JPS Aluminata SC review

[richidoo]

Thanks to Shane the hometheaterdoc, I compared his demo JPS Aluminata to my JPS SC3 speaker cables today.  Usher Be20 is very revealling of changes to the system, making a comparison of these seemingly very similar wires pretty easy. The Manley Snappers and EE Minimax preamp produce an extremely dynamic, extremely clear rendition of the Altmann DAC source, so they also make it easy to hear differences especially 100Hz and up. Below that the Snapper's 1.5ohm output impedance hinder fine detail at bass freqs. An abundance of bass trapping in front corners flattens bass SPL, but doesn't help the speed.

This review was born when helping a friend choose new speaker wires - I ended up with Shane's set of Aluminatas on hand while my SC3s went on loan. When mine came back, audiophile inertia prevented the timely return of Shane's Aluminatas. Shane asked my opinion on the difference between SC3 and AL, but I had not even compared them. I guess I was just happy as can be with my SC3 so I didn't bother. I was also subconsciously on guard against Shane slipping audio truffles under my door. I know that trick now. But eventually, curiosity got the best of me and yes, Aluminata is MUCH better than SC3, which is weird because...

Aluminata and SC3 both have similar looking 5ga twisted aluminum plated copper conductors protruding from the shield, so I didn't really think the fancy powdered aluminum shield would make that much of a difference in my relatively quiet EM environment.

The difference in sound has taught me that the shield on a speaker wire is not just for keeping stray EMI out of the conductor inside, but just as important is how the signal in the conductor interacts with the shield, in this case the shield really does make a huge difference, even with what look like identical conductors on the inside.

SC3's shield is a solid copper tube (I think, because that's what SC2 was) with insulated alumilloy conductor floating loosely inside (I think.) Copper will keep out stray EM but doesn't have the ability to absorb and dissipate stray EM coming off of the internal conductor in order to prevent it from affecting the same signal as it comes back in (I think.) Maybe the aluminum shield acts like EM absorber, preventing reflections from the shield back into the conductor. SC3 copper shield prevents on conductor from affecting the other, so in my mind it must be the interaction of the shield with its own conductor, not so much an isolation thing. But I'm just guessing on what's happening, it could be completely different mechanism. But whatever it is, it works very well. The experience is intense and very moving in how it affects the music. It feels like "shhh, something important is happening."

A shot of adrenaline makes your hearing improve and gives that feeling of enhanced awareness, like something important is happening. These wires do that without any steroid stimulating stress. I did not try getting an adrenaline shot on top of the aluminatas. While adrenaline rush ruins the ability to focus, Aluminata deepens the focus on the music.

Compared to my old Anticables, my SC3 SCs are much quieter. Ringing is gone, and the background is much blacker. Music is more peaceful, more details emerge calmly, the music is more alive. I was pretty surprised to hear a similarly large jump again in black background, clarity and dynamics when switching to the AL. The peaceful calm is the most noticable change. I don't perceive this as much as a sound, but more of a feeling, but it is easy to sense.

Microdetails like small room spatial cues are especially vulnerable, AL really brings these out, much more than SC3. It is easy to hear reverb in a symphony hall, with loud impulse followed by silence, on any SC. But when you can hear the walls of a small room in and around the music it is extremely enjoyable. I never heard that even with the SC3s. Along with the more intelligible space are more tonal details. Texture is drastically improved, even over the SC3. Where SC3 let you see molecules instead of just shapes, ALuminata lets you see atoms. Every track, from Bob Marley "Stand Up" to Stoltzman solo clarinet revealed much more information about the instrument, the space, and the mood of the performer than SC3 did.

The SC3s can also start to get a tad congested when the volume goes up and the dissonance in the music peaks. I never noticed it until direct comparison to this wire.  Aluminata cleaned all that up. Powerful modern symphonic music like Stravinsky, Prokofiev, Shostakovich, Honneger, even Beethoven all benefit from the additional "headroom" if that's the right word. The increased clarity on macrodynamics and microdynamics makes the music seem more direct, more palpable, more realistic.

The result of further reducing the distortion in the SC is the feeling that the music is even more alive than before. I am on audio spending diet right now with wife starting a new job, so I have been content with being content, no new thrills for a while, just enjoying a lot of good listening. But the magic of disbelief while the magic emerges from the speaker returned to me with the Aluminatas. Tracks that I have been using with Sol that I am very familiar with, have suddenly come to life and shown twice as much detail and presence.

My cryptic notes from listening, "details in space, texture more vivid, Quieter, Bass stronger with tubes, Music really comes alive. More detail, but 'easier to take,' more relaxed. Bass detail better, less congested overall, calmer."

The SCs allowed me to really hear the limitations of 100W tubes in controlling 3ohm high resolution woofers. Even the amp slop is much more "detailed" if that's the right word, it is obvious that the bass is less focused than the midrange and it's NOT the recording. The loosey tube bass is obvious in comparison to the clarity of the midrange, and harder to ignore.    But in contrast with that observation, bass slam and upper bass detail are still noticably better with the Aluminatas. I guess it's limited current duration on transients. The thump is stronger with Aluminata, but not the detailed sustain.

Art Dudley was not blowing hot air in his review last year. They really are that good. If this pair of Shane's demo wires isn't sold by the G2G, maybe we can swap them in so you can see that I am not crazy. Or maybe I can afford them by then. I'm banking on a big Obama Inauguration Rally!  C'mon Barry! Bring it home for a fellow jazzer!

[mdconnelly]

Rich... oh, you got the bug alright!   Shane slipped it in while you weren't looking and you and your wallet are so toast.   

Seriously, nice review.   JPS has always been a winner to me.  I know if I didn't have such a long run, I'd be thinking the SC3 (but still wouldn't let Shane and those Aluminata anywhere near my house for fear of being totally spoiled - like it sounds you are .

[stereofool]

Ahh...come on Rich...I don't need to be seeing 'crap' like this  !

Actually, my budget is completely toast...so I'm not very tempted. Oh well, one of these days...maybe  .

[richidoo]

Hey guys, I gotta spread the misery.

I started to tell my wife tonight, "You know those big speaker wires been sitting in a pile on the floor for a month?"   "NO you can't keep them!" she said....

This is the only forum on the net that tolerates such talk of $8k speaker wires without immediate tar and feathering me. I can hear the lurkers are laughing!

If nothing else it's nice to know that the SC naysayers who say that old rope and lamp cord are just as good as liquid gold fantasy wire really are full of shit.  Fantasy wire really is fantastic.

[Bigfish8]

Darn Rich, those SCs are more than used pair of SP Tech Revelations being advertised on AC and more than the C-8's I am dying to hear!  Good luck convincing the wife!  By the way, great review.

Ken

[Carlman]

I've been very tempted by the Aluminata's.  I'd like to try the IC's with the SC's as well.
But spending as much (or more) on the cables than I did on my speakers has kept me from taking the plunge.  It's the kind of thing we should co-buy.. and split our time with them...
  A time-share on speaker cables, that'll get the SC naysayers laughing!

Thanks for the review, Rich.  It's nice to hear the performance is there. 

BTW, Ken.. if you want to hear some C8's I've got them setup in my family room now.  It's not a perfect environment but it's pretty nice... just let me know.

-C

[richidoo]

Darn Rich, those SCs are more than used pair of SP Tech Revelations being advertised on AC and more than the C-8's I am dying to hear!  Good luck convincing the wife!  By the way, great review.

I thought about you when I saw that Rev ad. But then I thought of Vera.   

This morning Julie asked me is that $8k for one or the pair? We had a good laugh.

Carlman, since you know what happens to gear you lend to me without a finite return date, I am more than happy to go halvsies with you on the gunpowder wires.  I did try SC3 ICs once after a g2g, they were about 20% better than Grover whiteys, not big enough improvement to warrant the leap. But the Aluminatas should be that much better if the same effect works as well at low signals. Grover is still a great value in my mind. Stereofool, how do you like your new SC3 ICs compared to Grover whiteys?

The C8s Ken is referring to are Ascendo C8.

[stereofool]

Rich,

I DO like the SC3 IC's...more so than the Grover's...which I was perfectly happy with  .

The JPS's give a more defined 'note' attack, a wider and deeper soundstage, and a general sense of greater 'ease' in reproducing the music. Let's say that one can hear more deeply into the music/performance.

I probably wouldn't have made the switch...if that 'evil' purveyor of audio goodies  ...hadn't made such a good deal. Thank you, Shane  .

[Phil]

Rich,

Why not try the Aluminata ICs?  That might be a less expensive way to start down the dark road.  In my system, the ICs seem to make a great difference in the sound (I'm following the Kubala Sosna road these days - luckily I have very short runs), especially if you already have very good speaker cables.

Your poor wife!

Phil

[richidoo]

Hi Phil! Eventually I would like to go all Aluminata. Meantime Grover ICs are still gettin it done. I think the SC has a bigger effect due to the higher signal voltage - but it all matters. Gotta keep savin up.

[mdconnelly]

Whoa... Grover to Aluminata is a big jump (even with Shane's help...).   Rich, if you ever do get the itch, I'd love to hear these compared.   I don't question that the Aluminata are exceptional, but the price difference could buy a whole lot of equally exceptional wine, single malt scotch and mo' music.   Such tradeoffs are a bitch 

[bmr3hc]

Rich

Every time I get invited to your house to "listen", it ends up costing me money!! Please take note, as I have already told you before, please don't invite me over again, until I hit the lottery or I can just invite myself when I lose the rest of my mind..........
Man, those Usher speakers reminds me of uncontrollable, unforgettable and unaffordable lusting. Hey, at least I can still remember...

Henry

[richidoo]

Aluminatas are other worldly. I'm sure other fancy wires are similar, like Tara or Transcendent but I have only ever heard Alum's at home. Shane said we can keep the SCs here until the meet so we can compare SC3 to them, should be interesting. If Shane has any aluminata ICs left we could compare those to stereofool's SC3 ICs (and Grovers )

Henry, I will have to kidnap you and drag you over hear kicking and screaming for your medicine.

[hometheaterdoc]

I have a couple Aluminata pieces left, including RCA ICs.  Rich, if you want to stop by the house, you can pick them up and borrow for however long you wish.

I lost Grandma this morning at 6:30AM.  I knew it was coming, but it still hasn't made the last few days and today any easier.  At least I got to say goodbye before the end.  I'll never forget her snapping out of the morphine haze, pulling me close because she couldn't really talk that well, looking straight at me with a tear running down her cheek and telling me "I just want to thank you for everything you've done for me.  I love you very, very much.  Goodbye".....

There are days when life just freakin' sucks.....

[richidoo]

God bless you and your family Shane. Sorry for your loss.