Hello Fellow Audiophiles,
At this time we have a large family of users of the Master-Built Audio Cables, designed and manufactured by a division of Delphi Aerospace. With the Beta testing phase of the new ULTRA design coming to a highly successful conclusion, we have discussed several different topics with a large number of customers.
A very important part of the upcoming M-B website will be the general discussion of the their technology and some suggestions on how to use these cables in the most effective manner. Even though we have been working with Nick and his team for over six years, it has taken us this length of time to fully understand the implications of these cables and how they interact with the electronics and speakers in the system. This has not been a simple or quickly done task, as I wanted to be very certain that these cables are as good as M-B has stated before I risked my reputation as a serious audiophile by recommending them to our valued customers.
In the interest of getting feedback from our customers and potential customers, I would like to submit the following items for discussion on this Forum.
1,
Break-in of cables. Cause and effect?
2.
Cable movement. Real or imaginary sonic differences?
(Note that I have not made a point of begging the question whether cables have sonic differences and are indeed "components" in their own right, as I think that everyone on this Forum knows this to be true).
BREAK-IN
According to several top scientists in the field of quantum mechanics, electrons travel through conductors both as particles and waves. This has vast implications for the accurate transmission of a complex musical waveform through a conductor. For a quick reference, see this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_mechanics (Yeah, I know, Wiki isn't exactly the best reference material available, but this article seems to have very few faults).
SIMPLE DESCRIPTION
Electrons move from a positive potential to a negative potential, and the energy of the flowing electrons travels through a "sponge" of molecules, trying to find the path of least resistance. The collision of the particles flowing from the source creates a disturbance of the wave forms, in this case the electrical signal generated by the musical notes and their frequency distribution and amplitude. These collisions between the flowing energy waves and the conduction molecules {including the insulation covering the conductors}, creates what we hear and perceive as "bright" sound. Additionally, there are several phases of sonic changes during the entire break-in process. Violetmechan has spoken about his experience of hearing the ULTRA cables break in, and has done a fine job of describing the various changes in sound that occurred during his break in tests. His very interesting thread is entitled "VSA Ultra Winter Warmers.."psychedelic trip on the musical stairway to heaven!" There are 2,000 page views on his thread, so we see this is a very popular topic.
HOW BREAK-IN "WORKS"
After a certain period of time has passed with the signal flowing constantly, the electrical signal has "pushed" the free radical electrons out of the way, creating a smoother flow-path for the energy. The dielectric covering that touches the conductors also undergoes a change (which can be measured) as well. According to engineers at WBT and Furutech, the connectors also undergo an electromechanical alteration during the break in process, so you can imagine how complex all of these effects can behave. It is "no wonder" that break in has been broadly dismissed by those who have not done the research or simply taken the time to listen!
TEST THIS THEORY YOURSELF
Break-in is easy to hear, by anyone using this method:
a. Buy a pair of interconnects, they can be $10/pr from Radio Shack, it does not matter.
b. Using one channel of your stereo system ONLY, listen to that interconnect for a few hours and make written notes on how you believe this interconnect is affecting the sound. Make sure that you listen to both interconnects to ensure that they sound the same. (Don't laugh, but manufacturing differences between two interconnects can be often heard in "cheap" interconnects since they are made with high speed machinery and use press-fit connectors with very poor tolerances).
Listen to both of the interconnects ON THE SAME CHANNEL, as you do not want to hear a saxophone on one channel and a clarinet in the other channel (for example). This is a test using a mono phonic source; stereo would only confuse the issue at hand.
c. Break in one (and only one) of the interconnects by simply playing it. To continue to enjoy your stereo, use one of your previously-used interconnects on the other channel. Play the system with one Radio Shack interconnect and your original interconnect on the other channel, for approximately 300 hours or more. Note that only a few hours of playing time will have no effect, since it takes quite a bit of energy to establish the flow-path.
d. Go back to the mono setup with only one channel, and then compare the broken-in interconnect with the new one that had zero break in time. Since you most likely do not have an a/b/x comparator, use the memory test: Play one of your favorite recordings several times through the broken in interconnect, then pull it out and install the raw one. If you hear a difference, it means that break in did have an effect. If you do not hear a difference, please let us know on this thread. It will be fun to read about the results you will all achieve.
AUDIBILITY OF MOLECULAR DISTRIBUTION (CAUSED BY MOVEMENT)
The second topic was brought up by a few customers, including Violetmechan who just purchased a set of ULTRA speaker cables for his VR-9SE Mk2 system. If you have read the amazing story of his audio journey, especially the last post he wrote about having to move the cables around, you know he has clearly heard the effects of moving the cables physically. See his thread called "VSA Ultra Winter Warmers.."psychedelic trip on the musical stairway to heaven!"
REDISTRIBUTION OF MOLECULES AFTER PHYSICAL MOVEMENT
Nick and his team at Delphi explained that when any cable is moved physically after the break in process, the molecules of the conductors are redistributed, and the path of least resistance has to be recreated again. Luckily for us audiophiles, this "settling" time is only a few hours; ULTRA seems to take a constant 8-12 hours before the sound quality becomes uniform.
This effect is best heard with extremely transparent cables; it may be possible that the "veil" created by impurities in the conductor, insulation, and excessive reactances in the LCR product will mask this effect. L= inductance, C= capacitance, and R= resistance. Their "product" is the ratio between these three electrical phenomena and can become quite complex in the miliions of combinations of various L/C/R ratios.
TRY THEM IN YOUR SYSTEM
We at Von Schweikert Audio Corp invite you to test the Master-Built cables in your own system. As one of the largest distributors of the M-B cables in the USA, we offer low prices along with a satisfaction guarantee. If you use the M-B cables for three months and do not believe that they are the ones for you, simply return them. There is no restocking fee and we pay for shipping both ways, even if you live outside the USA. I am happy to report that not a single customer has ever returned them, and we've sold over 200 complete wiring looms of the four models of M-B cables. Remember, it takes about two or three months to not only break them in, but they need to "settle" into your system, so that is why we will let you use them for 90 days with no obligation.
REFERENCES
If you read The Absolute Sound magazine, you'll know that in June 2014, our VR-100XS was awarded Best Sound of The Show by Robert Harley, their esteemed editor and seasoned audiophile. In October 2014, our VR-55 Aktive was awarded Best Sound Of The Show, once again by TAS, but was voted by several of their reviewers not including Mr. Harley. The only reason I mention this is because these two systems had one thing in common: both used Master-Built Audio Cables throughout, including Signature and ULTRA series. Both systems also used Constellation electronics with a front end by YFS and EMM Labs. If the Master-Built cables help us achieve the sound that reviewers have voted Best of Show, you may wish to try these cables in your own system if you are interested in achieving the sound your components are capable of.
Several customers have told us that the Signature power cords made more of an improvement than their new $20,000 preamp or $45,000 power amp. Where ULTRA is concerned, you might want to PM either kernalbob or violetmechan to get some unbiased answers to your questions, since we might be considered to be biased when we say that customers indicate that ULTRA changed their system more than any other component in their system, including their speakers! By the way, only half of the M-B customer group use VSA speakers, some of them own other esteemed brands of speakers. Please note that these cables were not designed expressly for use with our speaker systems, they are "universal."
If you have an interest in testing the Master-Built cables in your own system, please email me for a Price List and Technology Paper. I can be reached at albert@vonschweikert.com or at home at hifiguy247@gmail.com. I'm looking forward to hearing from all of you!
As always,
Happy Listening!
Albert Von Schweikert
