How much difference can an interconnect make? I am a big believer in power cords and broke the bank for a Nordost Valhalla 2 for my EMM Labs XDS1-V2 CDp; although I can't really describe the benefits it looks good. I was more conservative on interconnect, using the hybrid and very good Kimber KS 1126 balanced connecting to an ARC Ref 5se. All was good until my dealer advertised a used KS 1136, silver wire, top of the line, new 3489€, but for less than half price. So I plugged it in on test thinking it would be bright, but no. That upgrade produces more benefit than my move from a Ref 5 to SE. Amazing liquidity, weight, holographic sound, extended bass, leaving me wondering what else is left to do? Maybe it's because, as I read, Meitner uses Kimber wire in his components. Anyway I wonder if anyone has experienced such a profound change with one .75 meter piece of wire?
Upgrading interconnect
- Thread starter Cascais
- Start date
well........for those whose world includes vinyl; the phono cable, dealing with a .14mv-.5mv signal, dwarfs the effect of any other cable. having recently upgraded my USB cable I do agree that those cables make differences....but not nearly as much as phono cables.
I limit myself to phono and CD player and have always taken more care with interconnect to the CDp in hopes of eliminating any digital nasties. I use the stock phono cable which came with the SME Ser. 5 arm which I think is Van Den Hul, which seems to perform very well. You don't get digital nasties with phono.
Yeah, copper interconnect cables are always going to be a major bottleneck... IC cables make a major difference in the resolution of a system, and hence it's clarity, soundstage, precision of imaging and realistic overtones/timbre of voices and acoustic instruments. There's big differences within silver as well, 4N isn't so great, 5N is good, UPOCC (6N+) is even better and darn close to perfect... and the new OCC silver/gold alloy is like UPOCC silver with more realistic timbre.
An otherwise good system can go from decent to world class with good cables, power and grounding. Grounding includes power distribution system and cables, possibly more but if the cables and power distribution are done properly you shouldn't need additional grounding. I've experienced it MANY times!
An otherwise good system can go from decent to world class with good cables, power and grounding. Grounding includes power distribution system and cables, possibly more but if the cables and power distribution are done properly you shouldn't need additional grounding. I've experienced it MANY times!
A while back I had a SME 20/2 SME IV.Vi arm and that vdh cable. Then I tried a Graham IC50, then a purist or 3 (a few diff models), then a Transparent. I'm with Mike, you have a potentially serious upgrade awaiting your phono section by replacing the arm cable. I'd put it up there with a cartridge upgrade depending on how good of a cable you get...
Good luck
Agreed about that possibility since the upgrade with the CDp IC produced a change that could have come with a seriously upgraded preamp but it was just the IC that made the difference. At this time however I am satisfied with my SME 20 with Ser. V arm and wiring since it is already the equal or better in some respects than my CDp, which is considerably more expensive. That surprises me particularly since I am using a mid-range Transparent IC between phono stage and preamp. As Dave wrote an IC can upgrade a system from good to world class, and sometimes not even the most exotic cable. Synergy? Now I am thinking of another KS 1136 on the phono stage to preamp route, but right now everything sounds good. That brings up a question, are we ever satisfied?
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