Tír Na HiFi

tony wrote:The time has come to give back the heimdalls to Cloneys. They are too expensive for me to buy at this time. Interestingly I changed one speaker cable ( I dont know how sensible or scientific that is) to a transparent audio musicwave cable that I got from DaveF awhile ago. I don't think I can hear any significant difference. Will try and give them both a listen over the next day or so to be certain.I wonder when you either buy or try something expensive your mind convinces you it has to be better. In this case because they are too expensive my mind is working in the opposite direction. Hope to try some more cables over the next while before committing any dosh assuming there will still be funds available.

Very astute points Tony and to tell the truth I have to agree. IMO the only time you can really hear a difference is when the system is 'wrong' or not synergistic. Believe me that is the hardest but completely necessary part, getting the synergy right, I mean. When you do hear a difference/improvement this gives the impression that you've miraculously improved the sound. I've also found that it works in reverse too....In my experience I've only heard cable do something to the sound of my system twice since I first bit the hi fi bug almost 35 years ago; both made the system sound worse not better. I do envy people who have supposedly golden ears and sometimes wish I could hear the massive differences too. But I do wonder and an inward chuckle soon puts paid to that!

Hold your horses Dermot. I got my financial controller to listen to me cables. She identified the Nordost as giving a clearer more precise sound.
On careful listening I felt the same. Unfortunately our paths digressed when it came to the measurement or value of improvement generated by the skinny heimdalls. Annes measurement was in euro and maybe if the upgrade cost a few euro (€10) approval would have been reluctantly given. I continued the test in a vain hope of eliciting funds to upgrade me to the next level. Substituted the transparent audio for a nordost solar wind and it became very difficult to notice a difference. Yes there is a subtle difference. More detail,David Byrnes voice sounded kinda like Shelby Lynne(not really). But being serious for a moment the improvement was very minor to justify spending €1400-1700 on 3m's of cable.
Anyway search continues. I think if I just bought a decent pair of esl63 or 57's and a reasonable sized airtight amp with a jkdac I could run it with bell wire and it would sound fantastic.

What kind of a system have you got Tony and why the cable bug. I remember Cloney swearing by those Transparent Audio cables....and wives don't understand the law of diminishing returns as you well know :)

Answer: see your quote " I first bit the hi fi bug almost 35 years ago". Sensible option is to listen to what one has and not get too bogged down with looking for a magical improvement. But the male species always tinkers with toys. system is basic cyrus solid state 8xp and CD8Se with PSX-R power supplies. The spendors were voiced using cyrus gear according to various forum. I would assume it was higher end cyrus stuff.
Just trying out cables to see if they will give my average system that magical lift. I am very happy with the sound but I have the bug.
You are very right about synergy but having said that I definitely seem to like the nordost sound in cables. I have tried a few types and keep coming back to nordost solar winds. These were bought off ebay for around €150 and are circa 10yrs old. Used to be a 5m pair but thats another story

I'll drop around with my current speaker cables Thursday AM and we'll see what effect they have, if any. hHave the gaggia turned on. ;~)

Grand will have her fired up and ready. Look forward to trying thme. Anne will like them as they are the same colour as the fireplace!
Possibly invisible it wont matter how they sound. If there was only a way of putting the speakers behind the rads everything would be perfect

tony wrote:Grand will have her fired up and ready. Look forward to trying thme. Anne will like them as they are the same colour as the fireplace!
Possibly invisible it wont matter how they sound. If there was only a way of putting the speakers behind the rads everything would be perfect

That's very decent of Ivor! Have a great day and don't forget to report back :)

cybot wrote: That's very decent of Ivor! Have a great day and don't forget to report back :)

We actually live very near each other (as of recently), just a few minutes walk. If I wasn't so shop bound it would have happened sooner.

tony wrote:Answer: see your quote " I first bit the hi fi bug almost 35 years ago". Sensible option is to listen to what one has and not get too bogged down with looking for a magical improvement. But the male species always tinkers with toys. system is basic cyrus solid state 8xp and CD8Se with PSX-R power supplies. The spendors were voiced using cyrus gear according to various forum. I would assume it was higher end cyrus stuff.
Just trying out cables to see if they will give my average system that magical lift. I am very happy with the sound but I have the bug.
You are very right about synergy but having said that I definitely seem to like the nordost sound in cables. I have tried a few types and keep coming back to nordost solar winds. These were bought off ebay for around €150 and are circa 10yrs old. Used to be a 5m pair but thats another story

The main thing is to enjoy the journey, trust your ears and don't be misled by high prices. Oh, and trust Anne's judgement too :)

Ivor wrote:

cybot wrote: That's very decent of Ivor! Have a great day and don't forget to report back :)

We actually live very near each other (as of recently), just a few minutes walk. If I wasn't so shop bound it would have happened sooner.

Have a great day anyway....