MIT Cable

[craigk]

Is this why some European Union manufactures won't ship outside of EU?

Yes, some countries have VAT taxes in the high 30 to low 40 % range.

[craigk]

I did an analysis of these cables actually. Basically it's a series of LCR filters which are tuned to the resonances of Diana Krall's vocal cords. Entry level just notches out the fundamental - if you spend more it notches out higher and higher harmonics.

sometimes you get what you pay for, and sometimes you don't. i think that $ 300 dollars would about be my max on speaker cables, and that is with very good terminals. which by the way i do not use on my home systems. i run the wire directly from the amp terminals to speaker terminals. why put anything more in the signal path. right now i am in the process of doing away with IEC's on my amps, and wiring the power cord up direct. there are things in audio that are worth spending money on, and things that are not. you just have to decide for yourself which is which. i have no problem with anyone that wants to spend money trying different things, it is their money to spend. i just think it is interesting how many of the people on this forum act like it is coming out of their pockets, and they have a mission from the audiophile Gods to protect the helpless. this is suppose to be fun hobby. have some fun. i don't know anyone that does not like trying new amps, preamps, cords etc. in their system. i think sometimes you hit a synergy that makes it all worth while. you will never know until you try.

[johnnyrichards]

Not sure about EU VAT, but cable manufacturers, much like amp manufacturers, hate that there is nothing beyond FR, harmonics, and reactance that matters. Seriously, read into their literature - it is even more insulting and skulduggery than high end speaker manufacturers.

[johnnyrichards]

the high end would have us believe inserting reactance preserves neutrality lmfao

[xmax]

You can't give a general answer, depends on machine and the DAC. The best use of a transformer is on a unit with a DAC that has a high voltage out. Other wise you have to use something active to bump voltage up, or go with a 2:1 or 3:1 transformer which my supplier doesn't make.

Do you know what AES is? I thought you were "doing away with the analogue out" So clearly there is no DAC... I now see exactly what you are talking about.
Jack and sh1t, Jack left town.

[craigk]

Not sure about EU VAT, but cable manufacturers, much like amp manufacturers, hate that there is nothing beyond FR, harmonics, and reactance that matters. Seriously, read into their literature - it is even more insulting and skulduggery than high end speaker manufacturers.

not going to disagree. i don't get excited about directional, pulled, mono crystal, copper/silver, etc cables. i do think that cables and amps can react differently. i also think that most people have better things they could do to improve the sound of their systems. room treatment being the number one. and most over looked thing, and possibly the cheapest, with the most benefit of anything you can do.

[craigk]

Do you know what AES is? I thought you were "doing away with the analogue out" So clearly there is no DAC... I now see exactly what you are talking about.
Jack and sh1t, Jack left town.

AES/EBU has nothing to do with what i am talking about. you do not get it. you come off the DAC into the output section. the signal coming off the DAC is analogue, it is ran into some kind of basic preamp circuit, (easiest way off looking at it,) so you are getting rid of op amp and other active components in the output circuit, or how ever they are bumping up DAC voltage to send to the preamp. most DAC's do not have a high enough out put to run straight to the amp. you need to find a cd player that does, Marantz and Oppo for example, that has enough voltage to be able to use transforms. so when you come off the transformers you have a balanced signal, you can run RCA or jumper them to a XLR. since you do not need an earth ground at this point in the signal path.

[johnnyrichards]

Do you know what AES is? I thought you were "doing away with the analogue out" So clearly there is no DAC... I now see exactly what you are talking about.
Jack and sh1t, Jack left town.

Yarp.

[craigk]

Yarp.

Yup, you and xmax make a perfect couple.

[craigk]

Do you know what AES is? I thought you were "doing away with the analogue out" So clearly there is no DAC... I now see exactly what you are talking about.
Jack and sh1t, Jack left town.

If you don't know what an analigue output stsge in a cd player is you don't get it, so lets not pretend that you do. Including the fact that AES is pcm which means it is still in the digital domain so how it would have anything to do with an analogue out is a good one. The figured out how to run 44 and 48 through the same dac in the 70's so for you and jr this is ancient technology. But anytime either of you want to sit down and talk pcm or pcw let me know, I need a good laugh

[djg]

Narp?

[xmax]

If you don't know what an analigue output stsge in a cd player is you don't get it, so lets not pretend that you do. Including the fact that AES is pcm which means it is still in the digital domain so how it would have anything to do with an analogue out is a good one. The figured out how to run 44 and 48 through the same dac in the 70's so for you and jr this is ancient technology. But anytime either of you want to sit down and talk pcm or pcw let me know, I need a good laugh

Exactly that's why I was interested in your use of transformers in the digital domain. Word salads are not science my friend.

[philthien]

I thought VAT is removed from exported items? No country employing VAT would otherwise be able to compete in the world marketplace, I had been led to believe. That, VAT was only on items for their own domestic consumption.

[kevintomb]

sometimes you get what you pay for, and sometimes you don't. i think that $ 300 dollars would about be my max on speaker cables, and that is with very good terminals. which by the way i do not use on my home systems. i run the wire directly from the amp terminals to speaker terminals. why put anything more in the signal path. right now i am in the process of doing away with IEC's on my amps, and wiring the power cord up direct. there are things in audio that are worth spending money on, and things that are not. you just have to decide for yourself which is which. i have no problem with anyone that wants to spend money trying different things, it is their money to spend. i just think it is interesting how many of the people on this forum act like it is coming out of their pockets, and they have a mission from the audiophile Gods to protect the helpless. this is suppose to be fun hobby. have some fun. i don't know anyone that does not like trying new amps, preamps, cords etc. in their system. i think sometimes you hit a synergy that makes it all worth while. you will never know until you try.

Craig, no disrespect intended at all, but I think many of us in here come from either a very scientific/engineering or electronics background, and while yes we all enjoy the same hobby of audio, we must all realize that some products are in the "very questionable" corner of science, where the probability of being a truly valid proven improvement, is not quite certain for sure.

[r-carpenter]

The objective of doo-das me thinks is not to improve the sound but make a difference. The usual question after the application of the tweak is "Do you hear the difference???!!!". And the subconscious assumption of the audio connoisseur is that the difference is most of the time for the better. It's a bit like coffee luwac. If you haven't had real Jamaica Blue Mountain, drinking an ok tasting $hity coffee may sound like a good idea.

Anyway, Craig, did you figure out what the magic box does? I'd run a few MLS signals with and without just to see what are the alterations to the frequency response and impedance of the speaker, connected.