Thinking about trying some MIT's.

gmcman

So I understand they are highly regarded, however total cost to swap is a factor. The setup I have now sounds good, at least to my ears....so not knowing how my current hardware lines up to certain MIT products I would like some input on where to start.

I would like to take a step up from at least a lateral move from my current cables, not sure if the magic is more in the speaker cables or interconnects.

The cables I'm looking to focus on are my RCA interconnects between the Marantz SA8004 to the B&K Ref50, then to the 200.2 amp. I do have the option of using XLR from pre to amp also.

Currently I have a 2 pairs of Morrow MA3's from CD to pre to amp.

Speaker cables are AQ Crystal @10' each and 10' is the minimum I can use...at least on 1 speaker.

Given this info, what has become the largest improvement others have discovered....speaker cables or interconnects? I know you're gonna say both.

The MA3's did make quite a sonic difference, I was thinking of going to MA4's but I hear too many good things about MIT. All opinions welcome.

Budget plays the largest part, I'm not ready to drop a grand on cables but would like all opinions.

Thanks.

Msabot1

If budget is a major concern..Morrow is having a trade up sale going on...check em out..I use several of their upper level products in my rigs...lot of bang for the buck..

F1nut

You might want to consider the MIT Shotgun S3's. I'd start with the speaker cables, but for less than a grand you could get the IC's as well.

http://mitcables-clearance.com/collections/weekly-special

mikeyb128

Agree with MIT clearance. I bought 2 pairs of magnum m3's interconnects for a little over 300 bucks each for a meter. And shot gun s1 speaker cables for around the 500 mark (8 foot biwire). Just have to sit and be patient and check back every Tuesday for deals. MIT paired with each other make a huuuuge difference.

heiney9

All the good things are true, and so much positive has been said on this board over the years, there is nothing left to discuss. If you can swing the $$$ MIT's are a no brainer. If you can't afford them, no point talking about it, really.

I was a skeptic for awhile after joining this forum, but I waited far too long to get them in the mix. Only regret I have is not buying them sooner.

H9

heiney9

Look for the clearance stuff at the official MIT website and I concur with F1, start with the Shotgun S3 series. Great bang for you buck now that they are clearing them out. You should be amazed at the difference they can make in your rig.

As Jesse suggested start with the speaker cables if you have to buy in stages.

H9

Emlyn

I also agree with trying out the S3 series and getting both speaker cables as well as at least a pair of the interconnects for betwen the amp and preamp. Between the source and preamp would be better still. New cabkes will take a few dozen bours to settle in fully.

A few weeks ago I did some cable swapping to see how much of a difference I could tell between MIT Shotgun S1 interconnects and Blue Jeans Cable interconnects. I left the S1 speaker cables in place. The Blue Jeans Cables produced a clear and clean sound from my system. Sounded pretty good. But, when I put the S1 interconnects back in place I could immediately hear the three dimensionality return to the music. The BJC interconnects turned out to produce a relatively flat, almost dead, sounding system in comparison. I was hoping I couldn't tell a difference because the BJC cables are inexpensive and well made. They still work well for home theater systems.

Morrow claims to have cables that produce a three dimensionality in the sound. So, it is a tough call to make on upgrading with Morrow or going to MIT. I haven't experienced their cables first hand, so can't comment on their performance. Their design doesn't appear to be unusual though other than using high quality terminations and individually insulated wire strands. If going to MIT I can only recommend going for all MIT speaker cables and interconnects in the system.

gmcman

Sorry for the late reply, thanks for the link Jesse. I will let all this cook for awhile...if a good deal comes along for the MIT then I may give them a try. I do like my MA3's and may skip the MA4 and go with the MA5 through the trade up program. I will also look for a whole set of MIT and see what happens.

Right now I'm fine, but of course the upgrade bug is always there.

cstmar01

MIT clearance is the way to go. I've gotten a lot of stuff through that site and you can't go wrong. Also looking on the forum here for sales too. Shotgun S3 are my personal favs and great price point. I've always come back to MIT after I have tried other cables.

gmcman

Alright folks....I made the leap. Well.....I figure I just can't go with one pair since I need 2 pairs from the source to the amp. I ordered 2 pairs of Shotgun S1 RCA, 2M in length through the MIT clearance....the price was too good to pass up.

I will look out for some speaker cables later but I think my AQ Crystal is sufficient for time being. That's something I would like to A/B test in the future for sure.


Thanks.....early X-mas for me I guess.

Edited to add: I did call MIT and discussed my options and the S1 was recommended over the S3 at my price point despite the S3 being slightly newer.

F1nut

For the sake of clarity. The older Shotgun series are the S1, S2, S3. The current series are the S1.3, S2.3, S3.3.

gmcman

F1nut wrote: »

For the sake of clarity. The older Shotgun series are the S1, S2, S3. The current series are the S1.3, S2.3, S3.3.

Yes, he did go over that with me...and based on what was avail in the clearance section, it was between the S3.3 and the S1. I managed to grab the last two pairs of S1's at $408 each.

Now we didn't discuss speaker cables....so I assume I wouldn't need to find the S1 speaker cable as the S3.3 speaker would be as good or better than the older S1 correct?

F1nut

Each series works best with each other. I would choose the S1 speaker cable over the S3.3 without a second thought.

Mikey081057

cstmar01 wrote: »

MIT clearance is the way to go. I've gotten a lot of stuff through that site and you can't go wrong. Also looking on the forum here for sales too. Shotgun S3 are my personal favs and great price point. I've always come back to MIT after I have tried other cables.

Didn't I buy yours? They are awesome on my SDA SRS 2.3/A21 rig. I am sold..

gmcman

F1nut wrote: »

Each series works best with each other. I would choose the S1 speaker cable over the S3.3 without a second thought.

Would that pertain to the S1.3 over the S1 or the S1 over the 3.3?

Or are you saying to stay with S1interconnects and S1 speaker instead of mixing a .3 into it?

Am I reading that correctly?

F1nut

I'm saying I'd choose the S1 over the S3.3.

gmcman

F1nut wrote: »

I'm saying I'd choose the S1 over the S3.3.

Copy that. I will hunt around and try to keep the setup complete.

cstmar01

Mikey081057 wrote: »

cstmar01 wrote: »

MIT clearance is the way to go. I've gotten a lot of stuff through that site and you can't go wrong. Also looking on the forum here for sales too. Shotgun S3 are my personal favs and great price point. I've always come back to MIT after I have tried other cables.

Didn't I buy yours? They are awesome on my SDA SRS 2.3/A21 rig. I am sold..

I think you did. Those were brand new too which I never used and had sitting around. Always seems to be what happens with stuff of mine. I've rocked the S3s for awhile and never had a complaint about them.

gmcman

So I've been racking my brain as well as some other brains for a week or so, having a tough time deciding on older Magnums or newer Shotguns, even older Shotguns.

I really do want to swap everything to all MIT, however as with most decisions, cost is a factor. So this is where I'm at....

I found a MIT Digital Reference coax and I will likely swap that later for a Shotgun or Magnum digital coax, but this will stay for awhile.

The interconnects are Shotgun S1, so the speaker cables are the last ones left to change. Still may go with the S1 for the speakers, but would I be taking a step backwards going with Magnum M3 speaker cables?

There are deals that pop up from time to time so I want to get all my info straight. I would like to find a pair of M2 speaker cables but not sure if the M2 or M3 is below the S1.

Now the .3 series is another issue, would the Shotgun S3.3 be a step below the older S1?

Thanks again.

tonyb

F1nut wrote: »

I'm saying I'd choose the S1 over the S3.3.

According to our resident MIT guru....yes.

F1nut

The Magnum series are above the Shotgun series. However, mixing and matching the different series isn't always a good idea.

mikeyb128

I use shot gun s1 speaker cables and magnum m3 interconnects. Sounds great! But I guess there is the potential I am missing out on something with the mismatch.

gmcman

F1nut wrote: »

The Magnum series are above the Shotgun series. However, mixing and matching the different series isn't always a good idea.

Would it be safe to assume a Magnum speaker cable is ok after a shotgun interconnect..just not so much going vice versa? In regards to the M3 behind a S1?

Or are the points of articulation in the S1 RCA designed to work specifically with the S1 speaker cable, and would a M3 or M2 take away from the designed end result?

Just trying to understand this fully.

Mike Reeter

If you are thinking of going with the S1 Shotgun Series, I wouldn't wait too much longer, the stock that is being sold is from a recovered freight container (at least that was Joe Abrams story). When the S1 wires are sold out, they are gone forever.

gmcman

Mike Reeter wrote: »

If you are thinking of going with the S1 Shotgun Series, I wouldn't wait too much longer, the stock that is being sold is from a recovered freight container (at least that was Joe Abrams story). When the S1 wires are sold out, they are gone forever.

I do have 2 pairs of S1 interconnects on the way, just need to iron out my speaker cable dillema.

Mike Reeter

I use the S1 i/c's with the S1 Speaker Wires, they play very well together. I've spent the past couple of years picking up a complete set for my rig, it's been one of the best "sound" investments I've made to date.

F1nut

gmcman wrote: »

Would it be safe to assume a Magnum speaker cable is ok after a shotgun interconnect..just not so much going vice versa? In regards to the M3 behind a S1?

Or are the points of articulation in the S1 RCA designed to work specifically with the S1 speaker cable, and would a M3 or M2 take away from the designed end result?

Just trying to understand this fully.

More a matter of the same playing field, I would say. If you use M1 speaker cables and S1 IC's you're not going to get the most out of the M1's.

gmcman

F1nut wrote: »

gmcman wrote: »

Would it be safe to assume a Magnum speaker cable is ok after a shotgun interconnect..just not so much going vice versa? In regards to the M3 behind a S1?

Or are the points of articulation in the S1 RCA designed to work specifically with the S1 speaker cable, and would a M3 or M2 take away from the designed end result?

Just trying to understand this fully.

If you use M1 speaker cables and S1 IC's you're not going to get the most out of the M1's.

That's how I'm understanding it. I can accept the fact the better cable won't be able to show it's full benefit.

For example, if I used the S1 interconnect, I wouldn't want the M3 or M2 speaker cable to take away from the S1. If the S1, S1 combo would sound one way, I would think a S1-RCA, M3-speaker combo would at least sound as good or better but not worse.

That's the part I'm concerned about.

I could find a matching Magnum later on down the road, this is just info I'm looking for if I need to pull the trigger under short notice.

Edited to add, correct me if I'm wrong but I also understand the higher end Shotgun competes with the lower end Magnum...so that part I'm aware of...just not 100%.

gmcman

So the first MIT's showed up today, 2 pairs of S1 IC's and I ran them between the CD player, pre, and amp. I didn't research the input impedance yet so I left them on the mid setting just to give them a test drive.

I played the Peter Gabriel "So" album since it has a lot of highs and bass that seems slightly flubby at times but not terribly so, it's just I'm very familiar with this CD.

Mercy Street was the 2nd track I played,..... now I hear a lot of talk with MIT's about the bass, really didn't know what to expect but right away I can hear the slight lower registry in the female vocals, the term "lifelike" comes to mind and it really changes the dynamics of the music. Same with the rest of the vocals, very smooth and there's bass notes I don't remember hearing, especially in this level of detail and control.....and this only after 5 min. The CD sounded very clean and detailed before, but there's just another level of dynamics now and I can only imagine after a few hundred hours.

Now I know what all the MIT talk is about.

mikeyb128

gmcman wrote: »

So the first MIT's showed up today, 2 pairs of S1 IC's and I ran them between the CD player, pre, and amp. I didn't research the input impedance yet so I left them on the mid setting just to give them a test drive.

I played the Peter Gabriel "So" album since it has a lot of highs and bass that seems slightly flubby at times but not terribly so, it's just I'm very familiar with this CD.

Mercy Street was the 2nd track I played,..... now I hear a lot of talk with MIT's about the bass, really didn't know what to expect but right away I can hear the slight lower registry in the female vocals, the term "lifelike" comes to mind and it really changes the dynamics of the music. Same with the rest of the vocals, very smooth and there's bass notes I don't remember hearing, especially in this level of detail and control.....and this only after 5 min. The CD sounded very clean and detailed before, but there's just another level of dynamics now and I can only imagine after a few hundred hours.

Now I know what all the MIT talk is about.

Maybe try the break In method MIT suggests in the provided paper work. I didn't do it this way, just played movies/music and observed. They definitely get better with time. But I agree with what you are saying, it is quite a noticeable change once installed.

msg

+1 on the the near immediate notice of changes. first thing that hit me was the fact that I had to zero the tone controls on my pre. I had the bass pushed a notch, and it didn't sound right anymore after I installed S3 IC's and SC's. The S1's are supposed to be even better.

I remember almost not wanting to believe cables could make a difference, but during the first 24hrs/2 weeks evaluation process, I simply could not ignore what I was hearing. I don't want to say any more so as not to suggest characteristics for you to listen for and color your personal evaluation. I'm interested to hear your impressions as the burn-in period continues.