Trying something new - Snake River Audio

treitz3

....and then there were two.

Tom

VR3

Pics or didn't happen

treitz3

Oh, it happened....

Tom

VR3

Seems legit! Congrats!

treitz3

Okay, now that I have spent some time with the Snake River cables? I can offer a quick review of my experiences.



I actually have two Snake River cables running in my rig right now. When the first cable came in (the Hybrid), I opened up the box and was surprised at all of the “goodies” they included with the cables.



In the box was the cables, a storage bag, SR embossed golf ball, pen, notepad, an Idaho candy bar and even an Idaho candle. Then there was the documentation, detailed instructions, warranty card and Certificate of Authenticity.







So, I went and hooked them up. The initial location was from the IsoMax isolating transformer to the Canary Pre.



The overall sound was very enjoyable and a jump in performance that tightened up the lowest of registers and greatly enhanced textural differences in voices/background singers.The top end revealed (as Silver usually does in the signal path) just about everything there was in the recording but, unlike other Silver metallurgy cables, this one did it without the “sizzle” at the top, making things almost unlistenable on a high fidelity system.

I listened to this for a period of about a week (letting the cable break in and settle down to the rig) and decided that, while really good sounding…it was a tad bit “thin” for my tastes. I needed a little bit more weight to the system.

So, I got to thinking…since I need two IC’s to go from the Lampizator DAC to the IsoMax, then to the Canary, why not try a SN copper/gold metallurgy mix? I had a Transparent Music Link IC in the spot going from the DAC to the x-nsfrmr.

My thought process (given prior knowledge of different metallurgies) is that maybe this mix would tame down the top end a stint, while offering more weight. Before I tried this though, I went ahead and simply swapped out the Hybrid SN IC to the copper/gold SR IC. I wanted to hear the change/difference between the two cables.

So, when the second cable came in, I did just that. Simply changed out the Hybrid with the new IC. I listened for about 3 hours and my observations were that it offered some of the same attributes of the Hybrid IC, the top end was tamed down a little to much for what I had just listened to over the past week. I had gotten used to cymbals being present but not “tst, tst, tst” sounding. I still heard them but kinda yearned more for what I was hearing in the Hybrid cable.

One other observation is that the second cable was VERY lush. Speed and attack were spot on and tight as a gnat’s posterior but it was almost a tad too lush. Great sound, mind you and the weight had definitely been returned to the system but it was when I went and hooked the Hybrid from the DAC to the x-nsfrmr and the Copper/Gold from that to the Canary that I haven’t changed a thing since and I have been in absolute sonic bliss.



This combination is really something special and the synergy within my rig is off the freakin’ charts good! While each cable had it’s own specific attributes and deficiencies, hooking them up in the manner in which I did brought out the attributes of both cables with very little to no deficiencies at all.

The cables do not have many of the deficiencies that I heard with lower cost metallurgies. I experienced the same thing with my Audiolund Extreme Silver Series BNC cable. What I was expecting to be bright and shrill was the complete opposite of prior experiences. So, knowing that higher quality metal/construction techniques made a leap toward better sound, that’s when I started looking for better quality metallurgies within the PC’s I was using…and ended up running across the link in the OP that led me to Snake River IC’s.

That’s how I ended up stumbling across these cables…and I’m glad like hell I did. The combo has worked out flawlessly.

Tom

treitz3

Further observations on the Snake River cables - I have noticed and completely fallen in love with the tone of these cables. Many instruments have a really stunning tone to them that is really a treat to listen too. Case in point;

I have an “instrument” on my front porch. This isn’t really a musical instrument that you would normally think of but it does make some beautiful, wind powered music. It’s a tuned 60" Corinthian Bells wind chime that I have had for years. https://windriverchimes.com/products/corinthian-bells-60?variant=33323581898889

The chimes reside on the front porch and provide us a warning for when storms are moving in or wind conditions are getting worse. In a soft breeze type of day, they provide a wonderful sound and seemingly resonate for about 30 seconds with each strike. Mother Nature’s music, if you will.

Anyhoo, when we close the front door, we cannot hear them, unless a storm is rolling in and they are chiming like crazy with hard strikes. This is how accurate the tone is with the Snake River Cables…one day the wife and I were out in the LR enjoying some tunes and the rig was playing loud enough to where you could enjoy it from anywhere in the house (typical Saturday afternoon).

The front door was shut and during a song, they played a song that just so happened to have tuned chimes in the song itself. When the chimes hit, the wife and I were in the middle of a discussion and we both immediately stopped the discussion and we both whipped our heads toward the front door,…but it was closed! The sound/tone was so spot on, we both looked at the front door, then looked at each other with a “deer in the headlights look” completely baffled at how we just heard the chimes with the door shut.

It literally sounded like the chimes were disturbed by someone who walked up to the front porch and started messing with the chimes with the door wide open. After we both realized that it was the system that made the sound and it wasn’t the chimes, we both got quite the chuckle out of it.

As time has marched on, I have noticed that on most all instruments, the tone is also spot on. More so than it ever has been in any of the rigs/configurations I have had over the years. While the rest of the system has much to do with it, I have had the rest of the system for a while. It wasn’t until the introduction of these cables that the tone really got dialed in. Hearing the resonance inside of an acoustic guitar, cello or double bass is just as easily picked up on as the aura resonating outside of the instruments (presence/image) and reflecting off of the recording venue’s walls.

I have one more cable that I just got in (not a Snake River). It’s a Signature umbilical cord from Audio Sensibilities that goes in between the Lumin X1 PS and the U1. I have been so enamored with the synergy of the system and all aspects of the end result as to what hits these ears, that I think I will/can simply stop changing things up and just enjoy the music.

Tom

VR3

#remindme6monthsbot

xschop

Always fun to get a new toy.
At least they had common sense not to name themselves Snake Oil Audio, similar to Sch'it Audio's choice.
"Nothing sounds better than Sch'it" lol

VR3

If I'm not mistaken that's a last name 😛

Just like wang in China is a prominent name.

If they are to be married with a hyphen they could be schitt-wang

audioluvr

They should be looking for someone to marry with the last name of Fire. Then open a restaurant in their namesake.

mantis

I gotta admit, they are probably one of the nicest looking cables I've ever seen. Sounds like you are having a lot of fun testing them out.

I'm wondering switching to these cables opened up the top end as Transparent cuts off the top end. Their network boxes are designed to restrict the top end.

It's been over a decade since I have dealt with Transparent and their engineers but their designed don't revolve around the quality of metals they use in the conductors. It's all about their technology in their network bricks as that network is where they feel ( at the time I talked to them in person ) they can achieve their goals in audio reproduction. Removing their Technology from your system, your system is now more free to reproduce frequencies that Transparent filters out. I'm thinking this is where you are hearing all the wonderful differences.

treitz3

*sigh*

Really? I still have the Transparent Reference IC's in the rest of the system and I can assure you that there is no cut off of the higher frequencies. It boils down to a different metallurgy within the cables themself. Transparent utilizes oxygen free copper within the cables and when it comes to the Snake River cables, they utilize a completely different mix of metallurgies.

You are correct in that they do utilize much of their design within the network bricks/boxes but the reason I hear differences aren't because of those. It's simply because of the different metallurgies and *possibly* because they cryogenically treat the cables/wire.

Once again, I know because I have first hand knowledge/experience with different metallurgies. Not because I read or spoke with people in the industry.....and I have spoken with the folks at Transparent many times, FWIW.

Tom

VR3

When we ran frequency sweeps your system did have an unexplained upper frequency roll off above like 16khz or something.

Have you ran a new sweep recently with all the changes?

treitz3

No, I haven't. Rest assured, there is NO upper frequency roll off. I do not need measurements to know this. It's quite obvious.

Even if the measurements show a rolloff? There is no loss of information and you can take that to the bank. You will know this when you get down here to listen again. BTW, I do not recall there being a rolloff of the upper frequencies. Only the 500Hz or so dip....which I am still battling in the room I have the system in, even with the new speakers. It's probably a null, in which a new room (soon to come) will hopefully solve.

I do need to break the 'puter out and do a frequency sweep again though...just to satisfy my curiosity.

Tom

mantis

treitz3 wrote: »

*sigh*

Really? I still have the Transparent Reference IC's in the rest of the system and I can assure you that there is no cut off of the higher frequencies. It boils down to a different metallurgy within the cables themself. Transparent utilizes oxygen free copper within the cables and when it comes to the Snake River cables, they utilize a completely different mix of metallurgies.

You are correct in that they do utilize much of their design within the network bricks/boxes but the reason I hear differences aren't because of those. It's simply because of the different metallurgies and *possibly* because they cryogenically treat the cables/wire.

Once again, I know because I have first hand knowledge/experience with different metallurgies. Not because I read or spoke with people in the industry.....and I have spoken with the folks at Transparent many times, FWIW.

Tom

If you did talk to Transparent engineers , they would tell you they roll off the top end. It's how they combat interference. They told me that we can't hear above 20khz anyway so why reproduce these frequencies? There is a rolloff as VR3 pointed out and I'm willing to bet we can't hear it anyway due to hearing loss at our older ages ( sucks to get old ).

Just so you know , if you don't remember, I was a Transparent Dealer back in the day. Things could be different over the years I have not dealt with them but after looking at their stuff on their website, looks like they still do things the same way.

You can know all you want my friend, I'm not here to question your knowledge, I was simply asking questions on what you're where experiencing with your new, really nice cables.

Sweeps are a good way to know what's going on in your room and with your response. But I'm not questioning your knowledge on that either, just simply agreeing with VR3 with running sweeps. They really help dial in your system especially when you have a null as you think you do. You might be able to correct that with some properly placed room treatments or fine adjustments in your speaker placement and seating position. I find these kind of tweaks to be really fun and don't cost you an arm and a leg LOL. Especially just reposting things slightly, that free.

Good luck with these new cables, They are very intresting.

treitz3

Well, after trying out some of the Snake River IC's....I went ahead and bit the bullet on the Power Cord that started the whole Snake River knowledge thing for me (as written about in earlier posts).


Serial# SS1641 - Signature Series US/IEC power cable - 2.0m

Sorry, it's a bad picture. I'll be honest, I didn't spend any wasted time getting this out of the box and into the system. Just a quick, out of focus pic (along with the one below) and in she went.



The build quality of this PC was a little surprising, as was the weight. It was much heavier than expected. That said, it is a stunningly gorgeous cable in person. Pic's don't really do it justice, truth be told.

I plugged it into the ANK DAC 5.1 Pro via a Richard Grey Pro400 that is plugged directly into the wall with a 20amp Duelund PC. Normally, I like to plug in directly to the wall but I found the sound is cleaner when going through the RG Pro400 when it comes to the streaming setup.

It didn't take but about 2 seconds to hear that this was not a typical power cord swap. I was surprised at just how much of the sonic soundscaping had changed immediately upon hitting play. The tonal characteristics, I immediately fell in love with. That's about all I will say for now, as this needs to be broken in (and I have no clue as to how long that will take).

I have tied up a lot of money over the years on various power cords but I have not ever heard a PC make THIS big of a change. Even on amplifiers! This is the first time that I have ever considered a power cord as an actual component. This was definitely an experience I will not forget along my audio journey.

Back to listening....I can't seem to peel myself away from the system right now.....that tone is to die for.

Tom

bcwsrt

treitz3 wrote: »

...

Back to listening....I can't seem to peel myself away from the system right now.....that tone is to die for.

Tom

Love it when that happens.

I was just perusing this thread again the other day! Glad you are enjoying your latest purchase.

GlennDog

treitz3 wrote: »

Well, after trying out some of the Snake River IC's....I went ahead and bit the bullet on the Power Cord that started the whole Snake River knowledge thing for me (as written about in earlier posts).

The build quality of this PC was a little surprising, as was the weight. It was much heavier than expected. That said, it is a stunningly gorgeous cable in person. Pic's don't really do it justice, truth be told.

I plugged it into the ANK DAC 5.1 Pro

Hey man, I hope all is well . . .

Long story short, I’m on the audiocircle website mostly because of Salk and Lampizator… Then I got turned on to Hapa Audio. I don’t know if you know anything about them, but they’ve got a couple of new developments that might pique your interest.

In another thread, you were talking about the various metallurgical cocktails that wire makers were developing… Well, HAPA is getting some great accolades, specifically, with a space-age dielectric that’s cutting edge. Each one of these copper and silver-based cables are extremely lightweight. Typically, I’m old-school and want something hefty and substantial in return for my dollars.
In a word remarkable… Remarkably light, although heavy at each end because of the USB connections.
If I could sever the ends and just weigh the cable on a triple beam… We’re talking a couple grams for a 1 meter IC

SO … they’ve got a tour going on with their IC cables. I just received some today. Probably won’t get a chance to roll the USB into the rig until Saturday.

Did you ditch the Lampi for the ANK??

https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?board=45

hapaAudio.com

treitz3

Hi, Glenn. Not yet but I am looking to sell the Lamipzator. Actually eying another ANK DAC for the Marantz CDP.

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll check out Hapa Audio.

I'll tell you guys one thing. I am loving this power cord. It had been one of those rare eye openers (or rather, ear opener). I am finding it hard to believe that a power cable can make this much of a difference on a DAC, of all things.

It is slowly changing, as I listen and things seem to be doing nothing but improving. That tone.....man, I can't say enough about that tone.

Which is weird because I had always heard people talk about tone but I never really considered it as important as other aspects of the reproductive effort. I have done a complete 180 on this. PRAT. I have always considered pace and rhythm very important aspects but never really the tone.

It may have taken me a long time to find this out along my own personal audio journey but I get it now. PR and Tone. PRAT.

My enjoyment level has jumped in spades now that I have all 3. I did not know before now just how important the tone really is to a system. I got a great glimpse with the 2 IC's from Snake River. This PC (unbenounced ro me) was just the icing on the cake that set things over the top.

I am finding myself listening to songs that I previously skipped over. Now, those same songs are providing enjoyment, as if they were a song that made it to one of my playlists. In fact, I have added more songs to the playlists today than I ever recall adding in one day.

I was not expecting this.

Let me know what your observations are with the cables, if you would be so kind Glenn. I'd be very interested in what you have to say about them (good or bad)

Tom

treitz3

Please allow me to correct myself. PRAT actually stands for Pace, Rhythm and Timing....not tone. DOH!

But I think you get what I am saying (I hope)...

Tom

tratliff

treitz3 wrote: »

Hi, Glenn. Not yet but I am looking to sell the Lamipzator. Actually eying another ANK DAC for the Marantz CDP.

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll check out Hapa Audio.

I'll tell you guys one thing. I am loving this power cord. It had been one of those rare eye openers (or rather, ear opener). I am finding it hard to believe that a power cable can make this much of a difference on a DAC, of all things.

It is slowly changing, as I listen and things seem to be doing nothing but improving. That tone.....man, I can't say enough about that tone.

Which is weird because I had always heard people talk about tone but I never really considered it as important as other aspects of the reproductive effort. I have done a complete 180 on this. PRAT. I have always considered pace and rhythm very important aspects but never really the tone.

It may have taken me a long time to find this out along my own personal audio journey but I get it now. PR and Tone. PRAT.

My enjoyment level has jumped in spades now that I have all 3. I did not know before now just how important the tone really is to a system. I got a great glimpse with the 2 IC's from Snake River. This PC (unbenounced ro me) was just the icing on the cake that set things over the top.

I am finding myself listening to songs that I previously skipped over. Now, those same songs are providing enjoyment, as if they were a song that made it to one of my playlists. In fact, I have added more songs to the playlists today than I ever recall adding in one day.

I was not expecting this.

Let me know what your observations are with the cables, if you would be so kind Glenn. I'd be very interested in what you have to say about them (good or bad)

Tom

Tom, you may have seen in some of my post lately that I recently upgraded from an AudioQuest Hurricane power cable to a Dragon. Also changed the AQ Niagara 5000 to 7000. The change was drastic. I approached this upgrade cautiously but Skip assured me to just give it a try and this would be the next logical step for the system. He was correct, like normal.

GlennDog

treitz3 wrote: »

I got a great glimpse with the 2 IC's from Snake River. This PC (unbenounced ro me) was just the icing on the cake that set things over the top.

I was not expecting this

Tom,
I'm not too happy with you . . . or Marvin, for that matter @marvda1

I just broke down and sprung for a boomSlang 110 ohm digital cable

Hopefully, I'll hear the magic!

treitz3

Cool deal. I am thinking that for the other DAC, getting the same thing instead of another Audiolund Extreme Silver Series BNC cable. Please let me know what your observations are with the Boomslang.

As for the AQ, my experiences with AQ have been mixed. Most all of my AQ gear has moved on and only recently did I learn an AQ product was severely holding the system back. That was the King Cobra IC's that went to both of the Rythmik subs. I replaced them with a very low on the totem pole Transparent Music Plus IC and the difference in the performance of the subs was not subtle. It changed the performance of the entire system and with the other changes I have made, the bass is incredibly palpable.

Now, this doesn't mean that I have shunned AQ forever. It just means that at this point in my audio journey, I am getting much more bang for the buck with other products. Now, I did recently acquire an AQ Niagara 1000. I haven't hooked it up yet, as I am deciding on whether to experiment on the system itself (on the network setup within the rig) or hook everything upstream on the network (modem, LPS's, mesh network router, etc...)

My experience with Power Supplies and Conditioners on the main rig (and others as well) has been mixed. They filter things and that constricted the sound stage. When I took them out of my rig, the sound stage expanded. BUT - when I reintroduced the Richard Grey Pro400 into the rig.....only on the network setup (ER, clock, LPS's, mesh network satellite etc...), it actually did a great job of cleaning up the signal and was an attribute instead of a deficiency and there was no detriment to the sound stage.

If I add the Niagara into that part of the rig and it sounds better, it stays and I might consider moving up the line later on but I told Skip when I was at LSAF that I wasn't interested in one. He kind of reared his head back and asked me why. I told him that I had not run across a system yet that sounded stellar with one in the equation.

That, in no way, is to suggest that they do not exist. It's just that I have not heard a system yet that I was impressed with that had one in the loop.

Besides, when the new room build starts, I will start with addressing the electrical before it even hits the outlets. I am still in research mode and time will tell but I would rather spend my money (right now) on addressing the backbone of the incoming electrical instead of fixing it after the fact. Believe it or not, my rig is still on a 15 amp circuit and when you listen, one would not expect that to be the case.

The new room will have much, much shorter runs. It will be completely separate from the rest of the house, with it's own meter and zero noise introducing electrical components will be in the building it resides in.....and it will be running on 4 or 5 dedicated 20 amp circuits and possibly a high current isolation transformer.

I dunno....we'll see. Only time will tell.

Anyhoo, congrat's on pulling the trigger on the Boomslang! IME, there is a DEFINITE difference between using inferior silver or silver compounds and what both Snake River and Audiolund uses. All my prior experiences with silver in the system went to the wayside and a whole new set of attributes have been introduced. It may be silver but it damned sure doesn't "sound" like the silver I have been privy too in the past. If the Boomslang does what the Audiolund did in my system? You should be a very happy camper in short order.

Tom

tratliff

Tom, I would not recommend letting a King Cobra form your opinion on AQ. I would say the same on the Niagara 1000.

treitz3

Trust me, it's not. I do have plenty of experience over the years with AQ products that cost that of a vehicle. Let's just say, I am not AQ's biggest fan.

My experience (which may not mimic other's experience) is that I can do better for less. In many cases, a lot less.

AQ is not the only higher end company that I have this opinion on as well. Think, Shunyata (although their ethernet cables are worth it! (to me, at least))

It is my hopes that I do not come across as "snooty" with my observations. That is not my intent. I have a sound that I prefer chasing after and that may differ from other folks in life.

So far, I am on the right path. *knocks on wood*

Tom

GlennDog

pm sent

tratliff

treitz3 wrote: »

It is my hopes that I do not come across as "snooty" with my observations.
Tom

Not at all. Just passing along what I am finding. It’s a long journey and so many products and manufacturers to choose from.

GlennDog

your comments would suggest you trust Skipper's ear . . .

PM inbound

tratliff

Tom you do know that once AQ brought on Garth Powell that many changes were made. Correct? His mods and enhancements were more related to the upper end and have been trickling down the lines since.

tratliff

GlennDog wrote: »

your comments would suggest you trust Skipper's ear . . .

PM inbound

Hey Glenn. If you were sending me a PM I have not seen anything.