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I burned in #16 WE wire (red outer "cotton" and white insulation) 190 hours in my workroom system. Then I put silver solder on the ends to make them easier to handle and protect the tinned copper strands. I had 8 wires, 2 -10' pieces/connection (2 x 16 = 13 gauge) for burnin.
I have been trying things in my main system for a week off and on with no ultimate conclusions yet, so have not commented. But there are questions in areas I have explored so maybe some feedback...My references are Synergistic Research Element Copper with UEF tuning bullets, Torii MKIV to HR-1s. This system is tuned with EQ, balancing what room treatments don't fully address, so the frequency balance is quite good... Since the bass is not over-saturating the sound, the differences in bass presentation from cables are pretty obvious.
With large single wires I have experienced distortions and smearing attributed to “skin effect” and interference, so came to appreciate an equal gauge made up of smaller wires, usually twisted, both contributing to cleaning up cable sound. As to ultimate size, it seems dependent on the metals used, insulation, wire length, geometry, connections...lots of things. Also, how much do speaker efficiency and impedance (4 ohm is twice as resistant as 8 ohm), and amp power play into optimal wire size? Since these can add up to big variables...“one size fits all” for ultimate sound seems unlikely.
I began with one WE wire per connection. Compared to the SR cables I lost signal...quieter from top to bottom, though the sound was nice...warm but open, friendly... comparatively, there was some midrange emphasis, sometimes revealed as hardness, clearest with loud horn parts. Being leaner, I missed bass power and tonal density. The HR-1s really start to sing with stronger power/signal. Also, to a point, the denser signal makes low volumes sound more complete.
Adding the other WE wire, now two per connection, the attenuation was not particularly noticeable...denser tonal delivery, more dynamic sound with deeper bass, more midrange power, increased upper mid/high presence...
Compared to the SRs the untwisted double WEs were still a little dark and undefined, especially low down, and still a little too much midrange emphasis for me; I suspected this was due in part to another issue, less fine detail to round out the edges; also less “black” emptiness, for sound to come out of. But the SRs went through loads of exploration using state of the art materials and tech, and the sound and price reflect that.
I twisted the WE for each connection pretty tightly...55 for the 10 foot run. Clarified across the spectrum, it was articulate and dynamic, but the midrange being clearer, partly from increased bass articulation reducing masking...there was too much mid edge for me, again hard to listen to some dynamic horn parts played loud.
So I took out about half the twists, now 24. This softened/warmed things nicely. Compared to no twists I hear a more open feeling, increased differentiation of instruments, more feeling of dynamics, and the bass/low mids are full with nice definition...also more fine detail.
It seems these cables are a bit less about “transparency,” than atmosphere. Though portraying instruments quite nicely, aspects of detail, particularly fine detail, empty space, dynamic contrasts, and bass power/definition are the primary areas they don't come up to the SRs. But their interestingly revealing, sort of unique window into the music remains compelling.
The SRs sound warm and rich without a sense of a bass/low mid darkness, or any speed or detail sacrifice. Powerful bass, sweet mids, exceptional layered detail, differentiation throughout, and authentic timbre...They just seem to let it all through...no cable. I have not heard revelation/transparency to this level before...so an unfair comparator, but also a great objective.
That said, the WE share tonal similarities with the SR, nice definition, a bit warm, musical and revealing. I keep “reaching for” micro detail, but they are still revealing.
Then the synergy thing. Pal and Syd both seem to have great affection and no reservations, single wires clearly being very satisfying in their systems.
Not as easy for me the way my system and room are, but that “air of mystery” Syd described, I agree, they do reveal a lot of what is tucked away in the recording, pulling us into the musical event. The soundstage here is defined enough while having a slightly dreamy atmosphere from how the space between and ambience is revealed.
The tendency to mids being a little rigid, in part from missing textures from fine detail, are what I am working on. Since the twists seem good, I kept thinking, add some silver.
I had some 16 gauge teflon wire for a power cable....cryo'd silver plated stranded copper. I twisted one of these into each cable run, now 3 – 16s, or 11.2 gauge per connection. It is hard to say how this will end up, this wire being new. I found them bright and stiff at first, but with about 20 hours, they are warming/smoothing up. And I don't think teflon is that easy to burn in so imagine more smoothing and complexity to come.
Everything was brought closer to the SRs, further increased tonal density, better textures, more complete space, ambience and soundstage definition... and all else that comes with increased black, detail and detail complexity. Interestingly, after some burnin, as I compare this configuration, they feel louder than the 2 WEs alone, more spacious and empty, with more dynamics. They are still slower and less quiet than the SRs, but quite good. The silver theory seemed to work, but I wonder too if it has something to do with another wire twisted in, a cleaner signal..... All these things point to less cable attenuation also. There is less hardness though still a little hard/rigid for my tastes. Just a little. I suspect this might smooth with more burnin on the silver/copper but can't say for sure yet.
I wonder about maybe a smaller silver on copper wire, or a length of small gauge pure/soft silver wire and extra sized teflon tubing for insulation with air. With 2 WE, I imagine this could really be good. Maybe even 3 WE 16s would be good.
Still exploring, no solutions, I put back in the SRs and feel some relief. Amazing cables here. I am not done with the WEs though. I think these wires have quite compelling traits, and for me, are worth digging in and exploring more.
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