Last contact from him was 26/7. He may well have gone on holiday since then.Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
The 223.5s are rather special but I need to do more listening before I commit to writing.
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Last contact from him was 26/7. He may well have gone on holiday since then.Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
The 223.5s are rather special but I need to do more listening before I commit to writing.
Yup, he's most likely on holiday. When you feel able to describe the differences between the 223.5s and your TQs, I'd be very interested in your thoughts :)
Marco.
These look interesting Marco . Can't see them on his Ebay listings. Do you have a link for them . Ta.Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
Brian - mine are 223.5 Phono Litz interconnects fitted with WBT 0110Ag phono plugs and external earth leads at the destination end.
http://www.back-promo.co.uk/html/223_5connect-litz.html
Thanks for the link Martin , these certainly look the part. I look forward to your and Marcos' findings.
I've put about 20 hours on them so far, there's probably some more burn-in to go but I can confidently say that these cables are quite superb, every bit as much an uplift in sound quality as the 423.5 tonearm cable in my system.
Mine are 0.8m lengths, fitted with WBT 0110Ag plugs and earth tags at the destination end. They are fitted between SUT and phono preamp, with the earths connected to the phono preamp earth post.
Fine detail is released in a very natural way and soundstage width, depth and especially height are quite wonderful. There is a better sense of vividness and knockout dynamics, especially audible in the leading edge of transients - where the chest is involved, rather than the gut which feels bass.
Much to my surprise, the noise floor is further lowered indicating the effectiveness of the earthing arrangements. This makes very low level detail especially contrasted during quiet moments in the music.
They replace the TQ Black Phono cable previous used in that position. I'm still listening and will report back on any further improvements.
I think that last sentence says it all, Martin! TQ for sale, anyone? :eyebrows:Quote:
They replace the TQ Black Phono cable previous used in that position.
Nice one. Yannis does seem to produce some genuinely top-notch cables. I look forward to your further thoughts and to hearing my own samples in due course :)Quote:
I'm still listening and will report back on any further improvements.
Marco.
Hope I'm not being too nit-picky here but shouldn't that read, "any further changes" ? Otherwise it could be interpreted as a foregone conclusion, no?Quote:
Originally Posted by MartinT
Dave.
Well, I don't think I agree with you Dave. I know how cables trend aurally in burn-in and they never go backwards. Therefore, if I've heard improvements since new then I will either hear no further improvements, or further improvements. QED :)
Well no, my objective was to find the best possible sound and, for the moment, I am very pleased. The TQ Black (with WBTs) is still good and has taken place in my DAC to preamp position. However, *that* standard TQ will go on sale shortly.Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
Hi Martin,Quote:
Originally Posted by MartinT
I'm happy with that (meaning I understand you and accept what you're saying, no probs :) ). Which then raises in my mind why things never go backwards - with relatively simple components like cables I can see why the initial trend should continue to it's conclusion. But amps and DACs and speakers and such that have an almost infinite variety of differing components, each of which may take a different number of hours to reach their final level of performance, some of which may be forwards and some of which may be backwards, why should the net result always be forward if the initial trend is forwards? - it's something that has puzzled me for as long as I have been reading reviews of new audio kit.
Being honest, I suspect our brains play the major part in reaching those decisions in that you get used to hearing the particular sound signature that you initially liked and it grows on you. Quite often, in the fullness of time, you begin to tire of it and move it on.
Just my opinion :) .
Dave.
I can only think that, at the component level, electrolytic capacitors improve their capacitance and ESR as they settle down. How it works for other components that the sum effect is always an improvement, I don't know. It's even stranger with cables, but I've never yet heard one get worse.
I have no wish to start another Objectivist/Subjectivist type merry go round but IMO a lot of the 'improvement' takes place after the sound hits the ears rather than before it leaves the kit.
Put another way, I think we are all far more susceptible to the influence of the brain in such matters than many of us are prepared to admit. No way of proving it of course, that I am aware of anyway, so we will continue to hold our varying opinions. I'm tempted to suggest that the fact that these 'differences' that we hear defy all attempts to measure them might be taken as evidence that they don't exist, by some at least. Maybe we need more sophisticated measuring techniques? I remain totally open minded on the subject myself.
Cheers,
Dave.
That's what it's all about, matey. You now have a complete 'loom', a la Yannis, from your T/T to your phono stage. Synergy rules ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by MartinT
It's interesting, however, how the TQ, once 'rave of the month' on forum land, has been quite easily displaced by an 'upstart' from Greece... :eyebrows:Quote:
The TQ Black (with WBTs) is still good and has taken place in my DAC to preamp position. However, *that* standard TQ will go on sale shortly.
So, if you're using the TQ Black (with WBTs) from your DAC to preamp, what are you using from your preamp to power amp?
The mains cable you've bought recently should also be interesting, but I'm surprised that you didn't just go for the Furutech stuff, which you're going to use on your Powerplant, as a complete mains cable loom...?
Marco.
Aha - you're tracking my thoughts! I've asked Yannis to make me a balanced XLR interconnect from 223.5 ConnectLitz to try out against the TQ XLR.Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
However, it's the Ultra Black speaker cables that I really raved about, and I haven't heard anything better yet.
I have a thought that the incoming and outgoing cables might perform differently and have different needs. I'm fairly certain that the big Furukawa cable from Mark Grant will keep the Power Plant happy. However, after trying John's silver cable from PP to the Ayre player, I was amazed at the difference. I therefore thought I'd try something similar before I go down the expensive route. 6 x any cable will be expensive, despite recouping some of it by selling the Russ Andrews.Quote:
The mains cable you've bought recently should also be interesting, but I'm surprised that you didn't just go for the Furutech stuff, which you're going to use on your Powerplant, as a complete mains cable loom...?
It's an experiment and I don't mind too much if it fails.
Any more thoughts on the Yannis 223.5 t i/cs Martin. It's interesting that he uses a Litz braid and multiple shields . I've only seen one or the other on i/cs so I'm very interested to see if this works.
Just spoken with Yannis (he was away abroad for a week), and a 0.5m and 1m pair of these (the latter without flying leads for use between pre and power amp) will be winging their way to me shortly:
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/9...interconne.jpg
Look rather shexy, don't they?
Should be very interesting how they stack up against my Mark Grant G2000HDs! :)
Marco.
Where are you slotting these in ?Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
Hi Martin,
Lol... So, even though you've got a bit of a mish-mash going on just now, the 223.5s still 'out-synergise' the TQs in that position? Interesting. I'd expect things to get a whole lot better when you have a 'yannis loom' throughout ;)Quote:
Aha - you're tracking my thoughts! I've asked Yannis to make me a balanced XLR interconnect from 223.5 ConnectLitz to try out against the TQ XLR.
You haven't heard my Van den Huls yet! :eyebrows:Quote:
However, it's the Ultra Black speaker cables that I really raved about, and I haven't heard anything better yet.
Not in my experience, but you might be lucky and hit upon a 'magical' combo.Quote:
I have a thought that the incoming and outgoing cables might perform differently and have different needs.
No doubt it will. I'm going for a 2.6mm core version of the Furukawa, for my copper amp, which will be hard-wired directly to the junction box (no plugs or fuses) containing the incoming 16mm armoured cable for my dedicated mains spur.Quote:
I'm fairly certain that the big Furukawa cable from Mark Grant will keep the Power Plant happy.
I get that. Hope it works out well for you, dude! :cool:Quote:
However, after trying John's silver cable from PP to the Ayre player, I was amazed at the difference. I therefore thought I'd try something similar before I go down the expensive route. 6 x any cable will be expensive, despite recouping some of it by selling the Russ Andrews.
Marco.
Crickey- l cannot keep up:):popcorn:
Hi Mike,
The pair with the flying earth leads will be going between my SUT and preamp/phono stage, and the others between my pre and power amp :)Quote:
Where are you slotting these in ?
Marco.
Be *very* interested to hear how they soundQuote:
Originally Posted by Marco
Based on what I'm hearing, Marco, the synergy with the PhonoLitz tonearm cable and ConnectLitz interconnect between SUT and phono pre is outstanding and I'm certain you're going to like it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
As for main preamp to power amp, we're both experimenting so it will be very interesting to hear if the synergy carries through with the 223.5 ConnectLitz single-ended and XLR balanced cables.
Yep - Mark has already warned me that this cable is huge. Hopefully my 2m length with Furutech connectors will arrive soon and the Power Plant will revel in a low impedance feed.Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
Lol... Yes, he ensures me that it's a nice 'fat length' :eyebrows:
Should be a wheeze - I'm having mine fitted at the end of the month. As I said, the incoming cable for my dedicated spur is 16mm SWA, armoured (the standard type used to feed the incoming mains for all homes, via the local substation), shown here: http://quickbit.co.uk/electrical_cab...le-3-core-16mm), which then (from my meter downstairs) comes into one of these bad boys, at the 'source' end:
http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/3...hqyokiqeud.jpg
...and the Furukawa PCOCC-A 2.6mm solid-core mains cable:
http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/964...a26mmcable.jpg
(details here: http://www.oyaide.com/ENGLISH/AUDIO/...ord/pg466.html) Key info: "It has demonstrated 30dB superiority in noise protection over standard indoor cable."
...will be hard-wired into t'other end (along with the Furukawa cable feeding my 6-way distribution block), and then connected to my copper amp with a Furutech FI-50 IEC plug. Trust me, that stuff is just about the best you can buy for mains cable, especially when terminated with these little chaps:
http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/2...chfi5020b2.jpg
Should be quite, erm, 'JUICY'!! :fingers: :eyebrows:
Marco.
Fat bastard mains inlet versus regenerator. They are interesting alternative takes on a low impedance feed. I'm looking to do the same for my feed from P10 to the power amp, although I can't use a Furutech connector that end as the Chord has a very deeply recessed 16A IEC connector. Mark has found me a silver plated Martin Kaiser 16A plug that fits the recess.
Indeed. It's an interesting conundrum... I've never used a mains regenerator, so I've no idea the effect it would have, but then I've never felt that I needed one, such is the measured ultra-low impedance of my dedicated mains spur, and the superb sound that my system achieves.Quote:
Fat bastard mains inlet versus regenerator.
Out of curiosity, I would like to try one sometime, but the K.I.S.S approach with my method (minimise on all 'unnecessary gubbins') generally appeals more to my 'purist' sensibilities... ;)
Marco.
They're still running-in, Brian. I can hear that new-cable 'clankiness' gradually receding. Will give you more low-down in a few days time.Quote:
Originally Posted by brian2957
ta mate :D
Ok, things are settling very nicely indeed. The combination of my 423.5 PhonoLitz tonearm cable (arm to SUT with single destination earth tag) and 223.5 ConnectLitz (SUT to phono preamp with destination earth tag) is superb.
Earthing is critical! My turntable, arm (via the tonearm cable), SUT and ConnectLitz are all four connected to the phono preamp's earth post, star-earthing style. Leave out any one and the sound degrades. I was puzzled earlier in the evening as to why the sound had gone off, and it was the SUT earth which had come loose. So even if you think everything is earthed, double-check as you may yield a nice upgrade in SQ for the sake of a bit of green wire.
These two cables yield a huge amount of detail, together with a fabulous wide and deep soundstage with pinpoint focus. Despite the detail being extracted, they are not bright, edgy or harsh. This proves that construction is king and silver need not necessarily be tainted with the 'bright' tag. Frequency bandwidth goes from extreme highs to deep, deep bass. They are essentially tonally neutral with nothing favoured. Midrange and vocal quality are of the highest order, really thrilling with good recordings.
I am over the moon with these cables and can only say they represent extremely good value for money and have very high build quality. Yannis has produced something very special here and I thank Marco for having spotted his products and given them a punt.
Right then, I've been chatting with Yannis and he is now making me a 223.5 ConnectLitz XLR balanced cable to go from my phono preamp to main preamp, thus completing the phono chain. If that gives me a further improvement, then I shall order one more for the preamp to power amp run, and perhaps yet another for my SACD player to preamp run.
P.S. all my cables are fitted with WBT 0110Ag plugs at extra cost. I have requested Neutrik NC3MXX/NC3FXX silver pin plugs for the XLR cable.
So your trying these xlr cables in place of your TQ blacks?
Also, the Neutriks your ordering are £2, is that right?
Yes, and what has price got to do with anything? Those Neutriks have silver contacts and are standard in every studio in the world. The XLRs on the TQs are also Neutrik, same model.Quote:
Originally Posted by realysm42
Nothing, I'm intruiged as to your decision; I know you don't think high price denotes quality I just wanted to be sure I had the right thing.Quote:
Originally Posted by MartinT
Most of the time I'm pretty interested by what you write, hence my curiosity.
I would say that, due to the design of XLR connectors and the nature of balanced operation, cables in general and connectors in particular have much less impact than with standard (single-ended) connections. There is simply less 'foo' with XLR. Therefore I don't expect the large differences I've heard from the single-ended 223.5 cables and I don't think there is any merit in going with, say, a Furutech XLR connector when the Neutrik is so well made and costs very little.
Sorry if my previous response seemed a little terse, I didn't mean it to come out that way :)
Hearing your system a couple of months ago it seems incredible there is so much more to reveal.Quote:
Originally Posted by MartinT
Gives me great hopes for the future of my system
Yes Mike - believe it or not I had an earthing fault then and also wasn't running the Yannis interconnect. It's even more dynamic and vivid now :)
Well it sounded perfect beforeQuote:
Originally Posted by MartinT
So this must be better than perfect !
:)
Seriously I thought it sounded utterly transparent and naked
I'm staggered, and delighted to hear it is so much better
How does this rank in terms of previous system improvements ?
Too hard to say. Significant, but then they all add up to a very large improvement as a whole. Quite a lot has gone on since I bought the Power Plant P10 and I'm just about to start down the road of replacing all my power cables.
Bits and pieces here and there adding up to more than the sum of the total.Quote:
Originally Posted by MartinT
Fits nicely into context with Team GB cycling team.
So many other countries are saying "how do they can they possibly do that ?"
Keep making incremental improvements and gain more than drugs !
:)
I'd love to hear my LP12 or a fully fettled one with some or all of those bits
Nah, it's nothing to do with incremental improvements and all to do with the fact that our bike wheels "are round, I mean really round" according to the information imparted to a French TV interviewer by GB Cycling technical guru and picked up by French newspapers apparently :lol: .Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeMusic
Fact is they are made in France and the 'face' of the French company concerned in their ads is the guy that Lord(?) Hoy beat to get his last medal.
All good fun, innit? :lol:
It's Sir Chris Hoy.Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveK
He is a knight, not a peer.
I believe that the competition (ie. the rest of the world) can buy bikes of the exact same specification as the ones used by the Team GB riders, and have been able to do so for the last couple of years.
The equipment is important, but it doesn't fully account for the degree of success Team GB cyclists have enjoyed in these games.
Hi Chris,Quote:
Originally Posted by Stratmangler
Yep I know he's a knight of the realm :) but since he was knighted he's got 50% more gold medals. Presumably, being the highest ever gold medal winner will merit further official acknowledgement and what can they now offer except a peerage? :lol:
Coe got one for licking a politician's arse so I'm sure Hoy deserves one :rolleyes: .
Dave.
It was this bit that confused meQuote:
Originally Posted by DaveK
Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveK
Yeah, sorry Chris, I was just presuming the (possible) inevitability of higher honour, that's what the (?) was trying to indicate :).
Cheers,
Dave.
Please keep to topic lads, i'm actually very interested in the tonearm cable debate and not the size of chris hoy's camel toe. ;)
Anyone got any more thoughts on these interconnects .Quote:
Originally Posted by MartinT
Brian - I'm not sure anyone else has the ConnectLitz (interconnects) yet. I know Marco has a set on their way.
Glad you guys reviewing all these cables cos it sure beats me having to do it:D
Have you finished burning yours in Martin ?Quote:
Originally Posted by MartinT
Brian,Quote:
Originally Posted by brian2957
I don't think you need worry on that score - Marco's finding will very closely mirror Martin's but with more details, or I'll run bare-arsed down our street :lol: .
Pictures will not be posted though, in the unlikely event that I'm wrong :lol: .
Cheers,
Dave.