interconnect upgrade

holt
holt Posts: 131
edited February 2010 in Electronics
I'm venturing out into the area of interconnects for my components - changing out the Radio Shack stuff.... I'm starting with the source and the amp and decided to try Signal Cable Analog Two's since I read one word here to describe them as being "warm". I certainly don't suffer any illusions that any higher priced cables would make a difference with what I got, but I'm curious to see what these do in my system and they don't break the bank. Right now, my lsi15's have settled in and have opened up with more detail, deepening in the sound stage. The bass has become more pronounced, but as has been mentioned here many times, is not as tight or accurate as I would care for... It does have the "boom". I do have them on Dayton spikes (which was a pain since the thread patterns didn't match and I was not about to drill through the bases of my new speakers to install them - I ended up taking the threaded cone tips and inserting them in as far as the thread pattern would allow and then placing the felt backed silver discs underneath the points. They feel anchored on the floor now). For two channel listening though, I am very happy with these speakers. And HT has never sounded better with the lsic in the front.

Anyway, I'll start with these cables next week. If I hear a difference, then I'll upgrade the PC to the amp, then to the cd player, and finally, I'll try the speaker wires. I want to hear what, if any, difference I'll hear with each change out and keep it all the same cable.
Pioneer vsx-9130txh-k
Anthem Pre2L SE
Marantz cd5003
Proceed amp 3
Sherwood Newcastle A-965
Signal ll IC's
Polk lsi-15s
Polk lsic
PSW505
Polk Monitor 30 surrounds side and back
PS3 with modified 500 gig hd
Samsung ln52a650
Post edited by holt on
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Comments

  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited February 2010
    Good stuff holt. You may want to consider replacing the PC on the source first as you will realize more of an improvement there as opposed to the amp. The PC will help the amp out but you won't hear as much of a difference in the noise floor reduction as you will with the source.
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  • mdaudioguy
    mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
    edited February 2010
    I've read some good reviews on your amp and brightness or harshness wasn't mentioned. It's usually not an issue with the LSis either, AFAIK. Just curious why you think you want to add warmth. You ain't heard nothin' needin' warmth till you heard an RTi! ;)
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,103
    edited February 2010
    hearingimpared wrote: »
    Good stuff holt. You may want to consider replacing the PC on the source first as you will realize more of an improvement there as opposed to the amp. The PC will help the amp out but you won't hear as much of a difference in the noise floor reduction as you will with the source.

    How true Joe. Always start at the source vs the amp for any cable upgrades. Everything starts uphill & runs down. The better the start, the better the finish.
    "2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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  • holt
    holt Posts: 131
    edited February 2010
    hearingimpared wrote: »
    Good stuff holt. You may want to consider replacing the PC on the source first as you will realize more of an improvement there as opposed to the amp. The PC will help the amp out but you won't hear as much of a difference in the noise floor reduction as you will with the source.

    Thanks for the suggestion, I will try that. I had read that that was the case and I want to see what each addition does to the sound with time to allow it to burn in.
    Pioneer vsx-9130txh-k
    Anthem Pre2L SE
    Marantz cd5003
    Proceed amp 3
    Sherwood Newcastle A-965
    Signal ll IC's
    Polk lsi-15s
    Polk lsic
    PSW505
    Polk Monitor 30 surrounds side and back
    PS3 with modified 500 gig hd
    Samsung ln52a650
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  • holt
    holt Posts: 131
    edited February 2010
    mdaudioguy wrote: »
    I've read some good reviews on your amp and brightness or harshness wasn't mentioned. It's usually not an issue with the LSis either, AFAIK. Just curious why you think you want to add warmth. You ain't heard nothin' needin' warmth till you heard an RTi! ;)

    You're right, brightness and harshness have definitely not been an issue at all with this amp from my perspective.... I can listen to music for hours without a hint of fatigue. I have been very happy with the combination of it with these speakers.... Each day I listen to them something else unfolds in listening. Being that I'm a novice at this, is there such a thing as adding too much "warmth" to the mix for music?

    That being said, I do want to eventually try other amps (when funds permit) since I haven't experienced what other components offer, but really, I can't find a whole lot to complain about this amp. I know there is better; I would eventually like to try a Sunfire or Aragon out on the Lsi's.
    Pioneer vsx-9130txh-k
    Anthem Pre2L SE
    Marantz cd5003
    Proceed amp 3
    Sherwood Newcastle A-965
    Signal ll IC's
    Polk lsi-15s
    Polk lsic
    PSW505
    Polk Monitor 30 surrounds side and back
    PS3 with modified 500 gig hd
    Samsung ln52a650
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  • mdaudioguy
    mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
    edited February 2010
    holt wrote: »
    You're right, brightness and harshness have definitely not been an issue at all with this amp from my perspective.... I can listen to music for hours without a hint of fatigue. I have been very happy with the combination of it with these speakers.... Each day I listen to them something else unfolds in listening. Being that I'm a novice at this, is there such a thing as adding too much "warmth" to the mix for music?

    That being said, I do want to eventually try other amps (when funds permit) since I haven't experienced what other components offer, but really, I can't find a whole lot to complain about this amp. I know there is better; I would eventually like to try a Sunfire or Aragon out on the Lsi's.

    As I see it, it's always personal preference that matters most. Like it warm? Like it bright? No matter. I'm anxiously awaiting my first cabling upgrade too. The addition of an amp tamed and cleaned up my sound considerably. We'll see what some better ICs do. Looking forward to your impressions as you work through your upgrades. Good luck! :)
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited February 2010
    mdaudioguy wrote: »
    As I see it, it's always personal preference that matters most. Like it warm? Like it bright? No matter. I'm anxiously awaiting my first cabling upgrade too. The addition of an amp tamed and cleaned up my sound considerably. We'll see what some better ICs do. Looking forward to your impressions as you work through your upgrades. Good luck! :)

    Don't forget to post your impressions of your cable upgrades, good or bad.:)
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  • Hawkeye
    Hawkeye Posts: 1,313
    edited February 2010
    Ed, they should be there Tuesday. Went out in the mail on Saturday.

    Gordon
    2 Channel -
    Martin Logan Spire, 2 JL Audio F112 subs
    McIntosh C1000 Controller with Tube pre amp, 2 MC501 amplifiers, MD1K Transport & DAC, MR-88 Tuner
    WireWorld Eclipse 6.0 speaker wire and jumpers, Eclipse 5^2 Squared Balanced IC's. Silver Eclipse PCs (5)
    Symposium Rollerblocks 2+ (16)Black Diamond Racing Mk 3 pits (8)
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  • mdaudioguy
    mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
    edited February 2010
    Hawkeye wrote: »
    Ed, they should be there Tuesday. Went out in the mail on Saturday.

    Gordon

    Yay!!:D
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