emaidel
05-06-2009, 04:19 AM
Not too long ago, I posted a thread stating how delighted I was with a set of Monster M1000i cables used to connect my SACD player to my preamp. Just recently, I ordered an 8' pair to connect my preamp to my power amp, and am even more pleased with the results.
I may be mistaken, but I seem to remember these cables being a lot more expensive than they are today. $150 for a set of 8' interconnects is pretty cheap for something that makes such a dramatic difference. I don't for a minute buy into Monster's hype that the three different thickness of wire used in these cables separately conduct highs, mids and lows, but I will strongly attest to each and every one of their claims as to the improvement in performance these cables offer.
I've used a series of different interconnects from my preamp to my amp in the past: two from Audioquest, and one from a German company, Benchmark Audio, who is not the company we know of today. The most expensive of those three was the Audioquest "Opal" cable, but I found very few differences between the three. That's not so with the Monster M100I, however: the improvement is that noticeable.
Dahlquist DQ-10's are famous for their almost magical imaging, but now that imaging has reached all new levels with remarkable pinpoint precision. Upon playing the sixth movement of Brahms" "Ein Deutches Requiem" on an SACD of the piece conducted by Charles Levine and the BSO, I was stunned at how impressive the entrance of the chorus was with it appearing clearly and distinctly above and behind the orchestra!
While not everything sounds dramatically better, nothing sounds worse. My records sound better too (as they should, since the analog source goes through these cables), but the sound from my SACD player, especially when playing well recorded SACD's, tops everything.
I paid close to $100 for the Achromat turntable mat almost two years ago, and heard a decided difference. That difference though wasn't anywhere near as great as the difference these cables - at only $150 - have made. I can't recommend them highly enough!
I may be mistaken, but I seem to remember these cables being a lot more expensive than they are today. $150 for a set of 8' interconnects is pretty cheap for something that makes such a dramatic difference. I don't for a minute buy into Monster's hype that the three different thickness of wire used in these cables separately conduct highs, mids and lows, but I will strongly attest to each and every one of their claims as to the improvement in performance these cables offer.
I've used a series of different interconnects from my preamp to my amp in the past: two from Audioquest, and one from a German company, Benchmark Audio, who is not the company we know of today. The most expensive of those three was the Audioquest "Opal" cable, but I found very few differences between the three. That's not so with the Monster M100I, however: the improvement is that noticeable.
Dahlquist DQ-10's are famous for their almost magical imaging, but now that imaging has reached all new levels with remarkable pinpoint precision. Upon playing the sixth movement of Brahms" "Ein Deutches Requiem" on an SACD of the piece conducted by Charles Levine and the BSO, I was stunned at how impressive the entrance of the chorus was with it appearing clearly and distinctly above and behind the orchestra!
While not everything sounds dramatically better, nothing sounds worse. My records sound better too (as they should, since the analog source goes through these cables), but the sound from my SACD player, especially when playing well recorded SACD's, tops everything.
I paid close to $100 for the Achromat turntable mat almost two years ago, and heard a decided difference. That difference though wasn't anywhere near as great as the difference these cables - at only $150 - have made. I can't recommend them highly enough!