Black Sand Silver Reference Follow-Up

Double Ugly · « **Reply #20 on:** 6 Jun 2006, 11:39 pm »

Quote from: tdangelo

Jim, I just added 3 more Silver Ref's to my system along with the 2 on my Butlers - I'm using them exclusively in my system along with Gregg's Reality Cables(great cables too!!). You stated what I have found using them perfectly!

Tony D.

Hi Tony,

I don't know how they perform with any other amplifiers, but based on your comments and those of others (lonewolfny42 among them), it seems clear the Silver Ref/Butler marriage is special. My Monads like 'em!

I have a pair of LOANwolf's Reality speaker cables here, too. I'm not finished with the audition, but they've performed exceptionally well thus far.

zybar · « **Reply #21 on:** 7 Jun 2006, 01:37 am »

I used the Silver Reference power cords with the McCormack DNA-500 as well as the Channel Islands D-200's. I thought the performance was excellent in both cases.

I now have the Silver Ref's on the BAT VK-600SE and will also be using it on the Bolder PS for my SB2.

Great cords at very good prices.

George

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #22 on:** 7 Jun 2006, 03:31 am »

Thank you Eric and DU/Jim for your replies.....

Chris[/list:u]

Eric · « **Reply #23 on:** 7 Jun 2006, 02:50 pm »

I was doing dom additional listening last night. I now understand what some of the earlier posters meant when they said you hear more detail, but it is not fatiguing. I became aware last night that I was hearing more nuances in the music and picking up detail I never hear before.

HumanMedia · « **Reply #24 on:** 19 Jun 2006, 10:04 am »

What is the burn-in period on these?
What sonic changes occur over burn-in?

mdconnelly · « **Reply #25 on:** 19 Jun 2006, 02:18 pm »

The cables are burned-in before they're ever shipped so I didn't find the need for an extended burn-in. There may have been just a bit of glare on the top end initially but gone within a day or so. What I noticed right from the start, however, is that these produce a very balanced, detailed and dynamic presentation emanating from a very quiet, black background.

I have heard cables that change quite a bit after a week or two but with John's early burn-in, I can't say these require or benefit from extensive additional burn-in. They're excellent right from the start.

Mike

Double Ugly · « **Reply #26 on:** 19 Jun 2006, 04:23 pm »

I'll have to disagree with Mike a bit on this one.

The factory burn-in period is approximately 18 hours, and at least in my system, that time proved insufficient. It was sometime between 3 and 5 days before the bass came in. I went to bed with it sounding quite light in the lower octave - as it had for the first several days - and awoke with it sounding great.

As should be obvious by my and Mike's experiences, YMMV.

zybar · « **Reply #27 on:** 19 Jun 2006, 04:36 pm »

My experience was more in line with Jim. While good at the start, they were some definite improvement over the course of a few weeks.

George

Double Ugly · « **Reply #28 on:** 19 Jun 2006, 05:08 pm »

I went back and looked at the dates involved, and as it turns out, I was wrong. It wasn't 3-5 days, but 12 days it took for the bass to come alive with the Silver Refs.

Depending on your system and speakers, what I heard may not be noticeable. But I agree with George...I'd give 'em at least a couple weeks.

mdconnelly · « **Reply #29 on:** 19 Jun 2006, 05:10 pm »

Well, damn! No fair that yours continued to improve and mine didn't!

Seriously, bass was exceptional right from the start in my system as were the dynamics, although top end relaxed some after a day or two. I spent a lot of time listening in those first couple weeks and really can't say I heard any change after the first week. (hmmm, I probably just need to get a more resolving system I'll bet

Mike

Double Ugly · « **Reply #30 on:** 19 Jun 2006, 05:12 pm »

Quote from: mdconnelly

(hmmm, I probably just need to get a more resolving system I'll bet

Absolutely! No doubt about it!

HumanMedia · « **Reply #31 on:** 19 Jun 2006, 10:16 pm »

Reason I ask is that I just received a pair and in the first three hours of listening, I feel the bass is too much and creates a bass bump that wasnt there with other power cords (Flavor 4, Volex). Descending double bass jumps up in volume over a specific range. Also highs are too overemphasised and unnatural.

Or maybe looking at it another way - midrange seems dampened. Fingers crosssed that it equalises ou over a few days.

Jon L · « **Reply #32 on:** 19 Jun 2006, 11:14 pm »

Quote from: HumanMedia

Reason I ask is that I just received a pair and in the first three hours of listening, I feel the bass is too much and creates a bass bump that wasnt there with other power cords (Flavor 4, Volex). Descending double bass jumps up in volume over a specific range. Also highs are too overemphasised and unnatural.

Or maybe looking at it another way - midrange seems dampened. Fingers crosssed that it equalises ou over a few days.

Heh, I had a fully broken-in Silver Ref here for awhile, and yes the highs and bass will smooth out wonderfully. Midrange, on the other hand...Well, you already know what I bought, don't you

zybar · « **Reply #33 on:** 19 Jun 2006, 11:20 pm »

Jon,

What did you buy?

George

Jon L · « **Reply #34 on:** 20 Jun 2006, 12:29 am »

Quote from: zybar

Jon,

What did you buy?

George

A different Black Sand cord. I don't have them yet, but
http://www4.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=141423&page=5

zybar · « **Reply #35 on:** 20 Jun 2006, 12:34 am »

Quote from: Jon L

Quote from: zybar
Jon,

What did you buy?

George

A different Black Sand cord. I don't have them yet, but
http://www4.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=141423&page=5

Too much work to go through pages.

How about the Cliff Note version?

George

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #36 on:** 20 Jun 2006, 12:37 am »

Quote from: Jon L

Quote from: zybar
Jon,

What did you buy?

George

A different Black Sand cord. I don't have them yet, but
http://www4.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=141423&page=5

George had the Silver Max's....and a White Light (Black Sand) power cord.

Jon L · « **Reply #37 on:** 20 Jun 2006, 04:01 am »

Quote from: zybar

Quote from: Jon L
Quote from: zybar
Jon,

What did you buy?

George

A different Black Sand cord. I don't have them yet, but
http://www4.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=141423&page=5

Too much work to go through pages.

How about the Cliff Note version?

George

Cliff Note version of what Mark1 said:

"So yes, it's [Silver Max] definitely more "refined", but it doesn't have the same degree of impact, dynamics, astonishing dynamic range, and amazing holographic sound of the Violet. I would think if the Violet was "too much" in your system, the Silver would be a great alternative."

yo2tup · « **Reply #38 on:** 24 Jun 2006, 11:12 pm »

got my blacksand Violet yesterday. paired with reality cables....incredible

i've never heard dynamics like this in my house

HumanMedia · « **Reply #39 on:** 25 Jun 2006, 02:48 am »

What components do people recommend the Black Sand cords go with?

I have the Silver Reference burning in on each of the monoblock poweramps (still changing after 6 days, made a big change after the 4th day).

But I am considering another (time to try a violet maybe?) on another component, and wondering if there is a synergy with the different cords and different components?