Marakanetz, as a guitarist you're probably familiar with DiMarzio of pickup fame. He now markets his own cables. His topline speaker cables are $500 per 8' pair and the ICs for $150 for 1m. Decided to give some a try. Pleasantly surprised by the Super M-Path speaker cables, think they compare favorably ones selling for much, much more. Less impressed with the ICs but may need more burn in time. If you continue your interest in downgrading you might want to sample them. BTW, Larry wouldn't agree with diy self-terminating. He uses ultrasonic welding to terminate, claiming that soldering or even crimping harms the signal. The reviews linked through his website make interesting reading. Ending up talking to him a couple of times by phone - fascinating guy.
You have excellent taste in speakers! I have those babies too? I can't imagine powering them with 85 watts though even if it's pure class A. Mine only sing for me if I have either my VTL 750's or my Krell FPB600C hooked up. They suck the juice till the lights dim! But sheer audio bliss is found nowhere else!
Even if you used cheap Radio Shack cables your system is sweet! Good job. Apparently no one out there has heard the z-systems eq. I used to have the unit and I regret getting rid of it. I traded it away for a pair of Logan Sl3s. Bad trade! The Z-systems gives you your tone controls back without distorting anything in the line. If If I had some extra money to indulge myself with, I would definately get another one. Enjoy!
To my experience with the cables, the more expencive models are oriented on folks who's buying more expencive equipment but make no overall difference in performance. I'm also as young as you Tim(maybe older a-bit), but I've already made my first cable downgrade with bunch of trials. I've discovered that there isn't anything better in Transparent Reference cables from Cardas Newtral Reference which is much cheaper and makes more sence and that's where I've started from. More-likely you can find the cable set for your equipment that is even lower on the price than Cardas. Besides Cardas Golden Cross isn't realy cheap cable. Also I've noticed that some professional grade brands sound better than some audiofile grade cables. So finally I'm buying just unterminated cables from Van Den Hul (like their technical thought on the cable design) just by going to their website and figuring out what gauge and what kind of cable I need(depending on components)and terminate them myself(saving at least $80 per each pair of interconnects or speaker cables). I also have a set of pro grade interconnects(love to play guitar) which I can also use on my high end rig if I sell or trade my interconnects. As to PS300 It is sufficient enough for small signal components i.e. everything except power amp(s) and there isn't any need to spend for Shunyata. I personnaly believe that the better option to PS Ultimate Outlet will be a dedicated 20amp line for power amp. I also suggest to replace equalizer with any further upgrade you plan except an equalizer.
We must like VERY different things in audio. Why those cardas cables? if you have expensive gear, you should have equally as good cables, if you like cardas check out the golden reference. Get that PS audio P300 out of there and try a shunyata Hydra, or no conditioner at all. The king cobra is a great cable but a mix would most likely give superior results. Ditch the wadia and get an accuphase DP-85 or DP-75v, or better yet save a bundle and check out the audio aero Capitole, they are both far superior to any wadia I have heard. Why an EQ?? I guess for that much(I am not too far off with my system) I would do things different, but that is just me :) We all look for different things in audio. Tim
