Back on thread,
Installed the Panatela Reserva speaker cables yesterday having lived with standard Panatela for about 12 months. I'm always reluctant to change cables usually staying with a set for many years before the upgrade bug bites but Marks (Sablon Audio) comments to me regarding the superior qualities of the new Reserva range were too hard to ignore.
As my opening review states I had upgraded the ICs and Power cords to Reserva status and couldn't leave out the chance to upgrade the speaker cable before Xmas.
What Mark failed to tell me was just how BIG an upgrade to Reserva status actually revealed. SoTM already had the Panatela Reserva speaker cables on his system and I'd heard them in context with his full Sablon loom however the results when put into my system where far greater than I expected. Mark would say "told you so".
The increase in reality of vocals is stunning!! I'm a vocal fan over many other types of music, perhaps I just get a deep emotional connection with vocalists that can bend, shape or extend their words. The Reserva give me just so much more by removing a big level of artifice that I didn't know existed and giving a density/authority to even small sounds way back in the soundstage.
Spinning Rickie Lee Jones, Naked Songs, one of my favourite RLJ albums as it's so personal and wonderfully recorded, I felt I could hear her chest heaving with every breath and feel her breath on my face. When she moved to piano the heft of the piano notes are much improved giving a physical presence to the instrument. Wonderful.
I know I've a few days of break-in but Mark kindly gave them a long 'cooking' and on installation there were none of the usual tipped up sounds expected from fresh cables. I still have the Duo pigtail to change to Reserva status but as most of the music is from the midrange I'm in no rush to change this. He says with a smile
A quick comment on PCs Re. US plugs in UK. The Oyaide are rated for 240v, the wire 600v+ and as your equipment has a fuse and the C.U. a fuse there is in my mind no worries in using US plugs in the UK as I have done for over 20 yrs. if you are worried about insurance problems then I strongly suggest that you ask for the Furutech UK plugs on your Corona Reserva cords which I believe are the standard for UK usage. The Corona Reserva are spectacular no matter what plugs you choose. Please direct any further plug questions to Sablon Audio.
Blue58