Acoustic Zen Absolute or Audience Au24e?

After living with the Au24e speaker cables for a bit I recently replaced the AZ Matrix II interconnects between my preamp and amps with Au24e. Another nice improvement in clarity and detail. Much the same as with the speaker cables but took it a step further without pushing my system towards being analytical. The slight grain I would hear on some cuts is gone and the music is just flowing. I still use the Silver Ref II on the SACD player but don't feel the need to go any further right now.

I started with speaker cables and really like what they have done for my system. Will probably try the Au24e ICs next based on the improvements I hear.

Latinsamba1, Iam exactly in the same situation as you are. I have all AZ cables (Silver, MAtrix and then Shotgun on the speakers). Iam thinking of Au24e too. You said you have changed the cables. Which one you changed, all the cables or ICs or speaker cables.

I ended up going with a set of Au24e and found the sound very similar to Holley's description. Very clear and fast with a bit wider soundstage and more detail vs my previous cables. Tight and punchy bass. I'm sure there are more expensive cables that are even better but I feel the Au24e are outstanding for the $$$.

It's all just wire unless you try MIT...the AVT 1 stuff will absolutely make you freak out! It's light years ahead of plain wire. Try some from Joe at Equus Audio...you only have everything to gain!

Thanks for the comments on Audience. As I said the AZ are quite good just want more :) I was figuring I would start with the speaker cables and work my way back to an all Au24e system if I like what I hear.

Hi,
Latinsamba1, given the price range you`re shopping, have you considered the ASI Liveline speaker cable? It`s stunning in my SET based system. Great reviews at Stereo Times and multiple reviews on 6 Moons. Would likely be very good in your system and quite competitive with the other two cables.
Good Luck,

I have never heard the AZ Absolute, so I cannot comment on those. However, in my system I went from the Hologram II to the Audience Au24e and it was a significant change. The Au24e are fast, detailed, airy, and very musical. Things just sound 'right' with them. I ended up going from all AZ cabling to all Audience cabling in my system and I couldn't be happier. And, as you mentioned, the Audience are very thin and easy to configure. All this with the usual caveat that cabling is very system dependent and everyone's tastes are different.

I used Hologram II + Silver RefII, replaced them with AZ Absolute. Different league as some Audiogoners say. Absolute is much smoother, fuller, cleaner, bigger soundstage.....

Thanks for the response on Au24e. That was my impression too when I heard them in an all Tron/Horning reference system - they did nothing wrong and the sound was very clear, neutral and musical. It's always hard to know whether its the cables or other components contributing to the sound though when it isn't your own system.

With my current AZ cabling I don't feel the sound is quite neutral and at times I hear a bit of grain. I guess Au24e is a logical upgrade unless someone else thinks the AZ Absolutes are worth the extra money. Also I love the fact that Au24e are very thin and manageable.

No experience with the AZ cables but with Harmonic Tech which are a similar line.

I can't really say 'more' without comparing to what you have now, but the AU24e cables excel in resolution and detail and are are neutral leaning on cool in the midbass and Bass...but snappy. Clean, Articulate, tight. I would call them 'musical' with high detail and resolution as compared to silver cables I have tried that I would call high detail and resolution but etched.