Kangei site itadaki arigatou gozaimasu!
It's hard to explain in English about that...
But these sentences are very likely.
・Lack of integration between highs and mids
・Attack like a thwack from a drum stick?
Power cable: AXIS-303 GX for DAC
(
https://oyaide.com/catalog/products/axis_303gx.html)
Using an attached cable for Amp.
Power Strip: Oyaide OCB1SXV2
I have another question, not about cables.
I bought MGT-805WD3, a SP stand. (
http://www.tiglon.jp/?p=233)
Some people put insulator between Speaker and stand.
But since Japan is the earthquake-prone country, I'll put insulator between stand and the floor.
And wrap the wire in the middle of the SP stand. (There is a picture rail on the ceiling.)
What do you think about my idea and tell me which is more effective?
Many thanks.
Dear Yamada,
1. All speaker cables will alter the sound in someway or the other.
2. I first recommend not using silver plated copper wire, especially with the Accuphase and B&W805 setup.
This is why I asked you about lack of integration of the highs and mids. So definitely the QED needs to go.
3. Cables tend to be thicker or thinner sounding. There are varying degrees of this. Cables like Cardas Golden cross were warm, thick sounding but slow. They were designed to compensate for CD's early days as well as the advent of the metal dome when players and tweeters tended to be brighter. On the other hand Nordost tends to be fast and lean and unless you go higher up in their series it will sound too light and sharp.
There are three points I am trying to make here:
1. Stick with one cable manufacturer, and preferably within the same series for your interconnects and speaker wire. That way you have synergy.
2. Remove your power cable and use a stock power cable on all components. This way you know for sure that your sound is not already strongly flavored by the power wire. Stock cables tend to be more noisy but also more neutral. So you are beginning with a neutral base. Like a clean canvas. I would remove the power strip as well and hookup directly to the wall outlet.
3. I would recommend sticking with Transparent Audio if you can afford their Super and Above series. Buy the best series that you can afford (IC and SP). This is because Transparent tends to be very neutral and the bass is very clean, well defined and full (not lacking). Some cables try and emphasize the bass and overdo it by making it wooly. I know that most of us drool over the cables available in Japan, but most of them are highly coloured. Some songs will sound beautiful where as others won't. Transparent cables being pretty neutral will not favour any particular genre and would infact allow your Accuphase to deliver its flavour to the speakers.
Once this is done you can then change the power cords to help with the noise floor. Once again try the Transparent power cables if possible. Add only one at a time. Too many high end power cables and you loose the rawness of music. It looses its primal quality and turns into a little cuddly bear.
The transparent cables will give you a clean sound with dense harmonics. It is not lush, warm, seductive.
If you are looking for a warm, lush, seductive sound with a golden hue, yet do not want to loose out too much on attack etc then consider the Nanotec line of cables with gold addtives. They have a lovely golden hue to the sound and complement your accuphase signature well.
I am not familiar with the acoustic revive cable so will not comment there, though some people have shared their positive experience with the same.
Nordost may not be a good match for the B&W tweeter.
Lastly please change your B&W links to ones that match your speaker cable.
Regarding your speaker stand.
What insulator have you put between the floor and stand? While this may affect the sound I feel that the speaker height would be more critical here. If I am not mistaken the B&W tweeter should be at your ear level. Even small deviations change the sound of this speaker. Hence I would focus on this parameter first. Maybe by adding an insulator you are taking the speaker too high.
Hope this helps.
