Audio Tekne - JV
Janpe -- Wed, 07/22/2009 - 13:36
Hi.
JV, any news/ further thoughts about the Audio Tekne interconnects? I know that you have tried them, but I just wonder if you (or anybody else) has more experience with them. I am planning to buy 2 sets based on JV comments about them. Just to try them out.
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Janpe,
I still think the Audio Tekne interconnects are incredible deals for the dough. They're neutral (neither bright nor dark), they're very detailed (though not quite as detailed as the very best stuff from Tara Labs or MIT), they're lifelike in timbre and texture, and they have air and bloom. I love 'em.
Jon
Thanks a lot for your comments Jon, much appreciated. The Audio tekne speaker cables must be as I understand it be used with caution due to a capacitive load issue in that the amp can in fact be "killed". Here is what Mrs Imai wrote to me:
" Please check to the manufacturer of the power amp about a capacitive load.
“Before the amplifier of your company is shipped, is the capacitive stress test done?”
I asked the manufacturer of my amp (high powered, high end amp) about this and he definetly cautioned me about using Audio tekne speaker cables. Now I wonder if I can purchase the Audio Tekne interconnects or not. Can I destroy my amp/ preamp?
Any ideas?
Janpe,
I've had no trouble with oscillation with the AT speaker cables--and I've used them with a wide variety of amps (ARC, Audio Space, etc.). But...I don't recommend them as highly as I do the interconnects (if that helps).
Jon
Well, I think I better check them (the interconnects) out then. Again thanks a lot Jon.
Rgds
JP
JP,
Be sure to follow Mrs. Imai's advice, janpe, and do whatever "capacitance" testing she suggests.Even though I have had no problem with AT's wire with any of the electronics I've used, DON'T use the cables or interconnects with high-bandwidth solid-state electronics until you're assured that there is no possibility of oscillation.
Jon
Will do thanks.
But, I have difficulties to understand how 2 pair of interconnects can destroy a preamp/poweramp combination. And how can I find out, I guess it will be very difficult without actually try them in the system. What made me curious is that for the first time we might have a cable that performs as well as the really expensive Valhalla, CC Ultra etc for the fraction of the money.
And I have used the High end cables mentioned, but without really knowing if they are worth their high price. Maybe the Audio Tekne can once and for all prove that the price has very little to do with how they perform. Of course this is all system dependent, but well worth investigating.
Janpe,
If you are using a wide-bandwidth, high-speed solid-state amplifier like a Soulution or a Technical Brain, a cable with a great deal of capacitance (such as the Audio Tekne) could cause the amp to oscillate or even break down. If you are using tube gear, such as ARC, Audio Space, or the stuff Audio Tekne itself makes, you will have no problem. Still, I can no longer blithely recommend AT cable and interconnect, in spite of the fact that it sounds great and is priced right. Indeed, I do not recommend using Audio Tekne with ultra-wide bandwidth solid-state. (BTW, I was unaware of this complication when I originally blogged about the AT since I was using tube gear at the time and had experienced no problems with nor received any warnings from manufacturer or distributor about oscillation.)
Jon
Jon,
thank you for the follow up. I almost bought the AT cable in order to try it because of your recommendations. Well, I have at least learned something.
Again, thanks a lot.
JP
You're very welcome, janpe, and thank you for alerting me to the capacitance issue. I feel bad for having steered you wrong. The last thing I, or any reviewer, wants to do is recommend a product (no matter how good it may sound or how good a bargain it may be) that will end up causing a problem for its owner. Though I'm not sure that AT wire will present a problem for many solid-state amp/preamps, that it may for a few is enough to alarm me. So...if you're into tubes, AT is still a great sound and a great deal. If you're into high-bandwidth solid-state, you may be better off looking elsewhere.
Yes that was a close call and damage to equipment could have been a big dissapointment. I almost bought them as well. JV thanks for the update. With all new products there are glitches and risks. Long term reliabilty stats are good but then it's not the latest. I've been having so many issues with oppos new bdp83 that almost regretting it.
JV,
i'm gonna take a shot at you: "YOU'RE LUCKY HE WHO SHALL NOT BE NAMED WASN'T ON TO YOU ON THIS ONE GRANDPA"
Have a good laugh buddy...........
Zead,
"T'aint funny. High capacitance used to be a problem back in the day (remember Cobra cable?), but this is the first time I've run into it recently. This is the very reason why Spectral owners ONLY use Spectral/MIT cable and interconnect.
Jon
JV
I've been using the Audio tekne speaker cable for 6 months from my ASR Emitter Exclusive which has very high capacitance specs: at 890,000 uF. Not had any problems and the amp itself has several protection circuits. I'm not technical myself and have no understanding of capacitance nor oscillation issues, but would just like to understand if I am at risk of causing damage to the ASR.
Regards
John
friel,
You have nothing to worry about. If there was going to be a problem, you would've found out right away. Moreover, the ASR Emitter is an integrated amp, so you wouldn't be facing the situation that may cause a problem in the first place (for which see below).
Understand that the capacitance of a cable doesn't interact with the capacitance of the power supply of the amp. It is a soiid-state amp's very high bandwidth (such as the megahertz bandwidth of a Spectral or a Soulution) that may lead to problems with a high-capacitance cable (and not just AT).
I think I may have overdone the alarm button thing with AT out of an abundance of caution. If you check with Audio Tekne, Mrs. Imai can guide you. Understand, as well, that with Audio Tekne (or any high-capacitance interconnect) we are ONLY talking about the length of interconnect that runs between the preamp and the amp. You will not experience an instability problem with other connections (i.e., between source and preamp); your ASR emitter is not a candidate for problems because there is no interconnect running between its preamp section and its amplification section.
Jon
Jonathan,
This is an unrelated question but would appreciate your answer. I just wanted to know if the "electrical requirements" between the Quad 2905 and Air Tight ATM 3 are appropriate? RH's book talks about sensitivity of speakers and amp matching on technical terms that is rather confusing. These two components shouldn't be a risk to each other right? Also Do the Air Tight ATM3's have enough volume and power to drive the 2905's properly? risk of damage to either? Volume is enough? Not much info about air tights is available since its a specialty product, infact many dealers don't even have one for audition/demo. It has to be ordered new. Do you have any info on driving these directly by a digital souce without a preamp, example using the Berkeley Audio Design DAC directly to drive the ATM3's? Some people online recommend tube swapping which seems rather silly after investing this much on this amp....shouldn't the tubes already installed in it be state of art given the product catagory this amp is in?
The ATM-3s are EL34-based push/pull monoblocks that sound a lot like the Marantz 9s (upon which they were modeled). At 100W per side (ultralinear), they should have no electrical problems pushing the Quad 2905s. However, the 2905s are very low in sensitivity. Usually, very low sensitivity speakers fare better with more powerful amps. But there is an amusing paradox here, because, though low in sensitivity, the 2905s also clip if they are persistently driven too loud (above mid-to-high-90dB SPLs). I think 100-200W is about right for them. And I know that the ATM-3s sounded gorgeous with them, just as the Marantz 9s did with the Quad ESL-57s. A good solid-state amp might handle the 2905s treble a bit better than a tube amp like the ATM-3s.
Jonathan, thank for highlighting these issues with the AT cable. I have also found this out the hard way. I am using ultra-wide bandwidth / high-speed Goldmund power amps and have tried both the Audio Tekne speaker cables and interconnects. I can unreservedly recommend the interconnects: they are superb in every way, and continue to work without problems with the Goldmunds. FWIW I am using tube pre-amplification.
However the speaker cables are another matter. I tried these briefly only to find that they caused the amps to take off into wild oscillation (getting super-hot within a VERY short time and even blowing fuses). Trying the same wiring lash-up on VTL tube power amps, there were no issues at all. However like you I was not so wild about the speaker cable sonically - it is quite good, but not as outstanding as the interconnect. Interestingly, the interconnect wire material appears to be identical to the speaker cable - only different terminations differentiating them.
I have recommended the interconnect to others who also love them - they truly are High-End bargains.