And yet another IC question / comment. / review

[erniejade]

I am checking out some new I/C Right now I am using Audioquest sidewinder. I just got a set of the Audioquest Columbia. I know I know BIG freaking price difference between the 2


OK the test. Jolida cd100 with the EI tubes in it, adcom 565 pre McIntosh 2105 amp. Polk SDA 1.2 and carver amazing on a Sunfire sig II.
CD Edie brickell Volcano. and Rufus wainwright does Judy garland at Carnegie Hall.

1st impressions with the volcano cd.on the polk without the cable in the speaker. The 1st thing i noticed the the highs on the columbia's was night and day. it was like someone took a blanket off the speak. The mids were also a bit clearer but in a way more mellow at the same time. it didn't jump out at me like it does with the sidewinders but, it was much clearer. but the bass was not as prominent as it was with the sidewinders. Actually it seemed a bit weaker. The sidewinders had more of a kick to them.

now Same cd with the cable in the 1.2's Well....... ... the vocals disappeared. The bass disappeared. The highs were still there and still good but everything else seems to kind of vanish... Weird. To be honest here,. i did notice some music with the cable in the speakers just sounds terrible on the 1.2 or the 2.3. SOOOO I changed CD's to Rufus wainwright does Judy garland at Carnegie Hall. The Vocals came back a little but on the sidewinders they came back even more. Bass on the sidewinders also came back.

I am thinking the columbia's just don't like or are having a bad reaction to the sda cable. Since the jolida has 2 sets of outs, it makes it easy to go between the 2 cables so that is why i chose the cd for a test.

Now before anyone jumps in and says no way the SDA cable can cause this..... I have a theta time align dac unit and is completely unalienable with the cable in! YES it does make a difference.

So on the carvers the same results as the 1.2 without the cable in. Highs is night and day, mids, clearer but not as froward, bass weaker but tighter at the same time.


I am on a 30 day trial. I got them for on a special for $320 for 1 meeter. SOOOO any suggestions on what to try next? I want to keep the highs that the columbia has, but the bass the sidewinders have. I am not opposed to changing brands. I am not married to Audioquest. I have been going through the needle DR. since they do have the in home 30 no questions asked trial.


I was thinking of trying the ones that do not have the battery on them like the Audioquest king cobra Tara labs rsc vector, or Harmonic truth-link.

I am opened to suggestions !!

[nooshinjohn]

I am clueless on this as my ears cannot justify the expense of esoteric cables and connections... I wish you all the best with your tests however and am eager to learn!

[erniejade]

LOL I understand but honestly, the highs between the 2 sets,, it was like someone took a blanket off the tweeters. it was the rest I am not convinced with.

[Face]

I am clueless on this as my ears cannot justify the expense of esoteric cables and connections... I wish you all the best with your tests however and am eager to learn!

I don't believe your ears are the problem.

[Hawkeye]

I've been playing with the WireWorld line up lately. There is a terrific sale right now for the Silver Eclipse 5 Squared IC for 50% off. Puts them right in your price range at $350.

http://www.thecableco.com/product.php?id=563

Gordon

[erniejade]

I don't believe your ears are the problem.

I am not sure how to take this comment?

[tonyb]

I am not sure how to take this comment?

Take it as suggesting the "wallet" is the problem,not his ears.

[steveinaz]

Welcome to the dark side. I don't know why it's so hard for people to understand that impedance differences, material differences, and connection topolgy can all have a measurable impact on a cable; thereby changing it's sonic character.

This is not rocket science, nor is it "audio-voodoo."

Having said that, there is a point of diminishing returns; and the more expensive cable isn't always necessarily the better sounding cable. Cables are more about sonic "flavor."

[thsmith]

I'm confused, are the cables you are testing speaker or the interconnect cable between the SDAs or ICs for sources?

[erniejade]

Between components. Sorry about the confusion.


The cable between the SDA 's I have found does not play nice with some cables or components I.E. A theta DAC with time align. When I had the cable on the SDA plugged in, it was terrible. I would unplug the cable and it was OK.
Now, with the AQ Columbia, when I would have the cable in on the Polks, it sounded horrible but if i take the cable out of the polks the Columbia's sounded great. With the cable on the polks plugged in the Columbia would loose the vocals and get a caught in the middle effect like you had your speakers wired out of phase. I did not have this issue with the sidewinders. I have noticed with the SDA if your components have any kind of time align or adjustments, it kills the sound with the cable plugged in.

On a side note, I did notice some music on the SDA with the SDA cable plugged in, just sounds bad or the bass and vocals get lost. You unplug the cable and it jumps right back. I find myself taking the cable in and out depending on the cd.


I hope this clears up the confusion?


I am going to try a set of Ben's cables next and put them up against the AQ.


I do love the trebble out of the AQ and it did clean up the mids but, less in your face as the sidewinders and the bass is a bit shy on the Columbia vs the sidewinders. The Columbia just do not seem to play well when I have the cable on the SDA plugged in. Not plugged in on the SDA, they sound great.

[WilliamM2]

Isn't one of the Jolida's outputs tube based, and the other SS? I would think that is the difference you are hearing.

[erniejade]

Isn't one of the Jolida's outputs tube based, and the other SS? I would think that is the difference you are hearing.

I was told the 2 sets of RCA out are the same. not the coax out I will take a look on Jolida's web site.

[erniejade]

I took a look around and all i could find was the 2 sets of rca outputs are fixed. I have emailed Jolida to confirm that the outputs are the same. Just looking at the pics of an open unit on the back, it looks like they are the same but, I will confirm to be sure.

[erniejade]

I heard back from jolida

"Both sets of RCA outputs are wired to the tube outputs.

Thank you for your consideration,
Michael Allen

jolidacorp@msn.com "

[Face]

I am not sure how to take this comment?

It wasn't directed towards you.