Keep working on that Bluetooth cable that I asked you for!
Seems redundant if one has a ‘phone’ from the past few years…
Until you listen to your phone, I did. And, no storage on a phone. But if the limited storage and QOS is OK on your way bigger heavier phone than, sure, soldier on. Me, I hide when I walk, I’m in the no call zone.
Not for everyone but for the money a nice unit.
Galen
Hmm, the headphones are the limiter for me, DAC in the phone is plenty good for walking quality. Storage?, stream it! My phone has 64GB and I use very little of it, and set do not disturb - phone won’t ring
It is a nice unit but I’m not surprised it’s not selling in this day and age
Millennials have little interest in WalkMan
Brett,
I thought the buds were limiting too, but WOW, the new unit is far better than my iPhone or the poor COBY (720K MP3).
They seem to sell plenty of newer design units but $500.00 or more is too good for walking. So just a heads up for those that want a small light unit that is not too costly to get stuck in the rain… seems like it would survive, though.
Blockquote
. Me, the QOS is worth it, even walking.
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The buds are certainly not the limiting factory. My phone a Samsung S7 isn’t worth listening to when on my walk. The music is just dead, there is no emotion, dynamics or prat. I connect the phone to a Chord Mojo DAC using an OTG cable and the music is transformed and very enjoyable with Shure SE846 buds. I stream FLAC from the phone. The only problem is Android audio up samples all content to 192/24
I will partially answer my own question.
The Iconoclast 4x1 XLR using the cheaper electrolytic tough-pitch copper for AES/EBU digital is surprisingly good.
It replaced a Shunyata XLR digital cable that I paid $650 for a few years ago. The 3 foot Iconoclast XLR is only $230.
So I lent the Shunyata to a friend who had been using an HDMI cable for I2S digital.
He said about the Shunyata:
“So it seems that the I2s cable is part of the bass problem. Who knew. The Shunyata offers tighter bass better texture for sure. I can actually hear the bowing on the double bass now. Also the soundstaging is better. Better depth and impact and image size is improved as well. Nice improvement.”
I then told him about the Iconoclast.
Him-“Is that better than the Shunyata?”
Me- “Light years better.”
He then got the cable.
“Wow! What a great cable. This is a big improvement in all aspects of reproduction and definitely brings you closer to the actual event. I’ll have more to report when able.”
5 days later his second report:
“I’m loving the increase in detail, overall clarity and textures of instruments. Strings are especially pristine. This brings an uncanny sense of reality to the listening experience. This is an amazing cable.”
5 Likes
I found the same. Shunyata Sigma XLR was way better than the stock I2S cable that shipped with DMP.
I’m now considering what cable to buy for my new sub-woofer. Iconoclast is $700. AudioQuest Makenzie is a little cheaper. Shunyata is way more expensive. Crystal Cable is way way way more expensive.
Brodric,
True subs are current diffusion coupled current lines, the complex geometry for conductors is not effective for low frequencies. Use the series one 1x1 RCA or 4X1 XLR interconnect for bass IC lines, and, they are cheaper.
The GEN II 1x4 and 4x4 technology forces HIGH frequency current to travel more evenly, and uniformly, through a wire by making the wires smaller. This has ZERO impact on the lower frequencies.
I use 1x1 RCA on my BF212 subs with the CLX, for example. This is why we have both types of IC cable, to give customers the best cost and performance possible based on where you use ICONOCLAST. Sure we want your business, but misapplication of technology isn’t how I want to get it.
Galen Gareis
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So, BAV XLR is the most appropriate (and economic) choice? Or are you suggesting Gen 1 ETPC for $200 more?
I always go with sound quality first. If you have to have the flexibility of the BAV, that’s why we have it as an option. But if you don’t have to have it, then go with gen 1 ICONOCLAST design for the subs.
If you are working off of price only, then you have to go with lower SQ by default to save a coin. This means yes, the BAV is the best for the lowest buck…NOT the best there is.
I have tried to offer cables for either QA or price. Yet both BAV and ICONOCLAST have to be class leading in their application be it SQ or price.
This does limit the BAV design to a floor price where performance isn’t acceptable to me. I drew that line and it took awhile to find the proper dielectrics.
Galen Gareis
So for a 8m long subwoofer cable, there is no advantage in Gen 1 upgrading from ETPC copper to OFE? The flexibility of BAV would be nice, but I can arrange the position of things to get a 20cm bend radius, if that’s what a Gen 1 requires. The aiming point is best sound quality.
Try them both. Most of what we hear is “considered” higher frequencies in copper pull science. We can get a couple lengths close to your requirement and listen away and see what you find. Get what seems like the best cost factor. Enjoy the purchase.
The RCA is plenty flexible. The XLR needs a 4 inch radius, or 8 inch bend diameter.
Best,
Galen Gareis
OFE is $600/pair more pricey than ETPC in the 25’ length. I don’t have the benefit of trying both, I’m in Australia.
I used the gen 1 RCA to my Martin Logan BF212 SUBs and switched the UPOCC RCA in the TPC last night and could not hear a difference that I can say is statistically the RCA sub cable. It is that close. The change from a 4x4 to a 1x4 in ANY copper science sounds immediately different on the full range IC to the MOON W-8 amp running the CLX panels for comparison. The ML subs are really working below 40 Hz.
If you feel there MIGHT be a difference, the Audio Bacon review on the IC types may help you decide. I like leaner “fast” bass, for example. Some like a warmer bass. Look for those types of descriptors in the review. Be aware that the IC and SPKR leads do not track each other tightly, with the speaker cable copper selection making larger differences. The network interaction between amp/cable/spkr is more severe than the preamp/IC network.
The subs high impedance input is a preamp to high impedance input, so cable network stability is way better than your speaker cable, so big differences are just the copper, and that isn’t as tough an obstacle as the network interaction.
Best,
Galen Gareis
HI,
Interested in trying the Iconoclast cables against my Morrow SP7 speaker cables and Wireworld Silver Eclipse 8 RCA and balanced XLR interconnects.
I’m in the UK, is there a demo set I can try please?
Thanks.
Sending you a PM.
In a subwoofer application, you would have no benefit by upgrading to OFE. Stick with Gen 1 in TPC for the best sound possible.
1 Like
Thanks BobJ.
Galen, How far apart to not be ‘tightly tracked’ ?