Cardas Clear Speaker Cables?

@ghdprentice - Thank you! That makes sense. I suppose part my curiosity on upgrading speaker cables is to possibly bring a bit more drive/energy/incisiveness to my tube-based system. The Gryphon has a compelling sense of drive. I was very intentional about purchasing an amp with a relaxed presentation (the CJ classic 120), so I guess we have to be careful what we ask for. :-) 

@decooney - I think part of it is simply my comparison to the Gryphon solid state amp. : -)

The CJ/LTA combo is very, very good. I am just wondering if I could make it better. 
 

Cygnus cables are 2 meters. I don’t suspect I’m having any tube issues. I did hear the EL 34 tubes start to lose some umph a few months ago and recently replaced them with new Mullard EL 34 tubes. The driver tubes are Amperex NOS from Brent Jesse and seem to be holding strong. I don’t semse any degradation there. Interconnects are 1 meter Cardas Clear. 
 

I have the classic edition with El 34 tubes. I’d been looking for more of the classic CJ sound and was advised the SE editions were going the opposite direction. 

@decooney - I think part of it is simply my comparison to the Gryphon solid state amp. : -) The CJ/LTA combo is very, very good. I am just wondering if I could make it better.

Good, agree - no particular cable-length issues, and its good you have the Clear ICs.

As for tube combinations - I suspect you might have a little extra richness goodness going on combining the Amperex small signal tubes with the new-reissue Mullard EL34 power tubes together. I have various new re-issue Mullard’s and they all tilt more to the rich midrange and veiled over top end vs the more clarity detailed side like others can have. fyi, one of the known headphone reviewers out there just re-compared the new re-issue (extra rich) Mullard EL34s to the new (more transparent) Ray EL34s tubes [for example]. He felt the Rays were more resolving on the top end, more balanced, with more clarity and nuance - comparatively. You could ask others on the CJ forums about various EL34s there too in your 120 amp.

A few colleagues of my own over the past year recently had a similar concern, even after trying better cables, and we discussed replacing the re-issue EL34s with new re-issue Gold Lyon KT77s to open things up a little more. And/or the new Ray Tubes EL34 Select, or new PSVane Horizon Series EL34s could work too. Its worked for others.  You can check with your amp. Ask those guys on the CJ forum too. I was chatting with members there when I jumped back into KT120s, it helped.  

Syrup + added Syrup = more syrup, fwiw. Sometimes it can be too much of a good thing is what many might share.

Note I can also go install any of the new-reissue small signal Mullard’s in my amps right now and this also makes for more rich and veiled over top end with less transparency in my amps, even when biased precisely.

I don’t know that jumping to Cardas Clear speaker cables [immediately] is the first move I’d make without checking this first. The Cygnus are a tad more grainy and detailed than std Clear being a little smoother to my ear, fwiw. Best of luck.

I would try the Silversmith Fidelium cables for a 30 day trial period, they sound great in my system. I sold my Cardas cables after hearing them. Happy listening.

@decooney - Incredibly helpful. Thank you! 

I'm somewhat new to the audio equipment world. I've often read that one's taste will evolve as one tries different equipment over time. Initially, I'd set out to build a relaxed and somewhat warm sounding system. I think, to your point, the relaxed QLN speakers along with the EL34 tubes and, to top it off, a DAC that has a reputation for being non-forward, leaves the system without a sense of bite or incisiveness. Lot's of spaciousness and air. Just little in the way of attack. 

I'll definitely restock my CJ 120 with those recommended tube amps on this next go-around. Great advice. Thank you agaain! 

@joeyfed55 - I will look into those, Joey! Thank you!  

Depends how much bite or incisiveness you want as to whether tube type or speaker cables will get you there. If you’re looking for the CJ amp to sound more like the Gryphon I don’t think you’ll get there with either. The Mullard EL 34 are warmer and more laid back than say Genalex KT77 so a tube change like that could help a little bit. Siemens or Telefunken small signal tubes will also liven things up. I’d try changing both tube types individually before cables. The Clear cables will give you more detail but probably not the energy and drive you’re looking for when compared to the Cygnus. I remember when you were seeking advice on the “older” CJ sound. As it turns out, could the more “modern” CJ sound have been what you were looking for 🤔. You can always upgrade the CJ amp to the SE version. Probably not what you want to hear though 😁.