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In Reply to: Element Cables? posted by Artar1 on September 28, 2004 at 17:52:30:
Thanks for the information and insight into your intent or goals with your system's cables. It does have much to do with the components we will be using and the room as well. I do not know why (do I care?) cables can make or break a system, only that IMO it can. Maybe neither the Signal or Element would fulfill my goals for the system's performance, but who knows - I never tried them. But it has also been my experience sometimes, that hearing a difference in "sound" between different cables is difficult, though not always.Unless there is a significant change in the "sound," this is not what I hear first anyway (when auditioning components either). When comparing the Silver Serpents (SS) to the Aries for instance, if I listen, I can certainly hear that the SS sound pinched, a little light and brittle. In addition, I can hear the increase in transparency, resolution, air, smoothness, etc. with the Aries. However, by far the biggest difference is the effect to what comes out of the speakers. That difference is huge, though maybe it could still be missed by the casual or indifferent listener.
What I mean is that the differences in the sonic signature, though significant and easily heard by me, may not be big enough or important enough to someone else to justify the price tag. In this instance, between the SS and Aries in my system, the effect to what strikes my ears is immense. It is just so much more like music, and not so much about just "sound." There is more of everything, but it really adds up to experiencing the music instead of just hearing good sound. This is what good equipment (including cables) does, regardless of how much or little it costs. Just give me the music, man. I mean, if someone asked, "did it have better bass, treble, soundstaging?" after my first session with the Aries and a borrowed set of MIT S2i Prolines in the system, I would have had to answer, "To tell you the truth, I didn't notice dude. Man, I need a good second set of ICs.
Lest you misunderstand, the above is not really based on your system or goals, but sort of my perspective for my own system. Bye the way, though I'm not sure about your speakers (though I do love electrostats), your other stuff is supposed to be excellent...certainly capable of highend performance.
Follow Ups:
Well, if I were you and felt about the Aries the way you do, I would simply buy them and be done with it.The only drawback I can think of is that you might be tempted to try a $2,000 cable, and then you might feel the Aries are no longer the great cable you first thought. Or, you might start looking at your speaker cables and begin wondering what $2,000 might do there to improve the sound still further.
I think many of us reach a point at which upgrade obsession sets in. I know if I were a multimillionaire, I wouldn't stop. But unfortunately I have to draw the line somewhere. With retirement about 13 years away for me, I am now feeling a little uneasy about the money I have spent or will be spending. I am much more price conscious than I was before. But you are in a different situation. If you could be content with the Aries upgrade, and that's a BIG IF, I don't see any harm in dropping another $800 on a pair of ICs. On my last one-week vacation, for example, I dropped $500 on the rental car alone, and now I have only faint memories of the vacation and of the car I drove.
NT
Please since you are going to audition the Element connectors, I would appriciate your impressions afterwords. Thanks. Roy.
It's a long story. I will post my impressions.
The utmost quality I'm looking for, is lower frequency control. I do think my system is capable of a better control down there. I did try Kimber PBJ, and they did give a better control but funny bass sound, which I didn't like at all. So, looking forward to your advice. Thanks. Roy.
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