Chord Music in da House

Chris Dolan posted:

Nice to see that the Music has now lost the DIN locking ring. An upgrade to Music is probably inevitable at some point but I am very happy with my SSA  

Chris,

It's also nice to see that the new Sarum has lost the DIN locking rings  

Kudos seems to be a bright speaker too  maybe that's why some like chord cables more than the Naim cables ?

Or maybe because they are better. To some of us. 

Kudos bright? No. 

//Jonas

Chord Music should be better than Superlumina - as it cost double the price.

Don't you think so Jonas?

But at the same time, I'm not hearing Chord Sarum as better than Superlumina, it is different, sounds sweeter, but loses some of the Naim sound. Nice, sure, but different. 

rjstaines posted:

 

Good old Super Lumia still has it's place, of course, between an LP12 / Urika and the 552... well there's just no way you're going to get one of those massive Chords into that plinth base and round the corner to the Urika, is there?

Roger

There is absolutely no problem getting a Chord Music into the LP12 Plinth and then into the Urika.  I have been running one for more than a year and, by coincidence, a certain Mr Swain is at my house as we speak substituting the new collarless DIN version.

The collarless version is an upgrade over the previous one imho.  I found that out last year when one went in between my 552 and KDS.  That is why Mr Swain is back over this year swapping out the one I use for the LP12/Urika.

I have been though all versions of Sarum since inception - MUSIC is end game imho.  No need to go any further.

Gregg

rjstaines posted:

Good old Super Lumia still has it's place, of course, between an LP12 / Urika and the 552... well there's just no way you're going to get one of those massive Chords into that plinth base and round the corner to the Urika, is there? 

Roger - I have a Chord Sarum Super ARAY phono to DIN on my Urika to 552, and that is where my first ChordMusic will go - if I get one. 

Polarbear posted:

I am watching with interest as I have Music IC between my 555 and 552.

Hello Nigel

Long time no hear - Peter told me things are well with you.

MUSIC IC for Mr Bear?  I thought you were always a Touraj man?

Best

Gregg

glevethan posted:

I have been though all versions of Sarum since inception - MUSIC is end game imho.  No need to go any further.

Gregg

Famous last words there Gregg! 

"...But at the same time, I'm not hearing Chord Sarum as better than Superlumina, it is different, sounds sweeter, but loses some of the Naim sound. Nice, sure, but different."

There can be no doubt that how these various cables' performance is perceived is largely down to system differences. I've been kind so far about my experience with SL, but in my system it really sounded poor. It can't just be down to personal preference.

Most likely right Tony - I am probably just passing time until the next version comes around!

I will say though that I do appreciate Chords approach which is quite similar to Linn's.  As each new version of Sarum came out one was able to send their cable back to the factory for upgrade.  A very nice way to enjoy the ride up to MUSIC (nirvana)

Gregg

tonym posted:

glevethan posted:

I have been though all versions of Sarum since inception - MUSIC is end game imho.  No need to go any further.

Gregg

Famous last words there Gregg! 

"...But at the same time, I'm not hearing Chord Sarum as better than Superlumina, it is different, sounds sweeter, but loses some of the Naim sound. Nice, sure, but different."

There can be no doubt that how these various cables' performance is perceived is largely down to system differences. I've been kind so far about my experience with SL, but in my system it really sounded poor. It can't just be down to personal preference.

 

I'm glad to read this, Tonym -  when I was considering an upgrade to the interconnects between the 552 and the 500 I was listening to the standard 'as supplied' cables, superlumia and sarum super array.  At that time S/L was being hailed as the dogs thingys by just about everyone posting their findings - nothing I read seemed to agree with what I was hearing... the S/L performance was almost dismal !   and for sure, the SSA was audibly far superior, which is why it now sits between my 552 & 500 and S/L doesn't.   So it's reassuring to hear your assessment of S/L in this context as 'really poor';  I thought it was just me losing my marbles, so I don't think I posted anything 'controversial' at the time, in hindsight I should have put my head above the parapit  (after all,  the forum members use rubber bullits, not real ones, don't they?).

Interestingly, my dealer seemed somewhat non-committal when I described what I'd heard as I returned the S/L to him and keept the SSA, but then he doesn't keep a 552/500 dem in store, so wouldn't have done the comparison I'd just completed.     One thing is for sure though, over the past two or three years his enthisiasm for top-end Chord cables has grown (despite the margins being 'very poor indeed')  

To these ears Music is better also. As they should be for that insane price. 

Not sure why/what we are discussing right now...

//Jonas

The most recent comparison that I do was ChordMusic v Sarum T. Sadly slumming with an Ekos SE It was done on a top down basis and I seriously thought the Sarum T was "broken". 

We had to listen to Linn Silvers and then Sarum T for me to appreciate again how good the Sarum T is. 

The ChordMusic whips its ass  

Was this interconnects Chris?

I recall you were testing mains cables too ?

Jonas Olofsson posted:

To these ears Music is better also. As they should be for that insane price. 

Not sure why/what we are discussing right now...

//Jonas

I thought it was to do with Chord Music and Naim SuperLumia interconnects in an attempt to give Chris Bell some inspiration.  

The fact that I introduced the relative generosity of the dealer margins offered by both suppliers and hinted at the potential for this to influence a dealer's recommendation, or not, depending upon his commitment to his customers verses his commitment to profit, was a distraction for which I profusely apologise.

analogmusic posted:

Was this interconnects Chris?

I recall you were testing mains cables too ?

Yes. Sorry not to be clear. It was phono to DIN from Urika to 552 - using two SE spec LP12s. 

I have a Sarum T power cable on my Linn Klimax Radikal. I have not compared the Music and Sarum T power cables - yet  

tonym posted:

glevethan posted:

I have been though all versions of Sarum since inception - MUSIC is end game imho.  No need to go any further.

Gregg

Famous last words there Gregg! 

"...But at the same time, I'm not hearing Chord Sarum as better than Superlumina, it is different, sounds sweeter, but loses some of the Naim sound. Nice, sure, but different."

There can be no doubt that how these various cables' performance is perceived is largely down to system differences. I've been kind so far about my experience with SL, but in my system it really sounded poor. It can't just be down to personal preference.

 

Well, said tonym, System Dependant!

Example:

If one Ears is receiving the final signal from a pair DBLs or Briks, Bass may not be a problem!

That is just one from many examples, that can arise, when examining Naca A5,  SL, Vertere, or Chord!

Not to critique or criticize, but check out the following exchange from the Forum:

Cable Threads are quite popular these days!

Mr.X

Mr. X

<snip>

many cables will open up the resolution but the real trick is do this while keeping the engagement of Naca5

Strangely enough that's just what I find that DNM Resolution does; however, to me, it appears very bass light compared to most other cables (including NAC A5).
(Which isn't at all a problem for me, as I use a sub.)

Here are my thoughts: 

Comparing two thoroughbred interconnects is much like comparing a Mercedes AMG GT to a Porsche 911 Turbo.  Sure, both are engineered to perform to the limits, but any head-to-head comparison will reveal subtle differences.  The same can be said for these two interconnects.  The current standard is the Naim Super Lumina, designed primarily for the Statement system but works well in Classic reference systems as well.  I was pretty much blown over when I compared the SL to the Chord Sarum Tuned Array IC, which on it’s own was much better than the Naim Hi-Line. The SL has tremendous power, resolution and energy behind it.  The Sarum was boring by comparison, same for the Sarum T and Super Array... they were “nice” but the Super Lumina dominated in a not so subtle way.

Enter Chord Music.  I did not want to like this cable.  I figured it would be a little better than the Super Array.  Nope… it’s a reference on it’s own. It has all the pleasantries of previous Chord cables, but with delightful sweetness and layers and layers of resolution.  The bass is “fat” without being tubby or overblown.  I get why they called it “Music” as sound just flows through it in an easy going way.  There’s no harshness, nothing to distract from the performance.  It has an engaging sound  to while checking all of the “boxes” we expect an expensive cable to do.

The Super Lumina is no slouch, the bass is deep and taut, the high frequencies are well sorted out.  It is an exceptionally good sounding cable and had I not heard the Chord Music I’d be singing it’s praises.  A friend who owns a nearly duplicate system to mine also preferred the Chord after an A-B test. 

So there you go, Chord Music lives up the hype and price tag. 

Very well put Chris, Looks like you an Jonas, is on the same wavelength.

No surprise, similar Systems, but if I'm not mistaken! 

Chord is a bit more expensive, than SL!

Enjoy your Music!

Parris Island, I never been, my cousin says it nice!

Allante93!

PS. If I come into a windfall, The Music Loom!

Parris Island is in South Carolina.  I live in Washington State... other side of the country.   :-) 

Chris does the Chord music have the explosive dynamics of the Superlumina?

analogmusic posted:

Chris does the Chord music have the explosive dynamics of the Superlumina?

Wow -  different people, different systems, different perceptions

Are you using a NAC282?

Yes 

analogmusic posted:

Chris does the Chord music have the explosive dynamics of the Superlumina?

 

How can a cable have "explosive dynamics" analoguemusic ?

That's how Chris bell described superlumina compared the Sarum t which sounds "nice"

Muttonjef posted:

analogmusic posted:

Chris does the Chord music have the explosive dynamics of the Superlumina?

 

How can a cable have "explosive dynamics" analoguemusic ?

 

 

 

Indeed.  I think we're getting a bit carried away here