XTZ CD100

The Rega was artfully designed to put the music first and any annoying 'low cost player' traits were either designed out as much as possible, or fine tuned out of the way so they're not as noticeable. I hope your Apollo R is now at Rega to be serviced properly.

Not sure I trust CD players with a very distinct tone to them. Also, the time taken to 'warm up' shouldn't be an issue these days, but that's just me. I appreciate some gear that maybe hasn't been used for a while, can take a few hours to settle back in again (why I don't know when other stuff comes on full song in minutes regardless of time in storage).

The CD 100 sounds like a player that would love the SC cable I suggested you keep! The Rega was voiced with e Couple mk2 and must be used with an amp offering a 47k input load or above...

For a giggle an as part of a parts order I needed to make, I ordered 3m of one of their guitar cables so I could make up a RCA to 1/4" jack pair. The promise of a retro sound was too much to pass up (Sommer SC-Classique)

www.rapidonline.com/sommer-cable-300-0107-guitar-cable-yellow-black-20-awg-59-1182

I've not given it much time, but it does egg the 'organic pudding' really nicely for the job it has to do, so I'm happy. They might as well have not bothered with the woven jacket trim though, as it comes undone very easily and I think it needs some heat-shrink carefully applied (it melts with the heat from a hot air gun) before stripping and soldering. Shiny copper core of decent gauge and the tinned screen was easy for me to solder.

Marco AOS apparently uses Sommer CarboKab, but I'm told by a reliable third party who likes the Klotz MC5000 as I do, that it's too bassy-flavoured. I find the MC5000 solid enough sounding as it is.

The NVA SSC is an excellent all round cable for non NVA systems too, but I like to cobble my own wires together away from NVA and I don't have enough of the raw cable left over at any one time to make anything as a rule.

I can’t argue with SSC. It’s as good as anything except TIS. Like you I make my own cables up. I bought a few metres of RG316/u from the US (the real deal stuff) and made up a couple of sets of shotgunned leads for mates. I only made one 1.5 metre length for myself, and now wish I’d made up more cables. Still, I have a Rega Couple mk1 and another one using the same raw cable but with WBT style locking phonos on. I find the plugs a bit too heavy and they annoy me a bit when connecting. The cable sounds identical to my official Couple with Neutriks though.

I recently bought a 100 metre role of H-07z-r cable from Ebion to use as speaker cable. I’ve made up some cables from doubled up lengths twisted together (that’s 2 twisted pairs per speaker, single wire mode). I haven’t had a chance to hear them yet but they are for a mate anyway. I will make some up for me at a later stage. They will have to be special to beat the ones I use, but you don’t know until you try.

Have you ever tried it doubled up, Dave? Usually this really improves the sound for me.

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