At the risk of being accused of shilling

[Stiffy]

I've recently bought a Harman Kardon HK760 amp and to say I'm disappointed with it is an understatement. The mid range seems 'locked in' and it's making my system sound dull and boring. :(
I considered buying a graphic equaliser to level things out a bit but I've never really liked them tbh so out came the camera and pics were taken ready for Ebay at the weekend.

In the meantime I decided to have a bit play around and here's what happened.

Changed speaker cables from Van Damme Blue to Chord something or other…No real noticeable difference.
Changed IC's between CDP & amp from Van Damme to Gotham….Made the sound worse, much worse.
Tried a Chord Cobra 3….. Things improved slightly over the original Van Damme set up but still not great.

Oh well Ebay it is…..Wait, I remembered I had another set of IC's lurking at the very back of my hifi drawer.
Yes, a pair of Silver High Breed's supplied by our very own 'Ice Hockey Boy'. Now I seem to remember Craig getting dogs abuse on another forum because he dared to say how good he thought these cables were but we are more gentlemanly than that…aren't we?:D

I whacked them in and OMG what a difference, my system is alive once more.

It's true to say that the SHB's have transformed my system and have allowed a stay of execution for the HK.
I don't want to start another boring cable debate (there are people dying in the world) but to those who pilloried Craig…. oop yer :bum: LOL

[struth]

you just never know what cable will work best in any system til you try them tbh. good to hear youve cracked it john:eek:

[Barry]

Glad it has worked out for you John. :)

No, we wouldn't accuse you of 'shilling' - you have simply stated that these cables work well in your system; that is your opinion and you haven't claimed they will better any other cable in any other system. Cables are often system and listener dependent, so it is important, as you have done, to try these things out for oneself.

[jandl100]

Is that the original, bright silver coloured sheath cable?

Yup, it's a bit bright and good for putting a bit of zip into a dull system!

[walpurgis]

There are those who dismiss the idea of tuning system balance with choices of cables, but why not. Having a large selection of good interconnects and speaker cables which impart a varying characteristics to the sound, I've done this many times. It is not to suggest that the other parts of the system are inadequate, it's just getting the whole lot working together happily.

[Gazjam]

Synergy synergy synergy...

[walpurgis]

Synergy synergy synergy...

Yes. Something that one has to learn how to achieve. ;)

You can spend a fortune, but if the components are not happy together, you are knackered! :)

[trio leo]

Being an old fart and computer illiterate I have to ask, what's shilling? :)

but nice to hear you've found something that releases a bit more from your system.

Enjoy your music

cheers Al

[walpurgis]

Being an old fart and computer illiterate I have to ask, what's shilling?

Half of two bob! :lol:

[Barry]

Half of two bob! :lol:

I think you mean "half of a florin". :eyebrows: The word shilling is still used as a colloquialism for local currency used in former British colonies (such as Tanzania).

Anyway to answer the question "what's shilling?", this might explain things: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/shill