Forums https://www.decware.com/cgi-bin/yabb22/YaBB.pl AUDIO FORUMS >> General Discussion and Support >> Speaker cable separating https://www.decware.com/cgi-bin/yabb22/YaBB.pl?num=1527965409 Message started by Geno on 06/02/18 at 19:50:09

Title: Speaker cable separating Post by Geno on 06/02/18 at 19:50:09 I just got my first set of nice speaker cable. Mapleshade double helix.  It is recommended that the positive and negatives be kept separate through the whole length. How in the world do I accomplish that?  Also, anyone with experience with this cable - it is bright right now. What is the break in time?  Thanks, Geno

Title: Re: Speaker cable separating Post by Lon on 06/02/18 at 19:53:58 Hi! I have about four years or more experience with this cable. It does take a few weeks for the bass to really come in. You know I found that ignoring Mapleshade's instruction about keeping the wires separate and keeping them off the ground/carpet gave me the best sound. I just string them and let them lie and they sound great. . . . Give them a few weeks and I bet they'll be just right.

Title: Re: Speaker cable separating Post by Geno on 06/02/18 at 20:08:13 That is great to hear Lon!!!  Before I even started listening to them I was stressing. Thanks for easing my mind! Geno.

Title: Re: Speaker cable separating Post by Lon on 06/02/18 at 20:11:16 You're welcome, keep us posted. I found that just letting the cables do what they want without worrying about separating runs or hitting carpet alleviated some brightness right away.

Title: Re: Speaker cable separating Post by Geno on 06/02/18 at 20:20:13 I actually did the exact opposite of what they recommended. I’m a tidy cable guy. Everything has to be wrapped up with Velcro and look neat. The new cable was twisting in all directions, so I used electrical tape and wrapped around it every few feet to keep it together.

Title: Re: Speaker cable separating Post by Lon on 06/02/18 at 21:36:43 Cool.

Title: Re: Speaker cable separating Post by Donnie on 06/02/18 at 23:21:12 I’ve been running Mapleshsde cables for quite a while. Mine don’t touch the carpet, just because, crazy audiophile stuff. I also run their copper foil IC’s. Weird stuff, but I like it. The bass showed up in a week or two.

Title: Re: Speaker cable separating Post by Geno on 06/03/18 at 01:54:59 Thanks for the input Donnie and Lon. They sound better after about 3 hours. I was in the camp that doubted that cables could make much difference. But after time on this forum, and now hearing good cables, I’m a believer. Really smooths out the sound. More clarity. I’m listening now to Kenney Burrell - Midnight Blue. The sax is much smoother and the bass more present. Can’t wait for them to break in. Thanks guys!

Title: Re: Speaker cable separating Post by Lon on 06/03/18 at 02:23:01 Keep playing them, they'll season in. I like their open midrange. . . it's like a well-cleaned window into the music. I'm using different cables in my main system now (PS Audio xStream Statement) which are different, not necessarily better. There's more body to the sound with these but less of that open window. With the Monoblocks the added body is good, and the Monoblocks provide their own window into the music. I'm using the Mapleshade cables now with the Traps speakers and a Torii Mk II in my second system. The sound is great. . . these cables like Toriis and vice versa.

Title: Re: Speaker cable separating Post by David Wilcox on 06/03/18 at 13:00:47 I have been using Mapleshade products since 2010 with great results. I credit Steve and Decware for  the results. After reading all of Steve's thoughts about room acoustics and room treatment, I got real serious about treating my listening room. Just as Steve said, you can hear the difference between amps,speakers and cables. The Mapleshade cables where my first purchase. The improvement was so obvious that I now use a lot of Mapleshades products. During this time I hadn't purchased any Decware equipment. Soon after above experience I ordered a SE84C followed by DM945 speakers, interconnects and ZBOX. What I'm suggesting is you follow Mapleshade and Decware recommendations. David

Title: Re: Speaker cable separating Post by Geno on 06/03/18 at 13:32:39 Thanks for the response David. Our setups are similar. I have the SE84UFO and recently got the DM947’s.  The speakers are almost broken in, I think. And I have recently started with room treatments. Also got nicer interconnects. And now the speaker cable. I’ve been able to hear improvement with each change. Thank goodness for Steve and the knowledgeable folks on this forum. I would not have known what to do without help.  Regards, Geno

Title: Re: Speaker cable separating Post by Geno on 06/23/18 at 04:41:15 Guys, how many hours would you guess you had on your speaker cable before they started to mellow. I have about 70 hours on mine now.  The bass has started to bloom, but some of the highs are still pretty shrill. Particularly piano on the upper register, tenor sax and female vocals.

Title: Re: Speaker cable separating Post by Geno on 06/23/18 at 04:52:36 By the way, I'm using a SE84UFO and Decware Monoliths.

Title: Re: Speaker cable separating Post by Acetone on 06/23/18 at 22:26:52 Hey Geno, I have a SE84-CKC & Monoliths (946s w/mid range upgrade) approx 3 yrs old. Using Mapleshade spkr wires and jumpers. I also found immediate improvement upon their installation. I don't remember it taking too long for it all to season. The wait was worth it!  Latest improvement was Zrock2...wow! Glad I made that purchase.

Title: Re: Speaker cable separating Post by Geno on 06/23/18 at 23:08:09 Hi Ace.  There is an unbelievable clarity with the cable, but the highs can be shrill. I need that to settle down!  What are the jumpers for?

Title: Re: Speaker cable separating Post by Geno on 06/24/18 at 01:15:26 Damn!  I guess I was the last one on the forum to learn what a jumper and bi-wiring is.  The monoliths are the first speaker I’ve owned with 2 sets of terminals.  I thought the extras set was for bi-amping!!!   I just got online and ordered the Mapleshade jumpers. No wonder my highs sound bad!  Thank you Ace!!!

Title: Re: Speaker cable separating Post by Acetone on 06/27/18 at 23:16:18 Geno,  I imagine Jumpers will help. But, monoliths need a lot of break in. Be patient.

Title: Re: Speaker cable separating Post by Geno on 06/28/18 at 01:27:59 Ok Ace. I understand that they need a lot of break in. I’ve had them 3 months. But the extreme fatiguing with the treble didn’t start til I got the Mapleshade cable. I’m hoping that the jumpers will help with that. Do you use a power conditioner?  I don’t have one yet. It is on my list of future upgrades. I just wonder that with the Mapleshade cables being so revealing that unconditioned power may be hurting.   Also, what are your thoughts on using a different fuse? With our setups being similar, can you think of anything else that might be causing the brightness?  It’s especially bad with high note piano and high female vocals. Thanks for your help.  Geno

Title: Re: Speaker cable separating Post by David Wilcox on 06/28/18 at 02:09:12 Hi Geno, I have basically the same setup you have. Following your posts it reminded me of the three or four times one of my tubes had the nerve to start failing early at a inconvenient time. I'd spend hours chasing phantom causes of why music started sounding wrong. Start swapping out one tube at a time with back up tubes you should have on hand. It may help. David

Title: Re: Speaker cable separating Post by Geno on 06/28/18 at 02:26:55 Thank you David.  I will try that.

Title: Re: Speaker cable separating Post by Acetone on 06/28/18 at 05:19:10 My CKC has a bias switch in front of the input tube. I have it in the laid back position. The other position was too thin sounding. If UFO has this switch give it a try. Also, better NOS or, warmer type tubes (mullard for one) might be a help.

Title: Re: Speaker cable separating Post by Acetone on 06/28/18 at 18:18:08 Oops, I meant impedance switch! I have mine pointing to rear of amp...much warmer!

Title: Re: Speaker cable separating Post by Geno on 06/30/18 at 03:25:43 Guys, the problem was one of the power tubes. Swapped them both out and it smoothed things out. Thanks for the help!  Geno

Title: Re: Speaker cable separating Post by Acetone on 06/30/18 at 05:09:40 Glad you found the culprit. Hate it when shit like that happens!

Title: Re: Speaker cable separating Post by Geno on 06/30/18 at 05:28:38 Yep. It was a learning experience. The fact that the problem started shortly after I got the speaker cable. So I just figured the ice pick highs had to be tied to the cable.  When stuff like this, there must be a standard troubleshooting process, starting with tube swapping. I had done that with the input and rectifier, but not the output tubes because they were fairly new.

Title: Re: Speaker cable separating Post by Scott in mich on 06/30/18 at 14:11:51 I remember years ago listening to George Michael's Hard Day with a friend on my Magneplaner MGIIIa's.  We were impressed with the bass line especially.  Last night I got my double helix+ cable and hooked it up to my small Advent speakers.  After a few hours I played Hard Day and discovered another whole layer to the bass line - much deeper than with the MGIIIa's.  I've never head that before on this song.  Just about everything I played took on an "alive" quality.  Gotta say this is getting fun again!  Thanks to Lon, Acetone and others for the heads up on these cables. I'm looking forward to breaking them in more. As far as separating the wires, I just left mine coiled up. They are suspended off the floor about a foot or so.  Seems to work.

Title: Re: Speaker cable separating Post by Geno on 06/30/18 at 14:32:11 Congrats on the new cable. It is very revealing. You might experiment with separating them. I talked to Pierre with Mapleshade not long after I got mine and he was adamant about doing as they recommend. It’s not easy, but I think the sound is better with them separated. I just got the jumpers from them too based on Acetones comments. This has made a difference too.

Title: Re: Speaker cable separating Post by Jeff1 on 06/30/18 at 15:58:17 When I was using the MS DH I picked up some 4" maple and cut it to 5" lengths. Screwed 2 pieces perpendicular to each other and used a saw to add 2 notches about 1/2" deep to the tops about 4" inches apart. The saw notches were wide enough to hold the cable snug with no damage. Painted flat black they looked as good as anything you would pay top dollar for. By the way if anyone is interested I have a 12' pair I would sell. They are a bit used on the ends but work as new. $110 bucks including shipping.

Title: Re: Speaker cable separating Post by Geno on 06/30/18 at 16:38:51 Damn Jeff! Where were you when I paid over $400 for mine!  The story of my life. A day late and a dollar short!!!

Title: Re: Speaker cable separating Post by mark58 on 06/30/18 at 17:00:13 I'm using Mapleshade Clearview Double Helix with plus upgrade in the second system and they sound great.  I'm having a hard time envisioning your wood work project Jeff1...any pics of examples?  Mark.

Title: Re: Speaker cable separating Post by Acetone on 07/01/18 at 17:17:44 Hey Jeff1,  I will take you up on that mapleshade double helix offer. Will have a use in 2nd system build around my se84ckc. That is once the se84uf025 arrives!

Title: Re: Speaker cable separating Post by Jeff1 on 07/02/18 at 00:38:33 Hopefully a drawing uploaded as I do not have the separators any longer.

Title: Re: Speaker cable separating Post by Jeff1 on 07/02/18 at 00:47:54 Mark 58, ....Oops forgot the length, 5" or so depending on how much separation you want between the cables. One small tip is to cut the notches before mounting the two parts together, saves frustration. I don't think they need to be maple any 1/2" flat stock should do and width is your preference depending how high off the floor you want the cables to be. Acetone you got em just let me know, no rush if you want to wait till your amp arrives. I am currently waiting on my TabooMK4 to replace my ZMA but the list is shorter than I thought so that is a positive.

Title: Re: Speaker cable separating Post by Acetone on 07/02/18 at 23:59:24 Hey Jeff1,  PM me your: Name & Mailing address. I will mail money order asap!  Thx,  Albert (PM also sent)

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