Lamm ML3 + LL1, at last!

microstrip

VIP/Donor
May 30, 2010
20,807
4,704
2,790
Portugal
But ,...... there is a catch with wilson speakers .
From the pics i have seen and read from various wilson installs one can change the mid and tweeter output via out board resistors at the back of the speakers .
So IF the transparent cable works indeed in the audible band , one can change the resistors and get a straight FR again , i advise only to do this with a wilson expert preferably with loudspeaker measurement gear

Your IF is deeply wrong. Transparent Audio cables do not act in the audio band. I said it several times in this forum, however it is one of the favorite speculative items of this board.

The networks are tuned well outside the audio band. They do not change the frequency response of systems like resistors in the crossovers.
 

andromedaaudio

VIP/Donor
Jan 23, 2011
8,499
2,849
1,400
Amsterdam holland
If i get my own hifishop sometime in the future.
I ll swap some second hand transparent and mit and let the clio Fw 01 interface / 11 software with calibrated measurement microphone decide.
I ll post the results
 
Last edited:

microstrip

VIP/Donor
May 30, 2010
20,807
4,704
2,790
Portugal
as Jack saiid I use a full loom of MB Ultra I’m my system. It was a marriage designed in heaven. They are going to bury me with those cables as i will never sell them

ive tasked Micro about MB Ultra but he remains resistant

I do not expect miracles from cables. They can fine tune a system but can't change the main characteristics of it. I can't believe that the MB ultra's are the only existing cable that can make a ML3 /XLF system sound good ...

As I told elsewhere one the great drawbacks of the LL1 / ML3 for me is the absence of remote and the double volume control.

I have learned from experience that buying products that are not reasonably distributed in Europe can be an expensive mistake. Contrary to Steve, I am not sure of what equipment will be in my room by the end of the year or even when I retire! ;)
 

microstrip

VIP/Donor
May 30, 2010
20,807
4,704
2,790
Portugal
If i get my own hifishop sometime in the future.
I ll swap some second hand transparent and mit and let the clio 11 with calibrated measurement microphone decide.
I ll post the results

Probably you will get some vintage cheap TA cables that bare no resemblance with the cables I am addressing (Opus MM2) .

I remember that Martin Colloms measured TA XL in Hifi News and found that the turn point was around 180 kHz. My analyzer goes only to 48 KHz and shows flat response. FIY Transparent cables are tuned to the output impedance of the sender and input impedance of the receiver, you must use the proper impedances to measure them.
 

Steve Williams

Site Founder, Site Owner, Administrator
I do not expect miracles from cables. They can fine tune a system but can't change the main characteristics of it. I can't believe that the MB ultra's are the only existing cable that can make a ML3 /XLF system sound good

i am sure they aren't however have been a Wilson owner for decades longer than you and have tried many of the good ones and TBH nothing comes close to MB
 
  • Like
Reactions: Leif S

andromedaaudio

VIP/Donor
Jan 23, 2011
8,499
2,849
1,400
Amsterdam holland
Probably you will get some vintage cheap TA cables that bare no resemblance with the cables I am addressing (Opus MM2) .

I remember that Martin Colloms measured TA XL in Hifi News and found that the turn point was around 180 kHz. My analyzer goes only to 48 KHz and shows flat response. FIY Transparent cables are tuned to the output impedance of the sender and input impedance of the receiver, you must use the proper impedances to measure them.

I measure another way , I put the signal generator on the loudspeaker cable terminals. Which i have disconnected from the power amp
I have a fixed mike position for example tw axis 1m distance and make some 20 hz - 20 kHz sweeps.
With normal cables and network cables easy
If i measure slight roll off im done
 
Last edited:

Steve Williams

Site Founder, Site Owner, Administrator
Jack is an MS dealer. and you are.....well......you.

and you are you. I would bet money that if they were in your system your thoughts would be quite similar. I have no pony in the game. I paid hard cash for the cables. Took me over 3 years to acquire the full loom and I guess that makes me , well, me as there is never a way these cables come out of my system
 

JackD201

WBF Founding Member
Apr 20, 2010
12,319
1,429
1,820
Manila, Philippines
no one is disputing the goodness of the MB Ultra's, or the loyalty of owners.

Micro likes to 'investigate' various types of gear. he tries this and that and gear moves in and out of his system. an end game plan is essential for him. Jack is an MS dealer. and you are.....well......you.

10 years in, I think micro knows me better than most here Mike :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Leif S

Tango

VIP/Donor
Mar 12, 2017
4,938
6,269
950
Bangkok
For whatever reasons he does not want to keep the Lamm. I don't think cable is one of them. I tried the ML3 with MIT, Siltech and Kuro. All these are not cable of choice for DDK who suggested and sold me the Lamm. Yet they sounded fine to me. Just one suits my preference more than the others. Imo you don't need a certain cable for the ML3 to sound great. More important is a pair of matching speakers to really hear what they can do. Btw, if you described the ML3 as dark, something in the system makes it dark not the amps.
 

Leif S

Industry Expert
Feb 13, 2015
770
166
180
California
www.vonschweikert.com
I do not expect miracles from cables. They can fine tune a system but can't change the main characteristics of it. I can't believe that the MB ultra's are the only existing cable that can make a ML3 /XLF system sound good ...

As I told elsewhere one the great drawbacks of the LL1 / ML3 for me is the absence of remote and the double volume control.

I have learned from experience that buying products that are not reasonably distributed in Europe can be an expensive mistake. Contrary to Steve, I am not sure of what equipment will be in my room by the end of the year or even when I retire! ;)
Hi microstrip,

I would love to let you demo some MasterBuilt cables
 

PeterA

Well-Known Member
Dec 6, 2011
12,670
10,943
3,515
USA
For whatever reasons he does not want to keep the Lamm. I don't think cable is one of them. I tried the ML3 with MIT, Siltech and Kuro. All these are not cable of choice for DDK who suggested and sold me the Lamm. Yet they sounded fine to me. Just one suits my preference more than the others. Imo you don't need a certain cable for the ML3 to sound great. More important is a pair of matching speakers to really hear what they can do. Btw, if you described the ML3 as dark, something in the system makes it dark not the amps.

Micro, what are your ML3 amplifiers sitting on?
 

ddk

Well-Known Member
May 18, 2013
6,261
4,043
995
Utah
Probably you will get some vintage cheap TA cables that bare no resemblance with the cables I am addressing (Opus MM2) .

I remember that Martin Colloms measured TA XL in Hifi News and found that the turn point was around 180 kHz. My analyzer goes only to 48 KHz and shows flat response. FIY Transparent cables are tuned to the output impedance of the sender and input impedance of the receiver, you must use the proper impedances to measure them.
In part I agree with your assessments, irrespective of personal taste I don't believe that MB or any other speaker cable will fix the real problem, ML3 and XLF are a poor match. While initial trial might sound fine longer term experience reveals weaknesses of this combination, I wouldn't want to live long with this setup either. The choice is either the speaker or the electronics and in this case it seems like you've already made your choice.

david
 

microstrip

VIP/Donor
May 30, 2010
20,807
4,704
2,790
Portugal
Micro, what are your ML3 amplifiers sitting on?

On the floor, or in the wheeled platforms when moving ... They are heavy.
 

microstrip

VIP/Donor
May 30, 2010
20,807
4,704
2,790
Portugal
In part I agree with your assessments, irrespective of personal taste I don't believe that MB or any other speaker cable will fix the real problem, ML3 and XLF are a poor match. While initial trial might sound fine longer term experience reveals weaknesses of this combination, I wouldn't want to live long with this setup either. The choice is either the speaker or the electronics and in this case it seems like you've already made your choice.

david

Nothing really definitive until I manage to sell the Lamm's, I have a couple of friends coveting my XLF's ...
 

bonzo75

Member Sponsor
Feb 26, 2014
22,650
13,687
2,710
London
Nothing really definitive until I manage to sell the Lamm's, I have a couple of friends coveting my XLF's ...

Please don't join the horn brigade, I need some means to pass time
 
  • Like
Reactions: KeithR and Lagonda

microstrip

VIP/Donor
May 30, 2010
20,807
4,704
2,790
Portugal
Hi microstrip,

I would love to let you demo some MasterBuilt cables

I would like to listen to them, but with a system that I could believe that can give your cables a fair opportunity to shine.

But before taking any action I would need to see a retail price list of your cables - I never try something that I do not know the price. And as far as I guess, the Ultra's are really expensive.
 

About us

  • What’s Best Forum is THE forum for high end audio, product reviews, advice and sharing experiences on the best of everything else. This is THE place where audiophiles and audio companies discuss vintage, contemporary and new audio products, music servers, music streamers, computer audio, digital-to-analog converters, turntables, phono stages, cartridges, reel-to-reel tape machines, speakers, headphones and tube and solid-state amplification. Founded in 2010 What’s Best Forum invites intelligent and courteous people of all interests and backgrounds to describe and discuss the best of everything. From beginners to life-long hobbyists to industry professionals, we enjoy learning about new things and meeting new people, and participating in spirited debates.

Quick Navigation

User Menu

Steve Williams
Site Founder | Site Owner | Administrator
Ron Resnick
Site Co-Owner | Administrator
Julian (The Fixer)
Website Build | Marketing Managersing