Don't throw the baby out with the bath H20

heiney9

This hobby is both frustrating and gratifying all at the same time. While I have no where near the level of torment our friend EarlyB has . I have been growing increasingly more frustrated with my 2 channel set-up lately. Granted everything was absolutely fine until I started tinkering..............this tinkering ruined some of the synergy and I just now got it back.

It all started with Ricardo............(doesn't it always ). Demoed his MIT speaker cables which is a generous effort on his part. I liked what I heard compared to couple other speaker cables I have on hand.

When I finished the demo and put my regular IXOS cables back I realized I was missing something so I decided to look on ebay for a used pair of MIT's. Found a nice pair which were the same model only newer and got a nice deal.

Ahhhhh......it was back. I decided if the MIT speaker cables made such a positive difference then the same model MIT I/C's would even be a more positive improvement, even though I am throughly happy with the Signal I/C's I already had.

Found a decent deal on a pair of MIT Terminator II I/C's and decided to use them from the pre to the amp. Sounded good used them for a couple weeks decided to get another pair to go from the DAC analog output to the pre-amp.

In the meantime we had a RAS (Rockford Audio Society) meeting over at Dave's (Daboyz) see thread RAS Meet. I brought my MIT speaker cables and 1pr MIT I/C's; everyone seemed to hear an instant positive difference compared to the other cables we had and Dave and Michael (McLoki) have even gone out and bought pairs. etc.

Well I have been using both pairs of MIT I/C's and the speaker cables together for the past 2-3 weeks and something just hasn't been right with the rig. Excessive sibilance, cymbal decay is not crisp at all (very tizzy sounding) bass is bit bloated, some very forward sounding vocals, piano, brass instruments etc........

I thought it can't be the cables it has to be my amp or pre-amp. They are both going on 20+ years old and maybe something is failing. I'm looking in the yellow pages for repair centers as I'm sure the pre-amp is having issues and I thought I'd take it in to get diagnosed, etc.

Well last night I put the Signal Cable I/C's back in, and just like that the magic was back. I have synergy again. Not dissing the MIT I/C's at all, they just didn't fit in with my rig at this particular time.

Glad I didn't spend all that money on having my gear checked when all along it was the cables. I'm still going to experiment as I'm not ready to give up on the MIT I/C's entirely but the Signals sound sooooooo much better in my particular rig................for whatever reason.

Don't throw the baby out with the bath water.

H9

P.s. The MIT speaker cables aren't going anywhere............single best upgrade since I added an external DAC.

steveinaz

You broke the number 1 rule of audio...if it ain't broke, don't fix it...OR...don't mess with success.

Early B.

Ha ha ha!!:D:eek::D

I love this post. Been there, my friend, more than once. My initiation was power cords. I bought one PS Audio PC and it made a huge diference, so I bought more of them. Too much of a good thing.

And there's no reason to feel bad about it. In fact, what you did is exactly the process required for finding synergy -- experimentation. You're better off from the experience and your system sounds better than it ever has.

But here's the kicker -- those MIT cables you just bought are only the beginning. Imagine upgrading to better cables for the same amount of money. There's only one way to find out...(que evil laugh...):p

Enjoy.

dkg999

Exactly the reason I am a'feared to touch anything in my main 2 ch system! It sounds really good and I don't want to mess it up!

I did do this same thing in the past with AudioQuest IC's. Used some Sidewinder and DiamondBack IC's in place of the Signal Cable IC's, and got some really buzzy highs and S'ssssssssss sounds. Swapped back in the SC IC's and all was well.

I like SC cables all most as much for what they don't do wrong, as for what they do right.

I did like H9's MIT speaker cable though I hope he buys a matching one before he moves on to better cables, because I need a matched set on my bi-amped Magnepans!

heiney9

steveinaz wrote: »

You broke the number 1 rule of audio...if it ain't broke, don't fix it...OR...don't mess with success.

That's always been a rule I've pretty much lived by.........but I had a chance to demo the MIT's and I liked what I heard.

Early B. wrote: »

Ha ha ha!!:D:eek::D

I love this post. Been there, my friend, more than once. My initiation was power cords. I bought one PS Audio PC and it made a huge diference, so I bought more of them. Too much of a good thing.

And there's no reason to feel bad about it. In fact, what you did is exactly the process required for finding synergy -- experimentation. You're better off from the experience and your system sounds better than it ever has.

But here's the kicker -- those MIT cables you just bought are only the beginning. Imagine upgrading to better cables for the same amount of money. There's only one way to find out...(que evil laugh...):p

Enjoy.

Yep, I get where you are coming from sometimes. And I certainly agree there can be too much of a good thing.

dkg999 wrote: »

Exactly the reason I am a'feared to touch anything in my main 2 ch system! It sounds really good and I don't want to mess it up!

I did do this same thing in the past with AudioQuest IC's. Used some Sidewinder and DiamondBack IC's in place of the Signal Cable IC's, and got some really buzzy highs and S'ssssssssss sounds. Swapped back in the SC IC's and all was well.

I like SC cables all most as much for what they don't do wrong, as for what they do right.

I did like H9's MIT speaker cable though I hope he buys a matching one before he moves on to better cables, because I need a matched set on my bi-amped Magnepans!

You know me Doug......I've had the same amp and pre since new 22 years ago. I really enjoyed all our gear shoot outs as I've had a few eye opners and a few confirming moments. When Ricardo started the MIT speaker cable demo program those took me to the next level. Not so much with the I/C's in the mix too. Signals are really a nice cable. Like EarlyB stated..........perhaps too much of a good thing with MIT T2's all the way around. Feel free to demo the MIT I/C's as they are currently in the "audio" cable drawer in a ziploc baggie.

You probably know this already but I see bi-wire pairs of MIT T2's on ebay or the 'gon all the time. What's holding you back?

H9

SCompRacer

I can identify with the need to know Brock. I have had a similar experience with MIT’s; fantastic with one setup, not so with another. As always, YMMV. That is why I never sell anything until I am sure. Glad to hear you got it back.

Exactly the reason I am a'feared to touch anything in my main 2 ch system! It sounds really good and I don't want to mess it up!

I saw a twilight zone episode about this...the guy could never get the synergy back with the original components...is that what you are afraid of?:D

heiney9

SCompRacer wrote: »

That is why I never sell anything until I am sure. Glad to hear you got it back.

Right........they aren't up FS yet and I'll give 'em another chance after I listen to the Signals for a couple three weeks. Then if they fail again back to the drawer; not big on flipping stuff.......but who knows!

Ricardo

heiney9 wrote: »

It all started with Ricardo

:eek::eek::eek::eek:

I only gave you the opportunity to demo some wires; what you do to your rig is all your fault

heiney9

Ricardo wrote: »

:eek::eek::eek::eek:

I only gave you the opportunity to demo some wires;

And I thank you sir! . I am really enjoying the T2 speaker cables I purchased. The T2 I/C's........that's a whole other can of worms.

H9

F1nut

Brock, the issue you are having with the MIT IC's is most likely due to an impedance mismatch. The T2 cables are set to a medium impedance. The newer MIT IC's have an adjustable impedance switch, low, med, high. Having the right impedance match really makes a difference.

Ricardo

There you go; you need to go buy some newer IC's.

dkg999

The answer is always to upgrade :eek:

SolidSqual

steveinaz wrote: »

You broke the number 1 rule of audio...if it ain't broke, don't fix it...OR...don't mess with success.

A'effin,men to that! God, I've learned this the hard way on several occasions. Ugh. I think I finally understand.

daboyz

Damn you people all to hell!!;) Now I'm worried about the IC's but all I can do is pop them in and see what happens. Glad my Signals didn't sell,even though they are in my HT and not 2 channel.

heiney9

F1nut wrote: »

Brock, the issue you are having with the MIT IC's is most likely due to an impedance mismatch. The T2 cables are set to a medium impedance. The newer MIT IC's have an adjustable impedance switch, low, med, high. Having the right impedance match really makes a difference.

Jesse, that makes sense. I'll start saving for the newer adjustable type. Maybe I can get in on the other part of the swap Ted is doing with Ricardo and try the MIT I/C he's passing around with Ricardo's speaker cables.

dkg999 wrote: »

The answer is always to upgrade :eek:

Ain't that the truth in this hobby

daboyz wrote: »

Damn you people all to hell!!;) Now I'm worried about the IC's but all I can do is pop them in and see what happens. Glad my Signals didn't sell,even though they are in my HT and not 2 channel.

Just try 'em out Dave and give them a fair shake. They might work quite nicely in *your* system. Nice thing about MIT's if you buy 'em right they tend to hold value. Plus, experimenting is the only way to know for sure.

Next up I'm trying them out in the office rig.

H9

steveinaz

I'm not saying not try new things, just give it some time before you decide to leave the new (insert item here) in the system.