Chord Chameleon Silver Plus v Chorus 2

[LittleTone]

Hi Guys,


Anyone familiar with Chord ic's.

I've tried several ic's in the last couple of months - DNM Reson, Van Den Hul D102 Mk3, Russ Andrews Crystal CU/WBT Cu, Rega Couple clone, and Morrow Audio MA1 but I still keep coming back to the Chord Chameleons Silver Plus that I've had for a couple of years. In my setup it's the overall presentation that wins every time.
I'm looking for an IC with the same presentation but cleaner if that makes sense. I want the same tonal balance but a bit more definition, space between instruments; you know what I mean.
Looking at the Chord Chorus as a possible upgrade; comments welcome

Regards
Tony

[Stratmangler]

Forget about the cable and get one of these http://www.mains-cables-r-us.co.uk/67-squeezebox-power-supply-s
It's the best thing you can do for your Squeezebox, whether you're running it as a transport or a standalone player.

[LittleTone]

How about the Mark Grant Squeeze-Upgrade. How does that stack up
against the MCRU psu ?

Tony

[DSJR]

The standard Mark Grant HD1000 should eat a Chord anything below the Reference cable they did. The Chameleon has a character to it which is pleasant on cheapo stuff, but it shows its colour and crudeness when you go up the scale a bit. The MG wire just allows improvements in the source to come through clearly, although it reproduces hashy or dirty sources with consumate ease. Bearing in mind Mark's (YNWOAN) comments on the plugs and my comments on the Neutrik Pro phonos on the HD1500, I'd stick with the standard plugs unless you're happy to splash out for the WBT's of course :)

The D102 III cables you say you've tried are one of the least coloured of all the VDH lower range wires I tried some years ago and I like its honesty very much. The Rega Couple clone (Klotz AC110) is used by many pros for a single ended coax type and it offers very low capacitance (70pF/m) if the plugs allow it, so shouldn't have too much of an issue in use, which is what I found. It does have a beefy sonic quality to it for some reason, which is great for Rega CD players and other leaner sources, but the MG HD cables do seem to separate flutter echoes added to treble instruments on some recordings rather better in my system on both headphones and speakers.

Hope this helps a bit. Don't get too anal about it though. Mark Grant's a great chap and the HD wires are very well priced in standard form and out-perform anything under £200 MINIMUM that you could buy in a dealers.

[hifi_dave]

The Tellurium Q Black incon is the same price as the Chorus but a whole heap better. IMO. Not a dem you need to do twice !!!

[Stratmangler]

How about the Mark Grant Squeeze-Upgrade. How does that stack up
against the MCRU psu ?

Tony

Dunno Tony - I haven't heard the Squeezeupgrade PSU, although I have used the SBooster with the supplied SMPS to good effect :)

[LittleTone]

Thanks for the response guys.
It's pleasing to know that Dave K,s
findings with some of my cables corresponds
with my own; therefore proving that my setup is capable
of portraying the differences between cables.
The DNM, VDH and Morrow MA1 are all good
cables but dont have the verve and space portrayed by the
Chords and I like that. I can't afford to buy exotic cables and
power supplies; but I could afford a better used IC off Ebay
I really like the presentation of the Chameleons; but fully aware of their
limitations. Just wondering if the Chord Chorus is going to retain the
overall sound with a bit of a cleanup; you know what I mean.
Regards
Tony

[Stratmangler]

I'd like to hear this mystical cable that can improve certain aspects of replay.
All a cable can do is remove stuff from a signal - it is a LCR filter after all.

I know that Mark Grant has a no quibble money back guarantee, and I think MCRU do as well (they're obliged to under distance selling regulations).
A decent PSU for your Squeezebox should yield improvement in exactly the same areas as you described.

[Undarra]

Hi tony,

Can't really help with the comparison, but if you decide on trying a chord chorus 2. I have a 0.5m pair for sale if you're interested.

Thanks, Si

[Chops]

Hi Antony

I moved from Chord Chorus 2 to G2000HD Cu some while ago and found it gave me a more even response. As I remember, the Chords had more weight (more than there should be?) in the bass and a nice treble. In comparison, the MGs just sounded right (more even) with possibly a little more detail. I've now moved on to MGs Oyaide's which are a step up again IMHO.

The Chords are good and I've kept some for my second system, but the G2000HDs were better in my system. And they're less money:thumbsup:

Chris

[hifinutt]

friend uses the chord anthem 2 to good effect , if you like the chord sound stick with it. i am quite a fan of the indigo but about 350 s/h so not really a budget item !