According to the text and graph, it showed a very linear response from way down low up to about 2.7 Kc's or so. At frequencies above that, it had a sloping response as frequency increased. It could be used full range as he also stated that the high frequency response still sounded more natural than most other wires that exhibited similar roll off. There was only one other wire that really bested this one and it is no longer made.

This sounds like a BARGAIN for folks running subs or bi-wiring. Could work out great for the bottom end. I know that i'll be checking into it pronto. I'm sure that he may have suggested some other wires after this, but for a few bucks, it might pay to check it out. Sean
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 two replies from people "on their toes"......... - Sean 20:28:40 7/30/99 (0)
 The "genius" of Matthew Polk? - TAFKA Steve 19:42:52 7/30/99 (0)
 The rest of the story - Jon Risch 17:41:14 7/30/99 (0)

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 two replies from people "on their toes"......... - Sean 20:28:40 7/30/99 (0)
 The "genius" of Matthew Polk? - TAFKA Steve 19:42:52 7/30/99 (0)
 The rest of the story - Jon Risch 17:41:14 7/30/99 (0)

The Columbia brand he refered to was NOT the nationally available brand, but a small local company, which was getting it's wire from a large distributor. Turns out when he went to get some more, the supplier told him that they no longer carried 'Columbia", that they went out of business, and the cable was no longer available. After some digging, Moncrieff found out that this may have been the worlds only Romex with a high quality insulation, and high grade copper. The legend goes, he had some of the original wire analyzed, and the results were not typical of your run of the mill romex/housewiring.

The reason this caused so much flap at the time was that a lot of people ran out and bought the nationally available Columbia brand romex, and were then terribly dissapointed, and wrote or called Moncreiff about it. All the other brands of romex were not nearly as good sounding as that one fluke of a local brand.

Since that time, cost concerns and shortcuts have reduced the quality of typical grades of copper, and PVC has even more low grade plasticizer in it now, as that allows it to be cheaper. You are less likely than ever before to stumble across a 'good' brand of romex. Many quit trying years ago, as there never did seem to be a replacement for that original west coast 'Columbia' romex.

As I have stated before, ordinary building grade romex type wires are not that good sounding, the PVC and low grade of copper typically do not help the sound, and the only thing they have going for them is the solid wire construction and low DCR, assuming you get the 14 or 12 gauge size. This results in a strong bass (actually TOO strong), that has a touch of woolyness and is a bit indistinct compared to a neutral presentation of the bass.

The highs are generally on the soft or blurred side, yet have a touch of tizzyness due to the PVC, and if all the wires in the bundle are not hooked up, it can have a severe case of the false reverbs, that has a low level detail blurring effect. Difficult to terminate, the single large solid wire can be crimped, but is hard to solder properly to any termination.

In my opinion, original Monster Cable 12 gauge is a better bet than romex.

Jon Risch