Cables for Wilson Sophia 2 and Burmester equipment

Toffen Gunnufsen -- Mon, 01/18/2010 - 18:51

Hi!
I hope you are well :)

I have been looking into the possibilty of upgrading my powercords, interconnects, and speakercables. At this point I use Brahma powercords and Thor distributor, Tyr interconnects and speakercables. I have tried Valhalla interconnect between my amp and cd player, but it lacked a little body and sounded in my view a tad dry. I know the cable was not entirely burnt in, so this might be the reason.

There are not many possibilities borrowing cables in Norway. I have looked at Shunyata Python CX for the powercords, and Stereovox / Synergistic Research / Transparent Audio / Crystal Cable / Zensati for the interconnects. I have heard lot of good words about the ZenSati cables. Have you any experience with them?

I like the dynamics of the Valhalla, and the 3D sound. But in my wiew it had a little dip in the upper bass and the lower treble tended to be on the dry side. Due to this female vocalists sometimes lacked body. But that is in my system.

My equipment consists of Burmester 032 integrated amp, Burmester 061 cd player, Wilson Audio Sophia 2, Revox B77mk2, and the cables mentioned. I tried the same cable set up at Quad ELS 63 with Gradient sub basses, and the lack of body and dryness was still there.
I plan to upgrade my system this year to the new cd player with preamp 089 and the legendary amp 911mk3. But the sound caracteristics should be the same.

Thanks!

Cheeers, ToffenG

Robert Harley -- Wed, 01/20/2010 - 17:07

The only products you mention with which I have experience are the Shunyata CX power cords (I'm working on the review now). I can tell you that they are a significant upgrade in bottom-end heft and dynamics over their predecessors, which I used continuously for more than two years, and thought were the best power cords I'd heard.

1likeh1f1 (not verified) -- Thu, 01/21/2010 - 13:37

Dear ToffenG:
I utilize Transparent Audio Ultra's with my Sophia's and ARC Ref 110 amp. I also made my own power cords utilizing high-grade 10-3C multi-strand copper and Wattgate connectors (a very fun and rewarding project - the cords DID produce a significant sonic upgrade via enhanced dynamics and resolution; don't let anyone try to convince you of the gibberish that it's just wire, any more than "bits are bits". Incidentally, I produced six cords with painstaking care and about US$350 in materials. Check out http://www.venhaus1.com/diymains.html. I also utilize Kimber Select i/c and very much enjoy what they deliver with my system (I bought them before upgrading to the Sophias and my Wilson dealer carried Transparent Audio v. Kimber; so, mixed and matched, so to speak. I've had no regrets.

I also suggest that you go slow - don't produce too many new moving parts into your system at once. It will be too hard for you to identify the sonic differences (hopefully, improvements) as you add in each. Have fun with it!

All the best...

Toffen Gunnufsen -- Thu, 01/21/2010 - 17:20

Hi!

Thanks!

I will try borrowing some cables next week and keep you updated. Before that I will order a TW Akustic Raven One & Graham Phantom II arm. And then the ball will start running with phonoamp and carts... and cables too :)

What a wonderful hobby. Much more forgiving than boat racing.

Cheeers, ToffenG