Interconnect cables for MF
chaussé -- Mon, 05/22/2006 - 14:05
Hi, I just bought the Musical Fidelity integrated amp X-150 and will take delivery of the MF X-RAY V-3 this weekend. I will probably buy later Magnepan MG 12 (wich i heard recently with these electronics) or Magnepan 1.6 G (I'll hear B&W 705 too this winter). My cables are Van Den Hull MC CS 122 Hybrid.
In the meantime, i use my old Celestion Ditton 15 XR.
For the interconnect i read several TAS recommandations, including the review of august-Sept p.64 of A-V Guide (MF+ Rega CD+ Magnepan, associated with PNF Icon or Nordost Blue; i guess the sound of the Rega CD is warmer). I read one negative comment in "Diapason" about the X-150, it seems that the amp exagerate the high Frequency, so i don't want an interconnect that will intensify that problem, I'm afraid the Nordost Blue Heaven and PNF Audio Icon will just do that. Is the Kimber Kable Hero or the Van Den Hul Integration Hybrid a better choice? If not, what is your suggestions to match my electronics with magneplanar speakers ? Thanks for you guidance, it is very, very appreciated !!! PP
A couple of thoughts. First, the Magnepans have an adjustable HF level (two position). This may help more than randomly trying cables. Second, you might consider waiting to hear the setup in your room before tweaking via cables. Third, I have tried both the PNF and Nordost cables, and I didn't find them to be particularly bright. My system is completely different however.
Like you, I am no fan of excess brightness.
If you choose to Magnepan MG 1.6s, two important tips are to give the speakers plenty of break-in time and to try bi-wiring them.
Note: Fresh from the box, my 1.6s were very, very bright. It took more than 100 hours of run-in time for them to begin to loosen up and smooth out, and even longer before they really sounded "right."
Early on, I ran my 1.6s in non-biwired configuration, using Magnepan's factory supplied jumpers. In this configuration, I found I needed the Magnepan-supplied trimming resistors to tone down the tweeter/midrange driver's output a bit. However, later I tried bi-wiring the 1.6s and noticed an immediate improvement in smoothness and overall balance, so that the trimming resistors were no longer necessary.
I would second Tom Martin's comment that neither the Nordost Blue Heavens nor the PNF Icons are particularly bright cables.
Best,
Chris Martens
Audio Editor, The Perfect Vision
Senior Writer, The Absolute Sound
Chris Martens
Editor, Avguide.com/Playback/The Perfect Vision
I would agree that the Nordost Blue Heaven interconnect is mostly neutral but it does have a bit of sheen in the treble. Just slightly and just a bit dryer than some in this range. Not the best choice for any speaker with a rising treble. The Wireworld Equinox and Kimber Hero will be a bit darker up top. The Nordost is wonderfully detailed across the octaves however. It doesn't hit the lowest of the LF lows like Nordost's more premium offerings but it will always be a best buy in my book.
Neil
Associate Ed/TAS
Neil Gader Associate Editor The Absolute Sound
Hi Chausse,
Don't try to trim the sound of your speakers until long after they are fully broken in. Many speakers require a long run-in to help them reach their optimum bass response. This is because the materials become more pliant as they bend and flex. The speakers you'll ultimately be living with won't sound like the ones you bring home from the store.
Re: cables, I have both Kimber Hero and Nordost SPM in my system and I think they are both quite neutral. All the Kimber and Nordost products that I've tried have been excellent. I can't comment on the Van den Hul as I've never tried it.
Barry Willis
Also I've found that NOrdost cabling generally takes longer to break in. Frankly you can't fully assess its potential until it has quite a few hours on it. When broken in, a certain constriction is relieved, the soundstage opens up and there's a greater sense of openness in the treble. I found this to be the case with both the Blue Heavens and new Baldur-especially the later.
Neil
Neil Gader Associate Editor The Absolute Sound
Follow-up: Upon reflection, it occured to me that early on in the history of AVguide Monthly (a digital magazine that has since merged with The Perfect Vision), TAS writer Sallie Reynolds assembled a high performance starter system based on the Musical Fidelity X-150 amplifier, a pair of Magnepan MG 12s and a REL sub.
At one point, Sallie did an in-depth review of the Nordost Blue Heaven and PNF Icon cables as used in that system.
I'd suggest downloading the article series from this site, just to see her observations on those cable families.
Best,
Chris Martens
Audio Editor, The Perfect Vision
Senior Writer, The Absolute Sound
Chris Martens
Editor, Avguide.com/Playback/The Perfect Vision
My colleague Paul Seydor and I tested a few interconnects some years ago and very much enjoyed the sonics of the VdH Hybrid. Offhand I can't recall its exact model number but we were both equally taken by its efforless response, smoothness and hint of warmth. I would think this cable (or a later iteration) would make a nice match with the Maggies. These speakers are very detailed, and clean but any cable that hints at lean or dry wouldn't be my choice.
Neil
Neil Gader Associate Editor The Absolute Sound
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