MIT Shotgun S3 speaker cables or interconnects first?

Dawgfish

Howdy folks,

After reading all of these great reviews on the S3s the last few days, I've decided I'm going to give them a try. My problem is I cannot afford to replace both my speaker cables (8ft length, bi-wire) and my interconnects (5-1 meter pairs) at the same time. I figure I'll order either the speaker cables or all of the interconnects tomorrow and then purchase the other one next pay-day. Those of you with experience with both, which one would you go with first? In other words do you think the speaker cables or interconnects will make the most positive improvement until I get the others? I'm currently running AQ King Cobra ICs and dual runs of JW Audio Cryo Nova speaker wires 8ft in length. To be honest with you, my system has never sounded better than with this set-up. I'm very close to having it right where I want it, but my system just needs to be a little more refined in the lows. It has great depth and impact, but I'm looking for more detailed lows. I also want it to have the same tone in the mids and highs that I have now, along with a bigger and deeper soundstage. Thanks in advance.

BlueFox

That sort of is what happened to me. I kept on reading how great MIT cables were, so I bought 3 sets of balanced S1.3 ICs. A tremendous improvement over the Kimber Kable ICs I was using. Later I bought the speaker cable S1.3, but they would not work with my amps in bridged mono mode. Instead of great music, all I heard was popping, and crackles. They seemed okay if I put the amp in stereo, but I only listened for a couple of seconds just to verify it was a cable issue.

falconcry72

(5) 1 meter pairs of IC's?!:eek: Ouch. That'll set'ya back alright.

Well, I don't have any experience yet, but I found myself in your shoes a couple days ago.

I ordered the speaker cables, and I plan on getting my (2) pairs of IC's down the road.

I should receive the speaker cables next week, and I'm super stoked! Joe's deal right now is ridiculous.

I'm trying to get every piece of my two-channel setup to be "done", and after I get these cables, I'll be a few steps closer.


Enjoy, and let us know what you decide.



Cheers,


Ben

falconcry72

BlueFox wrote: »

...they would not work with my amps in bridged mono mode. Instead of great music, all I heard was popping, and crackles. They seemed okay if I put the amp in stereo, but I only listened for a couple of seconds just to verify it was a cable issue.

Interesting. What cables did you find to work well with your amps in mono?

inspiredsports

Dawgfish wrote: »

. . . speaker cables or interconnects first? . . .

Speaker Interface Cables.

brgman

inspiredsports wrote: »

Speaker Interface Cables.

+1 on speaker cables first

Toolfan66

Speaker Cables first IMO!!!

dorokusai

Speaker cables. It's easily the best improvement you'll notice and it allows you to play with various interconnects as you see fit on a cheaper level. It's far easier to swap and buy IC's than it is speaker cables at this level and you won't be upgrading them anyways after this.

schwarcw

The speaker cables first, then your source cables, then preamp to amp.

For the speaker cables, go directly to the Shotgun S1's. Otherwise, you'll always wonder how much better can the sound get. It's maddening, I know!!

BlueFox

falconcry72 wrote: »

Interesting. What cables did you find to work well with your amps in mono?

Any 'regular' cables without electronics are okay. I was using Omega-Mikro Planar V and was happy, but I wanted to complement the ICs. Anyway, I recently went with the Shunyata Anaconda, and they took it to another level. After I get my new speakers, I think I am going to upgrade the ICs to the Anaconda line. Then you might see me selling my S1.3 ICs, or maybe not. :biggrin:

http://www.omegamikro.com/Speaker_Cable_V.html
http://www.musicdirect.com/p-40327-shunyata-anaconda-speaker-cables-pr.aspx

Dawgfish

It looks like the overwhelming concensus is for the speaker cables first. Thanks to all. I'm looking forward to trying these out. I will be looking at some S1s also as one suggested. I know myself and realize there's a good chance that if I really like the S3s, which sounds highly likely, I will soon be wondering about the S1s. The saga continues.........

Toolfan66

I own both the S3's and S1's and the 3's will give you everything you need or could ever want IMO!! If you can spring for the 1's or find a great deal on them grab them!!

heiney9

Go with the speaker cables first. Not sure there is enough of an audible difference vs. the cost difference between S1, S2 or S3. Always go for the higher model if it's affordable or you get a good deal, but don't pass on a good deal for a pair of S3's and go without because you want S1's. I got a killer deal on my S3's, well I think so anyway and they are practically brand new. Can't tell the difference.

Then as Carl suggested, go with the I/C between your source and pre-amp and then between your pre and amp. Also be aware using an entire Shotgun series for all cables seems to work really well. I don't think my MIT Terminator 2's played well with the MIT Shotgun I/C's. Not that there is a glaring issue, but after listening for awhile it just seemed a little out of balance, etc.

I say go for it

H9

brgman

Agon has a guy (dealer) selling S3's new in box for half price.If i hadn't gotten the 3.3's local for a deal i would have been all over the ones listed.
Also has whatever you want-8ft,10ft,bi-wire,no bi-wire.
So your next post should be telling us which one you bought right dawg?

heiney9

brgman wrote: »

Agon has a guy (dealer) selling S3's new in box for half price.If i hadn't gotten the 3.3's local for a deal i would have been all over the ones listed.
Also has whatever you want-8ft,10ft,bi-wire,no bi-wire.
So your next post should be telling us which one you bought right dawg?

That's our friend Joe Abrams at Equus Audio. If one is buying new MIT's he's the person to contact directly. You might get a better deal than his AGN listings, but that is a killer deal. Until I scooped up my S3's I was going to buy those.

H9

Drenis

All this talk just makes me want them more. Better buy a lotto ticket today.

Dawgfish

Yeah I was looking at one of Joe's ads on Audiogon for a 8ft bi-wire pair of S3s. H9, I will give Joe a call, tell him y'all sent me, and see If I can do any better. I can't wait to tell y'all what I got and how they sound. Thanks again.

heiney9

Dawgfish wrote: »

Yeah I was looking at one of Joe's ads on Audiogon for a 8ft bi-wire pair of S3s. H9, I will give Joe a call, tell him y'all sent me, and see If I can do any better. I can't wait to tell y'all what I got and how they sound. Thanks again.

I doubt he will do better than the current 1/2 off prices on Audiogon, but it never hurts to ask. Those are a real killer deal right now.

toucanet

Question:

It seems like the shortest speaker cable (S3 line) is 8 feet long. What is the recommended way to lay out the speaker cable if your distance from the amp to each speaker is less than 5 feet?

Toolfan66

Roll it up!!

toucanet

Should I use E-Z Wider Duct Tape?:biggrin:

J/K

For some reason, I was under the impression that rolling up (coiling) speaker cable was not recommended.

Thanks for the tip Larry.

heiney9

toucanet wrote: »

Question:

It seems like the shortest speaker cable (S3 line) is 8 feet long. What is the recommended way to lay out the speaker cable if your distance from the amp to each speaker is less than 5 feet?

TOOLFORLIFEFAN wrote: »

Roll it up!!

Don't ever roll it. If you coil or roll it it turns into an inductor. The shortest length they sell is 8', I just let it lay (lengthwise) behind my long stand/table, etc. With MIT they have the huge network boxes on the speaker end and CVT termination on the amp end so that 8' gets eaten up real fast. I have about 3 feet distance to each speaker and I couldn't imagine using anything much shorter, by the time you position it properly and the lenght is all used up.

H9

EndersShadow

heiney9 wrote: »

Don't ever roll it. If you coil or roll it it turns into an inductor.

Is this also true for CL2 in wall rated cable (Audioquest FLX 14/4)? I ask because I have 11 foot runs for my fronts but dont need nearly that much, so I coiled them up.....

Toolfan66

I was kidding guys!!

heiney9

Let's see if I can explain this. I let it lay horizontally behind my long table. The left cable actually passed by the left terminal on the amp and then I gently arch it back on itself. I do the same for the right cable and the right terminal. The way the cables are positoned they actually have to criss cross each other once before they reach the amp terminals, and I try to keep the point of crossing at 90*, which is the best. Don't run cables parallel with power cords and try to minimize any other cables running parallel to each other if possible. It is most important however to keep power cords and other lower level cables (speaker and i/c) from running parallel to each other unless they are seperated by atleast 6" or more.

H9

Toolfan66

So the insulation is for not?? I don't coil mine but I would think the insulation would help some!!

heiney9

EndersShadow wrote: »

Is this also true for CL2 in wall rated cable (Audioquest FLX 14/4)? I ask because I have 11 foot runs for my fronts but dont need nearly that much, so I coiled them up.....

Yes, any cable that is energized and coiled is essentially an inductor in theory. As to whether you can actually hear a difference, who knows. The rule of thumb is to avoid doing this, but as we all know sometimes based on space, etc it's not entirely possible. My suggestion is for the best possible scenario.

H9

BlueFox

TOOLFORLIFEFAN wrote: »

So the insulation is for not?? I don't coil mine but I would think the insulation would help some!!

Insulation is to prevent shorts, either to the adjacent conductor, or to something else metallic. Insulation is also a dielectric, which can somehow cause distortion. MIT and others try to minimize the dielectric effect. Insulation appears to be a "Damned if you do, and damned if you don't" thing.


Interestingly, ieSpell gives this as the choice for TOOLFORLIFEFAN; "DEVOLVING". :biggrin:

Drenis

heiney9 wrote: »

Let's see if I can explain this. I let it lay horizontally behind my long table. The left cable actually passed by the left terminal on the amp and then I gently arch it back on itself. I do the same for the right cable and the right terminal. The way the cables are positoned they actually have to criss cross each other once before they reach the amp terminals, and I try to keep the point of crossing at 90*, which is the best. Don't run cables parallel with power cords and try to minimize any other cables running parallel to each other if possible. It is most important however to keep power cords and other lower level cables (speaker and i/c) from running parallel to each other unless they are seperated by atleast 6" or more.

H9

I know generally you learn something everyday but that is HUGE... I have A LOT of cable management to do then cause everything is coiled up all neatly. Including an extension cord under my TV stand that runs next to my left channel wire... Hmm...

Toolfan66

I think one has to do what one has to do and not over think it.. But over thinking is what us tweekers do!!! HAHA!!

heiney9

Drenis wrote: »

I know generally you learn something everyday but that is HUGE... I have A LOT of cable management to do then cause everything is coiled up all neatly. Including an extension cord under my TV stand that runs next to my left channel wire... Hmm...

Again, best practices and best scenario is to follow the guidelines I suggested, but we all know in real life, in a real room it's not always 100% possible. If you can work on it and make it better, then that's what counts. I have wire management issues just like everyone else, but I try to minimize the issues I discussed the best I can.

H9