Shot in the dark

kawizx9r
kawizx9r Posts: 5,150
edited November 2009 in 2 Channel Audio
Ok well, pretty soon Ben (concealor) will be shipping out a pair of AudioQuest Scarlet Vipers (Audio Advisor exclusive) so I can demo them and compare them to my Sidewinders.

He really liked them over the SW's, but not enough to keep them so I'll have a go at it and will post my own review.

I want to perform an A/B/C test though, so I'm wondering if anyone's got a pair of used IC's just laying around that I may borrow. Preferably I'd like to try out a pair of Ben's IC's, or a pair of AQ Copperheads or anything within that region or above/below in regards to MSRP. Other comparable brands are welcome as well as anything silver/silver plated. I don't wish to purchase the pair I borrow, but it'll make me feel better about purchasing the S.V.'s if they come out on top over the rest.

Let me know what you've got!

P.S. H9, I PM'd you and never got a PM (if you ever sent me one) regarding the karma you won!

-Freddy
Truck setup
Alpine 9856
Phoenix Gold RSD65CS

For Sale
Polk SR6500
Polk SR5250
Polk SR104


heiney9 wrote: »
Any clue how to use the internet? Found it in about 10 sec.
Post edited by kawizx9r on

Comments

  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited November 2009
    I'm interested in hearing your thoughts on this. I'm running Sidewinder IC's right now myself.

    I've got a pair of Ben's IC's and a pair of AQ Black Mamba IC's that you could try out. I've also got a pair of Belden 89259 IC's that are pretty nice.

    I'd be interested in doing some comparisons myself. Perhaps I could come up there and get my ears on your rig, and bring some cables along to compare.

    Are you just looking for a single pair of IC's, or two pairs for a source to pre to amp connection?
    The nirvana inducer-
    APC H10 Power Conditioner
    Marantz UD5005 universal player
    Parasound Halo P5 preamp
    Parasound HCA-1200II power amp
    PolkAudio LSi9's/PolkAudio SDA 2A's/PolkAudio Monitor 7A's
    Audioquest Speaker Cables and IC's
  • kawizx9r
    kawizx9r Posts: 5,150
    edited November 2009
    I'm interested in hearing your thoughts on this. I'm running Sidewinder IC's right now myself.

    I've got a pair of Ben's IC's and a pair of AQ Black Mamba IC's that you could try out. I've also got a pair of Belden 89259 IC's that are pretty nice.

    I'd be interested in doing some comparisons myself. Perhaps I could come up there and get my ears on your rig, and bring some cables along to compare.

    Door's always open to ya Curt, long as you don't bring in a hurricane or 3 behind you lol.

    They'll be shipped out to me either this weekend or the next, no rush. Paypals being stupid with him. I'm wanting to do this so I can find out what works better in my system and quite possibly in someone else's. Would hate to waste time and spend money when it isn't necessary by making 'lateral' moves as opposed to actually getting something better the first time around. Yes I know I can just go buy an even 'better-acclaimed' cable than those I've listed, but if I were to make such an upgrade I think I'd rather spend that extra cash on a better source or something else like power cables.

    1 pair will suffice, unless both pairs are of the same brand/type so it's fair. Otherwise whatever pair of IC's are switched out, the other pair (whether its the set between source and pre or pre and amp) will remain in place throughout the entire time.

    To add to that, I will be demoing 2 pairs of scarlet vipers against my 2 pairs of sidewinders.
    Truck setup
    Alpine 9856
    Phoenix Gold RSD65CS

    For Sale
    Polk SR6500
    Polk SR5250
    Polk SR104


    heiney9 wrote: »
    Any clue how to use the internet? Found it in about 10 sec.
  • concealer404
    concealer404 Posts: 7,440
    edited November 2009
    They'll be shipped out today, sir. :)

    I liked them enough to keep them over the Sidewinders, i'm just more worried about finding more sets. I'd need another 2 pairs later on down the road, and i can't use some of the sizes that i currently have. I can ALWAYS get sidewinders, so that's what i'm sticking with right now.
    I don't read the newsssspaperssss because dey aaaallllllllll...... have ugly print.

    Living Room: B&K Reference 5 S2 / Parasound HCA-1000A / Emotiva XDA-2 / Pioneer BDP-51FD / Paradigm 11se MKiii

    Desk: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / ISK HD9999

    Office: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / Dynaco SCA-80Q / Paradigm Legend V.3

    HT: Denon AVR-X3400H / Sony UBP-X700 / RT16 / CS350LS / RT7 / SVS PB1000
  • kawizx9r
    kawizx9r Posts: 5,150
    edited November 2009
    They'll be shipped out today, sir. :)

    I liked them enough to keep them over the Sidewinders, i'm just more worried about finding more sets. I'd need another 2 pairs later on down the road, and i can't use some of the sizes that i currently have. I can ALWAYS get sidewinders, so that's what i'm sticking with right now.

    Ah ok, you would just want all IC's to be the same then...got it!

    Anyone else?
    Truck setup
    Alpine 9856
    Phoenix Gold RSD65CS

    For Sale
    Polk SR6500
    Polk SR5250
    Polk SR104


    heiney9 wrote: »
    Any clue how to use the internet? Found it in about 10 sec.
  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited November 2009
    I can send you a pair of MIT that I'm not using right now.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
  • concealer404
    concealer404 Posts: 7,440
    edited November 2009
    kawizx9r wrote: »
    Ah ok, you would just want all IC's to be the same then...got it!

    Anyone else?

    Egg zachary! I'm anal retentive like that. Both cables sound pretty similar, the Scarlet Vipers are just... MORE.
    I don't read the newsssspaperssss because dey aaaallllllllll...... have ugly print.

    Living Room: B&K Reference 5 S2 / Parasound HCA-1000A / Emotiva XDA-2 / Pioneer BDP-51FD / Paradigm 11se MKiii

    Desk: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / ISK HD9999

    Office: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / Dynaco SCA-80Q / Paradigm Legend V.3

    HT: Denon AVR-X3400H / Sony UBP-X700 / RT16 / CS350LS / RT7 / SVS PB1000
  • kawizx9r
    kawizx9r Posts: 5,150
    edited November 2009
    dorokusai wrote: »
    I can send you a pair of MIT that I'm not using right now.

    Awesome Doro, I'll include those as well. Maybe Curt can come by so I can hear his thoughts on all the cables I'll be comparing.
    Egg zachary! I'm anal retentive like that. Both cables sound pretty similar, the Scarlet Vipers are just... MORE.

    I was too, especially when I had the HT rig going on....I didn't like the fact that I had signal cable (I) and audioquest (sidewinders) wires all over. I wanted to stick with what sounded better in my system, and those were the AQ's :D
    Truck setup
    Alpine 9856
    Phoenix Gold RSD65CS

    For Sale
    Polk SR6500
    Polk SR5250
    Polk SR104


    heiney9 wrote: »
    Any clue how to use the internet? Found it in about 10 sec.
  • kawizx9r
    kawizx9r Posts: 5,150
    edited November 2009
    Bump.

    Should get the Scarlet Vipers in on Monday. Again though anyone else?

    Mark, if you don't mind me borrowing those MITs you mentioned I'd like to demo them as well against the Sidewinders and S.V.'s. I'll be meeting up with Ben in about 2 weeks and with that I'll be taking some of my gear to his place, that way we can get another opinion on things :)
    Truck setup
    Alpine 9856
    Phoenix Gold RSD65CS

    For Sale
    Polk SR6500
    Polk SR5250
    Polk SR104


    heiney9 wrote: »
    Any clue how to use the internet? Found it in about 10 sec.