View Full Version : I Try the Kloztz AC 110 interconnects
Marco kindly lent me 2 pairs of these interconnects to try in my system.
I've given them an exhasutive test over the past 2 weeks - using 3 different pre-amps (NVA P90SA, Stereo Coffee LDR and XTZ) and 2 CD players (Parasound CDP1000 and Pioneer DVD575A)
My conclusion - They are not a bad cable, very clean sounding with no hash and quite well resolved in the top end with cymbals and such-like. No nasties present and they did not push the midrange forward like some cables can do (a pet hate of mine).
But... no matter what combination of equipment I tried them with I found their contribution made the sound just a little bit boring. Usually this is down to a rolled off top end but that was not the case here. it took me a while to figure it out but in the end I concluded that they were just a little bit 'soft' sounding right across the band. I first noticed it with cymbals and high hats which although well resolved were just a little too gentle and lacking impact. Bass guitar was also a little lack-lustre
Swapping in a QED reference cable demomstrated this - straight away hard struck snares were hitting me between the eyes, cymbals crashed out of the mix where they should instead of hiding away at the back and the leading edge of bass guitar notes was more pronounced.
So not at all bad for the money and might well work superbly depending on your system but I think I tried enough components with them to get a grip on their overall character. If you have a very bright, harsh sound and want to tame it these might well do the job, but they are just too polite sounding for my set-up.
Please bear in mind that most recorded musis IS compressed to hell and back and can sound lacklustre all on its own. I think I know where you're coming from, but is a piece of wire going to do this for you? I've said all over the place how the Klotz cables, imaginary or not, seem to need some time of use to fully settle down.
You could always try some SSC's I suppose? Very low capacitance in this form and a possibility of being fitted with posher looking plugs to order.. Just a thought. This cable is easy to solder neatly too and must be a plus point?
Please bear in mind that most recorded musis IS compressed to hell and back and can sound lacklustre all on its own.?
Interesting theory that is, Dave. Recordings are poor and need inaccurate cables to spice them up a bit? Totally the opposite of my belief which is that the recordings, generally, sound fantastic and it is the kit and cables getting in the way that make them sound poor. I listen to very few recordings made after 1994 so the 'loudness wars' compression issues are rarely a problem for me.
Add to that I use speakers with a 15 inch bass driver and 4 tweeters per cab. It is not easy to get music to sound bland through them ;)
My SSC is now sat in the spares box, as I prefer the presentation of my other cables.
I am still puzzled as to why the screen is not used on the SSC cables, but they seem to sell reasonably well.
Audio Al
31-07-2014, 19:53
Do you have 2 of these cables :D
I think Kevin was just being thorough and laying the L & R elements to rest separately :)
Hi Martin,
Thanks for posting your impressions. Most interesting... Once again your experience ably demonstrates how system-dependent cables are, as although the AC110s lack a little of the resolution of the MC5000s, in my system 'polite sounding' they are not (I simply wouldn't use cables which sounded like that) :nono:
Once you pop the AC110s back, I'll give you a go with the MC5000s and see what you think. Anyway, all experiences add to the pool of collective knowledge! :)
Marco.
Yup, no absolutes, system dependencies mean they will sound different. I found the AC 110 a little forward and preferred the Mogami mic cable in sudo balanced config but that's just personal pref.
I found the AC 110 a little forward...
No absolutes? Yup, indeedy! :eyebrows:
Marco.
No absolutes? Yup, indeedy! :eyebrows:
Marco.
Yeah better when you quote the whole context eh! ;)
Yeah, I was just highlighting how the polar opposite views of AC110s provide proof positive that the effect of cables is *so* system-dependent!
Marco.
Hi Martin,
, in my system 'polite sounding' they are not (I simply wouldn't use cables which sounded like that) :nono:
Marco.
LOL I thought you would say something like that. You will almost certainly disagree but I suspect my Akais are more revealing speakers than your Tannoys or Celestions are. I'll wait for the backlash on that ;) On the other hand your Sony CD combo is in a different league to the players I used for this test.
That aside, the question really is 'what is the variable here?'. I wonder if it is the amplification? . Super-clean solid state vs valves, maybe? A lack of a little euphonic distortion? My favoured combo at the moment is to have the QED cable from pre to power and the Belkin Pure Av from cd player to P90SA pre-amp which sounds absolutely killer except with the odd recording (e.g Neil Young and Crazy Horse 'Everybody Knows This is Nowhere') where the occasional mic overload distortion is emphasised a bit too much to be 'right'. Swap in the LDR pre with this same cable combo and it sounds a little bit 'grainy' with almost everything. So is the P90SA softening things a little and creating that synergy? So hard to say for certain.
There is little in a P90SA to colour the sound.
It's a box with a few stepped attenuators, some silver cables and a bit of soldering.
It should be quite revealing.
There is little in a P90SA to colour the sound.
It's a box with a few stepped attenuators, some silver cables and a bit of soldering.
It should be quite revealing.
Of course. But the same could be said of the LDR pre. Without known perfection to reference against it is all a bit of a guessing game at the end of the day. I suppose if it was all just plug n play there would be no hobby.
LOL I thought you would say something like that. You will almost certainly disagree but I suspect my Akais are more revealing speakers than your Tannoys or Celestions are. I'll wait for the backlash on that...
Lol - I couldn't possibly comment, as I haven't heard your Akais. Ditto with you and either the Tannoys or Celestions, so it's all a bit irrelevant. Bring your Akais to NEBO 4, compare them to the 66s, and see what you think then! :eyebrows:
That aside, the question really is 'what is the variable here?'. I wonder if it is the amplification? . Super-clean solid state vs valves, maybe? A lack of a little euphonic distortion?
Did you hear any "euphonic distortion" with the Croft when it significantly outperformed all the passives at Jason's place (including your NVA P90), when the [rather excellent] NVA power amp was in the equation? ;)
I can assure you that both my valve preamp and power amp sound as "super clean" as any solid-state device. However, you'll discover that for yourself when you visit. No, the simple reason why the AC-110s don't do in your system what they do in mine is: SYNERGY - or in your case, lack of it :)
Marco.
The whole point of euphonic distortion is that you don't notice it but it makes things sound really good.
SYNERGY - yes, but what exactly is it? Just a catch all for why one set up sounds better than another? Or can it be quantified in more objective terms? I'm not happy just to label it 'synergy' and carry on. I need to know exactly what processes are taking place to create it.
We can do the Akai/Celestion comparison at NEBO but I'm not sure we can fit both sets of speakers in your motor. If we can I would definitely be up for it.
The whole point of euphonic distortion is that you don't notice it but it makes things sound really good.
Lol... In some cases, yes, if you like a 'rose-tinted' sound or a component that makes everything sound 'nice'. *That* is the effect of euphonic distortion/coloration.
However, when music, to your ears, sounds more REAL (as in it more faithfully replicates the sound of real voices and instruments), then that is when genuine musical accuracy has been achieved, not euphonic distortion - which is precisely what happened with the Croft at Jason's place.
SYNERGY - yes, but what exactly is it? Just a catch all for why one set up sounds better than another? Or can it be quantified in more objective terms? I'm not happy just to label it 'synergy' and carry on. I need to know exactly what processes are taking place to create it.
Then have a good long chat with a competent and experienced hi-fi electronics engineer, as essentially it's to do with optimising various 'electrical interactions', present when audio devices with different design principles are combined together. That is when sonic mismatches can occur, and hence a lack of 'synergy'.
The same also applies with cables.
We can do the Akai/Celestion comparison at NEBO but I'm not sure we can fit both sets of speakers in your motor. If we can I would definitely be up for it.
That should be a go-er, as it's a pretty large estate car. It would mean me picking you up from your place, though :cool:
Marco.
That should be a go-er, as it's a pretty large estate car. It would mean me picking you up from your place, though :cool:
Marco.
We can do that if you are up for it. The Akais are very 'different' I'd be really interested in other folk's opinions of them, good or bad.
Ok, no worries, but your diesel bill just went up! :eyebrows:
Marco.
Ever known a bill to go down? ;)
Heh heh... I think you'll enjoy the ride, though, as long as you don't have an aversion to (safe) speed!! :D
Marco.
To quote Michael Caine in 'The Italian Job' : 'Put yer foot down, we'll lose 'em easy!' :)
:lolsign:
I'll remember you said that!
Marco.
Where was this cable used in the system? Was it between the CD player and the passive-pre or between the passive-pre and the power amp? Was an active pre-amp used at all or just the passive one?
Brian is pretty convinced the MC110's would not be to my taste but I may give a set some room in the system when I begin making my own cables just to be sure ;)
Where was this cable used in the system? Was it between the CD player and the passive-pre or between the passive-pre and the power amp? Was an active pre-amp used at all or just the passive one?
Two sets of identical cables (except for length) used from pre-power and cd to pre-amp. The XTZ pre-amp section is active - XTZ is an integrated that can be split into pre and power amps.
Brian is pretty convinced the MC110's would not be to my taste...
Interesting... What are his reasons behind that conclusion?
Marco.
Oh right - do you used the XTZ both as an integrated (without the external passive pre) and as a power amp, with the external passive pre?
Interesting... What are his reasons for that conclusion?
Marco.
Him knowing the sort of sound I enjoy pretty much mirrors his I think Marco. I'm going to give them a go though as there are bound to be other aspects in play which may affect the outcome. The MC5000 (is that correct?) based cables I have here are very special indeed so it will be an interesting comparison ;)
Oh right - do you used the XTZ both as an integrated (without the external passive pre) and as a power amp, with the external passive pre?
Yes I do. Although when using it as an integrated I used the supplied links between pre and power rather than the Klotz cable. I didn't think of doing that at the time. I also have a HK 930 receiver that can be split the same way so I might try that as a power amp and repeat the tests. Heaving massively heavy amplifiers in and out of the rack puts me off a bit but the HK and the XTZ sound quite different to each other when used as integrated amps so it could be worthwhile. The HK has a much warmer bass and a sweeter top end.
If anybody is interested in trying a SSC, drop me a line.
I'd be interested in hearing other peoples opinion of how it compares to the MC5000 based cables.
brian2957
01-08-2014, 18:01
Brian is pretty convinced the MC110's would not be to my taste but I may give a set some room in the system when I begin making my own cables just to be sure ;)
:scratch: Can't remember saying that Dave . Perhaps we've misunderstood each other at some point.
:scratch: Can't remember saying that Dave . Perhaps we've misunderstood each other at some point.
I'm sure you did... Ah well, it'll be an interesting experiment anyway ;)
brian2957
01-08-2014, 18:19
Aye , try the AC110 , it's cheap and you may very well prefer it mate . Initially I preferred it to the MC5000 but on extended listening the MC5000 won in the end.
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