OK, Now We can get to the Goods?
As freshman in high school, I played in a punk band. We had fun; we played and recorded at the Gilman, an iconic punk and alt live music club in the flat lands of Bazerkly (Berkeley, CA), and generally caused chaos and didn’t take enough showers. But at that time, we also had the opportunity to spend a Saturday at a real recording studio. I don’t mean a cheep 8-track studio in some fat man’s basement, but a full-blown Pro-Tools studio that had lots of space and obviously cost a lot of money. This offered me my first taste of what ‘high-end’ sounded like. Sitting at the engineering deck and listing to our music played back via computer out of amazing equipment, was a revelation moment. I had no idea that a speaker system could sound so good. I had no idea music could sound this good! At the time, I couldn’t even picture the sounds as being real because it sounded so much better than anything else I had ever heard. The MG Audio Cables, once broken in and brought up to their optimal level with the jumpers, brought back that exact feeling. It is the feeling of when a system comes together and sounds really freaking good. I’ve had similar feelings, like the Melody 211 with the Zu Hi-Def speakers and WyWires cables, or the Audio Note exhibit at the first California Audio Show. I couldn’t leave that exhibit room. So with the MG cables in the system I had to pull out everything I hadn’t listened to in forever out to hear it again, at this new pinnacle. I’m now even bringing audiophile friends over to show off and gloat!
Specifically the changes these cables have brought to the system are a greater level of detail, better balance between different frequencies, and a more refined and competent level of control over sound.
The greater level of detail results in an easier ability to hear the spatial cues in live or not super close mic’d recordings. For instance, with the Trinity Sessions album, I feel completely enveloped by that recoding environment. Even on other, less well recorded or so spacious albums, where the recoding environment is not there on purpose but happens to be in the recording more due to, like on The Boy with the Arab Strap by Belle and Sebastian, or Who Will Cut Out Hair When We Are Gone by The Unicorns. For me, the music becomes that much more real and engaging when the space the music was recorded in replaces the listening space I am in.
The Planus cables also offered a very well balance presentation, being very extended in both the highs and lows, and open and detailed in the mid-range. No single frequency range superseded above any others. While the speaker cables do have a tad bit of warmth to the lower mid-range, this strikes me as making the cable a bit more emotionally engaging, and giving just a slight hint or more body to vocals. Making them more like I hear my own voice, I feel my own vocal vibrations and the resonance in my chest. This helped me better relate to the signer and the overall experience of the music.
The refined and competent control over the sound is a much more subtle quality than the high level of detail or the coherent soundstage or balance. This control shows itself in never allowing the music to become exceedingly abrasive or fatiguing. This means that when horns are really pushing the sonic limits they are never quiet as piecing as they can be in real life. They sound detailed and have many facets and layers of textures. And cymbals hardly ever become caustic with sheen, even with poorly recorded heavy metal head banging, which beat the crash again and again. Some folks might find this to makes the music less real, but to me it allows for a better listening experience because my ears and brain aren’t being assaulted by some stray and uncontrolled sound which makes me lose focus on the whole experience. And since I can now focus on the detail and be analytic, my mind and heart seem to both be pleased. This control also means I can listen to the music louder and longer without becoming fatigued. And I seemed to be able to better analytically engage with the music even at it most fervent moments versus just being driven into a state of frenzy and pure emotional engagement.
The control and detail balance the emotional tone and engagement.
Final Thoughts
Hats off to Greg and Lee. I purchased my pair of review sample cables even though I wasn’t planning to. This means I’ll be sure to use the cables on more amplifier and speakers that come my way, and I really hope to be able to experience similar levels of joy in the future.
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You know I have to say that I too have been enamored with their cables. There is no doubt that they are on to something. I agree with Adam these cables are very, very, good! I have used them with Pass amps, SAS tube preamp (a great preamp!) and a wonderful monarchy DAC. The cables spe aker (3’s) and there interconnects (ag2’s) are just very cool! Hey take the effort to call these guys! What a great product at a sane PRICEW
Great review, and exactly what I had experienced with them regarding break in on the cables. I had written Greg about the amount of time necessary to break them in. Well into the 250 range or so. Very uninvolving at the suggested 100-150 hours. After that, they really come into their own. And like you, I was not looking for another pair of speaker cables but at the suggestion of another audiophile I gave them a listen. You can see my impression of the cables on the MG website. These are a keeper. Just remember to let them develope well beyond 200 hours.
Randy