Thought I would post my recent experiences with cables to get us started.
I had always thought that it made sense to have a quality interconnect or speaker wire carrying the signal between my components, but I really didn't think it would make a huge difference. The most I had ever paid for interconnects was about $100 for a pair of Kimber PBJ's. Ran them for about 10 years, and was not unahppy with them. Just did not think about it very much. I had made a pair myself using Canare wire and some quality connectors. Compared the two, but I never really noticed a huge difference.

At the AK Toronto meet, Gary P brought along some interconnects for us to have a listen to. To be honest, I figured we were just gonna humour him and try them, but I certainly was not expecting any big difference. Gary was looking pretty smug through all of this, like he knew what was gonna happen. Anyway, plugged them in, started up the same track we had been listening to and the difference was huge! I was walking back to my seat when I heard it. Everything smoothed right out. Imaging got better and smoother. Some brightness and roughness that we had been hearing in the highs just went away. I couldn't believe the difference. Put the PBJ's back in, and the harshness was back. Swapped them out, and it all became easier to listen to. Shelby 1420 was sitting beside me and he heard the same things. My friend John, LONG time audio guy and a real experienced tech, heard the same thing too. Of course, Gary was looking even more smug. What he brought with him were the little known, but obviously great quality, Grover Wires. I am sure Gary can chime in with some more detail on them sometime soon.
Just to make sure that I was not imaging things, I ran them by she who must be obeyed, without telling her what I had done. Her first question was 'What did you do to the system? It sounds so much better!" Now, she really had no clue that I was even doing anything with the interconnects, but she, who is a lifelong singer and has perfect pitch, heard it immediately. She told me in no uncertain terms that the interconnects were staying! :)
What was the first cable you heard that really made a great difference in your system?

I never tried :(

I never tried :(
Once we get the swap program rolling, you will get lots of oppurtunity to try.

Good read Erik.

My first eye opener, once my associated gear became refined enough - MIT Terminator 5 series interconnects and speaker cables. I had always believed the best connection was a good one, so I never used 'stock' cables. The MIT were the first time I had heard a difference for myself at the listening chair.

Everything has only gotten better since.

Cheers,
Russ

any chance of getting some Grover IC's and speaker wire to demo as well?

Erik,

What's the pricing run on these interconnects?

Are they going to be in the demo program?

Thanks!
Scott

first dibs! :D

Well, since nobody's claimed first dibs... think I will! ;)

Scott

:lmao:

Demo program? What's that?

Sometimes I'm so "out of it" it ain't funny!

Yes, folks, these are pure silver interconnects hand made by a guy called Grover in California. They're called Silver Reference.

They're shocking if you believe that all interconnects sound the same. ;)

Sorry, I only have one set of Grover SR speaker cables - and they are not leaving my system. :)

The SR cables are $75.00 USD + shipping for a one meter pair. I've paid more for other interconnects ($300.00 CAD for van den hul interconnects).

History: Grover first started out with "Grover" interconnects, Grover MK1, MK2 and MK3. Then he came up with Silver Reference 1 and Silver Reference 2. The SR2's were noticible improved over the SR1's. Then came the Ultimate Reference. The current version is the "UR6. " and is supposed to be amazing. It's a combination of Silver and Copper. I'm waiting for mine to arrive.

I don't believe the SR's are shielded. It negatively affects the sound.

There is a LARGE difference between Grover MK1, MK2 MK3 and Silver Reference 1 / SR2. And another LARGE difference between the SR series and the UR series.

Grover has a group of friends that he tests out his wires on. Thus there are always little upgrades.

Warning: These are made by hand. There is a loooong wait list (typically two months!!!)

Any more questions?

PS When you order the UR interconnects, you automatically get the latest version - which is called UR6. (four digits - U R 6 . ). I have no idea why they are not called UR6.0 or UR6.1 - they're just called UR6. for some reason.

Must be a California thing.... :DThe URs are $150.00 USD plus shipping.

Shipping is typically $5.00 but don't quote me on that - I am NOT Grover!

I've been aware of the plusses and minus's of cable for well over 20 years. The first "cable" that I ever heard a difference with that was verified by others, were my own. They were a set of speaker cables fasioned after the "Space and Time" cables. I then tried some custom IC's, ofc, teflon insulation, and yes they made a difference, but, admittedly, very little. I'm stll using them after 20+ years. Recently I bought a pair of the Speltz "anti-cables". These were a god send! There was no doubt about it, they removed a what sounded like a BLANKET from my speakers! Yes, it was that drastic.
Now I know we have many here that poo poo all this stuff, but IMO the reason many listeners do not hear a difference on some, but not all, of these cables, is the lack of micro-detail of the speakers. I also agree there is alot of snake oil out there, and no,I wont buy cables over 100.00 a pair :thumbsdn:
I would welome any cables for evaluation. Sounds like alot of fun. :thmbsp:

My system:

Amp: Bedini 150/150 mk II upgraded in 2003
Pre: Luxman C-02 (poor mans CJ)
CD: Marantz SA-8260
Speakers: Apogee Duetta II w/modded crossover (very similar to the sig)

If I can get a set of interconnects in place that the wife won't complain about, I'll be happy to lend these guys out for trial. Be interesting to see how these work in other systems. In mine, with 2 different CD players, they have worked great.

Hey, don't forget that I have a spare set, Bigerik! Don't want a negative WAF at your place.....

I'm willing to send them around the country / North America / whatever. I think I'd prefer to post the thread myself about the Grover SR interconnects. Just so I know where they are going (since they'll remain my property) and I'd like to set out some advice on how to handle them.

Is that ok?

Gary, sounds great! This is a fantastic way for people to "try before buy"! :thmbsp:

BTW I am in the market for new IC's.

Hey, don't forget that I have a spare set, Bigerik! Don't want a negative WAF at your place.....

I'm willing to send them around the country / North America / whatever. I think I'd prefer to post the thread myself about the Grover SR interconnects. Just so I know where they are going (since they'll remain my property) and I'd like to set out some advice on how to handle them.

Is that ok?

Gary, those are your property, so that would be up to you how you handled that.

Gary, I'll be handling the demo threads, and the list of demos and who has what will be in plain view for all to see, and updated realtime. That being said, I will certainly be open to, and use your input in said thread - but in the interest of keeping things organized and simple, we aren't going to have individual member threads for demos.


If you want to put them in the program, email me directly ranchodeaudio@comcast.net and we'll get them in there. At any time you want to pull the plug so to speak, say the word and I will see that they are returned to you ASAP.

Ok, sounds fair.

One problem you may run into is that Grover is so far behind (they're made by hand) that we may wait quite a while for a demo pair. And if Grover has orders waiting, a demo pair might end up at the end of the list of orders....

On the other hand, there are quite a few other interconnects and wire out there to play with!

But you're the boss! :)

I have tried his original ones, have a pair of the SRII's and a couple of pairs of the UR5's i think...I bought them all used...

Excellent cables, and the fact that no one mentioned yet, is that he uses old style vintage RCA ends, so they fit nicely with vintage gear, which have the RCA's at kissing distance of each other.

What I'm saying guys, if someone has an extra set of ANYTHING they would like to donate (to be returned at a later date), email me, and I will get with you, to get them from you, and update the demo threads accordingly.

The more the merrier, as I said. ;)

What I'm saying guys, if someone has an extra set of ANYTHING they would like to donate (to be returned at a later date), email me, and I will get with you, to get them from you, and update the demo threads accordingly.

The more the merrier, as I said. ;)

Sounds Awesome!
But I am calling first dibs on anything by Grover! Especially his speaker wire. Would LOVE to hear that! :)

I have tried his original ones, have a pair of the SRII's and a couple of pairs of the UR5's i think...I bought them all used...

Excellent cables, and the fact that no one mentioned yet, is that he uses old style vintage RCA ends, so they fit nicely with vintage gear, which have the RCA's at kissing distance of each other.

True enough. That is one of the cool things about it. At first I was a little taken aback by the fact that he uses very basic looking connectors, having got used to the big monsters by WPT and the like. But they do work, which is all that really matters to me. Oh, and they are directional too. He hand writes it on every pair! :)

second dibs on Grover wire! :D

Oh, and they are directional too. He hand writes it on every pair!

Actually they are NOT directional! I put those arrows on that pair myself.

(Apparently if you switch signal path directions you have to burn them in all over again).

:music:

Actually they are NOT directional! I put those arrows on that pair myself.

(Apparently if you switch signal path directions you have to burn them in all over again).

:music:

Huh
Go figure. In the past I would have just said BS and dismissed it. But in the past, I would have said the cables would not make a difference either! :)
Maybe I should reverse them and see how they sound. Hmmmm.

Go ahead! It won't "ruin" the cables - they'd just "break in" again.

Or reverse one and see what happens. :)

I've never done it so I can't tell you if it works for me. And as all systems are different, there could be a difference at your place and not at mine, etc., etc. I put on the arrows "just because" I felt like it. After all, no harm is done to the IC's, right?

It's called uncharted territory. :D

Well to start off I'm a believer in ANYTHING that is in the signal path "can" "change"
things, not allways for the better but a change none the less.

Now I don't have the big money so I generally go DIY or whatever I find has the best
bang for the buck. And in my experience more changes happen in the low level signal
department, like Ic's, input tubes, vibration devices and so fourth. Now I generally feel
that power cords and speaker cables are very simular to one another in that a good
quality well made large gauge wire that is well insulated is all you need but I am open
minded and have tried several power cords and speaker cables but more to come. Yes
I've found silver speaker wire to make a change but in my systems it was not a positive (to bright).

Keep in mind, not all changes are good. If you use an IC and all of a sudden you get
more treble or bass or midrange but your system allready had the quantity in that area
that you wanted, having more may be to much. So like I say change isn't always good.

Recently I did an IC compairison with 3 different ones on a system that had been fairly
tweeked but not perfect (what is). The original IC used from a Anthem Pre-2L tube pre
to a GTA SE-40 (modded/rebuilt) 40wpc tube amp powering a pair of ADS L880 speakers
was an older monster see through with orange in the background litz unit.

The system sounded pretty good but the bass was a little much and slightly tubby.

Got a Nordost (solar wind) cable from Grumpy who got it from Ernie in place of the
monster, no other changes made. The bass became less but also much tighter with
a nice airy top that was now ever so slightly exaggerated but a very nice change
from the monster. Dug around to find my XLO green IC to try that, which gave me
some bass back but was still nice and tight and also brought the top end more into
balance but kept most of the airiness of the Nordost, overall the best cable on this
particular system for what I had on hand and what I was looking for.

The reason why I wanted to share this was to show that "change" is not allways a
good thing for any one system or persons musical choice.

If anyone feels the monster cable could be beneficial to the group I can send it along.

If this is inappropriate for here I appologize in advance.

You've got great points, Kegger.

It's all about synergy and system matching..... :)

It's all about synergy and system matching..... :)

Agreed but I've heard people say "I got so much more top end and this is the best cable you can get"

So I was trying to get across what you said, it comes down to ones taste and accociated gear as to what is best or good for you.

Thanks for the reply!

Great post Kegger. Thanks for sharing it.
Just wondering what you considered to be inappropriate.
Thanks
Erik

Well to start off I'm a believer in ANYTHING that is in the signal path "can" "change"
things, not allways for the better but a change none the less.

Now I don't have the big money so I generally go DIY or whatever I find has the best
bang for the buck. And in my experience more changes happen in the low level signal
department, like Ic's, input tubes, vibration devices and so fourth. Now I generally feel
that power cords and speaker cables are very simular to one another in that a good
quality well made large gauge wire that is well insulated is all you need but I am open
minded and have tried several power cords and speaker cables but more to come. Yes
I've found silver speaker wire to make a change but in my systems it was not a positive (to bright).

Keep in mind, not all changes are good. If you use an IC and all of a sudden you get
more treble or bass or midrange but your system allready had the quantity in that area
that you wanted, having more may be to much. So like I say change isn't always good.

Recently I did an IC compairison with 3 different ones on a system that had been fairly
tweeked but not perfect (what is). The original IC used from a Anthem Pre-2L tube pre
to a GTA SE-40 (modded/rebuilt) 40wpc tube amp powering a pair of ADS L880 speakers
was an older monster see through with orange in the background litz unit.

The system sounded pretty good but the bass was a little much and slightly tubby.

Got a Nordost (solar wind) cable from Grumpy who got it from Ernie in place of the
monster, no other changes made. The bass became less but also much tighter with
a nice airy top that was now ever so slightly exaggerated but a very nice change
from the monster. Dug around to find my XLO green IC to try that, which gave me
some bass back but was still nice and tight and also brought the top end more into
balance but kept most of the airiness of the Nordost, overall the best cable on this
particular system for what I had on hand and what I was looking for.

The reason why I wanted to share this was to show that "change" is not allways a
good thing for any one system or persons musical choice.

If anyone feels the monster cable could be beneficial to the group I can send it along.

If this is inappropriate for here I appologize in advance.

Thank you.

Just that I know it's a new forum and I didn't want to do anything that might be
inapropriate or put it in the wrong area. I guess I was just being to cautious.
(and my views on the power cord/speaker wire deal)

Thank you.

Just that I know it's a new forum and I didn't want to do anything that might be
inapropriate or put it in the wrong area. I guess I was just being to cautious.
(and my views on the power cord/speaker wire deal)

Definately nothing wrong in stating what you have heard in the equipment you have tried. I want this forum to be very open for discussion. What I do not want to see is : "Your and idiot/deaf because cables/cords/wires don't make any difference. I've never tried them, but I know they can't make any difference." While I don't have an issue with anyone having that opinion, it just adds nothing to the discussion and just becomes personally insulting. As I said before, we are all here to learn and have some fun. Anything that adds to that goal is more than welcome.

Sounds good, look forward to some HEALTHY cable discussions and subjective
thoughts on there pros/cons!

More info is good info in my book!