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AQ Water XLR or Yukon XLR - DAC to Preamp- sound comparisons

Hi all,

I have an opportunity to upgrade from my Yukon XLR that I just purchased to the AQ Water XLR interconnects that are connected to my Oppo 105D dac to my Marantz preamp. I find the Yukons are good but I think the Waters will provide that extra smoothness and detail in the bass, clarity and even more openess. The Yukons are a nice interconnect as well and I found at first there was a brightness and midrange harshness  that was not so pleasing to my ears and the bass was a bit more laid back but having them in my system for over a week they seem to be breaking in and the sound is not as harsh and it seems to have settled in and the sound is clear and refined. I also have an AQ Monsoon power cable hooked up to my preamp as well and perhaps that is helping as well with the presentation of the sound I am describing. I am using AQ Water XLRs from my preamp to power amp as well.

I want to know does anyone have any experience with either one of these interconnects hooked up from dac to preamp? What are your experiences in having either one of these cables hooked up from your dac to preamp? Has anyone tried the Yukons in their system and then went with the Waters or vice versa? Since my Marantz preamp is a warm sounding preamp would the Waters cause the sound to be overly warm cause I have them hooked up to my preamp and power amp and perhaps the Yukons provide that balance with the blend of highs and midrange forwardness to my Waters I have from my preamp to power amp? On a side note if it matters but I will be upgrading to the Blizzard power cable for my preamp very soon. 

I would like to keep this to Yukons and Waters as I have no intentions right now to move up the line for now or try other brands. Thanks in advance and appreciate your thoughts.

2007audioman
2007audioman
2007audioman OP
80 posts
 
Hi tomic601,

That's what I thought you meant. Just needed the clarification. I sent my dealer a message asking if he can hold on sending the ones I swapped out back to his rep and give me a week to assess these cables. See what he says tomorrow. 

So what do you think is a good burn in time? 150 hours?
gdnrbob
4,444 posts
 
Cable 'burn in' takes time. How much?-Who knows?
For me, it just seems to happen on it's own.
Given AQ finds locating the DBS at the female ends, I would just let things settle out, as in my experience, AQ knows what is best.
B
2007audioman OP
80 posts
 
Hi gdnrbob..correction they locate them now at the male end. I swapped out a pair that was at the male end to the female end for space considerations. I hear your point though and as I said to my dealer if he is ok with holding on to the pair connected at the male end I will let him know before the end of this week. But yes I hear you too that it's anybody's guess as to how long cables take to break in so I will play some music on low for awhile and see if that helps to break them in. Thanks gdnrbob.
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