Annie’s Audio Adventures: It’s All in the Little Details...
Wires are to men what shoes are to women: most people don’t notice them, except if they clash. But, just like shoes often make or break an outfit, wires can improve or diminish the sound of any machine. That’s what I found out this weekend. Hubby and I listened to our system without the little black and grey box from a few reviews ago, and to my great surprise, I learned that the right wires can truly improve the way our favourite “testing songs” sound. True, the box being on or off still makes a big difference, but even with it off, the wires alone have a way of warming up the sound, giving the music more depth and definition. But, as with everything audio, quality is addictive! I guess it’s just the same as never being able to go back to cheap shoes after wearing Birkenstocks!
As for me, I’m not one to have one pair of shoe per outfit! I prefer comfortable shoes, made from real leather, that I only get rid of when they fall apart... or I sometimes even keep them longer so I can wear them in the garden! Having said that, I had fun playing with cables with our friend’s Marantz system! I think I found a pretty perfect match: Nordost Frey cables! True, it doesn’t hurt that they happen to be purple (no, I don’t have purple shoes)! The cables seem to add another layer of warmth to the whole sound. We also changed our Isotek for a Furman power conditioner, and I find it to be a better matcht o the Marantz also. I have a feeling it might become more and more difficult to give our friend his Marantz system back!
Last week, while hanging out in our beloved local hi fi store, I met someone who was wondering how many reviews could be true. He was concerned because it seems that everything that gets reviewed has a positive review. I can’t speak for anyone else out there, but for me, it seems difficult to find anything truly wrong with the equipment I’m playing with, because it’s all high end! I can’t stress enough the fact that it all depends on what you like, how components and wires are paired up, and what it all sounds like in your own room.
I still prefer our Isotek with our Chord amp, however. Both power conditioners have their own characteristics, so you really have to try them with your own equipment. Maybe Santa Hubby will make another stand for me this Christmas, so I could set up our Chord and our friend’s Marantz side by side and compare them in the same room. In the meantime, I’m listening to Harry Connick Jr., Colin James, Loreena McKennitt, Holly Cole, and of course Sting Christmas music! I'll keep you posted!
Happy listening!