MIT Shotgun S3's in the house....

heiney9
heiney9 Posts: 25,165
edited June 2012 in 2 Channel Audio
All I can say is HOLY CRAP do these sound superb!!! Simply superb! A review will be forthcoming. I spent about 5 hours with them last night. Both the I/C and speaker cables were slightly used so break-in is minimal at this point. I am as giddy as can be based on the improvments I heard last night.

I will always be a lifetime MIT user.........always.

H9
"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited October 2011
    Nice. I've been meaning to upgrade my speaker cables from the AVT-3's to the Shotgun S3's. Your review may just push me over the edge...:redface:

    I wish MIT made cheaper balanced IC's. :frown:

    Congrats!:cheesygrin:
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,243
    edited October 2011
    heiney9 wrote: »
    All I can say is HOLY CRAP do these sound superb!!! Simply superb!

    I will always be a lifetime MIT user.........always.

    H9


    Ditto!!!
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,243
    edited October 2011
    falconcry72 wrote: »

    I wish MIT made cheaper balanced IC's. :frown:

    Congrats!:cheesygrin:

    I plan to upgrade my S3 balanced IC's this next year to S1's as I upgraded my S3 speaker cables to S1's a few months ago..
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  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited October 2011
    TOOLFORLIFEFAN wrote: »
    I plan to upgrade my S3 balanced IC's this next year to S1's as I upgraded my S3 speaker cables to S1's a few months ago..

    Very nice. I think with a full S1 setup you should be all set on cables for a while... maybe for life!:cool:
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited October 2011
    I really thought the Terminator 2's sounded great, the Shotguns are several levels above. It's simply incredible to me that they can improve the sound by that much. Shaking my head, just in disbelief.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,243
    edited October 2011
    I think one could be set for life with the S3's They are that good!!!
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,243
    edited October 2011
    heiney9 wrote: »
    I really thought the Terminator 2's sounded great, the Shotguns are several levels above. It's simply incredible to me that they can improve the sound by that much. Shaking my head, just in disbelief.

    H9

    Yep been there done that it is incredible!!! I was like I can't beleive I just spent this much money on cables now I am so glad I did..

    Congrats Brock!!!!
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  • inspiredsports
    inspiredsports Posts: 5,501
    edited October 2011
    Excellent !!!

    Sidenote: I've spoken with MIT about burn-in when moving Cables/IC's from system to system and they say they will improve after 24 hours of use on the new system they have been moved to.
    VTL ST50 w/mods / RCA6L6GC / TlfnknECC801S
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 w/mods
    TT Conrad Johnson Sonographe SG3 Oak / Sumiko LMT / Grado Woodbody Platinum / Sumiko PIB2 / The Clamp
    Musical Fidelity A1 CDPro/ Bada DD-22 Tube CDP / Conrad Johnson SD-22 CDP
    Tuners w/mods Kenwood KT5020 / Fisher KM60
    MF x-DAC V8, HAInfo NG27
    Herbies Ti-9 / Vibrapods / MIT Shotgun AC1 IEC's / MIT Shotgun 2 IC's / MIT Shotgun 2 Speaker Cables
    PS Audio Cryo / PowerPort Premium Outlets / Exact Power EP15A Conditioner
    Walnut SDA 2B TL /Oak SDA SRS II TL (Sonicaps/Mills/Cardas/Custom SDA ICs / Dynamat Extreme / Larry's Rings/ FSB-2 Spikes
    NAD SS rigs w/mods
    GIK panels
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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited October 2011
    Can you guys provide some links to the MIT S1 and S3 cables, or are these old models? I have the Shotgun S1.3 XLRs interconnects and love them, but I am curious about the S1 and S3 references that keeps coming up here.

    http://www.mitcables.com/available-online/audio-interconnects.html
    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited October 2011
    Bluefox you models are 3rd generation. Mine are simply S3 ( made in 2008 or 2009) vs. S3.3 . You'd have to hit MIT's website for the difference's. I'm sure they are somewhat minor in that they didn't reinvent the the Shotgun series just added somethings.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited October 2011
    heiney9 wrote: »
    Bluefox you models are 3rd generation. Mine are simply S3 ( made in 2008 or 2009) vs. S3.3 .

    Oh, so the .3 indicates the generation of the Sx model. I didn't know that. Thanks.
    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
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  • thsmith
    thsmith Posts: 6,082
    edited October 2011
    Congrats H9. Had my S3 ICs and speaker cables for a little over a year and they are not coming out except for a cleaning.


    Did you get them from Joe?
    Speakers: SDA-1C (most all the goodies)
    Preamp: Joule Electra LA-150 MKII SE
    Amp: Wright WPA 50-50 EAT KT88s
    Analog: Marantz TT-15S1 MBS Glider SL| Wright WPP100C Amperex BB 6er5 and 7316 & WPM-100 SUT
    Digital: Mac mini 2.3GHz dual-core i5 8g RAM 1.5 TB HDD Music Server Amarra (memory play) - USB - W4S DAC 2
    Cables: Mits S3 IC and Spk cables| PS Audio PCs
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited October 2011
    No, even though Joe is running NIB 8' S3 and S3 bi-wire for 50% off list on the 'gon. I still bought the cables cheaper as used, but in like new condition, with box and all packing and accessories. I don't think this guy used these for very long, they are like brand new right down to the plastic bags the cables come in. He did a helluva job packing them for shipping too!

    My S3 I/C's were given to me by a very generous Polkie over a year ago. Just got around to using them recently. I need to get another pair of S3 I/C's to complete my cable journey. Madmax and I had been talking about he sending me his to demo to make sure they were what I wanted, etc. I personally felt his bi-wire might be an issue with my binding posts so I logged onto Ebay and found this pair just listed w/BIN or make offer. I made an offer and the next day I bought them. I got a killer deal! Just in the right place at the right time. Last year I missed a pair for $329 on Audiogon, those went fast. These were more, but still less than Joe's.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited October 2011
    TOOLFORLIFEFAN wrote: »
    I plan to upgrade my S3 balanced IC's this next year to S1's as I upgraded my S3 speaker cables to S1's a few months ago..
    I'm not sure how much of a difference that would make.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,243
    edited October 2011
    Face wrote: »
    I'm not sure how much of a difference that would make.

    Me either..
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,590
    edited October 2011
    Keiko wrote: »
    I'm still a lowly AVt dude. :sad:

    Couple sets of S3 IC's on the 'gon right now. The are a *bit* on the pricey side I think, but I just moved up to SignalCable so what do I know lol.
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,243
    edited October 2011
    No shame in the AVT's IMO..

    I didn't care for Signal Cables, I might be shot here but I liked Monster Cables Better. With that said I no longer use either!!!
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,590
    edited October 2011
    TOOLFORLIFEFAN wrote: »
    I didn't care for Signal Cables, I might be shot here but I liked Monster Cables Better. With that said I no longer use either!!!

    Coming from Monoprice they are better. I use them for my HT setup and really wont dabble in better cables/wires until I get my 2 channel rig up and running and even then they will be last (speakers & source first) so I am more than happy.
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,068
    edited October 2011
    heiney9 wrote: »
    All I can say is HOLY CRAP do these sound superb!!! Simply superb! A review will be forthcoming. I spent about 5 hours with them last night. Both the I/C and speaker cables were slightly used so break-in is minimal at this point. I am as giddy as can be based on the improvments I heard last night.

    I will always be a lifetime MIT user.........always.

    H9

    Brock, Congrats & enjoy!!! Glad you're enjoying the new MIT's & heard a positive difference right off the bat. That's the way it should be when you swap out cables. I never bought into the camp that says it takes a good week or even longer to make a conclusive decision. If there is a difference your ears will know almost immediately.
    "2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,243
    edited October 2011
    The biggest change for me after time was the Bass became much tighter but yes it was an immediate improvment..
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited October 2011
    So far bass has tightend up, depth of soundstage is much deeper and more "U" shaped and something I was amazed at was the height of the entire soundstage expanded upwards. The entire presentation has more weight and scale than before. Vocals are superbly rendered, there is a lot more blackness and clarity than I noticed before and the shear size of the soundstage is staggering on some material. It's very hard to believe when I'm watching a well recorded live DVD that all the sound is coming from 2 speakers. Instruments have a clarity and 3D characteristic that I had heard before going from Canare to the Terminator II's but it's at a whole new level now. Highs are simply superb, no grain, no etching, just the right amount of sizzle but still clear and delicate. Last night I played most of my familar music for about 4-5 hours well past midnight. Tonight it will be more of the same.

    Focus, speed, attack, decay, air, etc.........all rendered better than ever before.

    I will getting a lot more listening in tonight if I can ever get out of work.
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited October 2011
    heiney9 wrote: »
    ...Last night I played most of my familar music for about 4-5 hours well past midnight. Tonight it will be more of the same.

    I absolutely love how getting new gear can make old familiar recordings exciting again; it's one of the most rewarding aspects of this hobby for me. :smile:

    enjoy!:cheesygrin:
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
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  • brgman
    brgman Posts: 2,859
    edited October 2011
    What did you replace H9? Terminator 2's?
    That's what you are A/Bing these against?
    Main Rig-Realistic AM/FM Record player 8 track boasting 4 WPC

    Backup Rig-2 CH-Rogue Audio Zeus w/Factory Special Dark Mods,Joule-Electra 300ME Platinum Preamp,OPPO-105 w/Modwright Tube Mod, Auralic Aries G2.1,Polk 2.3TL,3.1TL's,Dreadnought,RTA-15TL's,1C's All Fully Modded,2xRTA-12c's ,Benchmark DAC3 HGC,Synology NAS,VPI Scout w/Dynavector DV-20XH and Rogue Audio Ares Phono Preamp,Sony PCM-R500 DAT,HHB-850 Pro CDR,Tascam CC-222SLMKII Cassette/CDR,MIT S3.3 Shotgun Cables,Shunyata Hyra-8,Shunyata and Triode Labs Power Cords

    I’M OFFENDED!!!!
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,967
    edited October 2011
    Very nice....surprised you didn't splurge on the 3.3's. Glad your diggin' 'em anyway. Enjoy.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,636
    edited October 2011
    How's that placebo effect going at this time Brock???








    he he he..when I got the S3's I stayed put; no more cables will enter this house.
    _________________________________________________
    ***\\\\\........................... My Audio Journey ............................./////***

    2008 & 2010 Football Pool WINNER
    SOPA
    Thank God for different opinions. Imagine the world if we all wanted the same woman
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  • BottomFeeder
    BottomFeeder Posts: 1,684
    edited October 2011
    Eh, cables don't make any difference!

    Well, somebody had to say it, didn't they?

    (& Yes, I believe they do!)
    "Wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then." Bob Seger
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  • audiocr381ve
    audiocr381ve Posts: 2,588
    edited October 2011
    BottomFeeder wrote: »
    Eh, cables don't make any difference!

    Well, somebody had to say it, didn't they?

    (& Yes, I believe they do!)

    A difference worth $1,499 is my question :D
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited October 2011
    Yes, even at that cost, but I don't know anyone who's been buying or selling audio gear that ever pays that. Std going rate is around $750-800 for NIB w/warranty. Less for used.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • Drenis
    Drenis Posts: 2,871
    edited October 2011
    audiocr381ve wrote: »
    A difference worth $1,499 is my question :D

    Are those S3's really worth $1500? Seriously!?!? I thought $400 at most... gosh cables are NOT a cheap upgrade.
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited October 2011
    MSRP on this generation MIT Shotgun S3's was about $1200 in 2009.

    Yes, after hearing them and spending lots of time with various MIT cables, they are worth every cent, IMO.

    YMMV

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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