I know this is relatively old and dead thread, but having come across this while researching, I felt compelled to add my few cents.
Like others here, I started with Audioquest early on (1993). At present I have all manner of Audioquest products in my various audio systems. However, lately, I have been replacing them with other brands, like Kimber Kable, Shunyata Research and Synergistic Research. Why? For some of the same reasons that have been presented in this thread.
Although, for me, Audioquest has essentially broken their promise of, "Do no harm." I discovered their formula by purchasing a series of their cables from the entry level to the top and determined what changed in the audio vs what they changed in the cable.
It works like this. They have their R&D department develop the most awesome and spectacular cable, ever; using the best conductors and the best geometries as well as all their best available tech. THEN...the same department tries to find ways to *BREAK* that cable in order to make cheaper price points. So, if you want the best possible sound from Audioquest, you have to purchase their top-most end product. Everything else will be a broken version of it.
Yes, all other companies do something similar, but I find Kimber, Shunyata and Synergistic don't provide you with a broken cable at their lower ends. They tend to give you a version of their best.
Let me give you an example.
AUDIOQUEST BRIDGE FALLS SERIES:
I bought the Sydney, the Victoria and the Yosemite.
The Sydney was a good cable. It uses their best copper, PSC+. It uses their top-level geometry. So, what did they break?
1) The insulator for the dielectric is spray-foam Polyethylene. It does its job by absorbing high frequency information...including the audible range. So fine details are absorbed and missing from your music.
2) The connector is made from what they call, "Purple Copper." This is copper mixed with sulfur. Sulfur is *NOT* a good conductor of electricity. Who cares that they coated it in silver. They purposely damaged this cable's ability to transfer a clean analog signal. They did harm.
Next up is the Victoria. This is a much better cable. Cleaner high frequencies and good bass resolution. They added the DBS system* (*more on this later); an electric signal that constantly runs through the cable, charging the dielectric and add more shielding against RF signals. They changed the connector to "Red Copper" (so...just copper) with silver plating. It still uses AQ's best conductor PSC+ and their best geometry, so...what did they break?
1)
The insulator for the dielectric is still spray-foam Polyethylene.
*now, in regards to the DBS system. Charging the dielectric and keeping it charged basically "breaks-in" the cable and keeps it that way. Once a system is turned off or the cable is unplugged, the dielectric field begins to decay. Then the next time you turn the system on or plug back in the cable, the current has to re-establish the dielectric field. The DBS system ensures that it does not decay once it is established. So, yeah, you still have to break in an AQ cable that uses the DBS system. It's just the break in lasts much longer. So, that being the case, why did AQ need to downgrade Sydney's connector to "Purple Copper" seeing as how it doesn't have the DBS system? Because, if they had used "Red Copper" connectors, then the Sydney cable would eventually equal the performance of the Victoria cable overtime as the dielectric field becomes more established. Can't have that! ;)
Finally, we have the Yosemite. It uses their best conductor (PSC+), their best geometry, it has the "Red Copper" silver plated connectors, it has the DBS system. So...what did they change?
1) They added FEP insulation as the dielectric.
FEP does not absorb frequency and it blocks the escape of any frequency as well as blocks entrance of any other frequency. It can withstand heat, etc. High frequency information, such as fine details in music are not just audible, but are much louder and are given importance in the sound stage. Attack and decay of notes are far more expansive and have far more depth. Think of a piano note that decays into the attack of the next piano note. The distinctive reverb of the metal string vibrating within a metal and wooden chassis. The sound of the piano player clicking the pedals and hearing the reverb dampener clamp down on the strings. That kind of detail awaits...for an aggressive amount of money.
Audioquest only adds FEP to their top-most cables, ensuring that if you want the best possible sound, you *WILL* have pay through the nose to get it because FEP won't be used in any lower range product.
Now, that leads us into other manufacturers. Many give you FEP and even all silver conductors at 1/3 the cost of AQ and they will far outperform AQ. I will give you another example.
KIMBER KABLE POWER KORDS.
I bought the Ascent and Palladian version of their power cable, as there are only three.
Basically, Kimber uses the exact same power cord for ALL THREE MODELS!!! The same conductors and the same dielectrics. In the lower model, they use a low end connector. The mid-range uses Wattgate's high end connectors. The Palladian uses both the Wattgate high end connectors and then they add some kind of tech that deals with Standing Wave Ratios. I honestly have no idea what goes on in that 12 inch brick. Whatever it does, it is worth $1000 and will bring out the most intricate details in your music as well as providing a holographic sound-stage and more life-like vocals.
The point being, they believe so strongly in their wire geometry that you are given it in the low end and their top-most cable. Audioquest won't dare give you that! I have used Audioquest's X, Y and Z power cables and I have to say, they aren't horrible, but they were absolutely blown away by Kimber Kable for not much more money. To get even close to Kimber, you'd have to spend 3 times the amount in Audioquest.
At present, I am still using Audioquest speaker cable (Rocket 44s) for my home theater speakers, they are perfectly adequate. However, for my reference system, I am looking to replace the Audioquest Yosemite for Synergistic Research's Foundation cable. I will also replace my custom made Audioquest CV-4 connecting the powered speaker to its passive speaker with SR's foundation; making a full loom. I am using SR's Foundation from the powered speaker to the powered sub. I am also replacing Audioquest's PowerQuest 3 with Shunyata's new Venom V16 Power Distributor.
I learned that having a mix of different manufacturers through your system helps to balance out "house sounds." I used to have a FULL Audioquest loom on my reference system, from their NRG Edison socket, to the Powerquest 3 to their Z and Y power cables, to their Dragonfly Cobalt DAC, the Yosemite and the CV-4. I will keep the NRG Edison socket and the Dragonfly Cobalt...but all other Audioquest will make a hasty exit :).
Anyway...sorry for my first post being a long rant. However, I want it on record for future lurkers. ;)
