Equipment:

  • Panamax 5300M
  • DAVE + stock USB
  • Kimber Kable Silver Streak WBT-0147 and Ultrplate
  • Moon 430HAD
  • Abyss headphones
  • Tidal + local files via Roon - Lossless signal chain (purple dot)

Raw Notes

James Bay - Let It Go (Tidal HiFi)

  • WBT is warmer for sure. more coherent and natural sounding, not as tight as the ultraplate but sounds good.
  • WBT sounds more live, UP more lean.
  • Sub-bass is more detailed on the UP
  • UP good for wearmer headphones like the LCD-3
  • WBT sounds more natural
  • Prefer WBT

Rodrigo y Gabriela - Hora Zero (Tidal HiFi) Kiesza - Giant in My Heart

  • You could hear the echo from her voice much clearer on the Ultraplate
  • Definitely not as much heft and weight compared to the WBT, WBT much warmer.
  • Ultraplate is very transparent, blacker background
  • WBT, mid-forward.
  • Ultraplate a bit thin.
  • DAVE
  • FWIW, the WBT sounds closer to the direct-dac connection. A more natural tonality.
  • Even at this, you do lose some resolution, dynamics, and depth/timing with the amp. Everything is sharper, more natural, pristine, balanced. perfect. A soft veil is lifted.
  • You definitely get a lot more detail direct DAC...amp..almost missing info.
  • Overall the WBT sounds better. organic and more like music.

Notes for amp vs direct

  • You lose a bit of depth and softens up the treble a lot when you use an amp. direct is much more transparent.
  • It does make that treble region more tolerable on the abyss though (with amp).

Patricia Barber - A Taste of Honey (24/192)

  • DAVE
  • Much more transparent and delicate and spacious. Using the RCA ICs doesn't really come close. A bit veiled.
  • It's like the music is breathing.
  • better separation
  • WBT a bit soft and smoothed but her voice does have this organic bloom to it that's nice. Defintely a bit more warm.
  • more even-handed, no emphasis in particular regions
  • UP
  • The shaker doesn't sound realistic, too much harshness
  • Vocals sound more flat
  • Instruments don't sound as natural

WBT is obviously the better sounding cable, but I could see ppl using the UP with darker gear. This time I am offering a pair of Kimber Kable Silver Streak SE with WBT-0147 which is the short version of WBT-0144, these are in excellent like new condition as shown in the pictures with no signs of wear, 1 meter long, great open soundstage, airy open, great dynamics and punchy bass (compare to the heroes but with a huge soundstage)  Will only ship to the lower 48 US Cont.  No shipping to Hawaii, Alaska or Puerto Rico.  Please ask any and all questions prior to clicking the "Buy it Now" option as all sales are final, no returns accepted. Lowball offers will be ignored.  Thanks. WBT - 0147 While being a compact version of the WBT-0144, shorter and thinner, this connector works well with smaller diameter cables. With a maximum cable diameter of 7.8mm² / 0.307 inches², this is the smallest RCA type plug manufactured by WBT. Kimber Silver Streak Our first copper / silver hybrid cable that builds on the performance of all the preceding models. Two strands TCSS copper and one strand AGSS silver provide smooth, rich, wide open sound with dynamic range and pacing way beyond the asking price. A true audiophile bargain that can satisfy even the most demanding music lover. Silver Streak is the where all the Kimber superlatives come together. Single-Ended (RCA)(Cp) parallel capacitance:53.0 pF / meter(Ls) series inductance:0.750 µH / meter(Rdc) dc loop resistance:0.061 Ω / meterBalanced (XLR)(Cp) parallel capacitance:37.10 pF / meter(Ls) series inductance:1.07 µH / meter(Rdc) dc loop resistance:0.105 Ω / meter https://www.audiogon.com/listings/interconnects-kimber-kable-silver-streak-se-1m-pair-wbt-0147-2016-03-21-cables-74012-broken-arrow-ok