Anti-Cables

tomjtx · « **on:** 14 Dec 2006, 12:04 am »

I just got my Anti-Cable speaker cable. They are replacing my XLO Signature speaker cables wich connect my Rowland amp to my Watt/Puppys. I also got Anti-Cable puppy tails.
The Anti-Cables blow away the XLO in every possible way IMHO. Better bass , more extended treble w/o fatigue , bigger soundstage. more air. more decay. more hall ambience. removing veils blah, blah....all the audiophile good stuff. Every parameter just sounds more real. lighter(in the good sense. like live performance)

I also have XLO Sig. balanced IC's.
Does anyone have experience with the Anti-Cable IC's ? Do they also make this much improvement?

Please feel free to recommend sanely priced IC's

XLO's were 2,500 the Anti's were 100.00

2bigears · « **Reply #1 on:** 14 Dec 2006, 02:26 am »

this is the stuff we like to hear,can you say VOODOO.[ could use a set of good copper i/c's myself.]

SET Man · « **Reply #2 on:** 14 Dec 2006, 03:03 am »

Quote from: tomjtx on 14 Dec 2006, 12:04 am

XLO's were 2,500 the Anti's were 100.00

Hey!

Now that is somthing!

Well, congratulation on your new better cheaper cables! Now you could sell those high price XLO and use the money to buy more musics!

Take care,
Buddy

PaulFolbrecht · « **Reply #3 on:** 14 Dec 2006, 03:17 am »

I switched to anti-cable speaker cable from Wireworld Polaris (FAR pricier) last year and lost nothing.

Your post is timely, as just yesterday I ordered 2 of their ICs to try, also against my WW Polaris stuff. We shall see.

I feel like my system is so revealing now that I'm in a very good position to make good listening evals of interconnects.

If the speaker cable is any indication, the Polaris ICs will be for sale some time soon.

tomjtx · « **Reply #4 on:** 14 Dec 2006, 04:19 am »

Quote from: PaulFolbrecht on 14 Dec 2006, 03:17 am

I switched to anti-cable speaker cable from Wireworld Polaris (FAR pricier) last year and lost nothing.

Your post is timely, as just yesterday I ordered 2 of their ICs to try, also against my WW Polaris stuff. We shall see.

I feel like my system is so revealing now that I'm in a very good position to make good listening evals of interconnects.

If the speaker cable is any indication, the Polaris ICs will be for sale some time soon.

I look forward to your evaluation Paul:-)

smccull · « **Reply #5 on:** 14 Dec 2006, 04:47 am »

I put some Anti-cables into my modest system and they totally transformed it. I had Signal Cable speaker runs from my Scott Nixon monoblocks to my Zu Druids and replaced them with Anti-Cables. The Signals had already bested many high dollar cables, in fact, I still have the ICs. But after hooking up the Anti's I turned on the system and within 10 seconds my wife said "yeah, they're better!" They are more much more coherent, bass is better and the dynamic and harmonic subtleties come through better. They're also much quieter, if that's even possible. And I don't even have them separated from one another and off the carpeted floor. In fact, because I have more length than I really need, they're a jumbled mess on the carpet, stuff up under the speakers.

I'm contemplating the ICs and want to hear from folks who have those too.

tomjtx · « **Reply #6 on:** 14 Dec 2006, 10:46 am »

Thanks for the advice everyone

gooberdude · « **Reply #7 on:** 14 Dec 2006, 04:51 pm »

Hey guys,

Be SURE to test any Speltz cabling for the proper direction. I've owned a set of anti-cables for
2 years and like them a lot, and now own 2 sets of anti-IC's with Bullett Plugs (buy these!)

to my ears, Speltz's cables are quite directional...one way has a smoooother presentation, tighter bass and a better 3-D presentation. the way i test is with all my gear cold (turned off, then on only for the testing). pick one song you can stand to listen to over and over, and make sure the 1st minute is tolerable. if you hear a direction that imparts more warmth, to me, that's the proper direction. if you hear more bass, burn that direction in!

for speaker cables, listen to one speaker at a time...it'd be impossible to get it right listening in stereo.

all of paul's cables have taken about a month to properly burn in and sound right. for the $, i
don't think these can be beat, especially the IC's.

i had the anti-cables in place for over a year then learned that some copper cables are directional. On a whim, i switched the + cable and couldn't hear a change so i put it back to the orig direction. When i swapped the - cable there was a definite change. I experienced this with both cables, even though both had been burned in for months and months going to 'wrong' way.

best part about the anti-cables is they have built in dielectric & solder free banana plugs. If your sp posts accept banana's, insert a bare end all the way into the hole and then bend the cable back....you'll notice how it stays put in the post. Next, remove it and bend the last cm in a few mm, just bend it a small amount. When you slide the bare end into the banana hole you'll notice it 'snaps' into place and is quite secure. I did this with my Thiel speakers and it works great, even though the Thiel sp posts are under the speaker and the speltz banana ends are hanging upside down 24/7. bending the last cm of the bare end creates a spring action inside the sp post. The worst part of anti-cables is I found this out after destroying the thin plastic screw down collars on a new set of Eichmann Cablepods. the solid core wire is tooo much stress on the plastic collars....

i've compared speltz's stuff to a $120 Mapleshade IC, which the anti-IC destroys completely, and homemade cryo'd CAT5 sp cable recipe which sounds terrible compared to the anti-cables.

i also have a new silver IC from Promitheus audio, but i haven't compared the 2 yet...the anti-IC's are the only IC's i have that can go between my TVC and amp without an audible hum occurring.

matt

tomjtx · « **Reply #8 on:** 14 Dec 2006, 10:13 pm »

Interesting, gooberdude.

gooberdude · « **Reply #9 on:** 14 Dec 2006, 10:30 pm »

hey Tom,

give it a try and call me crazy if you can't hear the diff! If you have good, revealing IC's in betwen your pre and amp, test for IC directionality with a source. It'd be great if you could somehow leave your amp/pre & sources on while you swap the cables around. If you can't, try and level the playing field by using all cold gear...that way a warm amp or source won't cloud the results. i've explained this to a # of forum guys, most agree they hear the results as i do. the key is not listening too hard! Pick 1 minute sections of a song, listen a few times each way and the difference, if there is one, should be audible.

i always follow the bass. if you turn them one way and its more 'detailed'...i think you got the wrong direction.

back in my youth i'd unplug an amp that had been on for 3 weeks, plug in a brand new cable, and try to 'evaluate' the cable within 5 minutes. Even if my old cables were lengths of rope they'd still sound better than a cold SS amp and a new cable in place.

i'm all about paul's cables...i like simple, straightforward and cheap aa

i also like bass, 3-D imaging & no harshness....speltz's products rock.

burn-in on for all 3 pairs of my speltz cables has been identical. i find the direction i like and for a month they sound good, but the deepest bass and sweetest mids haven't shown themselves. gradually they do and finally the high end gets really silky smooth. throughout the month or so they never sound bad though.

matt

tomjtx · « **Reply #10 on:** 14 Dec 2006, 11:36 pm »

Cool, Goober,
I have XLO Signature Balanced IC's so I can plug and unplug with everything on.
I tried different directions but didn't hear any dif. I'm running Rowland into Watt/Pups so it's a pretty revealing system

I have now twisted the wires and found a slight improvement in the treble.

The treble is smooth and liquid w/o any grain or hash,
I will likely experiment more in the future , but, for now I am plannijg to enjoy the IC's which I will order soon

gooberdude · « **Reply #11 on:** 15 Dec 2006, 01:47 am »

you have anti-cables running into Wattpuppy's? that's awesome....

what other cables can you compare w/the anti-cables?

if twisting the a-c works out better for you, that's great. the high end gets harsh
every time i've tried. try playing around with a set-up so only a few cushy supports touch each cable.

if you flick the cable with your fingernail, somewhere in the middle of the length, you'll notice the sp cable riiiings for a while. one guy mentioned he wraps a 1"x1" piece of deflex around it, like a pig-in-the-blanket. i keep mine off the carpet with ceramic insulators & lay a piece of spongy shelf paper inbetween the insulator & the cable.

a musical & simple product to be sure.

tomjtx · « **Reply #12 on:** 15 Dec 2006, 01:57 am »

Quote from: gooberdude on 15 Dec 2006, 01:47 am

you have anti-cables running into Wattpuppy's? that's awesome....

what other cables can you compare w/the anti-cables?

I only have the 3,000.00 XLO. The Anti's smoke em.

if twisting the a-c works out better for you, that's great. the high end gets harsh
every time i've tried.

The XLO's are harsh in my system . the anti's are smooth as silk.

try playing around with a set-up so only a few cushy supports touch each cable.

The right speaker cable is supported by my amp stand , the left is off the ground supported by the disconnected XLO's a 3,000.0
cable lifter.................I gotta sell them.

if you flick the cable with your fingernail, somewhere in the middle of the length, you'll notice the sp cable riiiings for a while. one guy mentioned he wraps a 1"x1" piece of deflex around it, like a pig-in-the-blanket. i keep mine off the carpet with ceramic insulators & lay a piece of spongy shelf paper inbetween the insulator & the cable.

a musical & simple product to be sure.

tomjtx · « **Reply #13 on:** 15 Dec 2006, 02:03 am »

Well that post was graphically unclear.

The anti's twisted have a much smoother but more detailed high end for me.

My anti's are off the floor supported by the XLO's

Expensive cable lifters.

The Anti's are so much better than the XLO that I would be laughing if I couldn't remember how much I spent

Now I have to find someone with "better " ears and a "better" system to buy the XLO's

gooberdude · « **Reply #14 on:** 15 Dec 2006, 02:26 am »

very cool.

you'll dig the synergy if you try out the anti-IC's as well.

smargo · « **Reply #15 on:** 15 Dec 2006, 04:12 am »

Quote from: tomjtx on 15 Dec 2006, 02:03 am

Well that post was graphically unclear.

The anti's twisted have a much smoother but more detailed high end for me.

My anti's are off the floor supported by the XLO's Expensive cable lifters.

The Anti's are so much better than the XLO that I would be laughing if I couldn't remember how much I spent
Now I have to find someone with "better " ears and a "better" system to buy the XLO's

The ic's are very good as well - i have had them for about 6 months and together with the anti -cables there is just more of what sounds right - its hard to believe how good this combo is - but when you take them out and them put them back in - it's like taking a good shit after being constipated

regards
smargo

SET Man · « **Reply #16 on:** 15 Dec 2006, 04:19 am »

Quote from: tomjtx on 15 Dec 2006, 02:03 am

.....The anti's twisted have a much smoother but more detailed high end for me.

Hey!

I made my own cable and yes I found that for speaker cable twisted them every about 2" in my case sound better than parallel run of the same cable.

Take care,
Buddy

rollo · « **Reply #17 on:** 15 Dec 2006, 04:43 pm »

Have listened to AC IC's {copper] with AC speaker cable with excellent results.Together this combo is tough to beat.
These cables are a bear to break in [about 200 hrs] and don't bend or move them once broken in as they will require another short break in.Have tried with other cables and each holds its own.However when used together the [sprk,IC] the synergy is obvious.
The Eichman Bullet plugs do make a substantial difference for the better.Speltz offers a silver IC with silver Bullets that is just amazing.The speed,clarity and the bass is tough to beat and we have tried.I believe they cost $200/mtr.The copper has a darker presentation and maybe a touch rounded at the top compared to the silver.
Twisting the speaker cable every 3" has an effect on the top as well.Not as detailed and slightly better focus.With a 30 day money back guar. give em a try you may be shocked.NO AFFILIATION WITH ANTI-CABLE.
Happy listening rollo

gooberdude · « **Reply #18 on:** 15 Dec 2006, 06:06 pm »

Hey Rollo,

Is there any info on the net about Speltz's silver IC's? I just checked the website and
there's nothing. is it the same cable design, color, etc?

I've been using a Promitheus Audio silver IC on my cdp and like it, but last night i listened with an older set of anti-IC's and the difference is big. there's really no comparison, the anti-IC sounds better to my ears. more definition, musicians are spread out & the low end authority is fantastic. maybe i'm not used to all the 'air' that silver produces? the silver IC's aren't shielded either, that may be an issue, but has not caused issues with a mapleshade IC i have (when used between a source and preamp).

my 2 pairs of anti-IC's a little difft from one another. the older version's positive cable is a thinner gauge than the pair i bought a few months back. i have not compared them directly, but using them both in the signal chain + the anti-cables sounds terrific. the ONLY problem is sometimes when i'm swapping cables the anti-IC's attach to one another like angry Slinky's (or kids w/braces making out!)

i'm experiencing a good synergy with Oyaide AC products (plugs & outlets) combined with Speltz's cables.

matt

tomjtx · « **Reply #19 on:** 16 Dec 2006, 12:53 am »

If these get better with break in then I'll be more than happy:-)