Grover Huffman "SC dot" Speaker Cable - Listening Impressions

[richidoo]

In support of the upcoming speaker cable Group Buy, we can post our reviews in this thread.
Rich

[mdconnelly]

Does anyone know how Grover configures his biwire speaker cables?   Are they essentially two pair of single runs?  Just curious...

[grover]

Hi everyone, I'm excited by this group buy. My Bi-wire speaker cables are dedicated cables, each designed for the frequencies transferred, this eliminates compromises inherent in other same cable shotgun designs. The Bi-wires can be configured in two ways. As completely separate cables that can be joined together at the amp, one technique to facilitate this is to have the bass cables terminated with banana plugs, and the mid-high cables with solid wire. Both terminated with solid wire works well also, one wire can be twisted around the other or both wires fitted through the center hole of the binding post, this separate cable topology facilitates the use of Bi-amping also. Of course the other topology is to combine the two (silver-copper soldered) at the amp end, resulting in a single bare wire (positive and negative), or other termination at the amp side. I'm working on Rich's Listening Impression sample right now.

[richidoo]

They've been playing for about 30+ hours so far. Altmann DAC > Grover SC. ICs> AudioSource Amp 200 > Grover SC Biwire SCs > Usher Be20.

I sat down and listened a little today. They are opened up and starting to reveal their secrets. I can tell already that they are very special and extremely open and clear, as is always true with Grover wires.

I have also turned my room around 90 degrees again, different electronics, etc. So there are a lot of changes since my last critical listening. But I had a very satisfying and emotional listening session today, even with the "industrial utility" amp.  The Grover wires passed the spirit of the music very strongly, right through the grit and distortion of the cheap amp. I'm using this amp to pump some heat into the wires, but soon I'll hook up the waify Altmann and start listening to tone. I think they might be more detailed than the JPS SC3, but can't really tell that yet for sure. There seems to be more life in the music than I am used to.

Bass is scary and enormous. Ultra detailed, textured, no holding back. Can't tell about treble with this amp, too gritty. But the wires are passing the grit with great detail.
Rich

[rlmacklin]

cross-posted from the "sc." vs. "sc" interconnects thread,
as all impressions below are using Grover's latest configuration bi-wire speaker cables
which I have had since February 10th and they have all the benefit of normal play and IsoTek Enhancer CD burn-in since that time:

********************************************************************

I have had the Grover "SC" with no "direction arrow" since February 10th
(burned-in similarly as described below)
and used those for source to preamp and preamp to amp of 2-channel system,
until I received Grover "SC." (SC dot) interconnects on March 21st. 
I put the SC dot ICs in the 2-channel interconnect spots
and moved the Grover "SC" with no "direction arrow" to the source to preamp position for the center and surround channels of multi-channel system.  All other ICs in multi-channel system are Grover "SC" with the direction arrow.

I burned in the new Grover "SC." (SC dot) interconnects using Track 2 of the IsoTek Enhancer CD
running on repeat overnight during sleeping hours for more than a week and they sound well stabilized at this point.

I previously posted in AudioNervosa Album Review section re the improvement
in listening to the Japanese remaster of Van Morrison's "Astral Weeks."

Today over lunch I fired up my Modwright SWL9.0 Signature tubed linestage (w/cryoed 1957 metal base Philips Miniwatt 5AR4/GZ34 and 2 Bendix 6900s) and after it warmed up for 30 minutes or so,
I listened to the track "Stormy Monday" on the DSD SACD "Allman Brothers Band at Fillmore East"
in SACD stereo (I am using Grover's latest configuration speaker bi-wire speaker cables also received February 10th).  Superb blues from Duane and Greg Allman, Dicky Betts, Berry Oakley, Butch Trucks and Jaimoe.
The Grover "SC." (SC dot) carries the soul/emotion of the music even better than the already excellent Grover "SC with no direction arrow" - just draws me more into the music.
[using Grover's latest configuration bi-wire speaker cables which I have had since February 10th...
Great synergy.]
I couldn't resist playing "Stormy Monday" again in SACD surround sound after a few minutes...
Can't wait to get the more Grover "SC." ICs I have ordered (Grover e-mailed he is already working on them),to use in all positions in my multi-channel system - as the music will only get even better   

[richidoo]

These speaker cables don't have the dot on the label, but they are fresh made last week. The ICs do say SCdot. Is the latest speaker wire spec SCdot? Or is it still SC? Just curious.

[rlmacklin]

Rich and all,

My speaker cables received from Grover February 10 do not have any dot following the "Grover SC" on the label either. But he confirmed a week or two ago that he upgraded them to the latest configuration.

Perhaps "SC." designation only applies to the newest ICs?

[richidoo]

Thanks Roger.

[grover]

Hi Guys wanted to add that the Speaker cables haven't changed since the SC configuration. So I'm leaving the speaker cables designation SC (no dot). The IC's have the changes and hence the new designation, so I can recognize the new design.

[shep]

Grover, My friend from NY is sending you 60 dollars (postage enough?) as of now. I will send the old ones to you as soonest. If you don't still have my address in France I will send to you with the old cables. Are we still dealing with an arrowless version or have you put the direction or decided it doesn'nt matter?
Shep

[richidoo]

shep the new wires that I have are no arrows. But the name tag is attached toward one end, so I pretend there is an arrow on that pointing toward the close end.

[rlmacklin]

Rich,

For consistency (or just "convention"?) I installed the 2 pairs Grover "SC." and and the 2 pairs Grover "SC with no direction arrow" similarly (as if there were a direction arrow on the label) - with the Grover label at the end away from the signal source. 
This may facilitate future interconnect placement replication after being burned-in in a particular orientation, or so one can rationalize...

[richidoo]

Yes, that's what my dogma says too. Keeps the wire devils from haunting my dreams. Until the tweekiest wire angel ever (Grover) says it doesn't matter, I will hold firmly to my directional conductor dogma. haha 

Hey at least I admit I'm nuts.

[SteveB]

You all know just for science sake that the audio signal is AC? 

It goes both ways ...hence alternating. Not trying to light a fire here. I mean we are talking about a hobby that uses stones on top of equipment!

Doesn't matter ---I know.

There are your no direction folks ( thats me) and your direction folks. Its all good!

[shep]

 
we'll just pretend we didn't hear that! I think you just walked on the tail of a sacred cow...the question is:
which way was he heading? and since you ended on a pleasent note, you're trespasses will be forgiven (for now )
If Grover is lurking nearby maybe he will say something. On second thought let's not go there. It's so much more fun to believe in magic.
Still waiting for a serious listening impression of the new cables.