A cable too perfect?

Black Cat Graceline Level 2 anyone?

Yes...200 hours.  You see when the cables are first connected, a scout electron is deployed whose job it is to examine the route and send back information regarding how far it is to the destination, curves, rises and dips along the way, weather conditions and so on.  Upon receipt of this information at the source, small teams of electrons are deployed to establish bases along the route at which the main column of electrons can rest before continuing.  When the last base is created, the electrons are signaled to come on through.  This whole process takes up to 200 hours.  This process is sometimes called burn-in.

Take off your glasses and see the light. 

In the dark all cables sound like same!

     "Louis Pasteur's theory of germs is ridiculous fiction."  (Pierre Pachet, Professor of Physiology at Toulouse , 1872) 

     "The abdomen, the chest, and the brain will forever be shut from the intrusion of the wise and humane surgeon,"  (Sir John Eric Ericksen, British surgeon, appointed Surgeon-Extraordinary to Queen Victoria 1873)

      "The super computer is technologically impossible.  It would take all of the water that flows over Niagara Falls to cool the heat generated by the number of vacuum tubes required." (Professor of Electrical Engineering, New York University)                        

      "There is no likelihood man can ever tap the power of the atom."  (Robert Millikan, Nobel Prize in Physics, 1923)

      "Man will never reach the moon regardless of all future scientific advances." (Dr. Lee DeForest, Father of Radio & Grandfather of Television)

      "Heavier-than-air flying machines are impossible!" (Lord Kelvin, president, Royal Society, 1895) 

      "The bomb will never go off.  I speak as an expert in explosives."  (Admiral William Leahy, re: US Atomic Bomb Project) 

      "Cables don't objectively change the sound, regardless of the cost or what the manufacturers try to sell you."    (roadcykler- deaf Denyin'tologist)

      quoted- "suggest putting 200 hours on them before you make any serious changes"

replied- "Sure thing when you try to sell snake oil."  (classicrockfan- Dunning-Kruger Exemplar)      

     When the steam locomotive came on the scene; the best (scientific) minds proclaimed, "The human body cannot survive speeds in excess of 35MPH."

      Until recently (21st Century); and the advent of the relatively new science of Fluid Dynamics, the best (scientific) minds involved in Aerodynamics, could not fathom how a bumblebee stays aloft. 

     Often; Science has to catch up with the facts/phenomena of Nature and/or, "reality" (our universe). 

     I haven't been in school since the 60's, but- at Case Institute of Technology; the Physics Prof always emphasized what we were studying was, "Electrical THEORY."  He strongly made a point of the fact that no one had yet actually observed electrons (how they behave on the quantum level) and that only some things can really be called, "LAWS." (ie: Ohm, Kirchoff, Faraday)   

                         PERHAPS: that's changed in recent years and I missed it?

Just a thought I had early this morning, I don't recall if the Acustic Zen Absolute Copper RCA's are directional or not. Is it possible they will sound more to your liking in a reversed fashion? @zlone you never said if the interconnects were new or used?

Thanks for the responses. I agree the best advice is to be patient and let the cables settle into the system. I am usually very patient in this regard, but the difference was so startling that I decided to seek counseling. 😀

I will report back when the cables and I settle down. 

@roadcykler Every bicycle is the same. They all bring you from A to B.

"suggest putting 200 hours on them before you make any serious changes"

Sure thing when you try to sell snake oil. 

As usual @roadcykler you’re singing the same tune. This is an example of how you and others like you who are driven insane by an idea that cables can make a difference bring nothing to the table. Absolutely zero. Why do you even post? You are just completely useless.

Cables don't objectively change the sound, regardless of the cost or what the manufacturers try to sell you. 

One more thing to add…summary from the What HiFi review of Amp 1 V2…

 

Pros

• +

  Has an exceptionally clean and clear sound packed with detail

• +

  impressive authority and bass power

• +

  great stereo imaging

Cons

• -

  Remote handset costs £250 extra

• -

  sonic balance appeals more to the head than the heart

@zlone run them in for 200hrs if they’re new. Keep in mind your amp needs to be on when breaking the preamp to amp interconnects.
And keep in mind you changed one of the key components, an amplifier. What worked with your old amp won’t necessarily work with a new one. Expect to continue making changes until you fine tune the system to your liking.

But to mitigate endless changes…My recommendation - you need a baseline. Get Bluejeans belden RCA cables, switch to all stock power cords. Listen to your system for a week or so. Then introduce AZ Absolutes back in. It’s a cheap and effective way to get to the culprit because at this point you don’t know what’s not engaging. The cables or your amp. Don’t continue dumping money into it.

Another vote for giving the cable more burn-in time before you change anything else.

All the best.

@mclinnguy 

Good point about the power cord. However, I recommend the Cardas... the same levels... as the Audio Quest will likely be too neutral. I experimented extensively with Cardas, Transparent, Wireworld, and a couple others. For my system I needed absolute neutrality... and could not afford the Transparent High Current, so the Audio Quest was perfect. The Cardas, did exactly what the OP wants. 

I owned pretty much every AZ cable from WOW to Absolute Copper. 

The AZ Absolute Copper are detailed but warm sounding cables. They’re slightly slow sounding and I wouldn’t pair them with warm sounding equipment.

Even though I liked them I preferred Nordost Tyr 2 interconnects. Faster and more engaging sound. System has more bounce, it’s lighter on its feet. I also liked Kimber KS1126 (KS1026 for RCA). Came in close second to Nordost but can potentially be a bit bright if your system is on the lean side already. 

I'd also suggest as @lak does letting both the cables burn in for at least a few more weeks before making any changes. My only experience with AZ was their Silver Reference interconnects which I found to be a bit too soft sounding in my system. As with all things it comes down to synergy over anything else.

Funny, I just went through the exactly same issue- having to get an RCA for my new amps. 

Are these Absolute Copper's new or used? You say only a few days they have been playing, but you got them at a bargain which implies used- just wondering about break in- yes they need 200 hours from my experience. 

I know my AZ Silver Reference II XLR's goes a little deeper in bass than the AZ Absolutes, but I think the bass weight (warmth) was equal between the two, but I don't believe I would call AZ Absolute's lean.... 

You are saying these other "lesser" RCA's you used had more warmth? Is that a case of the Absolute copper's being tighter and more accurate with the bass? 

Another option, after having sufficient time with the AZ rca's if you still find them too thin, is to search for a power cable for the amp that can richen things up-maybe the PC you have is giving you the leanness?  and/or balance that "amazing clarity and resolution" the RCA is giving you. I am surprised @ghdprentice didn't suggest his AQ Hurricane for the amp- he usually does -and it does add some weight, and slightly rolls off the highest frequencies, and makes the top end silky. Like he said it is all about the match. 

I can tell you the RCA I got that sounds really nice, nice enough for me to have no incentive to change it, but I have no other RCA's to compare them to: Inakustik NF-2404. 

Well maybe not too perfect… just not a good match for your system.

I recommend Cardas Clear Reflection (warmest), Clear (less warm) or Clear Beyond (well, clearest… least warm). Each of these will be warmer and more musical. Best to try the end members and decide.

Long ago I bought excellent cables that were simply too revealing for my system. Cardas (the warmest interconnect they ever made)  brought in the rich musical warmth my components did not have with the overly revealing interconnects, Later I acquired more natural sounding musical components and I had to take those out and the very revealing first set I had bought sounded perfect, It's all about the match, 

I’m also a big AZ fan, but some interconnects that have caught my eye are Jena Labs, Snake River, and Silversmith (the interconnects are new and aren’t listed on their website yet but pretty sure they’re available).  At this level it comes down to synergy so maybe it’s just not 100% there with these, but giving them a little more time especially since they show so much promise is a good idea.  I really like my AZs and would be hesitant to change, but if I got the itch these three I mentioned would be high on my radar FWIW.  Best of luck. 

I own a pair if the Acoustic Zen Absolute Copper RCA interconnects, I have them in-between my integrated amp and my CDP. I’d suggest putting 200 hours on them before you make any serious changes. Since you have a new amp that could defiantly have something to do with what you hear and feel.

Don’t get ahead of yourself but another interconnect that I have and like and use in a different larger system is made by a small company in CA called Veritas Cable, the RCA interconnect is called Argentum R. A mix of high end OCC copper and silver, it can only be found listed on USAM.

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/veritas-cables-a-new-brand-that-i-found?lastpage=true