Ron’s New System

[Lagonda]

Why not? You can also listen to speakers with different driver manufacturers and in the end it works wonderfully. It's no different with amplifiers, adjust the volume, pay attention to the phase (measure then it works. I've been doing that for years, for example in bass, always with transistor amps, they simply have more control and a higher current delivery capacity for a bass driver.

I just wanted Ron to clarify what he is doing, i have never heard the term "woofer cooking" before.

 

[Ron Resnick]

In principle, it is no different than if you were to insert a passive preamp from the source to the power amp. Go as high as possible with the resistance value.

Thank you.

 

[Johan K]

I just wanted Ron to clarify what he is doing, i have never heard the term "woofer cooking" before.

Me neither… I did ask Ron once but didn’t get a clear response…

Sooo - let me see:
You bring a B I G can of water into the audioroom… you heat the water up to boiling temperature, then you put all your woofers in there… cocking them, and whoops, your hifi-system start to sound so much better.. …

Yea I got it… this must be it ☝ !!!

/ Jk

 

[PYP]

Me neither… I did ask Ron once but didn’t get a clear response…

Sooo - let me see:
You bring a B I G can of water into the audioroom… you heat the water up to boiling temperature, then you put all your woofers in there… cocking them, and whoops, your hifi-system start to sound so much better.. …

Yea I got it… this must be it ☝ !!!

/ Jk

View attachment 142437

perhaps Ron is a bit of a contrarian and doesn't go for cryogenic treatment. No, bring on the heat!

 

[Ron Resnick]

The only balanced cables left in the system are from the output of the Io to the input of the Hegel preamp. Everything else (including the Baltic 4) is single-ended.

Between the balanced Belden 1192A and the single-ended Cardas Clear Reflection both Don and I felt that the Cardas was more natural and without a hint of edginess or brightness. The Belden 1192A is very good at like a US$1 per foot. I would have no problem living with it permanently.

But carefully selected fancy/expensive cables might be able to improve the sound.

I took a shot on the Cardas Clear Reflection partly because Angela herself personally prefers the sound of that cable to the sound of Clear Beyond. I think Clear Reflection is great, and it is not crazy expensive.

 

[Ron Resnick]

Oh, on the cable comparison front, I don't have the patience to compare cables myself, by myself. But when David was here we compared carefully Cardas Clear Beyond XL power cable to Iconoclast Belden BAV power cable on the LampizatOr Baltic 4.

David totally doesn't believe in spending a lot of money on cables. He was quite surprised by how much more he preferred the Cardas over the Belden. He felt the Cardas was more resolving and textured in the low frequencies, and at the same time smoother and more natural in the high frequencies. I had the same sonic impressions.

Good job George, Angela and Brian at Cardas!

 

[PeterA]

Between the balanced Belden 1192A and the single-ended Cardas Clear Reflection both Don and I felt that the Cardas was more natural and without a hint of edginess or brightness. The Belden 1192A is very good at like a US$1 per foot. I would have no problem living with it permanently.

But carefully selected fancy/expensive cables might be able to improve the sound.

I took a shot on the Cardas Clear Reflection partly because Angela herself personally prefers the sound of that cable to the sound of Clear Beyond. I think Clear Reflection is great, and it is not crazy expensive.

Did you ever try the Belden single ended? Maybe they sound better than balanced version in your system.

 

[Ron Resnick]

Did you ever try the Belden single ended?

Yes; I had identical 47 foot runs.

Maybe they sound better than balanced version in your system.

I don't remember hearing any difference.

Why might the same cable and the same length single-ended sound better?

 

[PeterA]

Yes; I had identical 47 foot runs.


I don't remember hearing any difference.

Why might the same cable and the same length single-ended sound better?

How your electronics are set up might matter for balanced versus single ended. Just a possibility which is why I asked. If you think you heard no difference, or can't remember, it does not matter, then I would buy what is cheaper wire, unless you want audiophile cables. Then spend more.

 

[morricab]

How your electronics are set up might matter for balanced versus single ended. Just a possibility which is why I asked. If you think you heard no difference, or can't remember, it does not matter, then I would buy what is cheaper wire, unless you want audiophile cables. Then spend more.

I think he meant not hearing a difference between Belden balanced vs. Belden single ended. Not between Belden single ended and Cardas single ended.

 

[Ron Resnick]

I think he meant not hearing a difference between Belden balanced vs. Belden single ended. Not between Belden single ended and Cardas single ended.

correct!

I thought Peter was asking about Belden balanced vs. Belden single-ended.

 

[PeterA]

I think he meant not hearing a difference between Belden balanced vs. Belden single ended. Not between Belden single ended and Cardas single ended.

Yes, I understand that. I asked about the comparison of the two Belden cables the only difference being balanced versus single ended. I asked because if he thought the single end, it sounded better than my follow up would have been how do they compare to the Cardas single ended.

But since he can’t remember or doesn’t know if he heard a difference, the inquiry is moot. If I had both long single end cables lying around, I would certainly make the comparison now.

 

[morricab]

Yes, I understand that. I asked about the comparison of the two Belden cables the only difference being balanced versus single ended. I asked because if he thought the single end, it sounded better than my follow up would have been how do they compare to the Cardas single ended.

But since he can’t remember or doesn’t know if he heard a difference, the inquiry is moot. If I had both long single end cables lying around, I would certainly make the comparison now.

Well, the one thing that I was never a believer in from the past was cables. Then we started doing trials with cables for fun and found that the standard stuff just doesn't sound as good as some of the better exotic stuff. That is not to say that the most expensive sounds the best...but the better up market stuff definitely sounds better than the throw away stuff. Now, if you want to try something cheap that really sounds good, listen to the Chinese AudioQuest counterfeit stuff. A friend of mine bought a bunch for a few hundred per piece (compared to 5 figures for the real thing) and I have to say they worked very well indeed.

 

[PeterA]

Well, the one thing that I was never a believer in from the past was cables. Then we started doing trials with cables for fun and found that the standard stuff just doesn't sound as good as some of the better exotic stuff. That is not to say that the most expensive sounds the best...but the better up market stuff definitely sounds better than the throw away stuff. Now, if you want to try something cheap that really sounds good, listen to the Chinese AudioQuest counterfeit stuff. A friend of mine bought a bunch for a few hundred per piece (compared to 5 figures for the real thing) and I have to say they worked very well indeed.

I don’t doubt it, but I was just trying to get a sense from Ron about the Cardas versus the Belden that’s all. Both as single ended.

I’ve learned over the years that wires make a tremendous difference. So do cords. One benefits if choosing carefully.

 

[morricab]

I don’t doubt it, but I was just trying to get a sense from Ron about the Cardas versus the Belden that’s all. Both as single ended.

I’ve learned over the years that wires make a tremendous difference. So do cords. One benefits if choosing carefully.

Ok, but he said there was no obvious difference in Belden cables and Cardas was clearly (pun intended) superior.

 

[PeterA]

Ok, but he said there was no obvious difference in Belden cables and Cardas was clearly (pun intended) superior.

That’s right. I asked and he answered.

 

[tima]

That is not to say that the most expensive sounds the best...but the better up market stuff definitely sounds better than the throw away stuff.

I’ve learned over the years that wires make a tremendous difference. So do cords.

I've learned that there are very few universal or generalized claims that hold broadly across systems. I find you can hear differences between different cables but those difference are specific to each component, each system.

 

[Ron Resnick]

I’ve learned over the years that wires make a tremendous difference. So do cords. One benefits if choosing carefully.

I am puzzled that you think the differences between interconnects and power cords is "tremendous."

Do you think interconnects and power cords make a bigger sonic difference than loudspeakers? A bigger difference than amplifiers? A bigger difference than cartridges?

 

[Ron Resnick]

I've learned that there are very few universal or generalized claims that hold broadly across systems. I find you can hear differences between different cables but those difference are specific to each component, each system.

+1

 

[Mike Lavigne]

cables are complimentary components. meaning that until you have an otherwise balanced system better not to get too much character in a cable as it's hard to judge gear choices then. tweaks are even more like that than cables. tweaks are cherry on top sort of things. boosting an otherwise end game spot already. again; so you can determine different verses better.

cables first then gear is chasing your tail. it's perfectly fine to love cable coloration just do it with eyes/ears open.....preferences are good.....be happy.