Omega-Mikro Planar V speaker cables

BlueFox

I am placing this in the electronics section since cables are an electronic compenent in the system.

In another thread I posted of issues I had with trying MIT speaker cables. Well, after my disappointment with the MIT speaker cables (Shotgun S1.3) I was still in the mood for a speaker cable upgrade. I upgraded my ICs at the start of summer with MIT Shotgun S1.3 ICs, and was now ready for the speaker cables, but the MITs did not work.

The MIT issue was due to an electrical mismatch between my amps in bridged mono mode, and whatever the MITs do in their electronics box. After installing them, I was getting buzzing and popping noises. Anyway, while that was a learning experience, I still needed speaker cables. Well, not really, but the upgrade bug is like a drug addiction, and, until you get a fix, the craving gets worse and worse.

So, I thought I may as well look at the next step, or two, up with my current cables. The cables I have been using for the last year are Omega-Mikro Planar 1. These replaced my Clearview Double Golden Helix with Plus cables. I started with 12 gauge hardware store twisted copper.

Each one of these cables used after the hardware store made an obvious, positive improvement in the sound. This is not debatable, nor is it imaginary. I do have a grasp on reality versus fantasy. On the other hand, even the hardware store cables provided good sound. It’s just that the other cables provide more.

Anyway, after returning to the Omega-Mikro web-site I noticed they had a “Consignment Shop” for used items, and one of the items was a set of 8’ Planar V cables for $1500 versus $2200 list. This is the same price range as the MIT cables so I thought “Why not”, and ordered them.

They kick-****. I cannot believe it.

I was really happy with the Planar 1, but these things go to another level. The background is drop dead quiet, while bass, mids, and highs, are clearer, livelier, and with more snap to their sound. Piano notes and violin plucks just hang in the air, and slowly decay into the background. The music fills the area between the speakers, and seems to remove the equipment from the soundstage.

At this point I could not be happier, although now I am wondering what their $5K cables can do. :rolleyes:

Another thing I love about these cables is they are so light and easy to work with. The MITs were a struggle to get into place without knocking the amps off the vibration isolators. These cables are so light you easily hang them from the wall to keep them off the floor.

So, if you want to try something different then I recommend the Planar series. For me they work well, but I cannot say if they are better or worse than equivalent priced cables from other vendors.


Clearview cables: http://www.omegamikro.com/Speaker_Cables_Double_Helix.html
Planar 1: http://www.omegamikro.com/Speaker_cable_I.html
Planar V: http://www.omegamikro.com/Speaker_Cable_V.html
Consignment shop: http://www.omegamikro.com/inSound_Consignment_Shop.html

pearsall001

Man I'd like to give those puppies a try! I like the way Pierre operates somewhat outside the box & against the usual grain of audio. His recordings are just awesome to say the least.

I'm running his Clearview Double Helix speaker cables with the PLUS upgrade & they are by far the best I've heard in my system to date. They replaced a pair of MIT S2 speaker cables that just weren't a good fit in my system. For whatever design reason they were just lifeless...I'm still stumped especially after all the fanfare they receive. I just chalked it up to synergy? I'm now eyeing one of the Omega digital cables. I like Pierre's simplistic designs yet they deliver in spades. Sometimes less is way more. It was a real lesson learned after coming from garden hose sized cables to one's not much bigger that a strand of spaghetti. The sparkle, razz-a-ma-taz & PRAT is just incredible. More than content for now!

BlueFox

pearsall001 wrote: »

I'm running his Clearview Double Helix speaker cables with the PLUS upgrade & they are by far the best I've heard in my system to date.

I went to those from basic hardware store 12 gauge, and you can imagine the difference. At that point I truly realized speaker wire does make a difference. Currently, my HT is all Clearview cable. For a modest price, these cables give a big bang for the buck.

Here are some pics of the 2 channel system, and the new Planar 5 cables. You can see Mapleshade tweaks in the pictures. All gear is on brass footers, and the speakers are on 4" maple stands with brass carpet footers. The brass footers also make a very big difference in improving the sound.

Gear - top of rack:
iPod Classic - lossless files
Wadia iTransport with CIAudio power supply upgrade
Parasound tuner - only used for radio hockey games

Gear - from the left side of the rack, top to bottom
Sony XA-5400ES SACD
Bryston BDA-1 DAC
Cambridge-Audio 840E pre-amp
Cambridge-Audio 840W left channel amp (800w/ch), class A and XD

Gear - right side of rack top to bottom
Cambridge-Audio 840W right channel amp (800w/ch), class A and XD
Parasound Panamax 5300 power conditioner

Speakers - PSB Synchrony One

Cables:
All ICs are XLR MIT Shotgun S1.3
Digital IC is MIT Magnum
Power cords are Panega 14SE and 9 for power conditioner.
(Two Shunyata Venom 3 with 20A IEC connector on order for amps)
Planar 5 speaker cables with 18V DC bias box

AudioGenics

You certainly have an excellent system of components.

What music did you listen to for your evaluation of the cables?
Was the differences more pronounce for a particular style?

BlueFox

AudioGenics wrote: »

You certainly have an excellent system of components.

Thanks. It has evolved quite nicely of the last 2 years. I consider it to be a moderate entry level system. One thing I have found very interesting is that gear has a lot of performance just waiting to extracted with the right tweaks. If I ever reach a point where I cannot make positive improvements then I know it is time to start upgrading the gear.

What music did you listen to for your evaluation of the cables?
Was the differences more pronounce for a particular style?

I primarily listen to classical, but I have just been listening to everything I am familiar with for evaluation. It is easier to tell if there is a difference if it is burnt into your mind.

While everything is better I was really surprised by how much the Lady Gaga CDs improved. They were already well recorded CDs, but now they are even better. That was a real surprise. :biggrin: