Eric and I have been corresponding about Socrates 8, and he encouraged me to bring the discussion here for input from the rest of you. I have simplified the correspondence to keep clear the issues under consideration:
Eric writes:
"I'm still in a mental block over a certain component of Socrates 8 over the last several days. I wanted to push the airs and staging bigger without increasing the heft of the cable hence i'm currently still in the final phase of R&D. I've plans to increase the headspace further from the current prototype iteration with a darker signature. While I know that adding shielding is a "quick fix" or a sure fire way to get what I wanted , I'm hesitant to introduce shielding in 8 wires for the additional heft it adds on. Current prototype only manages to achieve perhaps 70-80% of what I had planned for the product. I'm keen to search for alternative methodologies to achieve the results in the coming weeks.
At the moment, I'm trying to fine tune it with different geometry make up and having different materials make up. It's an interesting process"
Jlemaster1957 responded:
"I've been thinking about your issue over the last day, and had a few thoughts on it- ....Thinking about shielding and weight, have you considered graphene shielding? It would be light, and might also have sonic benefits similar to what you are seeking (increased detail and separation without altering the FR). Consider also the
Penon USG, which reportedly used graphene infused copper.
Another (different) thought- if you add too much 'exotic materials' to the mix, will the P8Socrates still be a Socrates? It seems that the prototype of the P8Socrates was well received. After all, you just released Ode to Laura, which included a Bespoke Premium OCC Copper blend. Perhaps (as Effect Audio did recently with their Founders Edition of the Ares S) you could create a small number of "Founders Edition" Project 8 Socrates with whatever you choose to enhance the headroom, but the 'production' version after the Founders edition would be similar to the P8 Socrates prototype that others heard a while back, and liked.
For me, cost could be an issue, also. I would expect P8Socrates to cost no more than 2x the cost of the Socrates (which I imagine might be difficult if you change the geometry substantially)"
Eric responds:
"I have considered other shielding methods however, it would alter the sound not to what i'll be looking for. Many different companies employed different sets of shielding benefits , with each type yielding certain benefits and disadvantages. With the "Shielding" i mentioned, it most certainly is the Eletech way of shielding employed in Inferno, Ode To Laura.
Meanwhile I'm not considering adding exotic materials or significantly changing the make-up of Socrates to achieve the sound profile we desire as it would, as you said - un-Socrates-like. I'm pondering about ways to increase the headspace which i know will be possible and very within the limits of the material by altering the geometry (need to test this hypothesis soon). The Socrates 8 will definitely not be more than 2x of the Socrates and will not be a complete overhaul like a Founder's edition. I'm agonising over the design due to the fact that i want to the project to be perfect, not a project that is almost complete (not sure if I'm explaining myself right).
Would be lovely to see where everyone's mind is at."