You posted a long list of equipment with the obvious inferrence that there could be nothing wrong, since each piece is regarded as good on its own. I dont think that is any counter to my suggestion about system inbalance.
Well actually I think if you are using ARC amplification then the cables you have are perfectly suited, but this is purely personal and subjective assessment of the ARC sonic character. What do you use on the EMM/Centaur/Magico ?
I have used copper, silver and hybid silver/gold foil IC's in DIY configurations, some in air tubes, sometimes each leg sandwiched with teflon, and also spaced apart at 3/4 inch (which works very well for solid core). Ultimately I found that the foil conductor is not so suited to the transfer of low level small strength signals as found in source/pre situations. But foils seem to work great in speaker cables. They still roll of the high end measurement wise, but the tone and midrange is fantastic for the price they usually cost.
What confirms this for me though, is over the years seeing quite a few botique cable manufacturers who started off making foil speaker cables, then releasing foil IC's, but eventually ditching foil IC's and going back to more traditional designs.
I couldn't agree with you more. Thanks for your coherent email. I went into this experiment very very very skeptical. In fact, I have tried many "recommended boutique cable" in my "reference" system which happens to be the ARC/Nola/EMM system. I just gave up the demo MSB after listening to it for two weeks and am awaiting delivery of my new Diamond in the next two weeks to take the place of the EMM in my reference system.
When I heard Ricks CT-1s I was amazed. I thought they were amazing. It was no contest between what I was using and his much cheaper CT-1s. My only issue was the inability to use balance so I used them from source to preamp. I rather not list the cables I have used in order to flame others who have invested in 10x the expense, but I think you can get an idea, based on what Nola uses where I am coming from. In any case I was recommended MG and small group of engineers, now retired who started by making cables for their buddies. I figured what the hell, a good friend of mine recommended them and there was no obligation so I went for it.
First their Planus II speaker cable. Truly amazing results compared to what I thought was already amazing. Not so much in musicality but imaging was much more three dimensional and what is already a "boxless" speaker became absolutely invisible. However, I was still using a CT-1 and MG recommended I try their ICs. I figured, what the heck, I have nothing to lose and I had yet paid for the PIIs. So they sent me all their cables to play with and after my experience with the PIIs I was still leery for the same reasons you indicate especially with a non-shielded cable. To cut to the chase, while I was trying their cables they released their PIIIs speaker cable as well as their CU2 IC. It took me three weeks to convince myself I liked the CU2 better than the CT-1 and I really did. Now understand, that I had only been sent one AG IC, a hybrid and a CU IC. I loved the AG, didn't like the hybrid and found that both the burn for both the PIII and CU2 was exceptionally long as I came within a day of returning both. Amazingly, as a result of circumstances beyond my control, the cables wound up staying in my system longer than I expected and wanted and was really blown away after about two weeks.
I am by no means putting down other cables. In fact as I state, with the Magico/constellation, they don't work quite so well. The manufacturers of MG will be the first ones to tell you that their cables need to be tried as some may not work well with a particular system and hence why they are so willing to send you their combination to try. They are stopping the hybrid for the reasons you list.
I do like Schult'z cables. In fact, had he called back my dealer I was going to upgrade to his new CT-1E prior to him releasing his new Ultimate as that is how impressed I was with it. I am not married to any particular component, speaker, wire or source. Before I became just an audiophile, I sold this stuff for years in the 80s and was the first distributor in the USA for Siltech. I am just telling you, the combination I am currently using in my ARC/Nola system works incredibly well. Is there better, probably and maybe I will find them in the coming months and/or years. Yes I would love to try Rick's new ultimate series, but not until he releases a balanced version. Maybe I will try his new speaker cables IF he gets the bugs out. I actually got a pair of his CT-1s before anyone even heard about them and loved them and was scorned on another site for recommending them.
As to your last question and a response I never thought I would give, is MIT, works great with Constellation/Magico combo. I don't have their 35K wires nor will I buy them, but they do work fantastic. It reminds me of days past when I had Spectral/Wilson/MIT. It sounds just right.
Bottom line. I share your point of view regarding foil cables. At least before I opened my mind to trying the MG, which have now replaced cables costing 10-15x the cost of theirs. I don't make those kind of moves lightly. AND I still have Rick's CT-1 now sitting in a box waiting to sell them.