A few questions on MIT cables.

daddyjt

After herring how highly regarded theses cables are on this site, I am strongly considering taking the plunge. I'm looking at the 8' pair of Shotgun S1 speaker cables on their clearance page, for $509. This is more than I would have ever considered spending on speaker cables, but I figure if they don't do it for me, I can sell them for little loss.

Out of curiosity, what is going on in the box that's inserted in the cable run? I read around on their web site, and couldn't really find an explanation.

Also, are these cables fairly supple? I only need about a 4' run, but I want 8' for possible future applications. Can I easily coil the extra cable behind the speakers?

How about the terminations? Are only spades available, or can you use bananas?

Thanks for any advice, this is a huge leap of faith for me - Never considered myself much of a cable aficionado...

mikeyb128

They have what is called iconn connectors. My shot gun s1 came with spades and bananas. You can do full spades or full bananas or mix both (they thread on). There is a crossover network in the black box. These cables are not supple. Bulky huge network box with garden hose sized cable. It was a challenge to get them to fit behind my rack. The bulkiness is my only complaint with them. But, the network boxes are very light and athletically pleasing. I would say don't hesitate to buy them. Once broken in they are fantastic. You will notice immediate improvement with these over standard wire. There's a reason they are so often talked about, and highly regarded.

heiney9

Magic is in those boxes. Pull the trigger and thank us later.

H9

mikeyb128

I think this is the best explanation for what the MIT network box does. I stole it from the MIT six moon review. Simple to understand.

with different strengths. One cable may offer great bass but a rolled-off treble. Another might be the bee’s knees with highs but no bass. The third might display an awesome midrange but miss the frequency extremes. Now take those three cables and turn them into a single cable that shows all the strengths but none of the weaknesses. That in a nice neat nutshell is Multipole Technology. (Black network box).

F1nut

At that price you are stealing them. Run, don't walk to the buy page.

Do not coil, snake them.

In addition to the explanation above they use CVT couplers, which prevent back signal, hence a seriously directional cable.

These cables require burn in. They will start to sound better after 50 hours, but take a full 200 before fully cooked.

daddyjt

F1nut wrote: »

These cables require burn in. They will start to sound better after 50 hours, but take a full 200 before fully cooked.

Silly question, but can I burn them in to the same load load bank that I burn amps in to (300w 8ohm resistors x2)? Or do they need to see the dynamic load of a speaker?

F1nut

They need the dynamic load of a speaker. In fact, they tell you not to use cable cookers.

msg

I'm going to offer cautionary input - reflect verrry carefully on your "blissful" state of audio cable naivete. Once you hear what good cables do, you'll most likely be spoiled. You cannot unhear the refinements you'll experience. Are you prepared for that?

I echo the answers of the others on your other questions, especially to what's inside the boxes.

Indeed, a fantastic deal on S1's. I use S3's - lower down the line - and really enjoy them. If you can swing it, you may want to consider the IC's, as well, at some point, for best results. (see opening paragraph)

tonyb

msg wrote: »

I'm going to offer cautionary input - reflect verrry carefully on your "blissful" state of audio cable naivete. Once you hear what good cables do, you'll most likely be spoiled. You cannot unhear the refinements you'll experience. Are you prepared for that? )

LOL.....good point bro. Kinda like drinking fine wine, hard to go back to the Gallo jugs after that.

Screamin' good deal on those cables, congrats. As usual, I recommend you get used to the sound for a month or so, then put your old cables back in and compare. My guess is you'll rip them back out before you hit the 3rd song faster than H9 at a tube garage sale.

Whats that strange sound your gonna hear ? It's your sac flapping in the wind of good sound....hold it steady.

Mike Reeter

msg wrote: »

Indeed, a fantastic deal on S1's. I use S3's - lower down the line - and really enjoy them. If you can swing it, you may want to consider the IC's, as well, at some point, for best results. (see opening paragraph)

I also have the S1 Speaker Wires, couple them with the S1 i/c's for their maximum potential.

Outstanding price on these wires as you will probably never see these prices again.

daddyjt

It's not often that everyone on a forum seems to agree on something. With that in mind, I placed my order just now. Should be here later this week:-)

$500 for speaker cables - Definitely a first for me... Nothing ventured, nothing gained:-)

Mike Reeter

daddyjt wrote: »

It's not often that everyone on a forum seems to agree on something. With that in mind, I placed my order just now. Should be here later this week:-)

$500 for speaker cables - Definitely a first for me... Nothing ventured, nothing gained:-)

This will be one of the best $500 bumps you ever put into your set-up, the original MSRP on these wires was over $1600 I believe.

As others have stated, be patient with the burn in, that process does take a while.

heiney9

daddyjt, if after you spend some time with them and get them good and burned in, if you don't think they are worth the price, hit me up and I'll take them off your hands. I have S3's currently.

H9

mikeyb128

F1nut wrote: »

They need the dynamic load of a speaker. In fact, they tell you not to use cable cookers.

I believe it's mentioned in the paper work that comes with the cables, that you can damage them with a cable cooker.

daddyjt

My cables arrived yesterday! My initial impressions started with the shipping box - extremely well packed in a HUGE box. Double boxed with packing peanuts - and these are speaker cables:-)





Inside the box, foam inserts and heavy clear bags for each cable...



And the cables themselves. Not nearly as heavy as I would expect, given the thickness. The build quality is first-rate, from everything I've seen so far. The termination system is outstanding, and the "box" integrated into the cable is HUGE - much bigger than I was expecting.



I will get them into a system and post my impressions soon

erniejade

Cool yes let us know!!

Mike Reeter

They will sound as solid as they look! Enjoy

EndersShadow

Your gonna have to sell some of your hoard of amps to buy more once your hooked lol...

I see some 1.0t's coming on the market soon... ......

Although with 11 of them in mono and then your other amps you could do a 11.4.4 system in your house lol

mikeyb128

Just picked up a biwire pair of these myself. I now need more monies to replace all the Nordost In my other system with MIT.

tonyb

mikeyb128 wrote: »

Just picked up a biwire pair of these myself. I now need more monies to replace all the Nordost In my other system with MIT.

Ha....in my best Pauley Walnuts voice....."Somebodys got to go". Told ya man, those Nordost are ok if you an overly warm system, but very narrow soundstage.

leftwinger57

I have to ask this. Knowing that if I hit the lottery of a desperate housewife not knowing MIT cables from lamp cord these would be in my system. With that being said I do have some what of a logistical problem. One 2B speaker about 7/8' away and would need a 10' MIT but my right side speaker is literally inches away from my amp and would only need 5'' or so. I heard that w/ boutique cables they should be the same length and the again not to coil them but lay them out as best I can behind my console. Is this right ? Also those magic boxes go towards the speaker end.

Jhayman

tonyb wrote: »

mikeyb128 wrote: »

Just picked up a biwire pair of these myself. I now need more monies to replace all the Nordost In my other system with MIT.

Ha....in my best Pauley Walnuts voice....."Somebodys got to go". Told ya man, those Nordost are ok if you an overly warm system, but very narrow soundstage.

Tony I have switched to Nordost Red Dawn LS speaker cables and can say my soundstage exploded, I'm hooked on these cables and my little Onix Tube integrated..

mikeyb128

Jhayman wrote: »

tonyb wrote: »

mikeyb128 wrote: »

Just picked up a biwire pair of these myself. I now need more monies to replace all the Nordost In my other system with MIT.

Ha....in my best Pauley Walnuts voice....."Somebodys got to go". Told ya man, those Nordost are ok if you an overly warm system, but very narrow soundstage.

Tony I have switched to Nordost Red Dawn LS speaker cables and can say my soundstage exploded, I'm hooked on these cables and my little Onix Tube integrated..

I have Nordost red dawn revision II's and heimdalls speaker cables.They are very detailed, fast and yes a little forward. I think shot gun s1's have a better sound stage. But, different electronics, room, speakers....

[Deleted User]

This question is entering what seems to be religious ground.
I'll ask this instead, what length cable are you thinking for the
second cable and what are you plugging into?

leftwinger57 wrote: »

I have to ask this. Knowing that if I hit the lottery of a desperate housewife not knowing MIT cables from lamp cord these would be in my system. With that being said I do have some what of a logistical problem. One 2B speaker about 7/8' away and would need a 10' MIT but my right side speaker is literally inches away from my amp and would only need 5'' or so. I heard that w/ boutique cables they should be the same length and the again not to coil them but lay them out as best I can behind my console. Is this right ? Also those magic boxes go towards the speaker end.

tonyb

LW,

In your case, an 8ft pair would suffice. Cables that are shielded won't matter much if you have a few feet extra on one side.

daddyjt

First, I apologize for the lack of pictures in this post - I'll add them soon.

Got the S-1 speaker cables into my "test" rig - It's a modest setup that I use to test amps after I refurb/upgrade them. Carver 490t into a BillD C1, and in this case, into a restored M4.0t, into a pair od NHT 2.5. Interconnects are Kimber Silver Streak, and the MITs replaced some heavy gage Monster cables. I know it doesn't sound like much, but the chemistry of the pieces really works well.

My first test track is When You Say Nothing At All, by Allison Krauss. At the start of the song, there's a line about 20 sec in, where she sings"...you light up the dark". The "k" at the end of "dark" is such a tell for me on whatever system I'm listening to - It should come across as a subtle but distinct "kiss" of a sound - not muddy of hard to perceive, but crisp and clear. Then, when the track picks up, and her voice really opens up, lesser systems or components will render her voice as shrill, making the listener think "turn it down". With the right setup, and plenty of power, it should carry well, and even scare you a bit.

Anyway, I hooked the MITs up, and sat back for a listen. This is going to sound weird, so bear with me - The Carver C1 has a feature called "Sonic Holography". While opinions vary, I am personally not a fan of any equalization or modification of the signal - including Sonic Holography. However, when I played my Allison Krauss track, I thought "Damn - I must have bumped the Holography switch when I threw the 4.0t amp into the mix". But my very next thought was "Hey, Sonic Holography sounds pretty good on Allison's voice" (I have never used the feature on this particular recording). I listened to the whole track, got up to turn the Holography switch off, and you guessed it - It wasn't engaged. The difference to the depth of the soundstage was impossible to overlook, and there was a marked improvement in clarity and separation of vocals and instruments.

So far, I am very impressed. Looking forward to getting them into my main rig soon, but that's a herculean undertaking...

tonyb

Cool man, glad your diggin' 'em. Soundstaging is what they do best imho, everything else is gravy.