Audioquest

['cisco]

David.....may I ask what Audioquest cables you are using? I'm considering some new cables and was looking at the King Cobras....xlr's and rca's.

Also looking at Audio Art and DH Labs.....WireWorld is a little out of my range

[1KW]

speakers are Star-Quad geometry type 4 http://www.audioquest.com/pdfs/star_quad/type4.pdf

I have analog http://www.audioquest.com/pdfs/analo...sidewinder.pdf but I am not using them now, I put the monster ultra 800 interconnects http://www.monstercable.com/productdisplay.asp?pin=1709 back in the system . I was using the sidewinder with the sonos but now I have a digital cable going from the sonos to the MCD500 dac input.

['cisco]

Thanks David....I'll pass on the Monster's...they grip like a vise and very hard to remove and insert

btw...congrats on the 501's

[1KW]

Originally Posted by 'cisco

Thanks David....I'll pass on the Monster's...they grip like a vise and very hard to remove and insert

btw...congrats on the 501's

Thanks

The monster RCA jacks were very tight in the begining in fact my old amp. had the female RCA pull out when I tried to remove the cable and now one channel does not work on the amp. I have not luckily had that problem with my Mcintosh equipment the jacks seem to be better quality and the jacks on the monster have loosened up a little bit.

[ian@pmc]

I've got a number of Audioquest cables, and have used them in a number of configurations.

I have the King Cobra, Columbia, Optilink 5, Sub 3, Rockefeller speaker cable.

The most immediate and apparent improvement that I experienced was with the Optilink 5. On my PS3 I was going HDMI to my receiver. I upgraded from my Pioneer Elite receiver to Parasound seperates, so no more HDMI. With the optical based multi channel stream I was most impressed with the finer detail and it's ability to better image the audio tracks especially on Blu ray. I would highly recommend the Optilink 5 for anyone who cares for optical output.

For the King Cobra I utilized it with my processor out to my power amp. I very much like this interconnect... Dollar for dollar, I think that this would be the best cable to start with without having to answer to the wife. After a while I swapped the Columbia from my processor out to power amp. Compared to the Cobra's smooth and bass leaning sound, the Columbia had what I initially perceived to be brightness, but after some time I found them to be more detailed but lending to a colder sound. I actually prefer the King Cobra going from my processor to my amp.

With my RM5 turntable I went Columbia to my Phono Box to my Processor... The detail that the columbia allowed to flow was very much preferred for my Vinyl, being that analog leans to the warmer side it was a nice combo that Aledair at Audioquest recommended very highly. I am very happy with the columbia in my analog chain.

My Rockefeller speaker wire was initally overly bright... I went from Kimber 8pr to Rockefeller... Two cables that couldn't further apart in their sonic signatures. The Kimber was heavy as hell, but choked a bit out of the dynamic capability... The Rockefeller, while able to retrieve even the most microtransient detail (for what my ears were used to within my personal system) lacked a little bit of the bass punch and warmth. Two coloured cables, a choice between what my ears saw as a orange yellow with the kimber, to the sky blue silver with the audioquest.

Then I moved... My room at my old house was like a jungle, teeming with life. The slapback was deadly. So my room made my playback at higher levels almost intolerable because the brightness was almost too much to bear... And with the detail brought on by my other cables, the Rockefeller literally put the icing on the cake.

Now I've spent some time with the cable in my new room.... So much better, I love my Cobra's & Columbia more than ever. My room now is big enough that it is still a little live, but no slapback at all. Now my Rockefeller is operating in more ideal conditions. Very nice detail is flowing through, still a little light on the bass, but I think that is just my speaker, as the room is pretty big. So I am content.. For now.

My sub3 cable is really good too, however I don't use my sub anymore so that is out of commission (any takers - pm me!), but this thing was a revelation. Definition and punch were improved remarkably... A decent sub can sound great with this I'm sure of it.

I've spent a good deal of time with the various configurations. I think that you have to get used to a sound, first impressions rarely match the last impression, which can make interconnect & speaker wire purchases more of a process than just a decision. So if you want to be the happiest with whatever cable you choose you have to feel it out for a while.

[-E-]

Actually I think that is the one saving grace of the monster interconnects are the turbine ends... Grip + Surface area = good.

I've moved on since then (and my dealer well ranneth dry...), so now I have a new friend... WW

['cisco]

Thanks Ian for your insight on AQ...... Much appreciated

[Rilands]

Thanks for the utube link. I spoke to the gentleman(Alasdair) in the video yesterday about re-terminating some audioquest cables I have. I didn't ask for him, that was who audioquest transfered me to. He was a real nice guy and spent 10-15 minutes discussing different cable scenarios. I may want to try a different brand now though. Cardas & wireworld have got my attention.