Meh, the cost differences are negligible. They might change some but overall, meh. Props to them though for doing more specific tuning, BUT it'd be neater if they were modular 
Transparent Cable - is the wire the same?
- Thread starter audiohippo
- Start date
I can't answer your amp question off of the top of my head.
However, having seen Transparent's Lab in action first hand, I would suggest a couple of things about their cables:
- What manufacturers claim their output impedance to be and what it actually is can be very different.
- Transparent works to keep their database complete. Often times when a new amp comes out from a known manufacturer, Transparent borrows it for documentation.
- A stated impedance for example "about 0.3ohms" will get you in the ballpark for the lower line cables. There is much more measured precision than that on custom calibrations.
While cables are often used by audiophiles as tone controls, that has nothing to do with Transparent's goals.
Yes, I have measured a few and normally use the Stereophile or Soundstage measurements - IMHO one the every few useful amplifier measurements, as well as idle power, that tells me wow much I will suffer during hot summer days.
For curious people the other nice measurement IMHO is input impedance. BTW, there are different techniques for measuring output impedance that will result in different values.
Yes, I usually email them to ask or confirm. They are very helpful and friendly concerning in this aspect.
Most SS amplifiers have high damping factor - output impedance less than or around 0.1 ohm. A few have around 0.3 ohm. My cables are still tuned for the ARC REF 750 - a tube amplifier with exceptional low impedance for tubes at 0.5 ohm.
No, IMHO they are "energy" controls, but properly used do not affect tone. On the contrary, comparisons show that some other cables are real "tone controls".
Yes, I have measured a few and normally use the Stereophile or Soundstage measurements - IMHO one the every few useful amplifier measurements, as well as idle power, that tells me wow much I will suffer during hot summer days.
BTW, there are different techniques for measuring output impedance that will result in different values.
Yes, I usually email them to ask or confirm. They are very helpful and friendly concerning in this aspect.
Most SS amplifiers have high damping factor - output impedance less than or around 0.1 ohm. A few have around 0.3 ohm. My cables are still tuned for the ARC REF 750 - a tube amplifier with exceptional low impedance for tubes at 0.5 ohm.
No, IMHO they are "energy" controls, but properly used do not affect tone. On the contrary, comparisons show that some other cables are real "tone controls".
Yes there are definitely different measuring techniques.
Transparent is a very helpful company. That's who they are imo.
Getting the tuning in the ballpark is certainly ok. Nailing it makes it the way it is supposed to be.
Yes there are some outliers in the impedance measurements as you have seen.
I was actually referring to how audiophiles often try to use their cables.
I like your description of Transparent cables - much more in line with what they do.
(I guess I should put in the disclaimer that before I joined Wilson Audio, I was the Managing Director at Transparent for a year and a half.)
There is a significate price jump for the same wire but a different tune on it. I was expecting more for ~2x the price.
Reference Level Pricing
1M Balanced Interconnect - $5,600
10ft. Speaker Cable - $8,070
XL Level Pricing
1M Balanced Interconnect - $11,000
10ft. Speaker Cable - $17,400
No doubt the more precise tune makes it sound better, but still. It's almost like they have a master tune (I.e Magnum Opus) , then created de-tuned / less accurate versions of it as you move down the stack.
Reference Level Pricing
1M Balanced Interconnect - $5,600
10ft. Speaker Cable - $8,070
XL Level Pricing
1M Balanced Interconnect - $11,000
10ft. Speaker Cable - $17,400
No doubt the more precise tune makes it sound better, but still. It's almost like they have a master tune (I.e Magnum Opus) , then created de-tuned / less accurate versions of it as you move down the stack.
When I replied above I thought (my mistake) you were asking about Ref mm2 vs ref xl mm2. For Gen 5, I suspect it's different wire and networks. If you compare the cables side by side, you'll quickly hear the improvements on the XL...whether it's worth 2x is up to you. For me, Opus MM2 was easily better than Ref XL MM2-and worth the extra $$'s. I've since updates all Opus MM2 to Gen 5...
IMHO you should listen to these cables - as Transparent will not tell you their recipes and exactly why the price differences, it the best you can ever get on the subject.
BTW, the conspiration theory of de-tuning devices to establish prices is not new - I remember reading a reader letter in TAS long ago denunciating it!
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