AVT Matrix 6 interconnects

trioleo

Hi Guys,

A friend of mine came round recently to listen to my system, which I thought up to then was pretty good, after a while he changed a pair of interconnects between pre and power amps and wow! what a difference, a lot more detail in all sectors, more harmonics between musicians and singers, a more tuneful bass line and a lovely sound-stage, I couldn't believe the improvement, It was the kind of improvement an extra £1,000 box can make.

So I bought a pair and at £250 I think it was well worth it.

Enjoying that improvement he then put a MusicWorks Response acrylic stand underneath the mains block, the mains block was already on an acrylic shelf  with 4 acrylic feet, the new stand is 2 strips of acrylic on edge with a connecting rod between them and what an improvement, fantastic!!.

Looking back, what I thought was good at the beginning of the evening turned out to be rather weak, slow and uninteresting by comparison.

So I bought a Response stand, a lovely improvement to my system for what I consider not a great deal of money.

Just thought I'd share

regards  Alan

Alan

Hi Alan, thanks for that. There is another, well known 'forum-er' in the UK who is heavily into his acrylic stands and supports and gets a lot of flak for it. That won't happen here, we're all glad you're enjoying your tunes, man!

I can understand cable differences (well, I cant understand them at all but I have experienced them), but supports and stands affecting SS gear and cables seems a bit much. Or thats what I thought before trying something borrowed under my DAC & pre. I wonder what's at play here?...

uglymusic

Please tell me more about these stands. Why are they so controversial?

Alan

Most objective-leaning audiophiles do not believe SS electronics can be microphonic, and therefore won't benefit from specialist supports. Couple that with the high cost of these supports. Couple this with the subjective nature of the perceived improvements (and occasionally wild claims to that end). Couple that with the high cost of such supports, and their absence in the pro sector.

All valid points, but some do experience differences, I do, for instance.

Alan

PS, please pardon the unintentionally sloppy use of the term 'couple' in a discussion about supports!

uglymusic

Most objective-leaning audiophiles do not believe SS electronics can be microphonic, and therefore won't benefit from specialist supports. Couple that with the high cost of these supports. Couple this with the subjective nature of the perceived improvements (and occasionally wild claims to that end). Couple that with the high cost of such supports, and their absence in the pro sector.

All valid points, but some do experience differences, I do, for instance.

So it's the usual 'I trust my ears'/'I don't trust my ears' controversy, rather than anything in particular about these supports, then? 

Alan

It does boil down to that, but I think it's an over simplification. The ears can easily be deceived, of course. The kind of stuff we are talking about is pricey, and spurned by professionals too. There are no easy answers here.

uglymusic

Me? Oversimplify???

The support you tried is pricey, too. More than that?

Alan

The support I have is borrowed, and I will be sorry to see it go. Still, it is diminutive, and costs nearly £200.

look at me, the advocate! I was loaned it because I was sceptical!

The musicworks stuff makes mine look cheap though.

uglymusic

I thought it was more than that. Jim must have been talking about the 401 plinth.

Alan

That would be an entirely different kettle of fish, given the manufacturing process!

trioleo

I had an acrylic shelf with 4 acrylic feet under the mains block, the difference is the Response is 2 strips of acrylic on edge with a loose fitting rod between them and is £40,  I think it is cheap for the improvement it brings to the music, I can only assume it's to do with energy transfer, I guess that mains items vibrate at 50Hz and the stand either transfers that energy or maybe allows the item to wobble at that frequency, I don't know, but there seems to be something about acrylic as a substance that favours HiFi equipment.

I have heard the MusicWorks ReVo table and I think it is a superb stand, whether that's because it's all acrylic, no wood, no metal, no spikes and it doesn't actually have any shelves, but I agree with Alan, at £1,300 it is expensive, however I will put one in my system when I can afford it.

Meantime I will try another Response under the power supplies for pre-amp and t/table, I understand the scepticism regarding these kind of "accessories" but I heard the improvements and I like them so I bought it.

Enjoy your music

regards  Al

Alan

Can't say fairer than that mate! Nice post.