Matching IC's, How big a deal is it?

EndersShadow
EndersShadow Posts: 17,596
edited April 2012 in Speakers
I am still trying to track down one more MIT EXp1 for my 5 channel HT setup, but assuming I cant here is what I want to know:

How big a deal is it if I use EXp1's for my fronts and a set of EXp2's (still availible from MIT) for my surrounds?
"....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)
Post edited by EndersShadow on
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,093
    edited April 2012
    Not a big deal at all, I wouldn't loose any sleep over it.
    "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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  • thsmith
    thsmith Posts: 6,082
    edited April 2012
    Agree, in that configuration.
    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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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited April 2012
    Oh man. We are talking about the end of civilization as we know it!!! Please do not do that. :eek:
    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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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,596
    edited April 2012
    pearsall001 wrote: »
    Not a big deal at all, I wouldn't loose any sleep over it.
    thsmith wrote: »
    Agree, in that configuration.

    Good to know. I am still in the hunt for a single EXp1, but if it doesnt pan out I will just get 2 sets of EXp2's (one for the surrounds one for my laserdisc player)....
    "....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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  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,464
    edited April 2012
    Doing so will bring about the Mayan Apocalypse!

    If you do it, at least history has someone to balme it on now...
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,596
    edited April 2012
    nooshinjohn wrote: »
    Doing so will bring about the Mayan Apocalypse!

    If you do it, at least history has someone to balme it on now...

    And his name starts with a "O".... and ends with the nickname of a state......
    "....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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  • decal
    decal Posts: 3,205
    edited April 2012
    Life is too short to worry about matching ICs.
    If you can't hear a difference, don't waste your money.
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,333
    edited April 2012
    I'm using MIT S1's and S3's in my rig with great results..
    Polk Audio SDA 2.3tl Fully Hot Rodded. 😎

    SVS SB16 X2

    Cary SLP-05/Ultimate Upgrade.
    Cary SA-500.1 ES Amps
    Cary DMS 800PV Network
    OPPO UDP 205/ModWright Modification
    VPI Scout TT / Dynavector 20x2
    Jolida JD9 Fully Modified

    VPI MW-1 Cyclone RCM

    MIT Shotgun 3 cables throughout / Except TT, and PC’s
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  • mdaudioguy
    mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
    edited April 2012
    Personally, I find audible differences due to subtle changes in gear essentially impossible to detect with HT soundtracks. Since my HT rig is dual-purpose, and I only have a pair of "better" quality ICs (Audioquest), they're used for the mains. The center and surrounds get Blue Jeans Belden. I can't hear any anomalies in HT tracks.

    Two-channel music sources are a different story. Don't mismatch those ICs! :wink:
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  • PrazVT
    PrazVT Posts: 1,606
    edited April 2012
    mdaudioguy wrote: »
    Personally, I find audible differences due to subtle changes in gear essentially impossible to detect with HT soundtracks. Since my HT rig is dual-purpose, and I only have a pair of "better" quality ICs (Audioquest), they're used for the mains. The center and surrounds get Blue Jeans Belden. I can't hear any anomalies in HT tracks.

    Two-channel music sources are a different story. Don't mismatch those ICs! :wink:

    I agree - it's harder to make any qualitative observations when listening to HT / 5.1 content. I added Shotgun S3s for the mains and CVT 2 ICs for the DAC -> Pre chain at first. So right now, all my pre -> amp ICs are still Signal Analog 2s. Now that I know there isn't anything audibly wonky going on by mixing ICs, I have another pair of CVT 2 ICs on the way to at least complete the chain for the Q900s. Hopefully iit makes a difference for 2 ch music..
    ALL BOXED UP for a while until I save up for a new place :(

    Home Theater:
    KEF Q900s / MIT Shotgun S3 / MIT CVT2 ICs | KEF Q600C | Polk FXi5 | BJC Wire | Signal / AQ ICs | Shunyata / Pangea PCs | Pioneer Elite SC 57 | Parasound NC2100 Pre | NAD M25 | Marantz SA8001 | Schiit Gungnir DAC | SB Touch

    2 Channel:
    Polk LSi9 (xo mods), Polk DSW MicroPro 2000 sub | NAD c375BEE | W4S DAC1 | SB Touch | Marantz SA-8001 | MIT AVt 2 | Kimber Hero / AQ / Signal ICs | Shunyata / Signal PCs
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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited April 2012
    I sure do not have any problem hearing differences in my HT. When I upgraded the speaker wire to Mapleshade wire, it was audible. When I upgraded my ICs to MIT, it was audible. When I upgraded my center, it was audible. Each time, a new level of clearness was apparent. Leaves rustling in the wind, footsteps, glass breaking, birds chirping. All those things are good benchmarks for audio improvements.

    For a reference I use Master and Commander at the start with the boat creaking and swaying in the ocean. Then there is Terminator 3 with the arrival of the terminatrix and her bare feet walking on the sidewalk, the birds chirping during the cemetery shootout, and the chase scene with Arnold on the bike, and then the firetruck. Lots of good sound effects throughout that scene.
    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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  • PrazVT
    PrazVT Posts: 1,606
    edited April 2012
    Sorry - what I really meant was ... I don't feel that my center sounds out of place with my mains b/c they are using different speaker wire or ICs. I'd love to fill out the rest of my HT w/ MIT cables and ICs ..but for me it's just cost prohibitive.

    Otherwise, I agree with your general assessment. Better components, better SQ.
    ALL BOXED UP for a while until I save up for a new place :(

    Home Theater:
    KEF Q900s / MIT Shotgun S3 / MIT CVT2 ICs | KEF Q600C | Polk FXi5 | BJC Wire | Signal / AQ ICs | Shunyata / Pangea PCs | Pioneer Elite SC 57 | Parasound NC2100 Pre | NAD M25 | Marantz SA8001 | Schiit Gungnir DAC | SB Touch

    2 Channel:
    Polk LSi9 (xo mods), Polk DSW MicroPro 2000 sub | NAD c375BEE | W4S DAC1 | SB Touch | Marantz SA-8001 | MIT AVt 2 | Kimber Hero / AQ / Signal ICs | Shunyata / Signal PCs
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 33,011
    edited April 2012
    decal wrote: »
    Life is too short to worry about matching ICs.

    Yep....now matching socks, thats way more important.
    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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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,093
    edited April 2012
    Man oh man, do some of these guys not proof read their comments before they post...too funny.
    "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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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 33,011
    edited April 2012
    Yeah man, but not that big a deal. I've sure done my share and it usually resulted in the ol' double face palm when you discovered it was too late to edit.
    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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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,596
    edited April 2012
    So I think I will go ahead and get a EXp2 set for my surrounds. That leaves me with 3 EXp1's for my front stage and EXp2's for my surround.

    Now I just need to get EXp2 speaker wire so I can be all MIT as recommended by them.

    This is a dual purpose rig and I will be listening to music through it so I would prefer everything be as close as possible. If not the same model, at least the same brand.

    Right now I am rocking a Signal Cable Analog 2 for my center and I can hear a slight difference between it and my front l/r.

    Once I get my HT setup complete with EXp IC's and wire I think thats as far down the rabbit hole as I want to go for my HT for now.

    I already have Audioquest CV-4 38 dbs cables I am running for the highs on my fronts that will move to my 2 channel rig (or get sold if they aren't long enough)
    "....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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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,217
    edited April 2012
    It is a big deal if you care about consistency. That being said the most important connections to be the same are source and speaker cables. I run all MIT Shotgun's except where I have the Dared pre-amp hooked up to the HT bypass where I use (2) identical pairs of Signal Cable Analog II's. I felt that would be a good compromise since my source to pre and pre to amp and amp to speakers already used the same MIT cables.

    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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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,596
    edited April 2012
    heiney9 wrote: »
    It is a big deal if you care about consistency.

    I agree but since I am not even running full MIT for my speaker cables either I think it will be better to at least be all MIT EXp even if 2 of the speakers only have 2 articulation poles instead of 3.

    Still working on sourcing 5 EXp2 speaker cables as well.

    Worst case I hope to get my front stage with EXp1 IC and EXp2 Speaker wire and my surrounds with EXp2 and then either Audioquest FLX 14/4 or Monoprice wire (depends on what budget I have left over)
    "....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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  • Joe08867
    Joe08867 Posts: 3,919
    edited April 2012
    I would worry more about the speaker connection than the interconnects. That said all of mine match.

    So, Nanny Nanny, Poo Poo, You Smell Like, Doo Doo. :lol:
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,596
    edited April 2012
    Joe08867 wrote: »
    So, Nanny Nanny, Poo Poo, You Smell Like, Doo Doo. :lol:

    Its Ok I spray myself each morning with Febreze so you would never know :wink:
    "....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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  • Joe08867
    Joe08867 Posts: 3,919
    edited April 2012
    Nice, Sorry bout that, saw a rerun of Tosh.0 last night and he said it. Made me laugh pretty hard.
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  • codyc1ark
    codyc1ark Posts: 2,532
    edited April 2012
    You'll blow up your rig and meltdown your town if your IC's don't match.... I would have thought you knew this...


    Really tho, I'm running the exp1s for l/r and 2's for everything else, it's fine.
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  • polkfarmboy
    polkfarmboy Posts: 5,703
    edited April 2012
    Well I have saved the day as I will give up my exp1 ic and an exp2 10 footer. I would not sleep if my MIT's were not all matching and the same articulation. I have some MIT being vandalized by a gaming rig right now
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,596
    edited April 2012
    polkfarmboy wrote: »
    Well I have saved the day as I will give up my exp1 ic and an exp2 10 footer. I would not sleep if my MIT's were not all matching and the same articulation. I have some MIT being vandalized by a gaming rig right now

    LOL.... thanks, ps responded to your PM. You've got some time before I need em :smile:
    "....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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