Up the IC chain

acmf74
acmf74 Posts: 936
edited September 2012 in Basic Hookup/Wiring Questions
Currently I run a full Signal Cable system consisting of IC's and power cables. While I'm very happy with them I was thinking of trying the MIT route.

I was thinking of first going to replace all the IC's to MIT CVT2 then finally working up to the speaker cables.

Do people usually find improvements through changing the IC's or the speaker cables first?

Also has anyone have any first hand experience on the MIT CVT2? (the CVT1 seem a bit much for me)
Post edited by acmf74 on
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,983
    edited August 2012
    All depends on the gear if speaker cables and/or IC's will have the bigger impact. One thing is for sure with MIT cables is, when using both you get the best noticeable sound quality increase. I've used many different cables before settling on what I think my wallet can handle and what gells well with my gear and ears. Good luck on your search.
    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: 17,593
    edited August 2012
    Well here are some good prices on some Shotgun S3 interconnects if the length works: http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?135260-MIT-Shotgun-S3-1M-RCA-IC-s
    "....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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  • acmf74
    acmf74 Posts: 936
    edited September 2012
    I was lucky enough to find another pair of CVT2 ICs for my system. I am hearing new nuances in recordings that I'm familiar with and new emphasis on sounds that I was hearing before. It's incredible what different cables can do.

    FYI: I was using SC analog II's before.
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  • Moose68Bash
    Moose68Bash Posts: 3,843
    edited September 2012
    If you are interested in value for money, I suggest you try Morrow Audio cables. All Morrow cables -- PCs, ICs , speaker cables -- come with a 60-days no-questions-asked return policy. I bought SP7 speaker cables and found that they made a big difference in my system. Best of all, my wife really noticed and appreciated the improvement.

    Just a thought.
    Family Room, Innuos Statement streamer (Roon Core) with Morrow Audio USB cable to McIntosh MC 2700 pre with DC2 Digital Audio Module; AQ Sky XLRs to CAT 600.2 dualmono amp, Morrow Elite Speaker Cables to NOLA Baby Grand Reference Gold 3 speakers. Power source for all components: Silver Circle Audio Pure Power One with dedicated 20 amp circuit to main panel.

    Exercise Room, Innuos Streamer via Cat 6 cable connection to PS Audio PerfectWave MkII DAC w/Bridge II, AQ King Cobra RCAs to Perreaux PMF3150 amp (fully restored and upgraded by Jeffrey Jackson, Precision Audio Labs), Supra Rondo 4x2.5 Speaker Cables to SDA 1Cs (Vr3 Mods Xovers and other mods.), Dreadnaught with Supra Rondo 4x2.5 interconnect cables by Vr3 Mods. Power for each component from dedicated 20 amp circuit to main panel, except Innuos Statement powered from Silver Circle Audio Pure Power One.

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  • 11tsteve
    11tsteve Posts: 1,166
    edited September 2012
    i just switched to Morrow and have been pleased, and funny enough, my wife noticed as well. that being said, i had some pretty crappy cables. i had some MA2 and just snagged a pair of MA4 on their 25% off sale... so far so good. still burning in....

    i would still like to try Signal and MIT... soon as my wallet recovers a bit.
    Polk Lsi9
    N.E.W. A-20 class A 20W
    NAD 1020 completely refurbished
    Keces DA-131 mk.II
    Analysis Plus Copper Oval, Douglass, Morrow SUB3, Huffman Digital
    Paradigm DSP-3100 v.2
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  • Moose68Bash
    Moose68Bash Posts: 3,843
    edited September 2012
    11steve,

    How would you describe the performance of the MA2s?

    I'm using Audioquest King Cobras. Do you have any thoughts about how these two different interconnects might compare?
    Family Room, Innuos Statement streamer (Roon Core) with Morrow Audio USB cable to McIntosh MC 2700 pre with DC2 Digital Audio Module; AQ Sky XLRs to CAT 600.2 dualmono amp, Morrow Elite Speaker Cables to NOLA Baby Grand Reference Gold 3 speakers. Power source for all components: Silver Circle Audio Pure Power One with dedicated 20 amp circuit to main panel.

    Exercise Room, Innuos Streamer via Cat 6 cable connection to PS Audio PerfectWave MkII DAC w/Bridge II, AQ King Cobra RCAs to Perreaux PMF3150 amp (fully restored and upgraded by Jeffrey Jackson, Precision Audio Labs), Supra Rondo 4x2.5 Speaker Cables to SDA 1Cs (Vr3 Mods Xovers and other mods.), Dreadnaught with Supra Rondo 4x2.5 interconnect cables by Vr3 Mods. Power for each component from dedicated 20 amp circuit to main panel, except Innuos Statement powered from Silver Circle Audio Pure Power One.

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  • 11tsteve
    11tsteve Posts: 1,166
    edited September 2012
    i have not used audioquest, so i can't really say....

    my experience with what i had....

    i had acoustic research IC's from DAC to pre-amp, Apature IC's from pre to power amp. i put the MA2's from DAC to pre-amp, leaving the Apatures to the amp, and the difference was immediate. i had been having an issue with everything being a bit too bright, and immediately the entire range got smoother across the mids especially, and they really tamed the brightened.
    the MA2's are now from pre yo power amp, and my MA4 Y cables are from DAC to pre/headphone rig. i have not noticed as much difference in frequency response, but there is a better sense of general openness, and i seem to be catching more details... very little things i hadn't noticed, such as what sounds like an overloaded mic on a rack tom in Springsteen's Born To Run....
    but i have not had a lot of time to listen since the MA4's went in, so i hope there is more goodnees to come....
    Polk Lsi9
    N.E.W. A-20 class A 20W
    NAD 1020 completely refurbished
    Keces DA-131 mk.II
    Analysis Plus Copper Oval, Douglass, Morrow SUB3, Huffman Digital
    Paradigm DSP-3100 v.2
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  • Moose68Bash
    Moose68Bash Posts: 3,843
    edited September 2012
    Thank you. Your experience with Morrow ICs sounds similar to my experience with Morrow speaker cables. Perhaps, we're beginning to characterize the "signature" of Morrow cables.

    Did you use Morrow's burn-in option? I did with the speaker cables, and I also noticed continued improvement as I used the SP7s at home.

    I would like to hear whether any of the Forum members has experience with Morrow power cables.
    Family Room, Innuos Statement streamer (Roon Core) with Morrow Audio USB cable to McIntosh MC 2700 pre with DC2 Digital Audio Module; AQ Sky XLRs to CAT 600.2 dualmono amp, Morrow Elite Speaker Cables to NOLA Baby Grand Reference Gold 3 speakers. Power source for all components: Silver Circle Audio Pure Power One with dedicated 20 amp circuit to main panel.

    Exercise Room, Innuos Streamer via Cat 6 cable connection to PS Audio PerfectWave MkII DAC w/Bridge II, AQ King Cobra RCAs to Perreaux PMF3150 amp (fully restored and upgraded by Jeffrey Jackson, Precision Audio Labs), Supra Rondo 4x2.5 Speaker Cables to SDA 1Cs (Vr3 Mods Xovers and other mods.), Dreadnaught with Supra Rondo 4x2.5 interconnect cables by Vr3 Mods. Power for each component from dedicated 20 amp circuit to main panel, except Innuos Statement powered from Silver Circle Audio Pure Power One.

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  • 11tsteve
    11tsteve Posts: 1,166
    edited September 2012
    Moose68Bash wrote: »
    Thank you. Your experience with Morrow ICs sounds similar to my experience with Morrow speaker cables. Perhaps, we're beginning to characterize the "signature" of Morrow cables.

    Did you use Morrow's burn-in option? I did with the speaker cables, and I also noticed continued improvement as I used the SP7s at home.

    I would like to hear whether any of the Forum members has experience with Morrow power cables.
    nope, no burn in service. it was enough to scrape up the money just for the cables.
    plus, my set up is in an office shared with my wife, who works for a financial group from home. she listens quite a bit, most often for background music, so i get 8 hours a day of burn in service for free.

    speaker cable will be next, but down the road. i have Monster now with bananas, but i need 10 ft lengths and what i want gets pricey. right now i have been checking used cables, but what i really want is a new pre-amp.....such a deep hole.....
    Polk Lsi9
    N.E.W. A-20 class A 20W
    NAD 1020 completely refurbished
    Keces DA-131 mk.II
    Analysis Plus Copper Oval, Douglass, Morrow SUB3, Huffman Digital
    Paradigm DSP-3100 v.2
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  • Pimpster78
    Pimpster78 Posts: 27
    edited September 2012
    I couldn't help but to jump in here and just see if you guys are aware of the MIT express discount website? I was using some crap to they were just plain old school Monster IC's and got myself some IC's from there and bought some nice M.I.T. Terminator 2 speaker cables and I honestly cant even explain the clarity and diffrence it made having the speaker and IC's upgraded. The website is http://www.mitcablesexpress.com/. Anyway just wanted to pop in my few cents about the diffence good cabling can make. One more thing is try to get upgraded power cords if you can afford it down the road it really does help as well. I know I know we have a very very expensive hobby ;-)
    Pre/Pro: Marantz AV7005
    Mains: Polk RTi-12's
    Center: Polk CSi-5
    Surrounds: Polk FXi-A4's
    Rear Surrounds: Polk RTi-4's
    Subwoofer: HSU-VTF15H
    Emotiva XPA-2 front RTi-12's
    Emotiva XPA-5 Center,surrounds
    Cables: MiT Terminator 2's, Kimber Kable, MiT Shotgun's.
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  • 11tsteve
    11tsteve Posts: 1,166
    edited September 2012
    Pimpster78 wrote: »
    I couldn't help but to jump in here and just see if you guys are aware of the MIT express discount website? I was using some crap to they were just plain old school Monster IC's and got myself some IC's from there and bought some nice M.I.T. Terminator 2 speaker cables and I honestly cant even explain the clarity and diffrence it made having the speaker and IC's upgraded. The website is http://www.mitcablesexpress.com/. Anyway just wanted to pop in my few cents about the diffence good cabling can make. One more thing is try to get upgraded power cords if you can afford it down the road it really does help as well. I know I know we have a very very expensive hobby ;-)
    curious if you have any experience with the Morrow cables?
    Polk Lsi9
    N.E.W. A-20 class A 20W
    NAD 1020 completely refurbished
    Keces DA-131 mk.II
    Analysis Plus Copper Oval, Douglass, Morrow SUB3, Huffman Digital
    Paradigm DSP-3100 v.2
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter