0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic. Read 7042 times.
The pieces I was playing felt shorter than usual in the sense that I would be absorbed in them and then surprised to hear that they were ending - this has never happened to me before in auditioning any system change. There was also a sense of being drawn deeper into the musical field and the story being created by the players, and a better sense of the players and their personalities if you will, not just instruments.
As the Ultras relax and open they are soaring in a straight line towards perfection. They do not seem cool, rather dead-on-neutral. I suspect that what you will hear is mostly what your other equipment is capable of and this may be a good bit more quality than you thought, given that with Ultra you are removing so much distortion from the system. If you want a touch of warmth or forgiveness of any harshness, the copper Signatures may be better, for example with a computer front end and mid solid state. And the Signature cable is indeed stellar in its own right. But with most turntables (I suspect), with very high quality digital, and with my tubed Ayon preamp, there is a natural warmth conveyed. In any case all this enhanced detail is never glassy, hard, harsh, peaked, or at the expense of the organic wholeness and balance of the music. It just sounds like a clearer window. At this point you would have to pry the Ultra out of my cold dead hands!
MtJoe Thanks for writing. Sounds like you are a happy camper too! What music cuts do you find draw in non audiophiles, the subtle or the dramatic?I was taught and felt that you got every thing else right about your system and then started to play with cables. Now I am leaning toward get the best cables you can afford first, so you can really read the potential of your current equipment and any equipment you might audition.
How much do these cables cost? Is it some kind of secret? I have never seen anyone post a price on any of the Master Built cables (at any level). Is there a price list somewhere? Do you have to call someone just to get info? Why such a secret?
The poster asks legitimate questions. In another AC thread, http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=140706.0, questions about prices were asked, and not answered. Though other superficial information was provided.There is a paucity of information about these cables. Apparently, you have to email someone to get it. If this is not a secret, it is the next best thing.While no one expects them to provide trade secrets or proprietary information, is there a web site containing some basic information on them, to include pricing?
Questions about price are legitimate. Best I know and VSA can chime in, the folks in charge of the cables are at this time are getting the price list and a website firmed up. The VSA folks have been so busy lately given the popularity of their speakers that everyone is working to max capacity. I am reluctant to post prices that I was quoted here because there may have been changes since my purchase many months ago. But it is correct that a simple call (they do usually answer in a few rings) to VSA at (951) 682-0706 will satisfy your questions. It is not like a secret club or anything.
Update - My wife has been in Hawaii for these two weeks as a balance to my stereo purchases. She had a great time swimming with dolphins and whales. Meanwhile I have played my system nearly non stop, putting many hours on my new Ultra speaker cables, so thought I would post a follow-up. The Ultras, great out of the box (see initial report) continue to improve. They became more open, relaxed, and liquid. I have been working through many recordings that I have not played in a long time, and about a third of them surprise me with shockingly new levels of sound stage depth with the Ultras. Other recordings are revealing delights in new found micro detail particularly in the highs yet still with no etch, grain, or over-prominence. Bass also continues to improve in impact and definition, enough so that I turned down the bass adjustment of my 55's a touch compared to when using the Signature cables. I am happy enough with the Ultra to consider this a substantial system upgrade which I judge to beat any currently contemplated upgrade to pre-amp or amp, and so I boxed up my Signatures to ship back to VSA as part of the trade upwards. If anybody is in the market for a pair of well broken in but excellent shape Signatures VSA should have mine by today. I talked to Albert this week and he states that several longer term Ultra owners are stating that in the first 6 months to a year one can expect continued improvements particularly in richness, fullness, and warmth. So I am listening happily, noting the biggest improvements over the terrific Signatures on very well recorded pieces including classical, large dynamic orchestral such as organ and piano concertos, live recordings, and some new age and world music. Sixties rock not so much change but even some Taylor Swift stuff is very impressive. Hope this helps give an idea of what is going on.
