MIT CVT-1 Cable Demo/Review Round 3

[cstmar01]

Got the cables today and wow these are fun! So happy I tried this out!!!

[Toolfan66]

Enjoy!! they are a great cables..

[cstmar01]

Yep I love them prob moving back to MIT shortly after this demo wow

[Toolfan66]

My short review of these wonderful cables. as I stated above I started with just swaping out the speaker cables I really didn't expect much since I have the shotgun 3's and I was shocked at the wider soundstage and seperation in depth with the instruments.

As i integrated the interconnects I started from my pre to my amp then I integrated the other set from my source to my pre. I really didn't hear any improvement like I did with just the speaker cables. as I stated before I already run a full set of S3's.

Not sure why I experienced such a change with just the speaker cables but this demo did get me to upgrade my S3 speaker cables to the S1's that I am running now..

Thanks Jesse,and MIT for letting us do this demo..

Larry.

[cstmar01]

getting these packed up and will have shipped out tomorrow to the next in line. Sad to see them go however as they were my fav. I will write up the review tonight or tomorrow and post it.

Thanks again to Jesse and everyone who made this possible. Got me back on the MIT train and will be my next upgrade.

[F1nut]

Update:

engtaz asked to be removed, too busy with work.

dbaldus asked to be moved down the list a few spots.

[cstmar01]

So I'm going a pro writter or anything. But here is my impressions with the demo. First I think a big thank you to Jesse and MIT for putting this demo together for us is needed as we wouldn't be able to do this without them.

My list of gear I used on these cables while I had them:
Speakers
-Thiel CS2
-Polk SDA SRS's
-Carver Amazing Silvers

Amps
-Adcom 5802
-Parasound HCA2200

Pre amp
-Adcom GFP750

Sources
-Esoteric DV50
-Pioneer BDP05FD
-Music Hall 2.2LE Turntable with Dynavector phono pre
-Pioneer DV58AV

Other cables
-Signal Cable Ultra Speaker Cables
-Cardas Crosslink Speaker cables with silver bananas
-Nordost IC's Red Dawn XLR's thru out the whole 2 channel system
-Audioquest Rockefeller DBS speaker cables

These are not my first MIT's, I started off with the EXP3's that I got for speakers cables and used them in my HT rig at the time. I ended up selling them due to the cable's pigtails not being long enough to reach from the negative to positive terminals on my amp at the time. Before the Nordost in my main 2 channel I have the T2's with the AVT IC's.

When I first got the cables I powered up my rig with the normal cables I was using. For awhile I had really liked the sound I was getting and didn't think I could do much more. I then turned off everything and swaped the MIT's in.

First off it wasn't a little difference for me but a very large and noticable difference. I felt that there was better seperation around each instrument and that I could pin point thing easier throughout the songs. Example was one of the first songs I listened to by a band called She Wants Revenge. I use this CD as there is a lot of deep bass and strong kick drum passages thru the album. When the track played all I could hear was how crisp and noticable was a high hat. It acutally annoyed me a little because I had never focused in on it this much but it was there, clear as day just waiting for me to touch it.

The center image improved with the cables. I felt that there was a more 3D soundstage and that it went back farther. However I did feel that it didn't expand as far past the speakers before in terms from the left to right soundstage. Things tightened up which I wasn't used to at first. Bass also wasn't as boomy but also tightened and was still there but was far more natural. At first I didn't know if I liked the soundstage being smaller on the sides as much as I was use to having a large soundstage but it less focused. After listening to a few other CD's Miles Davis, and some other favs I found myself liking the better focus over expanded soundstage as it felt more nautral when listening.

I did find the cables to be brighter in nature compared to the T2 and AVT's I had. I don't mean brigher as ear bleeding but more detailed. The Nordost tend to be on the brighter side as well but I think the MIT's are more neutral and gave a better experience.

Overall I will be changing back to MIT after this demo. I loved what they did for my system and how they tighted things up for me. These are some very nice cables that offer a lot in terms of getting everything out of your system and can stay in a system for a long time to come.

[cstmar01]

Speakers are shipped via ups to the next in line. Jesse I will shoot you the tracking number when I get a chance today or tomorrow.

[cstmar01]

cables should arrive in about 2 days! hope you enjoy them as much as I did!

[doctor r]

Cables have arrived. Look forward to spending some time with them this week.

[thsmith]

Found this link on facebook, too funny. This demo has gone viral.

[BlueFox]

Has anybody had an epiphany with this demo, and went "Cables do make a difference!"? Has anyone shelled out money and have bought some cables after the demo?

Not that it matters, but I am curious. After all, MIT is doing this to sell cables, along with the side-effect of getting good PR at CP and elsewhere.

I did not participate in this trial since I already bought MIT cables based solely on the opinion of individuals on this forum, and I know they work. Politically, I have a hard time understanding some here, but their audio opinion, so far, is impeccable. So, I have bought MIT interconnects, Shotgun S1.3 XLR, for the two-channel gear, and CVT Terminator 1, RCA cables for the HT gear, along with an MIT Magnum digital cable for my iPod dock. Each and every cable was a very positive improvement.

So, if you are on the fence about upgrading cables then don't be. Do it, and enjoy your selves.

Anyway, I hope at least some participant end up with better cables in their system from this trial, or at least realize cables can make an obvious difference.

[doctor r]

The cables have moved on towards the next reviewer. This was a great experience and I would like to thank MIT and Jesse for making this possible for all of us. I will post my review shortly.

[doctor r]

Here are my thoughts on the MIT CVT1 cables that I had the privilege to use in my system. Again thanks to MIT for making these available and to Jesse for undertaking the thankless job of coordinating this project.

Attachment 60824

[engtaz]

Nice review. Thank you.

[Toolfan66]

Very nice reveiw Doctor!!

[blueboxer]

Cables arrived yesterday afternoon, after being up for 20 hrs straight I spend the rest of the day in and out of sleep, but will be unboxing and setting everything up this afternoon. :0)

[F1nut]

Update:

There will be a slight break in the demo program.

I need to see a review from bikerboy very soon.

dbaldus has been moved down the list again.

indyhawg has been added to the list. His name will appear the next time I update the chart.

[bikerboy]

The CVT review

I want to thank Jesse and MIT for allowing us to have this demo available to us. MIT cables have a great rep and woulnt think about buying them anytime soon. I was happy with the thought I had zero obligation to buy them. I am not one to buy cables ect. with the intention of returning them. Too much guilt in a “free” demo. They are already burned in for you too. No waiting days for things to settle in. So this was a refreshingly easy way for me to explore new gear.

The gear I used for the demo period changed because just a couple of months ago I got Forte preamp from Zingo that uses balanced xlr cables. So I switched back to the DIY LDR preamp to take advantage of the demo rca IC. I also had a problem with my dac and had to use an older one until the last day of the demo. But it all came together on the last day when I finished the new TPA Buffalo III dac kit and was able to really appreciate the quality of sound these cables are able to covey.

I used all 3 cable sets together to get the whole CVT experience. I thought of using just the ICs or just the speaker cables but didn’t due to working on getting the TPA dac kit up and running. I listened to Bettye Lavette-The Scene of the Crime for the dreaded siblence and all is well. The lady can belt it out so it gives me a good gauge of the level of SSSS in a recording. There are many good songs on this cd to test a system. Lots of ambiance and guitars. Muscle Shoals Sound Studios did a great job on this one. The other cd I like to hear is LCD Soundsystem-London Sessions. Great PraT, sda effects and general recording quality.

I found the CVT cables made all my favorite music sound better. I have always liked a system with great resolution but it can become tiring if excessive. Sibilance raises its ugly head to ruin the party. With the MIT cables sibilance is tamed. Bettye sounds beautiful. The cymbles are more subdued but still have great tone. Just didn’t sustain as much as the current setup. As a result you can hear though the cymble and hear other sounds very easily. The MIT cables allowed the mid and lower bass notes to have more impact. Bass control and detail was outstanding. Very enjoyable sound these cables pass.

I currently am using a set of old MIT Terminator 2 speaker cables. For rcas I use one pair of MIT Terminator2 and set of diy solid silver wire with siver Eichmann plugs. The demo MITs had better bass and the top end more listenable and refined. Guitars have a feel that wasn’t there before. More punch or impact. Placement of sounds seemed more exact and separate from adjacent sounds. A little reserved it but grows on you the longer you listen. I wish I had another week with them but that’s how it goes. Thanks to Jesse for sheparding these cables around. It wouldn’t happen without you.
Cables do make a difference, if you let them.

[F1nut]

Ask and ye shall receive.....gotta love it.

[engtaz]

Nice review. Thanks

[gavn8r]

Hello everyone,

One of the cables in this demo has become damaged, and is being shipped back to the factory as I write this. We will quickly repair the cable and send it back out. We'll try to not hold this up any longer than it has been already.

Best,

Gavin

[deseroner]

put me on the demo list.

[F1nut]

Update:

The cables are still at MIT as there was a mix up of sorts. They will be back in action very soon.

[tonyb]

Hey Jess, or anyone else for that matter, can you post the hiarchy of MIT cables. Looking around for used cables, I'm not sure whats a good deal or not because they have so many lines, new and old. Thanks in advance.

[engtaz]

Hey Jess, or anyone else for that matter, can you post the hiarchy of MIT cables. Looking around for used cables, I'm not sure whats a good deal or not because they have so many lines, new and old. Thanks in advance.

Good question

[F1nut]

Tony and Roy,

I know some of it, but not all. If you have a specific question I can probably help. Otherwise for a complete list I suggest you contact Gavin.

Jesse

[tonyb]

How about the newer lines Jess, AVT,CVT, S1,2 AND 3, versions 1,2,3, and so forth.

[falconcry72]

Here's pricing info off the website, in order of price. Their website makes it a little difficult to compare all the lines since they separate "available in stores" and "available online". Generally, the hierarchy is as follows: EXp, AVt, CVT, Shotgun, Magnum, Oracle. 3 is entry level within a line, 2 is mid, 1 is top, unless there's an MA, then MA is top. Note that the different lines can overlap in price, where the best model in a certain line will cost more than the worst model in the next line up; ie, the AVt-3 IC's cost less than the EXp-1's, and the AVT-MA's cost more than the Shotgun S3.3's; this happens in a few places.



Analog IC's (1m Single-Ended Pairs):

- EXp 3: 59.00
- EXp 2: 79.00
- AVt 3: 99.00
- EXp 1: 109.00
- AVt 2: 169.00
- AVt 1: 229.00
- CVT Terminator 2: 499.00
- CVT Terminator 1: 699.00
- Shotgun S3.3: 799.00
- AVt MA: 899.00
- Shotgun S2.3: 1099.00
- Shotgun S1.3: 1499.00
- Shotgun MA: 1499.00
- Magnum M3.3: 1999.00
- Magnum M2.3: 2499.00
- Magnum MA: 2499.00
- Magnum M1.3: 2999.00
- Oracle V3.3: 3999.00
- Oracle Matrix 50: 4999.00
- Oracle V2.3: 5499.00
- Oracle V1.3: 7499.00
- Oracle MA-XV: 7999.00
- Oracle MA-X: 7999.00
- Oracle MA-X Rev. 2: 10999.00


Analog IC's (1m Balanced Pairs):

- EXp Proline: 229.00
- AVt Proline: 549.00
- CVT Terminator 2 Proline: 699.00
- CVT Termintaor 1 Proline: 999.00
- Shotgun S3.3 Balanced: 999.00
- Shotgun S2.3 Balanced: 1299.00
- AVt MA Proline: 1499.00
- Shotgun S1.3 Balanced: 1699.00
- Shotgun MA Proline: 1799.00
- Magnum M3.3 Balanced: 2299.00
- Magnum M2.3 Balanced: 2799.00
- Magnum MA Proline: 2999.00
- Magnum M1.3 Balanced: 3299.00
- Oracle V3.3 Balanced: 4999.00
- Oracle Matrix 50 Proline: 5999.00
- Oracle V2.3 Balanced: 6499.00
- Oracle MA-XV Proline: 8499.00
- Oracle MA-X Proline: 8499.00
- Oracle V1.3 Balanced: 8999.00
- Oracle MA-X Rev. 2 Proline: 12999.00


Speaker Cables (Non-Biwire 8ft pairs):

- EXp 3: 129.00
- EXp 2: 179.00
- EXp 1: 229.00
- AVt 3: 349.00
- AVt 2: 499.00
- AVt 1: 599.00
- CVT Terminator 2: 999.00
- CVT Terminator 1: 1499.00
- Shotgun S3.3: 1499.00
- Shotgun S2.3: 1999.00
- Shotgun S1.3: 2499.00
- AVt MA: 2999.00
- Magnum M3.3: 3499.00
- Shotgun MA: 3999.00
- Magnum M2.3: 4999.00
- Magnum M1.3: 6499.00
- Magnum MA: 7999.00
- Oracle V3.3: 9999.00
- Oracle Matrix HD 90: 9999.00
- Oracle Matrix HD 100: 14999.00
- Oracle V2.3: 17999.00
- Oracle Matrix HD 120: 21999.00
- Oracle V2.3 HR: 24999.00
- Oracle V1.3: 26999.00
- Oracle MA-X Rev. 2: 34999.00
- Oracle V1.3 HR: 36999.00
- Oracle MA-X Rev. 2 HD: 37999.00

[EndersShadow]

F1: sent you a PM on something with this demo