Super Lumina Speaker Cables (again)

Its horses for courses Badlands.

I borrowed SL speaker and IC cable to demo but I had already made up my mind I was going to go ahead before proceeding to the 2nd day.

That's what is so great about this passion of ours - there are no right or wrong answers, its all down to systems, their set up, the influence of the room, and personal preference.

But Im extremely happy with my choice, as Im sure we all are when we decide to go with one item or another.

CHRISH,

Yes, I agree with what you are saying, I believe most here had already made up their mind before even hearing the cable because of other influences that have nothing to do with the difference in sound.

As long as you are happy with your purchase, great, my own belief is you have to feel good about a purchase, especially one that requires a very lofty expense, personally I would need it to be more convincing that it is, TO MY EARS.

Is it easy to remove the blocks on the speaker end? The current position of the blocks is causing some stress on the connectors when I'm connecting them in a diagonal manner on the speaker end with biwire type terminals.

Laxton Yeo posted:

Is it easy to remove the blocks on the speaker end? The current position of the blocks is causing some stress on the connectors when I'm connecting them in a diagonal manner on the speaker end with biwire type terminals.

Yes. If you read this thread from the beginning you'll see that it's straightforward. Presumably, if it's empty at that end, there's no harm in leaving it off?

They are empty at the speakers end. The only tool needed is a hexagonal allen key.

Well Geoff and Pete at Acoustica are still considering why the home demo didn't deliver the results that we were all hoping for and I have spent the day playing the albums that the tracks came from during the demo yesterday. I had intended to just play the individual tracks but the system sound is so well balanced and so 'right' with great 'rhythmic flow' that I was compelled to listen to the entire album each time. Also having played a greater range and quantity of music since removing the cable ties etc. from the NACA5, I've come to realise that the improvements which I have experienced are far more than just subtle, which was my initial thought. In fact, as the day has progressed I am now left with the feeling that the system is just so right that it can't be improved in ultimate enjoyment terms which is probably due to true synergy between the system, the room and me and I'm a great believer in synergy. So under the circumstances and despite the attraction of the SL's which I thought would achieve more of what I already had, I think that I will probably forget about changing anything at all now, partly in fear of possibly losing some of that synergy and the fact that I just don't feel the need to! 

PS. The one thing I may consider at some point is the Rega Aphelion MC cartridge to replace my Apheta 2 but I'd want to hear it first and I think that would be quite difficult.

Goodnight to all, I think I'll have a vinyl day tomorrow!

Derek: i'm sorry that the new cables didn't work out, but i think you're right to trust your instincts. for the price, the cables should deliver an immediate, unequivocal uplift in sound.

if you still have an itch to spend some dough, how about a cheap streamer (a la Sonos) to connect to the nDac, so you can check out some Internet radio stations? it's one of the best moves i've ever made. 

and, you know, get some new vinyl and of course a new cartridge. maybe a Dynavector!

Derek C posted:

Well Geoff and Pete at Acoustica are still considering why the home demo didn't deliver the results that we were all hoping for 

As I said earlier, it ain't over till la grosse dame chante, so expect Geoff to be in touch......................usually with the correct solution, though it may well involve an exchange of a heap of Her Majesty's finest folding. 

It's all good.................and we do share one of the best, and better informed dealers.

Dave.

Yes Dave, I am looking forward to hearing Geoff's thoughts on the matter while grasping my (closed) wallet even more tightly than usual!

Seriously though, I must say that Geoff and Pete have 'looked after' me very well since moving to the area five years ago from West Sussex, during which time I have come to trust their well considered and realistic judgements. In fact as a testament to the quality of the dealership, when I attended the Naim event there late last year demonstrating the merits of the new DR versions of the power amps, I was surprised to meet a nice chap, who like me had been widowed prematurely, who'd travelled all the way up from Portsmouth just for the day because of his total faith in Acoustica, based on his previous experiences.

The other point I should mention of course is that if I do keep things as they are, this episode did lead me to a worthwhile upgrade anyway at no cost at all, which is very satisfying.  

Derek

We also share the same dealer and I share your views although my wife dreads any phone calls! I can't comment on SL speaker cable because having an active system, i have baulked at the cost. However, I am somewhat surprised that the source interconnect did not impress. I have to say that replacing my hi line with the SL cable was probably the best value for money upgrade I have made, the difference was immediate and not subtle.

Many thanks CAMLAN for your input, I know it does seem strange but I wonder whatever was going on with SL speaker cable was not allowing the SL IC to shine through as it should, somehow?

It's a thought. Why not try it on its own, I'm sure Geoff would oblige.

Hungryhalibut posted:

Finkfan posted:

If you get time [@mention:4804681823084713] whip off the block on the amp end and tell us what you find! 

I find this, in a 3m cable...

Well this certainly explains why the cable is priced at 3,500 USD / 3m.

After much deliberation and testing of the SL cables (used for the home demo) with other electronics and speaker combinations by Geoff and Pete back at base in Chester, the only conclusion they can draw is that my speakers (Linn Majik Isobariks) have reached their limit and the full performance of the Super Lumina cables exceed the MISO's capabilities. During the course of the conversation with Geoff over the phone I was thinking yes, that must be the reason but later, upon reflection, I'm not so sure that is the case because the MISO's have demonstrated quite vividly the improvements gained at each stage of my upgrade path including the difference between NAP300 and NAP300DR in late 2015, then of course, very recently, just removing the cable ties which had secured the NACA5 to the skirting boards.

Anyway, I then began to wonder whether there was anybody else on the forum who had experienced a similar scenario, particularly those who may also have the Linn Majik Isobariks.  

I would be surprised if you could "blame" the speakers - can we take it as read that they did not supply your speakers?

Derek C posted:

After much deliberation and testing of the SL cables (used for the home demo) with other electronics and speaker combinations by Geoff and Pete back at base in Chester, the only conclusion they can draw is that my speakers (Linn Majik Isobariks) have reached their limit and the full performance of the Super Lumina cables exceed the MISO's capabilities. During the course of the conversation with Geoff over the phone I was thinking yes, that must be the reason but later, upon reflection, I'm not so sure that is the case because the MISO's have demonstrated quite vividly the improvements gained at each stage of my upgrade path including the difference between NAP300 and NAP300DR in late 2015, then of course, very recently, just removing the cable ties which had secured the NACA5 to the skirting boards.

Anyway, I then began to wonder whether there was anybody else on the forum who had experienced a similar scenario, particularly those who may also have the Linn Majik Isobariks.  

Sounds like a load of rubbish to me. One forum member added SL cables to Neat Motive 2s and was convinced by the difference, so surely they are not saying that the Isobariks are less resolving than Motive 2s?

ALBA1320, based on my perceptions of the one demo at home few days ago, I wouldn't spend that sort of money on the cables. I say perceptions because looking back, I know that I didn't feel particularly relaxed or totally in the 'right' frame of mind on the day, which may have influenced my view and had I been alone, I probably would have thought that was definitely the case but Pete , who is very experienced was also not convinced by what he had heard.

You are right Chris, they didn't supply the speakers but haven't gone out of their way in tempting me to but alternatives. In fact Pete has always said he liked the sound of the MISO's whenever he's  been visiting my home. 

Hmmm. I'd be very sceptical about such a suggestion by your dealer.  If you are enjoying your system, even more so having untied the NACA5 you have, why not just carry on enjoying it, content in the knowledge that you have saved yourself several thousand pounds?   

MDS posted:

Hmmm. I'd be very sceptical about such a suggestion by your dealer.  If you are enjoying your system, even more so having untied the NACA5 you have, why not just carry on enjoying it, content in the knowledge that you have saved yourself several thousand pounds?   

+1 makes sense to me.

Yes MDS, which is more or less what I had been saying in previous posts earlier in the thread but I just find it all rather intriguing.

HH, I can't comment on that, I just don't know!

Derek,

I am certainly not going to doubt your findings with the SL speaker cables vs NACA5 and it is debatable whether or not your speakers are a limiting factor. Only considerably more faffing around could untangle that one and if you are happy with your speakers, why bother.

I took quite a long time over a home demo of the SL speaker cables with, I might say, a modest pair of speakers (MA GX300s) which I still use today. The only items I was comparing were the speaker cables - SL vs NACA5. The difference was clear to me and quite surprising as I had used NACA5 speaker cables for many years and had been very pleased with them. But in direct comparison to the SL, the NACA5s definitely added some thickening, is the only way I can describe it. The SLs were much more incisive and made more sense of the music with their added resolution. Of course some may not like the incisive nature of the SL speaker cables and indeed this trait could well upset the balance of a perfectly good system. You mess with synergy at your peril. One thing that might be worth mentioning is that I was already using the SL interconnect when I was demoing the SL speaker cables. Whether there is some SL synergy at work here, who can tell.

As others have mentioned, there are  one or two on here who clearly prefer the NACA5 speaker cables and the same people have criticised the SLs for a lack of timing in comparison to the NACA5s. So don't doubt your findings and think of all the dosh you have saved.

I still think you should borrow the wires for a fortnight and just see how it goes. You'll never decide in a couple of hours with a dealer breathing down your neck. 

Thanks Nigel for your input and I actually brought up  the subject of synergy in one of my earlier posts in this thread