Happy New Year to everyone! I am just now recovering from the holidays. I got on an eggnog & rum kick (more rum than eggnog) for about a week and stayed in a fog… Wow does that stuff taste good and because it is so sweet you forget what you are doing to yourself until it is too late. I will not get on a scale for a few weeks… Funny too, just how much better my system sounded for the holidays. I never danced better or so I think.
One of the favorite parts of my job is the many friends and customers that I get to speak to personally on the phone. Of the hundreds I have spoken with, so many are now considered friends. Other favorites include the team of professionals that I work with that produce the Iconoclast assemblies and of course representing the incredible cable products that Galen designed for the audiophile community. (Ha, he originally designed them for himself, but we won’t talk about that.)
Conversations most times allow me to explore what components and speakers are in the customers system and usually what speaker cables and interconnects that they have been using. I like to know these things since that in addition to any predetermined cables the customer wants to talk about or to order for audition, it helps me to make educated suggestions on what else that they might consider. It has become quite obvious over the years what “usually” ends up staying with the customer and what I might expect to be returned. And though never 100% accurate I have developed a pretty good track record of accuracy in helping to be a guide. As so many of you know, I always recommend where possible that the customer let me send at least 2-copper variants of any cable type always reminding that the only difference will be the copper variant, not the cable design or other materials used. After all, the only cost associated with trying an additional copper variant is the approximately $12-14 to return a pair of cables. Sure beats looking over your shoulder wondering if you had made the right decision on what if anything to purchase for your system.
Discussions too, sometimes avert the premature return of cables before the cables, and the customers ears/brain have time to break in. It’s amazing how many folks will have an initial opinion on a cable after 2-5-days only to do a complete turn around a short time later. Many times I will get a “thank you” for simply asking that they spend a little more time with a particular variant.
DECEMBER 13
"Good Morning Bob,
After many hours of auditioning the SPTPC Speaker Cables over the past several days, I find that these are very exceptional sounding cables. Unfortunately, they simply do not have the sonic presentation that I am looking for in my particular system. Allow me to explain."
My customer then provided a very well written and detailed narrative of what at the time he considered both the good and the not so good qualities of our SPTPC cables. He then also requested the opportunity to try the OFE copper variant. I had them shipped immediately. I also called the customer and after a short discussion he agreed to hang on the to SPTPC for a bit longer while his OFE’s were being prepared and in transit.
Here was the follow up email I received just after Christmas. This is the most recent of a very long list of similar experiences with customers world wide.
DECEMBER 27
"Bob,
I hope you had a very Merry Christmas!
After an extended time auditioning these two Iconoclast cable variations, I, without any reservations, prefer the SPTPC cables to the OFE cables in my system.
In comparison, the OFE cables only serve to reveal how extraordinary the SPTPC cables are! The SPTPC cables have such a remarkable soundstage, layering, and air to them that I cannot imagine any other cables sounding better. I feel that I am hearing the superb qualities of the ribbon tweeters in my Maggies for the first time. Simply amazing!"
So, what does this prove? Only that each of us has a different budget, ears, rooms, speakers, cables and components that make up a playback system that is in most cases unique to ourselves. And, we have our own perceptions and preferences since the majority of audiophiles have limited exposure to live music. And, even with live music is it an intimate jazz club, an orchestra, vocalist or rock concert venue?
Without question, the copper structure of each variant provides a different presentation. I have my own opinions on each and my perception and opinion is not the same between speaker cables and interconnects. Am I right about my perceptions and opinions, I sure am for me, my system and my room. Do I think that the SPTPC speaker cables are bright? Absolutely not. They are the most incredible speaker cables I have ever listened to and they are not for sale at any price! Most Iconoclast customers are fiercely loyal.
Adjectives and there are so many in the audiophile world that are used to describe what we hear largely seem to apply to cables, components and speakers. And yet I’m not sure if I ever heard a sibilant DAC or preamp. So we sometimes need to be careful what adjectives we apply to what link in the chain.
I’ve learned to truly respect some of the many lifetime audiophiles I have met over the years and love to hear about their quest for the perfect playback system. And even with decades of listing experience and countless hours of comparisons in the chain, I still see and hear significant divergent opinions. I have learned never to argue but rather listen, evaluate, further investigate where I feel justified and formulate concurrence or disagreement. Even with that, I still believe something that I learned long ago that really applies to most everything. “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.”
So happy to see the Iconoclast thread come alive after a short dormancy and it’s also great to see posts from so many friends and customers. Thank you all!
Before I forget… The response to our special pricing for previously auditioned cables has been off the charts! Of the 60+ pairs of cables that were available more than 1/2 are now in new homes. I still have cables that represent a great value for anyone still on the fence and that might still have a few dollars left from the holidays (yeah right!)
Again, Happy New Year and all the very best for 2020. For some strange reason, I believe 2020 might be one for the history books…
Bob
