New cables from Electra Cable

tdangelo · « **Reply #20 on:** 15 Nov 2006, 12:49 am »

Quote from: 95bcwh on 14 Nov 2006, 11:03 pm

If Danny said it's that good.. how can I ignore it???! I have just placed the order, I shall compare it with Grover and Zu Gede IC.

Thanks Danny!

hehe - me too Barry, I ordered some last night. I LOVE my Rapport Toplines but need 1.5m cables - Rapport doesn't make them in that length. I hope these sound at least as good. I have a feeling they will

95bcwh · « **Reply #21 on:** 20 Nov 2006, 06:02 am »

Danny, this Electra cable is indeed a real deal!

Does the company offers digital cable too?

Danny Richie · « **Reply #22 on:** 20 Nov 2006, 01:30 pm »

The same cable works great as digital cable too. Drop one into that location and give it a try.

95bcwh · « **Reply #23 on:** 20 Nov 2006, 02:09 pm »

Huh? I thought digital cable has to be 75 Ohm, no?

but i will give it a try, thanks

Danny Richie · « **Reply #24 on:** 20 Nov 2006, 02:56 pm »

Maybe it is. See what you think.

DSK · « **Reply #25 on:** 20 Nov 2006, 10:33 pm »

Quote from: Danny on 24 Oct 2006, 10:52 pm

I just became a distributor for a new cable company, Electra Cable.

Right now they just have interconnects, but are working on speaker cables and power cables as well.

These are the best sounding cables I have ever had in my system so I couldn't resist picking up the line, especially since they were so affordable. They are looking for more dealers and have already picked up a few more, so it looks like these might become very popular in no time.

Danny, IIRC you previously used the Reality Cables. I realise that you have a vested interest in these new cables, but may I ask how you feel they compare to the Reality IC's (and the Audience Au24 IC's if you have heard them)?

Danny Richie · « **Reply #26 on:** 21 Nov 2006, 12:10 am »

Quote

Danny, IIRC you previously used the Reality Cables. I realise that you have a vested interest in these new cables, but may I ask how you feel they compare to the Reality IC's (and the Audience Au24 IC's if you have heard them)?

Yep, I have compared the Electra Cables with the Reality Cables on my system and several others. I have even had Gregg Straley come here to my house and we A/B'ed cables together. He and I have traded cable information and sent each other different cables to try. In fact we have become quite good friends.

The answer is that there is no clear cut answer. It all depends on the system and how it sounds as to which cables work the best with it. Both cables have their strengths but are also different.

With a solid state system, a system with a brighter or hotter top end, or with a little grudge in the top end, then the Reality cables are a good match. Gregg's cables tended to tame a little of the top end without taking anything away from the music. If the bottom end is thin or loose then Gregg's cables are good in restoring that bottom end crispness and control. His cables win in the bottom end extension department.

The Electra Cables are what I favor in my system. My system uses all Dodd Audio tube gear. It is extremely clean and resolving. The Electra Cables open up the top end and give me a sense of "air" that I don't get as well with Gregg's cables. They tend to open up the sound stage. This is likely due to the lower capacitance geometry design of the Electra Cables. The top end is slightly more extended. I get a little better image focus with the Electra Cables also, but not quite the bottom extension of Gregg's cables. With a pair of speakers that doesn't play very low to begin with this might go unnoticed, or if you have a system with a heavier bottom end then the Electra Cables might be a better solution.

However, when I dropped in some of the digital amps that were here for the digital amp shoot out that I hosted. I tended to favor Gregg's cables.

Both cables are very good, just different.

Gregg actually likes the Electra Cables too. He might pick them up and be a dealer for them soon as well. We'll see.

For what it's worth, I still currently use Gregg's speaker cables. I like 'em!

zybar · « **Reply #27 on:** 21 Nov 2006, 12:39 am »

I am using Gregg's speaker cables and will be adding the Electra ic's into the system tomorrow or Wed.

I just had Gregg's ic's in house and I think I will be able to give some comments on how the Electra compares.

BTW, my reference is the VH Audio Symmetry ic.

George

tdangelo · « **Reply #28 on:** 21 Nov 2006, 12:44 am »

so far the Electra's sound very nice in my system. No glare or brightness at all which I'm very critical of - same as Barry... Like I said before I'm very happy with my Rapport Toplines but needed longer cables which Rapport doesn't make ;( The Electra are working out very nicely! I'm getting some Grover U8s this week to compare

I was gonna just stop and keep the Electra but Grover really wanted me to try his so I will

Tony

DSK · « **Reply #29 on:** 21 Nov 2006, 01:28 am »

Guys, thanks for your thoughts, very interesting.

Danny, reading between the lines, is it correct to deduce that Reality IC's and SC's together could be a bit soft on top (assuming they have the same sound)?
And, Electra IC's and SC's together could be a little bright (for want of a better word) on top (assuming they too have a similar sound)?

So, therefore, Reality IC's + Electra SC's would be a better combination. And, Electra IC's + Reality SC's would also be a better combination. And, each of these mixed combinations would sound much the same as each other, but better than all Reality or all Electra?

Also, you mention highs and bass, but not mids. Any preferences in mids?

95bcwh · « **Reply #30 on:** 21 Nov 2006, 02:05 am »

Danny's comment is spot-on. I had listened to both Reality IC and the Electra so I can appreciate exactly what Danny is talking about.

denjo · « **Reply #31 on:** 21 Nov 2006, 06:25 am »

I have not heard the Electras but Gregg's Reality Cables are an excellent synergistic combo with my CIAudio digital amps!I agree with Danny that system synergy is the key!

Dennis

Danny Richie · « **Reply #32 on:** 21 Nov 2006, 03:01 pm »

Quote

is it correct to deduce that Reality IC's and SC's together could be a bit soft on top (assuming they have the same sound)?

Not really. While a low capacitance design is needed for interconnect a higher capacitance and lower inductance design is needed for speaker cables. You can't really characterize the sound of both of them as being the same or like sounding.

Quote

And, Electra IC's and SC's together could be a little bright (for want of a better word) on top (assuming they too have a similar sound)?

Right now Electra Cable has yet to release a speaker cable. I wouldn't characterize their IC's as being bright either. I tend to think of bright as an amplitude rise in the top end. It is not possible for cables to produce an amplitude gain in any way. They can only contribute to a decrease in output do to capacitance, inductance or resistance.

Quote

So, therefore, Reality IC's + Electra SC's would be a better combination. And, Electra IC's + Reality SC's would also be a better combination. And, each of these mixed combinations would sound much the same as each other, but better than all Reality or all Electra?

Again there are no Electra speaker cables as of yet. I have tried a lot of different cables and built a lot of different cables and right now in my system I like Gregg's cables that use the 4 conductor twist.

Quote

Also, you mention highs and bass, but not mids. Any preferences in mids?

In this regard I favored the Electra Cables in my system. They gave a little better focus of the midrange and allowed it to be more pin point with more space between the singer and instruments. Female vocals had a little better sense of air and naturalness. It had better layering.

With Gregg's cables in my system (key words "in my system") the midrange was a little bigger (less focused) and transitions into other parts of the music with a little less space between them. Vocals might have been slightly heavier with a touch more weight, fullness, or body.

95bcwh · « **Reply #33 on:** 21 Nov 2006, 07:20 pm »

darn...I just realized that I have been running the Electra cable in the wrong direction!

But even then, it already sounded so good in my system. It will take a very special cable to beat the Electra, so far I have found none yet. I just received a pair of Nordost Valhalla for audition, and I really cannot say the Valhalla is better than the Electra despite it's massive price-tag

DSK · « **Reply #34 on:** 21 Nov 2006, 08:45 pm »

Danny, many thanks for such a comprehensive response.

My deductions were based on the assumption that the Electra IC's and SC's (when released) would have the same 'house' sound, but your reference to the difference in required topologies for each type of cable indicates that this may not be a reasonable assumption (although they often do). Thanks Danny.

Big Red Machine · « **Reply #35 on:** 21 Nov 2006, 09:55 pm »

Hey guys, where would the IC's make the most notable difference? Between CD and Pre or Pre and Amp?

I'd like to try a pair, but the lengths are different for the 2 linkages above so not sure where to start.

Pete

DSK · « **Reply #36 on:** 21 Nov 2006, 10:02 pm »

Quote from: 95bcwh on 21 Nov 2006, 07:20 pm

darn...I just realized that I have been running the Electra cable in the wrong direction!

Before reversing them, remember to play your music backwards to undo the incorrect break-in!

Danny Richie · « **Reply #37 on:** 21 Nov 2006, 11:09 pm »

Quote

Hey guys, where would the IC's make the most notable difference? Between CD and Pre or Pre and Amp?

I'd like to try a pair, but the lengths are different for the 2 linkages above so not sure where to start.

Honestly, replace them both.

zybar · « **Reply #38 on:** 25 Nov 2006, 04:22 pm »

I finally found some time to put the Electra IC's in my main system and I have to say that my initial impressions are quite favorable.

As has been mentioned, they do have a very good sense of air and openess. I also think they have a very black background which is allowing for more detail to come through when I directly compare them to a pair of VH Audio Symmetry balanced ic's going through an xlr to rca adapter (not exactly a fair comparison, but it is what I have). Imaging and soundstage also improved by a noticeable amount. Bass is stronger with better definition and detail as well.

I don't hear any grain, sibillance, or any other negatives that would make me want to take them out of the system.

Let me get some more time with them before I give a proper review, but these do seem like quite the bargain at their current price.

George

95bcwh · « **Reply #39 on:** 25 Nov 2006, 06:55 pm »

I am also getting 1 single Electra cable to be used as the digital cable to compared against Zu Ash and VH Pulsar Nextgen WBT, stay tuned