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[audiojerry]

I recently replaced my reference, and long standing favorite speaker cable, ZuCable Wax, with Ridge Street's Midnight Silver Edition Gen II. (MSE) The Wax has served me well for two years and surpassed any wire I'd used in the past, as well as a few I've experimented with since. The Wax is a great cable, and I was completely satisfied with its performance in every respect.  It worked well with both tube and solid state amplification. It never made me feel like anything was lacking.
 
That is, until I heard the MSE. I try to keep an open mind, and I'm always willing to try something new, especially when an offer comes along for a free audition from one of our several great AudioCircle commercial members. This afforded me my first experience with the MSE speaker cable, along with a package including several MSE Gen II interconnects. That audition drove me to begin my acquisition of MSE cables that will eventually replace everything else.
 
The MSE is better in every way over anything else I've used in the past. Prior to my long romance with the ZuCable Wax, I owned more than one flavor of all silver wire. Silver definitely is better at extracting greater amounts of detail from a recording, but the several silver designs that I'd used all had shortcomings in other areas; sometimes too bright or thin, and sometimes lacking bass. It was always the problem of never sounding neutral across the audio band. Not so with MSE. Low level detail emerges politely and subtly from recordings rather than rudely and inappropiately. Midrange seems just right with body, color (not coloration). And the bass is swift and percussive. Overall, the MSE is extremely well-behaved, and does everything without any nasties.
 
This doesn't mean that the MSE is dull or boring. On the contrary. Music is delivered with dynamic energy and organic liveliness. It sounds natural, which can be said for a lot of wire designs, but with a higher degree of palpability. For me it is addicting. The longer the MSE speaker cable stays in my system, the more I am appreciating what it has done for me.
 
I didn't think any cable could be that much better than what I was already using. My belief system has been shaken and revised. Now, I must explore this revelation further and try to discover what secrets the MSE Poiema holds.

[BikeWNC]

Jerry,

It is interesting that we have similar cables in our systems.  I have Zu Varial and Ibis, though I am currently using Bolder Bybee'd Nitros in place of the Varials.  Over the past two weeks the Ridge Street Audio audition pack has competed against what I consider to be some of the best cables in their respective price range without breaking a sweat.  The MSE speaker cables outperformed the Ibis in my system in most ways.  The only fly in the ointment for me is that the Ibis had just a bit more weight or body to vocals, especially female vocals.  Other than that one point, the MSE SCs are better IMS.  They are more dynamic than the Ibis, which is saying quite a lot.  If the Poiema cables can add that extra bit of body to vocals that I like then it would be a no brainer purchase for me.  Thanks for your review.

Andy

[BikeWNC]

This evening, I put my tube amp into the mix with the Ridge Street Audio cables.  Everything I said in the previous post held true, plus the weight and body to the vocals surfaced.  The full power of Sarah McLachlan's sweet voice came through with the warmth I was missing.

Jerry, did you use both tube and SS amps with the MSE cables?  

Andy

[audiojerry]

Jerry, did you use both tube and SS amps with the MSE cables?

I did not use solid state with the audition pack, but I have been using them with Odyssey Mono's and Sony AVD-C700ES. I think the MSE improved the performance of all.

I agree that it takes a great cable to outperform the ZU.

[Robert C. Schult]

Ooops! Jeez! It just occurred to me I hadn't said "Thank You", "Boo" or nothing for Jerry's comments here. Jerry, please forgive me! I don't mean to take anybody's time or review commentary lightly.

With that said, Thank You Jerry for taking the time to post your impressions. To me, three of the most significant things anyone has ever said about our cabling has been... "WOW !!!..... (We're Dancin' Now !!!) " , "I'm done chasing the cable rabbit" and your comment; "My belief system has been shaken and revised." Everything I could blather about our design goals and so for forth is elegantly summarized in those three statements. Again, I’m "Flatted"!

Hopefully without being repetitive, I will go into a bit that comes to mind and is confirmed not only with your impressions but with other users as well.

If one is needing cables to "tune" a system or is trying to accomplish a certain "flavor" in their system with our cables, then honestly, our offerings become pretty much a crapshoot. While certainly a valid approach in some situations, "flavoring" or "Tuning" is not a premise our designs are based on. Interesting that some (very successful) cable companies design their whole product line around certain audio components that have very high volume sales in the market place.

On the other hand, If you chose your electronics for their sonic virtues and those virtues meet your listening preferences and biases, then our offerings will allow you to realize those attributes quite successfully…says I. I think it's to your credit Jerry that you've assembled a music system that, for the most part, meets your biases and preferences. It takes time, patience and know-how to accomplish that. It's not our cables that "sound" so good, it's your gear, set-up and room choices that our cables are helping you to realize more fully. Maybe a more simpler way to say it is that the Ridge Street cables offer very little if any discernable editorial.

Anyway, sorry for being so long to get to the edge of my soapbox. This was supposed to be about Jerry. So, for all you continue to contribute here at AC for folks to get the most out of their systems, the gracious hosting I understand you provide to your fellow audio enthusiast guests in your home, I'll simply say…

YOU ROCK!

I look forward to hopefully meeting you sometime in the New Year ahead.

[audiojerry]

Again, I’m "Flatted"!

You might want to ask your doctor about Viagra...

YOU ROCK!

Now, I'm "flatted" too!  

[satfrat]

'Having My Baby' by Neil Sadaka: 8-TRACK??? Is this 8-track like the old Craig I used to have in my 70 Pontiac GTO or what Robert? Has this 8-track been modified, cryoed,  and tweaked out with MSE gen11 wiring? Inquiring minds want to know,,, ROCK my memory BLOCK, Robert! Regards(and Happy New Year), Robin

[lonewolfny42]

Robert, Who the heck said " I'm done chasing the cable rabbit" ??... Is that like the Easter Bunny ?    By the way, how are my cables coming...I've got some new shoes ?  

[Robert C. Schult]

'Having My Baby' by Neil Sadaka: 8-TRACK??? Is this 8-track like the old Craig I used to have in my 70 Pontiac GTO or what Robert?

Yep. BTW, I just put a new water pump in the GTO. Other than that, it's still "Bitch'n"!

 

Robert, Who the heck said " I'm done chasing the cable rabbit" ??... Is that like the Easter Bunny?     By the way, how are my cables coming...I've got some new shoes?

I said to a client some time ago that I thought using our cables would put an end to his chasing the (cable) rabbit. I was surprised when he posted back after having used our cables that he remebered what I said (though I had forgotten) and said he was done chasing.

Your Speaker cables are done. I'll begin work on the other cables between Friday and over the weekend. We're still burried!

You might want to ask your doctor about Viagra...

...Viagable. (It's one of the secrets in our cables!) No more slouching in my listening chair! And, no more "Hi-Brow" syndrome!

[satfrat]

Bachmman Turner Overdrive Ohhhh man, spent many a smoke filled moment with them boys,,,, on 8 TRACK Remembering the memories,,, I think? Regards, Robin