To Grogan, without starting another nuclear exchange on the forum, don't you think there is a more specific answer, that is, a more qualitative answer to this questions than a relativistic, see what happens approach???? And not because, and one wants to create the 10 commandments of buying IC's, or speaker cable
However, this is all I know from my limited experience with IC's. I can't remember the IC I used to connect my Rega Apollo to the Creek integrated I was then using 7 years ago. I had read, and later was confirmed by a member at Sound Organization, that the Chord, "Chameleon" IC would improve the sound. So I bought one used, and eureka it did sound better. I was gratetful for the tip.
Cable Experience #2. I had a pair of Analysis Plus Oval 12 speaker cables for almost 8 years, used with Vandersteen C-1; then with Prelude MK2; then with Acoustic Zen Adagios. It sounded good with all three speakers, but motivated either by instinct or buyer's insanity, I switched to the AZ Hologram II speaker cable( fire hose). Did it sound better with the Adagios, yes there was a great deal more inner detail, but in all truth, the former Audio Plus Oval 12, though a bit zingy at the top, sounded more natural or like music. It had what I call "twang" others may call it rymthmic.
Did I frantically e-mail the buyer of the Oval 12 cable, and pleaded to have my speaker cable back, and refund his money plus interest. Not a chance, I grew to like AZ HII more over time, but not to the point of being in love with it. I subsequently sold the cables, ONLY because dorky family members, including the cat were tripping over the speaker hose, and guests thought I was conducting some illegal electrical experiment because of the thickness of speaker cable
Nevertheless, I really think there is or must be a way of getting a handle on the performance level or synergy factor of cable performance, especially IC's instead of playing the hit or miss game. Also, the the Cable Company does not always have in stock what you may want to audition, and few dealers offer a thirty day "Peace of Mind" return policy.
However, this is all I know from my limited experience with IC's. I can't remember the IC I used to connect my Rega Apollo to the Creek integrated I was then using 7 years ago. I had read, and later was confirmed by a member at Sound Organization, that the Chord, "Chameleon" IC would improve the sound. So I bought one used, and eureka it did sound better. I was gratetful for the tip.
Cable Experience #2. I had a pair of Analysis Plus Oval 12 speaker cables for almost 8 years, used with Vandersteen C-1; then with Prelude MK2; then with Acoustic Zen Adagios. It sounded good with all three speakers, but motivated either by instinct or buyer's insanity, I switched to the AZ Hologram II speaker cable( fire hose). Did it sound better with the Adagios, yes there was a great deal more inner detail, but in all truth, the former Audio Plus Oval 12, though a bit zingy at the top, sounded more natural or like music. It had what I call "twang" others may call it rymthmic.
Did I frantically e-mail the buyer of the Oval 12 cable, and pleaded to have my speaker cable back, and refund his money plus interest. Not a chance, I grew to like AZ HII more over time, but not to the point of being in love with it. I subsequently sold the cables, ONLY because dorky family members, including the cat were tripping over the speaker hose, and guests thought I was conducting some illegal electrical experiment because of the thickness of speaker cable
Nevertheless, I really think there is or must be a way of getting a handle on the performance level or synergy factor of cable performance, especially IC's instead of playing the hit or miss game. Also, the the Cable Company does not always have in stock what you may want to audition, and few dealers offer a thirty day "Peace of Mind" return policy.