Silver plated copper...pffffttt..

[steveinaz]

I don't like these silver plated copper wires, at all. Every one I have tried was raspy, screechy, lacked body....just plain sucked.

I tried the DH Labs D-75 again yesterday (my 3rd attempt at trying to "like" this cable) disappointing. The Signal Cable coax is so much smoother, musical. The D75 is etched, lots of glare, just void of any smooth character at all. Even tried it with my headphones, same thing. Pop the SC in and an immediate difference is apparent.

[ben62670]

Hook them up to a CD player, and let a CD play continuously for 5 days. Some of the heavier gage stranded cables take a real long time to burn in. Thats why I only use light gage single conductor wire with mine.
Ben

[steveinaz]

But aren't your cables solid silver? I have not heard solid silver cables in my system, but I doubt they are anything like this silver plated copper stuff.

The first time I tried the D-75, I did let it run on repeat for about 18hrs---same results; glare, lack of body, etc. My speakers are fairly laid back in the treble too, moreso than Lsi's.

I don't want anything to do with a cable that isn't listenable for 5 days, that's why I stick with Kimber (or I should say, copper). Right out of the box you've got glory.

My system is as simple as it gets, 1 digital cable, 1 set of interconnects (.5mtr), and speaker cable that's it. Source to DAC to amp. I think taking the preamp out has made my system real sensitive to cable changes, although I did have the same results with D75 a year ago.

[ben62670]

They are solid so I would expect that they would have similar characteristics. I just looked them up, and the construction looks like it would be fine. I tried silver plated heavier gage wires for Joe because he need something with higher capacitance for his TT rig(transformer in line). I used a silver star quad configuration, and he told me that they sounded like ass! Well I told him to send them back, but he decided to put them in a CD loop and let them burn for a week. When he tried them again they were nearly as good as the braided ones. I really suggest putting them in a loop with a CD player. The CD player option usually has a full 2v output which really helps the burn in. Some real dynamic music is a plus. The best way to describe the sound right out of the package is is the highs were very sharp, the music seemed to be missing notes, and the bass was thin. This all cleared up with lots of burn in. My braids sound good out the box, but start to get nice after 20hrs, and in 80hrs the sound is nearly as good as it gets. I have no experience with your's, but I hope this helps.
Ben

[steveinaz]

What you describe is exactly what I'm hearing with the D75. Lean, screechy, unsorted--yuk. I pop in the Signal Cable coax--and bloom happens. The music has weight, dimension, foundation. I think I'll stick with copper, this hobby is fussy enough already for me.

Another note, I just remembered that I did build a Belden RCA to BNC coax a couple years ago (again copper plated with silver center conductor) and had similar results as the D-75.