Audioquest upper end copper IC's sound ????

Anaconda - very forward and somewhat grainy. Strong bass, low resolution.

Python - more neutral than Anaconda, but overall just sort of dull.

You can do a lot better than AQ for the money. Try Audience, Acoustic Zen, Cardas, or Kimber. If you're considering upper end AQ, you can afford Kimber Select which will stomp all over the AQ.

I've never tried Kimber Selects, but I've heard Diamondx2, Diamondx3, and Lapisx3 (all silver, and all discontinued) and I wouldn't call then grainy or "low resolution"
(these, and the Anaconda mentioned above are silver cables)

I have, currently, Opalx3 (2nd from top of old copper ICs)
and Python (also discontinued, top of the line copper ICs).
DIfference is in the tubes used to insulate the wires.

Sound is open, clean, clear, and perhaps a little laid back.
I've used with solid state, tubes, analog, and digital, and my impression is the same.

ALso heard Diamondback and Topazx3, which, for the $$ are also good stuff, but further down the line.

The only AQ cable that I have tried but didn't like was Lapis, which was a little bright, and "atypical" of the Audioquest House Sound.

TO address your question head on, I'd say that it is a musical sound, favoring natural presentation over etched details. As I said, a little laid back (sometimes very welcome) but not much. Not the least bit "grainy" sounding, easy on the ears, and I've preferred it, dollar for dollar against TARA, Kimber (never tried the Selects,)and Cardas (Golden Reference nice, but too tubby in the bass- but incredible presence).

so, perhaps reasonable minds can differ.

I am in strong agreement with Gthirteen. The Anaconda ICs and Volcano DBS are currently in my system, and are very clear, tranparent, neutral and revealing. I have also auditioned the Cheetah IC DBS and it is even a bit more open than the Anaconda. These wires are a great match with the ARC high definition gear.

PS, the DBS really works as the wires are always ready to go without any additional breakin.

Joe(Gthirteen), where the HELL have you been???

It is such a wonderful surprise to see you post again!

GThirteen and Zargon, I'm happy AQ works for you. My comments come from results in testing approximately 3 dozen different ICs in my system from many different manufacturers. So, when I said Anaconda was low resolution and grainy, in was in comparison to others of similar pricing. This is the sort of thing where you don't notice the problem until you hear something a lot better. If you want to hear what grainless sounds like try Kimber Select KS1030 or KS1130, Luminous Audio Synchestra Signature, Purist Venustas, Audience AU24, AZ Silver Ref II, Shunyata Aries, or Nirvana S-X. To me, grain sounds like a very low level distortion. Good resolution allows you to hear low level details and produces a deep soundstage. Note that grain and resolution is independent of tonality. An IC with good tonality, but not the best resolution, may actually sound better in a system than a brighter, but higher resolution IC. It's all about system synergy.

My point about AQ is, at a given price point, is it pretty easy to find a cable from another manufacturer that outperforms the AQ, often quite substantially.

For reference, my system is Meridian G08>KS1130>Rowland Synergy IIi>Cardas Neutral Ref>Rowland Model 10>Kimber Bifocal XL>Soliloquy 6.5.

Grain-ness should not be considered coming from cables. When cables sound grainy, it is because of magnetic, mechanical as well as electrical noise creeping up in the system. Actually, the more grainy a cable sounds, the better should that cable be, since it is more revelatory of the problems occuring in the system. 

Anaconda is from 2003. I never had those but use the current silver Wind. Very good cable. Neutral and clear. Detailed without being bright like a lot of silver cables. 

Nighthawk... I was thinking that we should discuss cables manufactured this decade. It would be easier to compare new and present cables between them. I’ve had Panther, Sky, Wild Blue Yonder and now the WEL IC’s. I doubt you can find too easily such value in other cables sometimes much more expensive than these.
For reference my system is this one:
Triangle Magellan Cello II < AudioQuest Everest < BAT VK-600SE < AudioQuest Hurricane High Current < AudioQuest NRG-1000 < AudioQuest WEL XLR < exaSound e22 DAC w Paul Hynes SR3-12 Power Supply < Squeezelite w Logitech Media Server < UpTone ISORegen w USPCB A>B < AudioQuest Diamond USB < MacMini w UpTone DC Conversion Kit, ZeroZone LPS & Samsung 860EVO 1TB SSD < Stillpoints Ultra SS, Omicron Harmonic Stabilizer, Gold Evolution SE & Classic < IsoTek Sigmas GII w Optimum EVO3 < Furutech FT-SWS < HiFi Tuning Supreme 3 < Solid Tech Hybrid

P.S. @Jeff: Stay away from Niagara/Wind (a tad dry) and watch out for counterfeits. Other than that, you won’t regret any AQ choice you make!

These are great replys but I’m afraid this 2004 post is a little dated to be addressed currently.  I’ll assume the OP has pursued some cable choices in the past 14 years and that this discussion should once again be allowed to quietly close.