Cables to match Jeff Rowland gear and Sophia 3 speakers

fredtam

This is what I am using :
Clear Audio Solution with Graham 2.0 tonearm with Helikon phono cartridge
Accuphase DP-77 CD/SACD
Bryston BDP-1 digital player
Jeff Rowland :
Aries DAC
Corus preamp
625 power amp
Wilson Audio Sophia 3
From DAC to preamp - using Cardas Clear (balanced)
From preamp to amp - using Crystal Standard (RCA)
From amp to speaker - using Crystal Standard

Planning to replace Crystal cables with either Cardas Clear interconnect and speaker cables or full set of Transparent Reference XL or MM2; don't think I can afford the OPUS. Or may be you guys have better suggestion.

Music : mostly classical, opera, chamber plus Chinese music and Cantonese opera as well.

Thanks.

spw2728

Hi Ching , here is my suggestion

From DAC to preamp - using Cardas Clear (balanced) - replace by Zero Gold Digital

From preamp to amp - using Crystal Standard (RCA) -  The 25 LE RCA -

Remarks : 25周年限量版跟“零”系列是同一水平的，无论是音质和技术属性都很相似，音质非常开扬和准确，背景极端宁静，细节极其丰富。


From amp to speaker - using Crystal Standard  - Replace by THE 0.8 / Omega class spk cable

The 0.8: 跟住就換左呢條0.8,  同The One 最主要有三樣野, 第一音場, 深好多. 第二細緻度都改善左, 令到整體聽起黎有貴氣. 第三就係個低頻, 量感十足, 不過就無The One個種飄逸,比較實在一d.

而家Omega class spk cable , 呢個除左有齊曬0.8同The One既野外, 每一種聲頻都比到一種既分析力高而精緻既質感, 而深度比起0.8更加利害, 足以反射一個好好既立體音場, 最靚係個低頻既層次感. 要爆有爆, 要潛有潛,當個低頻做得好, 整個音場就會覺得有種野氈住, 令到真實感大增, 一聽就會覺得係貴價器材既表現.

fredtam

spw2728 發表於 2012-8-23 04:08
Hi Ching , here is my suggestion

From DAC to preamp - using Cardas Clear (balanced) - replace by Ze ...

Thanks for your advice.
As I have never tried any cable from Tara Labs before, will have to explore further.
My concern is the price and it's not quite easy to access in New York here.
Besides, I would like to use balanced interconnect, is there a specific reason why you suggested RCA ?
Looking forward to your further advice.
Thanks.

racewong

fredtam 發表於 2012-8-23 04:49
Thanks for your advice.
As I have never tried any cable from Tara Labs before, will have to explor ...

我未玩過JR, 唔知係咪全平衡.

如果JR DESIGN係全平衡既話, 當然用BALANCE CABLE啦.

至於你想問既線材,

SOPHIA III SC - TRANSPARENT REFERENCE
PRE-POWER - TARALABS 0.8 or 25th, CARDAS CLEAR, TRANSPARENT REFERENCE, MIT MAGNUM MA等等. 都係一D比較適合用o係前去後既IC.

至於CDP-PRE, 就要睇你想改善咩肋.

wutsup

ching..  I have a similar setup as you, except CDP & Speaker
Burmester 061
JR Aries
JR corus
JR 625
B&W 803D

However, I use completely different cable (personal taste).

From CD to DAC, I used Absolue Creations Digital Cable (Flagship model) which is kind of under estimated due to the lack of advertisment maybe or it's just simply my taste.  I've tried it's 2nd bro PC against NBS black label I.  It gives enough power, even it's not as a big punch as NBS, but it's better than brand that I've tried.  It's strengths are : very good speed control, sound stage, and musical preformance.  Once you connected this PC, you will follow the music rythem by tapping your foot or shake your body.  This cables also been tested in the JR dealer showroom, which carry NBS and cardas, and we both have similar result.  This dealer borrowed me a NBS Omega 1 digital when i bought the DAC from him, and it can't compete with the Absolue creation as all in terms of balance, sound stage, noise, back ground darkness, and SPEED.

From DAC to Pre, I use siltech empress XLR.  I feel burmester and JR already provide very clear and high resolultion, I would like to add more musical and creamy feeling.  Nothing more to discuss about siltech as it gives good balance in all area and also a "fantasy" feeling.

From Pre to power, I use Argento FMR XLR.  A brand that I love so much due to its mid-high range preformance.  Also a very silky smooth and creamy character it provided.  Again, it's more about the personal taste because I don't want HD HD and HD.

SC I used FMR as well.  As racewong ching mentioned in other post, I've used bi-wire Kondo compare with this FMR, and I chose this FMR cable.  Not only the speed, resolution, and sound stage, it gives you an atmosphere to enjoy the music.  Kondo is very good SC, but I think it's not as good as FMR in each area except resolution and it's PRICE!!!  A very good value with this price indeed.

wutsup

racewong 發表於 2012-8-23 09:35
我未玩過JR, 唔知係咪全平衡.

如果JR DESIGN係全平衡既話, 當然用BALANCE CABLE啦.

by the way, JR dealer suggest to use XLR!!!

wutsup

I've also tried cardas clear, it's lack of speed and sound abit dull even it's very musical warm.  Good sound stage but "wide mouth" and not transparant enough.

fredtam

racewong 發表於 2012-8-23 09:35
我未玩過JR, 唔知係咪全平衡.

如果JR DESIGN係全平衡既話, 當然用BALANCE CABLE啦.

Thanks Racewong.
Transparent SC was highly recommended by the Sophia 3 dealer in NYC here as they use that all almost all gear they carry including Lamm, VTL, ... except Spectral. But they do not carry JR. Will borrow a pair from them and plus the fact that Transparent offers free upgrade after purchase.
While for Crystal Standard cables - both interconnect and SC, I had been using them for a few years and I am looking for upgrading all of them within my means.
FYI, from CDP to pre, pre to amp, all Crystal Standard for the time being.
From digital player to DAC, I am using Stereolab - Tron digial with BNC connector, I am very satisfied so far and most of my friends here in NJ use this one. While from DAC to pre - I am using Cardas clear XLR as this is a safe choice and not too expensive and recommended by the dealer as the starting point and this is my first pair of XLR IC.
As my room is only abut 140 sq. ft., (10.5 x 13.5) bass is more than enough right now, would like to control the brightness of digial source as I do not have problem play vinyl.
I am ok with sound stage and sharpness for the time being, as I am using the showroom at NYC of Sophia as the standard.
Thank you and looking forward to your further thought.

fredtam

wutsup 發表於 2012-8-23 17:36
ching..  I have a similar setup as you, except CDP & Speaker
Burmester 061
JR Aries

Thanks for your insight wutsup.
I do realize the characteristic of Cardas Cable and will explore your suggestion except NBS is a bit too expensive for me plus the fact that it's very difficult to access here since not too many dealers carry this brand in US ?!

racewong

fredtam 發表於 2012-8-23 21:31
Thanks for your insight wutsup.
I do realize the characteristic of Cardas Cable and will explore y ...

HI FRED, 我都好同意wutsup兄對cardas既評語!

在我的印像中, CARDAS CLEAR比較適合配搭偏薄聲的組合.

我的意見是, 用CARDAS CLEAR插前去後, 喇叭線就一定係TRANSPARENT, 至於DAC TO PRE的接線, 留代最後決定, 以作調聲之用.

racewong

wutsup 發表於 2012-8-23 17:40
I've also tried cardas clear, it's lack of speed and sound abit dull even it's very musical warm.  G ...

我很贊同, WUTSUP兄對CARDAS CLEAR的聽感, 與我相同!

fredtam

racewong 發表於 2012-8-24 00:20
HI FRED, 我都好同意wutsup兄對cardas既評語!

在我的印像中, CARDAS CLEAR比較適合配搭偏薄聲的組合.

Thanks RaceWong,
My game plan is to change SC first to see what happen, as I only have 2 pairs of XLR IC, both of them are Cardas Clear (from Dac to pre; and from pre to power), and I wish to have all XLR connection between all JR gears, I will do one thing at a time then. Will seriously consider your advice.
Thanks.

racewong

fredtam 發表於 2012-8-24 01:25
Thanks RaceWong,
My game plan is to change SC first to see what happen, as I only have 2 pairs of  ...

Hi Fred, 記得update 開相文呀!!

fredtam

Dear Race,
Will update you and everyone with photo once I get everything settled.

racewong

fredtam 發表於 2012-8-28 02:41
Dear Race,
Will update you and everyone with photo once I get everything settled.

藤原拓海

Accuphase fans
You are welcome, nice to meet you

fredtam

藤原拓海 發表於 2012-8-28 11:45
Accuphase fans
You are welcome, nice to meet you

Thanks for your warm welcome.
I had the DP-77 for more than 7 years and right now, I am using that as the transport to Aries for CD, with the exception of playing SACD. By the way, would you happen to know if I can exact the SACD track signal and feed it to the DAC I have ?
Thanks.

藤原拓海

fredtam 發表於 2012-8-29 07:03
Thanks for your warm welcome.
I had the DP-77 for more than 7 years and right now, I am using that ...

The DSD file may not direct play on your DAC, I think need to convert to 24/88.2 or other PCM format,
I am not fully understand your meaning, is it the point I answer?

fredtam

藤原拓海 發表於 2012-8-29 09:21
The DSD file may not direct play on your DAC, I think need to convert to 24/88.2 or other PCM form ...

Dear Sir,
Thanks for your reply.
From the website of Audirvana Plus, they claimed they could decode DSD file, I just wonder if there is a way I can extract SACD's DSD file, it may be the way to go.
Any suggestion how I can do this as my DP-77 can play SACD, or if I need a computer to do so, I will try but don't know how ?
Thanks.

藤原拓海

fredtam 發表於 2012-8-29 21:51
Dear Sir,
Thanks for your reply.
From the website of Audirvana Plus, they claimed they could decod ...

The only way to rip sacd is using ps3 with version3.55 or lower,
You can read the following link to get more information,
or search "rip sacd" in gxxgle.
http://www.hiendy.com/hififorum/ ... &extra=page%3D1