February 6, 2015
 You're right, it's the Twinlink.

One man's rolled-off is another man's natural-sounding.

 

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