Could this be a 'giant-killing' tonearm cable?

[DaveK]

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

Hi Martin,
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.

[MartinT]

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.

[DaveK]

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.

[Marco]

Well no, my objective was to find the best possible sound and, for the moment, I am very pleased.

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

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.

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...

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.

[MartinT]

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?

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.

However, it's the Ultra Black speaker cables that I really raved about, and I haven't heard anything better yet.

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...?

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.

It's an experiment and I don't mind too much if it fails.

[brian2957]

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.

[Marco]

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:





Look rather shexy, don't they?

Should be very interesting how they stack up against my Mark Grant G2000HDs!

Marco.

[MikeMusic]

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) will be winging their way to me shortly:





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 ?

[Marco]

Hi Martin,

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.

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

However, it's the Ultra Black speaker cables that I really raved about, and I haven't heard anything better yet.

You haven't heard my Van den Huls yet!

I have a thought that the incoming and outgoing cables might perform differently and have different needs.

Not in my experience, but you might be lucky and hit upon a 'magical' combo.

I'm fairly certain that the big Furukawa cable from Mark Grant will keep the Power Plant happy.

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.

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.

I get that. Hope it works out well for you, dude!

Marco.

[Tarzan]

Crickey- l cannot keep up