Curious Cables Configiurations Connections and Conversations (about)...

[REShaman]

I have had both .8 and Regen link since early December and I am very happy with them. Similar comments to what others have said, but Evo1668's comment above about the music "slowing" and why makes sense to me. The presentation of music and preservation of ambience/recording acoustic is the biggest highlight for me. I also did not feel the need to a/b...

 

Here is a cable porn pic:

 

.[ATTACH]23574[/ATTACH]

 

Hello TPiddy,

 

Welcome to the thread.

 

Thank you for your findings. Your affirmation along with the other members sharing is heartening for me. I am trying to imagine what the music "slowing" means sensorily and aesthetically. My work as a therapist and Shaman allows for stepping into the action of and as a hypnotherapist, as a heightened state of attention, which is a desirable state of awareness. Listening to symphonies can elicit that state or a great jazz piece when the technique and musicality is mesmerizing.

 

In any case, we all draw on our subjective experiences and when we can share them with authenticity and find common denominators, the contributors to that state may be the attributes of what is being delivered.

 

It's all magic to me. Good medicine for the Soul. And when it repeats, it miraculous.

 

I admit to looking at the cable porn pic through spread fingers and got the gist of it. Looks like there's plenty of open air around the cables and Regen etc.

 

Thank you for sharing your experiences for the rest of us. My turn will come in about a week or less.

 

Best,

Richard

[linger63]

Hi Guys,

 

Just a short post which hopefully is not too much OT.

 

Received my Curious USB 3.0 280mm cable the other night.

 

I run it from a Samsung SSD T1 into one of my Oppo 105 BDP's type A ports.

 

The improvement is SQ is quite substantial and I highly recommend it for this task.

 

I reckon Rob is really onto something here as the sound was clearly better in several areas.....especially the bass.

 

 

Cheers,

 

John

[REShaman]

Hi Guys,

 

Just a short post which hopefully is not too much OT.

 

Received my Curious USB 3.0 280mm cable the other night.

 

I run it from a Samsung SSD T1 into one of my Oppo 105 BDP's type A ports.

 

The improvement is SQ is quite substantial and I highly recommend it for this task.

 

I reckon Rob is really onto something here as the sound was clearly better in several areas.....especially the bass.

 

 

Cheers,

 

John

 

Hello John,

 

Welcome to the thread.

 

Not OT at all. Hence the title of the thread, cables, configurations (this time spelled correctly, if only Chris would correct my typo), connection and conversations. That's what you just accomplished. Someone else may be wondering what others are doing and how they went about getting there. You just gave them a pathway you use. Perhaps someone was looking for just that or something similar.

 

Thank you for posting here with your configurations etc.

 

Enjoy the music,

 

Richard

[kennyb123]

My CCRL has opened up really nicely after a few days of music flowing through it. Clarity has improved somewhat significantly. There's also something special now about how the music flows.

 

In fairness, it's hard to know how much credit is due to the CCRL. It's obvious that the solid adapter that shipped with the REGEN had been doing harm and possibly keeping me from hearing all that my Audience Au24 SE USB could deliver. Both seem to work together exceptionally well. For the price though, the CCRL is a no-brainier. I still think the CCRL might have delivered a more significant improvement than the REGEN.

[tallica1]

CURIOUS CABLE USB CABLE SOON TO BE AUDIOPHILE VIRAL update.. I now have my USB cable since yesterday. I started the burn in process for only 6 hours prior to DSD listening very briefly for about 45 minutes and my first impression

 

"WOW I AM FUCKING BLOW AWAY"

 

I SAID TO MYSELF

 

"how is this cable not $3000?"

 

"1000% CERTAIN CURIOUS USB CABLE WILL GO AUDIOPHILE VIRAL"

 

Stay tuned and MUST reread the DAR review!

 

More thoughts over the coming days!

[sdmarquart]

I received my Curious Cables yesterday! Here's my setup after adding the Curious cables: 2015 HP PC running windows 10 > USB Output > Curious .8m > Regen > Curious 200mm Regen link > NAD C510 DAC > Mogami Gold 6ft XLR's > Focal Alpha 65's.

 

The moment I hit "Play" in Roon, I was blown away. First dialed up Charlie Rich's "25 All-Time Greatest Hits" (16 bit FLAC 2015 Varese) and "Set Me Free" the lead off track sounded miles better than my non-Curious set up. The clarity was amazing! All the instruments had their place and the highs and lows hit very nicely. My first thought was "Did it sound this good in the studio?". : ) It sounded so good I listened to the first 6 songs again but was excited to try some other music to test. I went to the new Bottle Rockets album "South Broadway Athletic Club" in FLAC 24/96. Once again, the clarity blew me away compared to my previous setup. This album rocks and the Curious cables laid it out wonderfully. Crisp vocals, wonderful guitar clarity and wide, deep lows. Once again, I felt like I was in the studio. I then cued up the 24/88.2 remaster of Sam Cooke's, "Night Beat". A longtime favorite of mine for it's "late night" smoky and rich sound. It was definitely time to have a cigarette. Sorry, bad habit. The upright bass nearly floored me and Sam Cooke's vocal just oozed out of my system. The highs and lows sounded just great. (I have my system at the "FLAT" non-EQ setting). I next went to Lou Reed's 24/96 "Transformer" album. I had to hear "Walk On The Wild Side" and was hearing things like never before. I really hear the "dimension" in sound here. It just envelopes the room. Listended to many others last night including Leonard Cohen's 24/96 "The Future". It snowed here last night and I had to hear "Waiting For the Miracle". Flat out terrific. I can go on and on. The main reason I went for the Curious Cable was that my setup (even with the Regen) sounded "digital" to me. Well, that's because it is of course but after seeing the reviews of the Curious cable and how the USB cable matters when it comes to the "digital sound and degradation" of the signal I had to give it a try. The reviews were correct. It does matter and hearing is believing. That said, these cables are supposed to sound their best after 100 or so hours. I thought they sounded great right out of the box and I look forward to enjoying music with this setup for a long time forward. I'll post any updates after the "burn-in" period. But I'm completely thrilled with my setup. It takes a while to get there but very sweet when it happens. Thanks to Rob and Curious Cables! Richard - you're in for a treat once you get the .8m Curious Cable to add to your setup. Just wanted to share as it took awhile for the cables to get here. They shipped 12/30 and I got them 1/19. Needless to say, well worth the wait!

Spencer

[r_w]

It's not $3000 because it's a bit of wire, regardless of how good it sounds.

 

If it's as good as people are saying then the current pricing is fair and reasonable.

 

I use the TotalDAC filter cable, REGEN and a DIY 3cm data only tail.

 

I'm probably going to ask Curious to make me two short tails without power rails in the near future.

 

:-)

[REShaman]

Hello Spencer, tallica1, Kenny,

 

Thank you all, so much, for your posts and reporting your findings. I continue to blame Kenny for getting me to go for it and started with the CRL200mm. Starting there, the next step to add the full loom with a Curious Cable USB 0.8m was easier to arrive at.

 

All the more with all of your feedback, I am so looking forward to the delivery of the CC0.8m given I invested a considerable sum in the LightSpeed 0.8m (standard, red) which has provided me with splendid SQ.

 

And, subjective or not, I think the CC0.8m will be more splendid as splendid goes. Never get enough of splendid, n'est-de pas?

 

It's truly helpful to receive your findings as an indication of what to expect from one Human-In-Training to another when making changes, which for some can be daunting.

 

The best thing about a best kept secret is that one can share that secret with CA members and the World-at-Large, and whoever shows up at this thread as one source for assessments in real time. But, sssssushhhh, don't tell anyone, let's keep it to ourselves. Right Rob? (Smile).

 

The music's the thing, the equipment seduces,

Richard

[Blake]

Still loving my usb cable loom consisting of all Curious Regen Links.

 

I think I was actually the first person to purchase a Curious Regen Link as Rob created it a while back based upon email discussions between the two of us- Rob was the only usb cable maker willing to make a short usb cable for my Regens and I think he added the Regen Link to his website shortly after our discussions.

 

I also compared the short Curious Regen Link variety with the longer .8M Curious Cables and found slight improvements when swapping in Regen Links in place of the .8M versions.

 

The Curious Cables beat out my Light Harmonic 10G and TotalDac D1 usb cables that I had been using (although it was a very close call in comparison to the TotalDac D1).

 

Rob is an outstanding guy to do business with- one of the best I've had the pleasure to deal with in all my years.

[tallica1]

Furthermore Rob built me a 1M Curious USB cable to be used direct from MacBook Pro to the Auralic Vega (without the 5V connector) since the Vega does not need. I also def will not need any additional tweak like the regen.

 

This was like receiving a "golden ticket" from Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory as a kid

enclosed with the cable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jim Smith]

Still loving my usb cable loom consisting of all Curious Regen Links.

 

I also compared the short Curious Regen Link variety with the longer .8M Curious Cables and found slight improvements when swapping in Regen Links in place of the .8M versions.

 

The Curious Cables beat out my Light Harmonic 10G ...

 

Rob is an outstanding guy to do business with- one of the best I've had the pleasure to deal with in all my years.

 

Agreed!

[kennyb123]

I think I was actually the first person to purchase a Curious Regen Link as Rob created it a while back based upon email discussions between the two of us- Rob was the only usb cable maker willing to make a short usb cable for my Regens and I think he added the Regen Link to his website shortly after our discussions.

 

Thank you for doing this. I greatly benefited.

[REShaman]

Still loving my usb cable loom consisting of all Curious Regen Links.

 

I think I was actually the first person to purchase a Curious Regen Link as Rob created it a while back based upon email discussions between the two of us- Rob was the only usb cable maker willing to make a short usb cable for my Regens and I think he added the Regen Link to his website shortly after our discussions.

 

I also compared the short Curious Regen Link variety with the longer .8M Curious Cables and found slight improvements when swapping in Regen Links in place of the .8M versions.

 

The Curious Cables beat out my Light Harmonic 10G and TotalDac D1 usb cables that I had been using (although it was a very close call in comparison to the TotalDac D1).

 

Rob is an outstanding guy to do business with- one of the best I've had the pleasure to deal with in all my years.

 

Easy for me to add you to the list for thank you. I concur with your assessments of at least for the time being the CRL200mm. And your take on Rob Woodland. I am replacing the LightSpeed 0.8m (Standard red). Looking forward to my own direct experience for doing so.

 

Thank you Blake.

 

Best,

Richard

[One and a half]

Delivery of two 0.8m Curious USB A to USB Cables occurred today, and immediately installed.

 

Setup

 

HQ Player > Lenovo m93p with Win10 > Icron USB Extender (CAT5e) > Curious > Intona 7504 Galvanic Isolator > Curious > Mutec MC-1.2 USB to AES3id + 4 more Converter > Nordost Blue Heaven 75 Ohm Coax > Accuphase DP-720 DAC section of SACD Player.

 

I guess it's all about synergy. Hmm. The stage height is great, at the expense of tonality afraid to say. Piano sounds mis-tuned, and there are micro details that are suppressed so much, there's instruments missing. Not really sure, but there seems to be a frequency shift, or an emphasis on the mids. How long is the break in period? Dang, I'm ready to throw Curious cables back to the supplier, cannot listen to them, reminds me of a barking dog, rough rough.

 

Listening to Rita Wilson 96/24 "AM/FM" lovely voice that's warm and clear, usually. Wichita Lineman's delicate piano lacks any depth or resonance, what's going on? The album sounds like a 70's heritage, I use this album as a reference.

 

Sade's "Cherish the Day" 's bass is tight at lower volumes is wooly, and if I move from side to side the image falls down like a pack of cards, WTF.

 

So how long is the burn in? This cable requires amperes of significant order to do so surely. I'll give it week or so to play at overnight to give the cables a chance, so far, the Curious cables are very ordinary or less.

[REShaman]

Delivery of two 0.8m Curious USB A to USB Cables occurred today, and immediately installed.

 

Setup

 

HQ Player > Lenovo m93p with Win10 > Icron USB Extender (CAT5e) > Curious > Intona 7504 Galvanic Isolator > Curious > Mutec MC-1.2 USB to AES3id + 4 more Converter > Nordost Blue Heaven 75 Ohm Coax > Accuphase DP-720 DAC section of SACD Player.

 

I guess it's all about synergy. Hmm. The stage height is great, at the expense of tonality afraid to say. Piano sounds mis-tuned, and there are micro details that are suppressed so much, there's instruments missing. Not really sure, but there seems to be a frequency shift, or an emphasis on the mids. How long is the break in period? Dang, I'm ready to throw Curious cables back to the supplier, cannot listen to them, reminds me of a barking dog, rough rough.

 

Listening to Rita Wilson 96/24 "AM/FM" lovely voice that's warm and clear, usually. Wichita Lineman's delicate piano lacks any depth or resonance, what's going on? The album sounds like a 70's heritage, I use this album as a reference.

 

Sade's "Cherish the Day" 's bass is tight at lower volumes is wooly, and if I move from side to side the image falls down like a pack of cards, WTF.

 

So how long is the burn in? This cable requires amperes of significant order to do so surely. I'll give it week or so to play at overnight to give the cables a chance, so far, the Curious cables are very ordinary or less.

 

Hello One and a half,

 

Welcome to the thread.

 

Rob Woodland recommends 50-100 hours. One can find this information at his thread. And I believe it is also printed on the card that accompanies the cable.

 

Fortunately, Rob offers his customers a 30Day money back guarantee. He's very responsive to feedback. Perhaps he can offer you some about your configuration, connections and your system's synergy. Or not.

 

I never argue with perception, and had a different experience but that was with the CRL200mm (see my signature for the rest). And the Curious Cable USB 0.8m I ordered following the CRL200mm is in transit. Therefore, I haven't had the opportunity to assess what a full loom brings to my listening experience.

 

But as you can read, there are many with other experiences and configurations. Your own subjective experiences is the one that is most relevant, n'est-ce pas?

 

Best,

Richard

[tallica1]

one and a half: very interesting your initial comments since no single media reviewer or myself had those immediate disappointed results but I would still be interested in your comments after the recommended burn in period.

[DavidS]

I had some similar impressions to 1 1/2 after installing the short curious link and a new Regen yesterday. Played Joe Jackson's Night and Day and was like piano was running off out of the room with a mind of it's own. Both products are fresh out of the box so confident that a little break-in will settle things down - the dynamics were pretty fabulous - just need Duke Ellington to show up and get everyone playing together. Will post more as time gets added although mine will be coloured by the addition of the Regen as well.

[kennyb123]

The CCRL, though being immediately better than the REGEN solid adapter, still seemed a little off the first night. Giving it 24 hours helped, and 48 helped a bit more. It seemed to get completely out of the way by the third night.

[Blake]

I had some similar impressions to 1 1/2 after installing the short curious link and a new Regen yesterday. Played Joe Jackson's Night and Day and was like piano was running off out of the room with a mind of it's own. Both products are fresh out of the box so confident that a little break-in will settle things down - the dynamics were pretty fabulous - just need Duke Ellington to show up and get everyone playing together. Will post more as time gets added although mine will be coloured by the addition of the Regen as well.

 

My experience:

 

I really didn't like my Regens fresh out of the box. I was ready to send them back to Uptone. Things improved quite a bit over time.

 

The Curious Cables were pretty decent, but not great out of the box, and definitely improved over time.

[HumanMedia]

one and a half: very interesting your initial comments since no single media reviewer or myself had those immediate disappointed results but I would still be interested in your comments after the recommended burn in period.

 

I had exactly the same experience as "one and s half" just one page back. It's like I had changed my speakers to single driver speakers. Great clean midrange but roll off below 80hz and upper frequencies. Didn't get any better frequency wise after 4 weeks. It was almost a relief to back to a Supra and get lows back and air in the high frequencies.

 

I'm thinking that the data lines need to be thinner, lowering the inductance and evening the midrange.

[HumanMedia]

Another couple of points, the Curious does considerably boost mid-bass 100-130hz, it's just below 80hz it is lacking. On another forum a physicist using the moniker 'Johnny Neutron' talked about increasing the gauge of power cables and analog interconnects (thus increasing the inductance) as being a major contributer to differences in cables in the 100-130hz range. And that exactly what I hear in the curious. Thus I am guessing that reducing the gauge might make the Curious more balanced in sound, to these ears in my system at least.

 

Another observation I have never noticed before is cable 'warm up'. Swapping the different USB cables around I noticed that cables with months of burn-in that are out of use for a few weeks weeks still needed two hours of use before they sounded normal. This was so consistent in the cables I tested that I always let the system play for a couple of hours before evaluating them.

[kennyb123]

Another couple of points, the Curious does considerably boost mid-bass 100-130hz, it's just below 80hz it is lacking.

 

I didn't hear this at all with the CCRL. Not even close.

 

A boost has to be relative to something else. You don't say what.

 

Also, seeing your system listed would help to put your observations in proper context. I was going to mention this last week after reading some of your earlier posts in this thread.

[One and a half]

Twelve hours later, there's sibilance. Sophie Milman's "So Sorry" so selfish, omg this needs to better itself, will report back on any changes. 100 hours seems an eternity. I'm doing house cleaning and switching to radio, as I can't listen to CA like that. Interesting observation Human Media about stability.

[REShaman]

Gentlemen,

 

I welcome posts about your experience of the Curious Cable, how it is being configured, what the elements are for the connections, i.e. Regen, Intona, soon-to-be Recovery USB Reclocker when it arrives. Comparisons with other cables, etc.

 

I certainly don't want to squash conversations about your experience with the Curious Cables in your system.

 

I am beginning to feel the nature of some of these posts are just going over the edge of the topic of this thread. Speculations on what construction modifications would make this cable better is an example of what does not fit this topic. As curator, I am asking nicely that the borders of your conversation keep within the bounds of your experience of the Curious Cable.

 

It has become quite apparent that a few members are not enthralled with the Curious Cables. Not sure how many times one need to persuade us of that perception. Not arguing with the perception. But after a while, having made your assessment, the thread is starting to feel pulled in another direction that is outside the topic.

 

Feel free to start your own thread, and discuss the Curious Cable to your heart's content as you wish. Cable construction theory is outside this thread. I want to be fair to everyone who posts here. But I am starting to feel uncomfortable about the theorizing what changes to the construction is needed.

 

Rob Woodland is available for your comments on suggesting how to make his cables better. What your experience is of how you assess/discern sensory specifics about the cables influence on the music is fair game.

 

I will appreciate your cooperation if you will honor my admonition. Faulting the cable and your reasons for your assessment is inline with the topic. Favoring the cables' attributes or feeling indifferent is fine. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

 

Sincerely,

Richard

[elcorso]

I'm on HQPlayer Desktop Mac, but using a Windows Laptop (Win 10) as NAA, because I like better 'native' DSD.

 

My first Curious USB Cable setup.

 

 

 

My actual Curious USB Cable setup (with Intona added).

 

 

Please note the Shun Mook Puc added to the USB connection to the Lampi DAC. I feel, because the small length and position of the USB cable I need to cancel some unwanted vibrations at this point.

 

I find the Curious USB cable to be particularly transparent, so that it reveals associated gear strengths and failures, but this is only my very subjective opinion. I like much better my actual setup and love the Intona, but this is the subject of another thread.

 

I find the Curious needs enough burn in each time you changes his shape, but if you don't believe in this, please don't burn

 

Roch