Master Built-What are Owners Hearing That They Didn't Hear With Other Cables

JackD201 said:

"There's more there"

After hundreds of posts, a non audiophile spouse summed it up better than all of us!

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JackD201 said:

"There's more there"

After hundreds of posts, a non audiophile spouse summed it up better than all of us!

Click to expand...

Ok,
Stop it Jack......

Holli82 said:

Ok,
Stop it Jack......

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Gotta do it Rodney

mountainjoe said:

We raffled off a Performance Line power cable at C.A.S. amd the winner just relayed to me his feedback on the impact of the PC on his DAC - here it is in his words:

I'm immensely enjoying listening to music with the MasterBuilt cable powering my Playback Designs DAC. Simply put, it's staying put.

As my wife and I listen to digital sources exclusively, the aforementioned DAC (obviously) is a critical component in our system. I knew it was sensitive to vibration, which I manage with my Box Furniture Co. rack. Evidently the DAC is sensitive to its power cable as well. (I thought my Triode Wire Labs power cable was "good enough". It's not.)

Frankly, I'm amazed. I expected (wanted) to hear little if any discernible difference with the MasterBuilt cable. But it was immediately apparent it was different, and within an hour of power, it was obviously better. Noticeably blacker background. Denser, more satisfying drum thwacks. More 'meat' on the 'bones'. In my wife's words, "There's more there." (Almost as if I had upgraded the DAC. What a relief to think I don't have to. Yet.)

Joe, with a nod to The Monkees, I'm Believer. You and your escorted customers, and of course SFAS members are welcome to visit (Half Moon Bay) and hear what the right cord, in the right place can do. I'm now curious to hear a full set of MasterBuilt power cables in my system as well.

Best,
Brian

And that’s with the entry level Performance Line!

I’ll be getting a batch of demo cables in a week or so if anyone in the Northern California Bay Area is interested in auditioning these cables in your system.

Cheers, Joe

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Thanks for the report Joe Send him some cables for his amp and pre and watch what he says next lol. He doesn't even know the full potential of his system yet. Fun Fun

Dear Leif, I am diving back into this topic!

Does MasterBuilt have its own foundry, or does its relationship with a government contractor afford it access to such other company's foundry?

MasterBuilt doesn't own the foundry Ron and you are correct in regards to the government contractor relationship.

Thank you, Leif, for entertaining this picky point!

MasterBuilt just released the digital SPDIF cables

Hello Leif

I compared MB's inter connect with mine in Sonoris which is one of your dealer in Korea.
Of course signature was the superb. But reference line was good enough. It had deep bass, wide spectrum and natural mid.
I found the used reference balance inter in US Audio Mart. When I asked what I should check to MB, they said nothing becase it is very solid. As a result, I bought it.

I played more than 200 hours. But the result was so terrible. Both bass and high are limited, and mid is so stiff.
Eventhough audio cables are case by case, but this is out of my common sense.

Can you guess why?

I'm using Aurender N10, Mare Levinson no.30.6, Absolare Passion inti amp, Rockport Mira speakers.

Hello Leif

I compared MB's inter connect with mine in Sonoris which is one of your dealer in Korea.
Of course signature was the superb. But reference line was good enough. It had deep bass, wide spectrum and natural mid.
I found the used reference balance inter in US Audio Mart. When I asked what I should check to MB, they said nothing becase it is very solid. As a result, I bought it.

I played more than 200 hours. But the result was so terrible. Both bass and high are limited, and mid is so stiff.
Eventhough audio cables are case by case, but this is out of my common sense.

Can you guess why?

I'm using Aurender N10, Mark Levinson no.30.6 dac, Absolare Passion inti amp, Rockport Mira speakers.

Have you shown the on-line cables to the guys at Sonoris? I would compare them there. Worst case scenario is that they are fake. Second worst is that there is something wrong with the wire/pin assignments. Third that some solder joints are bad but not totally severed.

Performance, Reference and Signature use the same metal and dielectrics, they just use more as you go up the line and as a result vary geometry accordingly. There is no reason for the one in the middle to fall off between the models below AND above it.

Hello Jack

Thank you for your advise.
I think it is not fake, the seller was really kind and honest.

I sent it to my friend to cpmpare it who is using the new one .
If he conform those are same, I think this is just matching problem.
But if he confirm those are not same, I'll request MB to repair it, if they agree.

I'm hoping for the best for you pke They do take a long time to break in but 200 hours is too long for the bass to be absent. It is usually there substantially before the 100 hour mark. Same goes for the mids. Good luck

pke10000 said:

Hello Leif

I compared MB's inter connect with mine in Sonoris which is one of your dealer in Korea.
Of course signature was the superb. But reference line was good enough. It had deep bass, wide spectrum and natural mid.
I found the used reference balance inter in US Audio Mart. When I asked what I should check to MB, they said nothing becase it is very solid. As a result, I bought it.

I played more than 200 hours. But the result was so terrible. Both bass and high are limited, and mid is so stiff.
Eventhough audio cables are case by case, but this is out of my common sense.

Can you guess why?

I'm using Aurender N10, Mark Levinson no.30.6 dac, Absolare Passion inti amp, Rockport Mira speakers.

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Hi pke10000,

I apologize for missing this post Please let me know what the results are from your friend. You should not be experiencing what you are describing. What other brand of cables are in your system?

You can always email me direct if you like at
leif@vonschweikert.com

or we can speak on the phone as well. I do you "wechat" and "whatsapp"

JackD201 said:

Have you shown the on-line cables to the guys at Sonoris? I would compare them there. Worst case scenario is that they are fake. Second worst is that there is something wrong with the wire/pin assignments. Third that some solder joints are bad but not totally severed.

Performance, Reference and Signature use the same metal and dielectrics, they just use more as you go up the line and as a result vary geometry accordingly. There is no reason for the one in the middle to fall off between the models below AND above it.

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The old cables used to be like that Jack but the new ones are not. Each line is different now. The Reference is more like old Signature and the Performance is like the old Standard and the Signature went above what it used to be lol.

Hello Leif

I sent you a mail.

Thanks

Steve Williams said:

I truly understand your points but disagree with both. To turn your ear (NPI ) from IMO a great product and not audition it because of whatever it lacks in marketing is plain silly.

Here's my question tasos. If MIT are the best why is it that every month there are 8-10 newest and best yet MIT cables with a stupidly high levels of articulation that last month's cables are history. I call it following the impossible dream. Marty recently made comment about the stupid high levels of articulation. To me he is a skilled marketer and his cable is sold in so many places that no one knows ever what MSRP is.

MB since inception has had 4 levels of cable. No levels of articulation or network boxes only 4 levels of cable and AFAIK there ain't anything new in the cable line but perhaps in grounding which has been discussed here before

As I see it Tasos these 4 guys got it right after many beta prototypes and they haven't changed since. In my system, they are called lifers because they are my last cable. And again IIRC they are priced less than MIT Oracle.

"glass half full or glass half empty?" Your choice

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Looks like MB cables are worth a try. None of you guys mentioned which cable you tried; power cord, speaker, etc. Interconnects were talked about. Would be great to hear about the main three. They each have a different effect, so saying their power cord "should" sound the same as a speaker cable, is not helpful.

Does MB shut-down?

I sent them my cable for an inspection and they got it at 9th/Mar.
They said the cable needs cooking time at 28th/Mar.
And just listend with comparing their own and confirmd those are same at 07/Aprl.
Then no inform anything until now.

I've never seen so slow worker. Is it normal in US? or is there any trouble at MB?

I thank them to agree the inspection, but durig the proceedure, I'm so sorry.

I received loaner Master Built RCA interconnect cables just yesterday from Joe Hakim at Eigen Audio. He sent me the Ultra and the Reference series, 1 pair each. I'm only two records in thus far, and have only tried the Ultra, but I'd already like to share some preliminary thoughts.

The Master Built Ultra is the most transparent cable I've ever heard in my system, and it's not close. The beauty of the Ultras is in how they present nuance. Compared to every other cable I've heard, the Ultra wins in micro detail resolution, absolute perfection in tonal balance, and laser-like precision of imaging and soundstage layering. It does all this with so much finesse, never calling attention to itself, never being the slightest bit analytical or unnatural. It's truly as if they're not even there. Music simply sounds natural (in the best sense of the word), "live", "in the room", add your favorite meme. I literally don't know what else to say other than to say these cables really are THAT impressive. I tried to look for faults... At first I thought they were a tad laid back, but they're really not. It's just that they layer detail better than other cables and as I said, have incredible finesse. Low level bass detail is astounding (and I'm proud of my system itself for being so good ;-) ) but never bloated, accentuated, nor out of place. I also thought maybe they are a tad polite up top, but again, they're really not. My other cables are probably a hair shimmery in comparison. Cymbals sound perfect with the Master Built Ultra, from the wooden strike, to the crash, to the sustain and decay. Just gorgeous and correct. After two records, I just have stopped even trying to find fault and am simply marveling at how my system sounds. So at this point, I would not hesitate to say that these cables should appeal to all tastes, and in any system. That's because they simply do what cables should do, and better than any other cable. Now, with all that said, these cables are not in my personal budget but I won't go down the path of "are they worth the asking price" etc. I will simply say, if these cables are in your budget, if you don't particularly enjoy auditioning cable after cable, then I would not hesitate to whole heartedly recommend simply obtaining Master Built Ultras and never thinking about component interconnects ever again. They might just be perfect, and are certainly in a class of their own. And if you do buy them, color me jealous, and please invite me over to listen to your system. ;-)