I have been enjoying a pair of these new cables for over a month now.  I have the cable placed between my DEC685 and my ZBox, and it replaced a cable which was the previous version of the Silver Reference interconnect, the DSRI.

I am happy to report that this is a fantastic value of a cable.  The cable sounds better or as good in comparison to cables that cost three times the cost that I have on hand.  It has a clarity and an openness that is stunning in use with a fine system.  There just isn't any accenting of any frequency levels.  High, mid, and low are all presented with an honest and open feel.  This somehow frees the music to both flow and to fill.  There is less of an etched soundstaging, and a natural feel to the presentation.

I did not really expect to experience a profound difference between version I and version II of this great cable, but I did.  In comparison, there's a slight emphasis on the high frequencies on version I and that adds a slight "hifi" feel to the sound.  That also seems to lead to a bit of rigidity to some imaging.  This is absent in the new cable and as a result the new cable is slightly more relaxed and nautral sounding--to me, in the same place in my system.

And version II is much more of an attractive cable than version I--to me.  I like the looks of the woven covering.  Pretty cables!

I know that eventually I will purchase another set of version II to replace my version I in my future system, which will include a CSP2.  Now that I KNOW the sonic improvement version II provides, I'll always have a motivation to replace my version I cable.

Kudoes Steve for improving on a great design!

Thanks Lon for the great observations. This cable is on my short list to try.

Mike, do be sure to audition it before you spend that kind of money and certainly more on another cable!

I have a pair of PS Audio XStream Statement interconnects that I really love that run from the ZBox to the Decware EL34 Monoblocks right now. . . . I think they're the equal of the Decware, while being slightly different.  I bought them heavily discounted (thank goodness) and they ended up costing the same price as the same length of the DSRIIs would be, but the usual price on those was three times that or more!  These are the best two cables I've owned.  They better another cable I've loved for years, the TARA Labs "Referrence," that was about twice the price of the same length of DSRIIs. (I now use the TARA Labs cables from the Sony DVD recorder I have to the Trinitron cd. . . sure makes the little tv speakers sound great!  In the future I'll run that TARA Labs into the CSP2 instead of the tv).

Corey,

I'm happy with the DSRIIs and really don't want to try MAC cables.  But thanks for the information.

Nope, not open!  :)  We have different systems and I'm not certain we'd get the same results, and as I'm so happy with mine I don't want to bother right now.  Don't yet know how much I'll need another cable. . .no CSP2 in hand yet.

Also, I'm just trying to keep my money with Decware for now, and if I need another cable, I'll likely buy a Decware one.  I like having a system that has more and more Decware components within.  And the more I add, the better it sounds.  :)

"Yup, the DSR was etched. I am very curious to hear what Trevor has to say about it in his system using the DEC 343."

I think the 343 is said to be a little warmer sounding then the 685, so the cables might be just what I need. I feel right now using a generic cable that my sound is a touch "veiled."

Lon wrote on 04/13/07 at 13:52:14:



Hi Lon,

You are running the CSP2 and the Zbox?  I thought the output impedance of the CSP2 was already low enough... no?

Thanks,
-Buzz

Tr3vWh0r3 wrote on 04/04/07 at 03:27:21:



turn it up.  ;)

i always find music sounds veiled when i cant hear it  :)

lon,

do you believe cables get old?

or do they have exactly the same performance 30 years after they are first connected.

oxyodization etc im thinking?

even the actual rcas seem weatherd on some cables ive seen.

I bought a .5 meter Decware interconnect when I bought my Taboo and CSP2 and have no regrets. I had been using Kimber KCAG and Hero cables but have ordered more Decware.

I have also done the sleeving trick using black tec flex and heat shrink tubing over Mapleshade Golden Helix. The wires look very classy now and I notice no difference in the sound. I may sleeve my Kimber 8TC next it's a cheap way to enjoy the hobby.

I'm afraid my experience so far with both the DSRII interconnects and the ZSTYX speaker cables have not been too impressive.

I've only received them today and they've been in the system for around 6 hours now and I'm afraid that I just can't listen to them.... On either of my 2 set-ups.

They are simply too harsh and bright with a glare in the midrange which I find intolerable and a bloom in the bass which muddles the soundstage.

This totally caught me by surprise as I was expecting great things based on my experience with the newly purchased NFX speakers and ZP3 Phonostage. When I switched back to my Hisago interconnects and Siltech speaker cables, I returned to a state of bliss again.

I hope that it's just a case of needing time to burn in but I seriously don't know how to go about doing this as the normal route of running them in is out of the question at the moment as I find them (in this current condition) just way too harsh and unlistenable..... In fact, the thought of re-introducing them back into the system fills me with dread...

Maybe it's just a system mismatch....

My set-ups are listed below.

Main system
2A3 monobloks (self made)
Self made TT with 2 arms
Decware ZP3 phonostage
Loth X Polaris speakers

Bedroom system
Decware SE84
Dynavector P75 phonostage
Clearaudio Magnum TT
Decware NFX speakers

Cables
Siltech LS38G3 speaker cables
Crystal Piccolo interconnects
Hisago Interconnects

I'm afraid me and the Decware cables aren't a match made in heaven.
I'm going to see if I can find someone who can oven cook the cables and see if there are any improvements. But at the moment, I cannot say that I'm impressed.

More than a little disappointed.

Thanks for the advice Lon.....

I may be taking them down to a shop that claims that they can run in the cables via some sort of heating element, ovenlike thingy.... They're not cheap @ 20 bucks a day and they reckon that it'll take at least 3 days. That's 60 bucks to run in the cables so I'm not too sure.

They claim it works but frankly I'm skeptical.... but I really don't know what else to do.... so short of just putting them in the cupboard at home, I may just try out this gizmo.

Will let you know if I decide to try it out. For now, they're definitely playing 2nd fiddle to my Siltechs and Hisago combo... All terminated with Furutech hardware.....

I finally figured out how to break in the cables without breaking the bank.

I'm gonna hook up the interconnects from my TV output to my AV amp.
Will use the speaker cables as the cables from the AV amp to my front speakers of my TV set-up.

Hopefully that will work. Will keep you updated on the results.

Cheers Lon.

Happy Holidays to you too Lon... Hope you had a good 'un.

Anyways, a quick update...

After 4 days in my TV set-up, I moved the cables back to my main system. There is an improvement, Lon.

But they're still way too harsh..... So I've returned them back to my TV set-up..... Will try again in a couple of weeks or so.... Will let you know.

Still not too impressed yet..... but getting there I hope. We'll see....

I am guardedly optimistic on that Lon..... I'm hearing improvements already so fingers crossed.

For me, I only listen to records... always have..... Never found a CD player that I even remotely liked..... The closest was a friend's Wadia (don't know what model) but the price put me off for what I thought to be a compromise option.

Maybe I'm just an old fogey and too set in my ways!

I am using a similar cable, which is made by a company in India, who claim that they make it for some space program company It is a 133 strand, silver plated copper with teflon, but it has lesser silver than the Decware cable. Prior to this, I was using silver foils.
The cable does take a long time to burn/break in. In my experience, they were times that the system would suddenly get harsh and remain like that for a  while. After about three months it got better. The highs were the problem for me, as they were a little distorted for quite a while. Don't know if the 1 watt of the Decware amp with the Lowthers, were too small a current to break it in faster.

shreekant

As far as the vinyl vs CD debate..... I tend to agree with Lon..... the music comes first and that should dictate your direction more than anything else.

My boy has been playing an ipod through an el cheapo dac that he bought on my main system and I can't believe how artificial it sounds.... Hell of a lot of compression and overemphasizing of certain frequencies in recordings these day.... I can't stand it but he loves it so to each his own I guess.....

Thanks Bill..... That's actually not a bad idea. I'll probably give it a shot but definitely only when I'm at home..

Anyway, a quick update.... it's been another 2 weeks that the cables have been in my TV system which sees relatively heavy use as the kids and wife all use it on a day to day basis.... about 4 hours daily or so.

Today, I swapped them out and placed them back in my main system. Definitely an improvement..... quite a bit of the harshness has disappeared and they are sounding a lot better balanced with a nicer "body" to the sound.... Still a little bit clinical and cold but a vast improvement. Still prefer my Siltech and Hisago though..... so back in my TV system they go for another 2 weeks.

These are the toughest cables I've ever had to run in.
I'm praying that it's worth the effort!

Well, you certainly gave it the good fight. Kudos for that!

I'm certain you could return them and get quite a bit of your money back. I have them everywhere in my main system and they just aren't harsh there. Yeah, I have the treble circuit in use, but that's true with any cabling.

I'm waiting for a few pair to be manufactured and arrive. . . . I'm starting to convert my second system to all Decware cabling. May take a yhear of so.

Sure mate..... but may not be worth your while as I'm very far away in Singapore..... also mine use the Xhadow interconnects so they are dearer.

If you're still interested, you can PM me.

Wow, that's an amazingly long breakin that thankfully has great results!

I was hoping you'd love these interconnects. There reallly is nothing like them in my opinion, at least for anywhere near the cost.

I think that you'll learn to love the speaker cables in time. They took a very long time to break in for me as well, but when they did. . . woah. I don't see ever having any other speaker cables.

It's so great to read how happy you are with the cables, and yes, they're worth the wait for burn-in,  and the burn-in is way too long.

When you have your entire system connected with them it will sing! So glad I hadn't steered you wrong as I feared I may have at first!

I've been reading this thread and just wanted to say that breaking-in cables first to me sounded like just another way for people to sell bad, or more cables.
By now I know that when you have put a lot of time and money in selecting the components that sound "right" for your ears...finding the right cables is even more difficult. [and expensive].
I'll never forget what my first Siltech cable did for my install. I just could not believe I had been listening and enjoying music with my old cable after swapping back once. At this point I started to buy [and after breaking-in and listening, selling again] the best interconnects I could afford. Some were simply a vast improvement, others a waste of money.
In the end I only bought cables that I could try out at home first, and that worked for me.
Regrettably I'm a looong way from you guys, not beeing able to audition the Decware cables and having to pay customs and substancial shippingcosts for everything I buy in the U.S.
The speakercables I use are 100% pure "silver strips" [Siltech FT12, fragile...] which are about 15 years old; prob. my best buy EVER. I relined them with teflontape and finished them with braided nylon and shrink-sleeve; looking very nice and letting music through like I never heard before.
About interconnects; I once hooked up a new interconnect which sounded awefull ,to a fully charged car battery on one end and a headlight-bulb on the other and left it burning overnight. Repeated it 2 more times, each time after which the cable sounded better balanced, no more harsh highs after three times.
I've done this with a lot of cables now and it's a zero-cost upgrade for impatient people like me, who just want to flip the switch, sit down and enjoy music. I hate it to come home, knowing I'll have to listen to stuff still breaking-in...
Silver btw is a far better material to use for audio than silver-plated copper imo; when silver ages it produces silver-oxide, which is a excellent conductor. Copper on the other hand degrades over time because of the air molecules trapped inside during the fabrication process ; copper oxide is a BAD conductor.... [no such problems when using UPOCC wire].
Everybody can tell you "their cable is superior made" but nobody can tell you it will match in your install. . Your taste and your ears are unique!
Just my 2cts.
Nico

Don't know, after the method described I plug the cable into my system and play the Karma burn-in cd for 24 hours and I'm done.
After that my cables sound much smoother and balanced than when purchased.
The first cable I did this way still has the same neutrality and smoothness so to speak; it did not develope any further.
You should try it to know if it works for you; it is a cheap experiment.
Like we say over here; "there are many ways to get to Rome"
Good luck
Nico

Yep, you;re right about the ROME thing. About my remarks about burning-in cables ; I never said my way is better, it is CHEAPER.
Beeing a restorer of classic Mercedes cars, I'm often asked to integrate a good [BIG] sound system, navi, cruise control, electric windows, you name it,  in a car that does not have a wire harness suitable to handle the extra currents.
So calculating and rewiring a car means taking in account the continous maximum current needed per fuse etc. [easy enough].
One day, after a unsatisfying evening of listening with new cables, I took them to the workshop and just connected the signal wire like mentioned in my other post to a big battery and a lightbulb. Later I tortured new speakerwire, powering a startermotor drawing 90 amps out of another big 12 Volts battery and a time-relay "pushing the button" for 10 seconds on-five minutes off. After the battery gave up I took the cables home, connected them.....and they sounded like shit. [sorry for the bold expression]. Only after I reversed the signal flow [connecting the speaker where the startermotor had been] I found myself listening untill 3 o'clock in the morning. Lesson learned; be sure to mark which side comes where ,BEFORE burning-in, and be carefull during the whole process how you wire everything!
So this process was just a idea put to use, and in my case turned out to be working very well. I have not felt the need for trying out other cables since. [no more craving for "better" cables at last.... ]
Nico