Jump'n

2008.09.06 eversince the 3m MIT AVt 2 Bi-Wire Speaker Interface was swop-out for single-run 4m Kimber Kable 8TC and Xindak SS-1 jumpers, it's musical bliss...truly satisfied till yesterday when ernest recommended...???...will come to this later. Let's understand a little more on the former cables.

MIT cables are used in many recording and film studios. For the past 20 years - MIT Audio Interfaces claims to "deliver the highest degree of signal integrity! Ordinary cables, even 'high-end' brands, can alter the musical signals they transport. These signal alterations can significantly reduce the system's sound quality. Only cables with MIT's patented Mulitpole™ Technology can reveal the full sonic potential of your audio system." AVt-2 Bi-Wire features & benefits from:

• MIT's Patented Parallel Multipole™ Network Technology— Provides 10 Articulation Poles for improved performance!
• Four conductor Varilay® geometry— Parallel networks with patented geometry for improved performance over “just wire” .
• P.E. insulation— Reduces non-linear dielectric-based distortions for excellent low level detail & superior sound.
• Includes the iconn™ interchangeable connection system— Makes speaker connections simple and easy.
• BiWire: Eight conductor geometry— For increased bass performance and true bi-wire performance. Separate runs and networks for high & low.

The AVt-2 was replaced with a winner of endless awards decades long, the understated...8TC - LEGENDARY MUSICALITY

Consisting of sixteen individual TCSS conductors, eight blue and eight black, arranged in a large format braid. Individual conductors are Hyper-pure copper and utilize our proven VariStrand™ conductor geometry. The insulating dielectric is a high pressure-low temperature-extruded Teflon®. The aggregate wire size is two 9 awg conductors. By virtue of its full, accurate and dimensional sound, 8TC ranks as one of the best high-end audio values of all time and, without question, is the best sounding moderately priced cable on the market.

• Eight blue and eight black braided conductors
• 2 x 9 awg / 2.62mm
• VariStrand™ Hyper-pure copper
• Teflon® dielectric
• Basic Electrical Specifications (DUT: 8TC 2.5m bare wire ends)
  • (Cp) parallel capacitance: 821.0 pF @ 20 kHz
  • (Ls) series inductance: 0.345 H @ 20 kHz
  • (Rdc) dc loop resistance: 0.018
  • (Xt) total reactance: 0.044 @ 20 kHz
  • Frequency response ? 0.5 dB: dc - 300 kHz
  

Xindak SS-1 jumpers used with 8TC was musical bliss, however their union lasted only 4 months. SS-1 is made of imported 7N multi-strand copper wires twisted with 4N silver wires. Its terminal is 24K gilded banana plug and loudspeaker fork respectively and the external is wrapped with high quality thermal shrinkage pipes.

This cable is mainly used to replace the shorting sheet copper post between the binding posts for alt and woofer input of sound box, which adds more flavor to the expressive force of music and is specially designed for audiophiles seeking for high standard and high grade.

The MIT has excellent details & resolutions albeit scratchy highs, thin vocals and compromises on the lows, bass and punch. Rolling tubes and swopping interconnects couldn't relieves its weakness.

On the other hand, the 8TC is an excellent cable, synergizes extremely well in my system; between amp and speakers. The lows, mids & highs are very well balanced. At its price, you can't get anything better.

Before the recent HK HiFi Show, I was truly satisfied with SS-1. It has very good highs and provided musical clarity. Audio Nirvana? Yes before the show and NOPE when I'm back, not when compared with the MBL system in the show. MBL has better highs or rather well extended highs, resolving, evolving, emotional, Absolute Refinement...What can I do? Tube Roll. Rolling gets the highs closer to the MBL but not the lows...sigh...The Sylvania 6SN7GTB has a heavy chrome dome getter, black base with green labels and triangular black plates is famed & sought after by tubies for its smooth refine highs and punchy lows.

Completely sold to JPS Labs (The Worlds Finest Cables) Superconductor 3, Superconductor FX and GPA 2 ™ on all connections & components, undoubtedly Ernest recommended JPS Labs Jumpers to replace the Xindak SS-1. JPS Labs Jumpers are made using Cardas Rhodium Spades (he said spades alone for the 8 is approx $200) and Superconductor 2. With the 8TC already wired-up to the low freq binding posts, the JPS Jumpers are then spaded to the high freq posts from the lows. So how does it sounds? absolutely NO sounds...I'm speechless. If you ever wonder if jumping the high freq will improve your lows, then look no further, pay ernest $250.