MIT Shotgun S3.3 Cable Demo/Review Round 4

[Lost240]

Great write up. Thanks!

First, let me apologize for using a fairly modest system to test out these cables, which may be disproportionately expensive for the system I am currently running. I tried to get a Wyred4Sound DAC and STI1000 in time for the review, but that did not work out. However, I think the DAC, preamp, and speakers involved are sufficient to be able to hear a difference if one is indeed present when switching cables. Secondly, I will admit to leaning slightly to the naysayers of speaker cable philosophy in the sense that thru the assorted cables I have used historically, I don’t recall ever having a watershed moment or miraculous breakthrough in performance. However, an opportunity to try some very highly regarded and fairly expensive cables via this demo could not and should not be passed. Thus, here we go…

Equipment:
iNova integrated (Sabre DAC, ipod dock, tube preamp, and stereo amp)
Pioneer Elite SC-35 (used with Wadia dock as well as ipod directly connected)
Polk LSi15
Def Tech Mythos ST
Wadia i170 transport (used with Pioneer Elite SC-35 only)

Listening Room:
20x20 room
Speakers were approximately 8 ft apart, 3 ft from wall
Listening position was approximately 6 ft. from speakers

Speaker Cables Used in Demo:
Monster XP cable with monster nanners.
MIT EXP1 cables with MIT nanners.
MIT Shotgun S3.3 with MIT nanners.

Again, not the most impressive system, but I really am looking for a simplified system after dealing with components in the past and all the various interconnects that go along with it. It was a battle of finding the perfect combinations and resisting the urge to try another one of the myriad combinations of cables and components. I have thoroughly enjoyed the lack of a need to store and fumble with CD’s and everything else and after the Wyred4Sound upgrade I will probably call it fin. Apologize for that tangent.

My listening material was a playlist of some of my favorite songs as well as those that I always enjoy listening for that extra detail, decay, or emotion that another piece of the puzzle may add. The list is as follows:

John Mayer- Gravity
Anouk- Lost
Aaron Robinson- The Elephant
Warren Zevon- Keep Me in Your Heart
Adele- Don’t You Remember

And then a few hours of mixes of Jack Johnson, B.O.B., Morgan Paige, etc… for non-critical listening.

Methodology:
I spent the first week of casual listening to help burn in the relatively new cables. Never really looking or taking notes. After the first week I would spend about 45 min. listening to each of the above referenced cables and then switching to another cable. At this point I was listening for subtle differences and preferences, which there definitely were. I took turns listening to the cables via the iNova and also the wadia and SC-35. On the last weekend I set aside time with the better half to really just sit down and listen to only the playlist as it ran thru one set of speaker cables at a time, and then did so again and again to really ensure that there was consistency in my thoughts and preferences. This process was completed for both sets of speakers listed above, but in the end I elected to spend all this listening time on the iNova.

Results:
In order of performance and preference:

1. S3.3
2. EXP
3. Monster

S3.3 Pros-
Build quality is substantial
Nanners and all connections yield solid hookups
Sound is very detailed, with great separation of vocals and instruments
Bass is solid and there was a reduction in the boominess (especially with the LSi15’s)
The sound was neutral to me, which is a good thing IMO

S3.3 Negatives-
Cost for some
The cables are substantial so tight fits and angles could be an issue for some
They will make you doubt your current cables

Conclusion:
The Shotgun S3.3 were consistently my favorite cable, by a great difference in reference to the monster cables and less so with the other MIT cables. Returning to the monster cables always seemed to produce a veiled or muffled sound, however a couple friends who were present during the time actually preferred this sound and thought the bass seemed louder (to me it was boomier). Going to the MIT cables always seemed to produce more separation and detail with the S3.3 adding that extra level of rightness. Interestingly, the improvements seemed to be more marked and obvious with the Polks than with the Def Techs. I was actually hoping the S3.3 would add a touch of warmth to the Mythos, but I didn’t detect any.

However, the MIT’s definitely improved the overall presentation of all of the music and songs. Was the improvement proportional to the cost difference? No, but there is always the law of diminishing return, and it definitely plays a part in this example as well. Would I recommend spending the difference? Absolutely, so long as your finances permit it, I would purchase a pair or at least a used pair. Could you live with a lower line of MIT’s such as the EXP lineup or perhaps an equal Audioquest, Cardas, etc. offering? Again, my answer would be absolutely, but we could also all live with driving a Honda Civic as well.

I know that this doesn’t necessarily offer any clear conclusion, but most things in life aren’t. I will say that I am no longer a naysayer of cables, but still conscious of the law of diminishing return that would have to be associated with them. That rate of diminishment would also probably defer and not be as steep with a system that was more proportional to these cables. Personally, I will be looking on for a pair of these cables to keep as my own. Could I live without them? Yes, but why should anyone live without something that they enjoy and find worthwhile.

[Dabutcher]

Review of MIT speaker cables and interconnects: First I would like to start off by saying thank you to Jesse. It was very nice of him to set this up for me. after hooking everything up and learning all about locking interconnects on the fly I sat down for some listening. To me ,my system sounds great as is. With Monster cable speaker wires and Signal cable interconnects.So this is hard to say any thing major for a change. i am a NOOB at all this anyway.Maybe in ten years of making my system better piece by piece I can define any differences better? This MIT set up seems to make any backgrounnd noise dissapear. Speakers seemed to expand to a widder sound field . I am not going to lie and say something in the paperwork that came with this set up or something I read posted elsewhere. Overall I was pleased with the results. I will upgrade speaker cables with some used MIT 750 MH style upgrades,but nothing like this. Thanks again Jesse for the honor of this demo. Darryl

[F1nut]

Round 4 of the MIT Shotgun S3.3 Demo/Review is now closed.

Thanks to all who took part, to MIT and Polk Audio for making this possible.

[F1nut]

Photobucket is a mess these days. Once again, I didn't move or delete the list.

[Clipdat]

Glad I was able to sneak in just before this closed! Huge thanks again to Jesse and Polk!

[BlueFox]

I read on a other site MIT is raising their prices, but I couldn't find any info on MIT site. I did notice you can't buy their cables any more from the MIT site. I guess Joe took all their business. Maybe that is why they are raising prices.

[F1nut]

Go to www.mitcablesexpress.com to purchase from MIT directly.

[BlueFox]

Go to www.mitcablesexpress.com to purchase from MIT directly.

Yes, I noticed that, but I was talking about buying the new items. That site only sells older products. Of course, those probably work pretty good.


"MIT Cables Express is where you can find fast savings on speaker cables, interconnects, video cables, and power products from MIT Cables. This is your chance to have MIT Cables' quality and performance at huge savings because everything offered is older technology (circa 2004 to 2009), Overstock, B-Stock, or New Old Stock."

[F1nut]

I think they are playing around a bit. For example, if you look at speaker cables you'll see they are all "Current Production", but I understand what you are saying about how they use to list the prices on the main site.

BTW, MIT has a new addy......

ww2.mitcables.com

[Lasareath]

Jesse, I can make you an FTP folder on my Server. Your files will be there forever.

WTF, Photobucket has done it again. I did not move or delete the list. Since it came back on its own before, maybe it will so again.

[engtaz]

Thanks Jesse, for helping this get this going. Great reads and great administration on your part.

[polkfarmboy]

I would have loved to have done the demo but my system is not quite ready. Although I have a killer HT system Iwant to wait until I finish the 2 ch system thats under construction. When its done I want enough quality components there so I can swap out the old exp ic and spkr cables and boom... just hear that high quality cable upgrade in an instant. This brings me to the point, will there be another MIT cable demo with other offerings ? and it would great if they sent out a couple of power cords to really evaluate them to the max