Number 30.....

SACD

SHM-CD

Saw a nice review of this one on Computer Audiophile today......
Very nice recording.

followed by


Both from this set

"The Herbie Hancock Trio" (Carter, Williams) from the Complete Columbia Albums box set

Oh you wouldn't like Sunlight, it's a very electronic album with electronic keyboards and even processed vocals and a pop/disco feel--a lot like the George Duke albums of the 'seventies and 'eighties but with a bit more of a mainstream jazz sensibility. I think you would like all the acoustic oriented Hancock albums (the trio above, the VSOP ones, etc.) and wouldn't like those with electric and electronic instruments, he had a sort of split nature going on then. I'm considerably more a fan of music with electric and electronic music than you. I grew into loving it over the years.

Sorry to hear that the RCA is not quite cutting it. I haven't had problems with noise from 274B Valve Arts that I can remember. And I would have classified the RCA 5U4 that I've used (I've stuck with bottle type the last ten years or so) as actually warmer. So maybe you just don't have a good pair or they need to burn in some more? Glad you hear those improvements in the second system, and I suspect you will in the other system too, probably more so, or perhaps the cable is letting you hear more of the tube's qualities, the flip side of great resolution from cables. . . those are two good sets of cables!

The Joni Letters is a good one. . . you'd like the electric elements of that I think. I enjoy that cd a lot.

The Evolution I think succeeds for me because it has the best of both the copper and silver in its construction, and using the Ohno Continuous Cast metal as well, which I find has a great quality to it. I think the Decware interconnects are a good value for the money, but I'm sold on VooDoo Cable.

Anyway, try the Evolutions anywhere you can and let me know what you think.

Lon,  after you pointed out that my Nanotec speaker cables had the Ohno Continuous Copper (OCC), I did some more reading about that copper and specifically about my speaker cables.  The cables I have, use Oxygen Free Copper wire for the negative/Black lead and the Ohno CC for the Hot/Red lead...both in a shark oil colloid impregnated with a mixture of Gold and silver particles.  It's got me thinking...why not use the Ohno CC wire for both leads?  It couldn't make things worse could it.  Nanotec has replaced the Red Ohno CC wire with  a Purple wire that uses the newly-developed Japanese copper from Hitachi, called HiFC; this copper incorporates a small amount of titanium into the alloy, which binds to any impurities, such as oxygen, hydrogen an other metals. (https://www.hitachi-metals.co.jp/e/products/auto/el/purecopper_hifc.html)  I have not been able to find any reviews of the sound performance of this new wire compared to the Ohno CC wire...let's say I'm a bit skeptical but they are charging a little more for the new wire.  I'm thinking of using speaker cables using both legs of the Ohno CC or one leg of each the HiFC and Ohno CC for each speaker.  What do you think...I need to get Will to weigh in on this since he has more experience than us with Nanotec speaker cables...I'll copy and email this to him.  Mark.

Since FUNKY Hancock seems to be helping me deal with the sleet and snow I moved on to another from this set.

I've moved to the Cave for some serious listening.  I'm starting with CD #5 of 6 of this set using the Denon DCD A 100 player using the Decware DSR to the CSP3...I'll use an evolution cable later but for now it's on the ZP3 which is warming up.  The Denon has been running a CD continuously for more than 6 days straight and I must admit...it doesn't sound any different.  So maybe it was broken in when I got it.  Still a bit bright for my tastes but I'll try different interconnects with it besides the Decware Silver Reference.  I've got three others to try... the Grover Huffman ZX+ uses ribbons of copper, silver and aluminum, a Zu Audio Gede is a shielded copper cable and the Voodoo Evolution I'm currently auditioning in both my systems in various positions.I just remembered, I'm also using only a stock Decware power cord with the Dennon...later I'll take the Zu Audio Mission power cord from the Jolida CDP and use it with the Dennon.  Enough...back to the Music!  Mark.

Mark, I've never used the stock cord with the Denon, do try others; I felt it SANG with the PS Audio PerfectWave AC-12 I used with it. And the Evolution interconnects as well.

Yes, those Valve Art rectifiers work well in the Torii Mk III (and even better in my Mk II). . . they just fit. And. . . I found I preferred the cryo'd versions that I got Ron at cryoset to stock.

But. . . I don't like it myself in the ZP3, but everything revolves around the whole tube complement I think. I'm using a 'forties RCA 5Y3GT in the ZP3 that just trumps any other rectifier I've tried, and works really well with the Raytheon and TAD tubes I have been alternating in the ZP3.

Lon, unless you die and leave me your PS Audio Perfect Wave AC-12 cords, I don't think they'll find their way into my system...hehe.

In the ZP3 I bought a NOS, I think 50's, RCA 5Y3G Coke bottle rectifier from Mike B. and have never tried anything else.  It was this type of tube that Steve originally used to voice this amazing product and I've not felt a need to experiment at that position. I'm using the 50's RCA OA3 without experimentation but the three small tubes have been rolled countless times...it is one of my greatest pleasures.

I do think I need to consider buying a few better Power cords. I'm happy with the three Zu Audio Mission Power Cords I use.  I have been meaning to email Mike B. to see what these are that he sent with the Zen Signature Monoblocks...they seem much better than stock although I can't tell who manufactured them from their markings.  Mark.

Mark,

Interesting idea on the Nanotecs. I am a little confused. I thought I remembered yours having all the same kind of wires? Are different numbers marked on the insulation? If not, I am thinking it may be that yours are already all OCC with gold and silver particles?

I have experimented with a thin strand of titanium wire in a multi wire size/metal-type speaker cable I made. After burnin I liked how a small dose of titanium brought out the top, but judging from your issues with the top, I just can't say if this is a good idea for you or not.

Like Lon says, if it is good, why change. But on the other hand, experimentation can be really good.

Also, the area of the top that is offensive to you may be lower than the titanium helps bring out, so you may find you are like me, where bringing up the very top information actually softens the top by filling it out with more textures and air...less rigid. Who knows...so many anomalies are room and gear/cable/vibration/synergy issues.

The purity factor they talk about in the new wire sounds interesting, presumably helping them get a smoother structure and slightly softer wire. I know I like soft annealed silver and not harder, and guess the smoother sonic characteristic translate to copper... part of why OCC is popular? Just brain storming...Though the different metals have family qualities, I know from listening to different cables that silver is not silver and copper is not copper so to speak. All the variables count...gauge, purity, softness/hardness, twisting, insulation, solder, connectors.....I have heard copper I really like, and copper I think is hard...same with silver.

With your wires, the twisting was rather amazing, once right, causing more definition, particularly lower down, and without losing friendliness and warmth...To me it made a cable with potential become one I really liked, bringing its good qualities out more completely. Who knows, it may be that the titanium in the new wire will cause the untwisted cable to be similar to what yours twisted sound like???

Will, the Black/negative wire is Oxygen Free copper (OFC) not the Ohno Continuous Copper that Nanotec calls PC-OCC as is found in the red/hot wire.  I've given you a PDF of their literature...the boxes with features quickly points out the wire used.  Both use the same colloidal mixture of Gold and Silver.

http://jaguaraudiodesign.com/store/Nanotec%20SP-SR%20Speaker%20Cables.pdf

The Nanotec cables in the Cave ain't going nowhere...hehe.  I can't even bring myself to put them in my second system to see how they do there.  What I'm thinking is for my second system, to order a 3 meter set using the Red Ohno CC wire for both legs and also buying two 3 meter lengths so I could try the new purple wire in combination with the other two types...black or red...OFC or OCC.  I would use them unterminated with bare wire until I decided what I prefer. Good connectors cost as much as the wire itself...or so it seems.

My thinking on the Titanium is that as it is only a "Trace" amount that the effect on the wire's sonic character should be negligible.

Just saw your other post...after getting to the ZP3 with a flashlight...it is definitely a 5Y3G per it's marking.  Rolling that tube will have to wait until I decide on new interconnects. Or who knows, maybe I'll get ambitious one day and do it. So much to do...so little time...Mark.

Well Mark, I do have power cables to sell. .. I have two Burly power cords listed, and I also have some Analysis Plus and PS Audio xStream Statements that I will probably end up selling. . . .

This Music Matters Blue Note reissue...

Last jazz cd today (probably). A nice one.

This one for 25 minutes then have to go...

I found this when looking at some clutter on my Bar.  This CD was released in 2008 and recorded in 1967. I must have bought it since my reentry into Hi Fi but can't remember listening to it...it is fantastic.  A Quartet with Chick Corea, Ron Carter and Grady Tate.