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Post by petea on Mar 1, 2019 10:58:49 GMT
Some time back I started migrating the system from Siltech New York analogue interconnects to Townshend Isolda DCT 300 cables, having been impressed by the extension and clarity they give as well as their naturalness. The only 'downside' of them is associated with cable management if, like on my UK system, you have restricted space behind equipment; it is really difficult to avoid kinking them where they interface with components. Having completed the transition I then spotted an ex-demo pair of Fractal cables for sale on eBay and decided to try them between the pre and power amplifiers. An expensive mistake! They are very like the DCT 300 cables, but with simply more to give, especially on vocals. I have now just finished swapping the DCT 300 cables for F1 Fractals (including 2 x 2.5 m sets linking the DAC from the streamer and phono-stage to the pre-amp). The only DCT 300 pair left in the system links the analogue output from the Naim NDX2 to the pre-amplifier a connection that is almost never used as it is only there in case I want to play a DSD file - everything else plays through the Teddy Pardo DAC at the moment.
For digital interconnects I use Townshend from DNX2 to DAC and Lector's balanced interconnect from CD transport to DAC.
The German systems are all DCT 300.
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Post by MartinT on Mar 1, 2019 11:09:30 GMT
That's interesting, Pete. I was reading about the Fractals and chatting about them with the Townshend lady at the Bristol hi-fi show.
I've described my DCT 300 XLR pair as 'wide open windows' and they really are, letting through everything, warts and all. Fantastic cables but not for a system with other issues. Their best aspects are the subterranean bass extension and their incredible dynamic swing.
If the Fractals are more of the same, then I shall be interested at some future point. The 0.8m runs are not too expensive and ideal for me as everything is placed in order, source downwards, on my system rack.
Do you hear a bigger difference with the single-ended sets, or do you not run any balanced?
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Post by petea on Mar 1, 2019 15:12:11 GMT
You can certainly expect more of the same from the Fractals and, as Max said, "He learned a few things in the 20 years since he developed the DCT 300s".
All unbalanced on the system. There are two balanced connectors on the Enigma, but the Lector was set for unbalanced when it was serviced a few years back and the TP DAC was ordered with RCA out. I might try balanced from the Uphorik to the Enigma at some point though.
Unfortunately the layout of the room in the UK means that the system has to span a doorway, hence the long cables.
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