Actually, I have heard many say the newer Cardas Clear cables are more revealing too.
The problem is that most manufacturers spend more time trying to please their critics than they spend trying to please their fans.
Many "musical" components and cables have been becoming more revealing. Meanwhile, companies know for their high resolution, ARC, Lyra, and Nordost are trying to become more musical. |
Overall, I think the current trends of more revealing/fatiguing products selling at vastly inflated prices is killing the audio industry.
It's been many years since business school, but higher cost + lower long term satisfaction doesn't seem like the best response to down economic times (or any other actually).
The business model of sign a big advertising contract in exchange for glowing reviews has been suicide for the industry. How many former excellent high end audio stores are either gone or operating out of someone's basement?
10 years ago or so I fell in love with the Purist Audio Musaeus's that I used for all IC's and speaker cable. I loved the musical, non-fatiguing, deep, large and rich sound from these guys.
I lost a pair in a recent move and replaced them with the newest version. The new ones dropped the old sound to jump on the revealing/fatiguing bandwagon. Cable Company said they're pretty much all that way these days (except MIT and Cardas). Argh!!! |
It is the first time I post an answer here, because for me the Golden Cross just sounds right. Perhaps the Golden Cross is not neutral, but what is neutral?. In my opinion, it is just natural sounding. It is the only cable I tried that doesn't sound artificial and hifi, and that does fully justice to my MFA Luminescence preamp and Jadis JA200 power amp, both owned since 1990. If I put just one neutral cable (in the audiophile sense) in there, music is gone. You just need the right tubes in your amps and Golden Cross interconnects and speaker cables. I have the Golden Crosses in my system for 5 years now and I'm done. I never even think about changing anything again. It is just the fullbodied, harmonically rich and natural sound I was looking for. If you play a musical instrument yourself, you will love this cable.
For all musiclovers, it is a pity Cardas stopped offering the Golden Cross. Sadly, all good things tend to disappear... Same with good NOS tubes. Have fun listening to your music everybody! |
Cardas Golden Cross can be fantastic sounding , especially if you like listening mostly to Rock music. I guess everyone has different ears. I have had great success with the Cardas Golden Cross in my system. |
If musical means no highs and a emphasis midrange, Cardas golden certainly do the trick!
I never find any cardas neutral enough to fit a high end system. On a bad speaker with agressive highs and no medium, it's probably a good choice.
anyway it's too bad to buy a bad cable to compensate a bad system... |
Mikey, I've owned only the KCI Silkworm Plus and have never heard the original non-Plus version. I should also say when I purchased the Plus, I had John fit them with Eichmann Copper Bullet RCAs, which I have never regretted. Before doing this however I researched and found a few articles that compared the copper to the silver Eichmanns and both to the Xhadow plugs. What influenced me most to go with the Eichmann copper was Jeff Day's 6 Moons review from March, 2007 entitled "3 RCA Connectors at the OK Corral". Once I heard the Silkworm + with them I knew I had made the best choice for my ears. They imparted the kind of warm, analog quality I desired, also besting the Cardas Golden Reference I had previously owned by providing a more realistically balanced sound. And they offered fine detail without sacrificing musicality and convincing imaging/soundstaging. Otherwise, I did a comparison in my system between Cardas' Golden Reference and Golden Cross ics, finding the Cross somewhat too warm overall for my taste. I hope I've provided some information you might benefit from. |
Hi Mikey8811
I guess you should take what I have to say with a grain of salt because I have a pair of the KCI Silkworm (not +) up for sale, right now.
However, "warmth and body and. . . greater bloom" are the hallmark of any 24k solid gold cable.
The Silkworms, also, have deep, powerful bass and an extended, delicate treble, though. That's what makes them so special.
The Cardas Golden Cross was designed to be very warm and did have a bit of a loose bass and treble roll-off. It was designed that way to work with certain systems that needed it. This, to a much lesser degree, was true of the Golden Reference, as well. Though all of the cables mentioned are veery musical. |
Hi Opus 88
How do the KCI Silkworm (not +) compare to Cardas Golden Ref or Golden Cross?
I don't mind sacrificing speed and extension for warmth and body and would like greater bloom. |
If you have cash they will make them! |
Maybe you should invest in your hunch and load up on Golden Cross cables now at their closeout pricing. rofl "That's right, mam - museum quality sound." |
I do not see the Golden Cross Interconnects available on their website. They are not listed anywhere, legacy or otherwise |
I agree with Mechans. I owned the Golden Reference interconnect and tonearm cables for quite some time, and very much found them to my musical liking. The only other cables I've enjoyed more have been the KCI Silkworm+, which I still own and can't imagine ever replacing, and the Purist Proteus Provectus tonearm cable, which I very reluctantly parted company with after going to a tonearm with its own wire running straight to my phono inputs. Despite this, I still have fond memories of the Cardas GR. |
MY take is that cables or for that matter any component should not impart anything at all to the party. At one time speakers had 2 categories of sound...amps have the s/s sound and the tube sound...but as time goes on all specialty sounds are coming together to become the "right" sound. |
I for one, will be unhappy with the demise of the "Golden" line. It does have an exaggerated midrange and is a tad soft on top. I don't think of the as being muffled , but instead that these cables do impart some measure of euphonic warmth to the sound in my set up. It is perfect where it was as an IC between the pre and power amps.
I am sorry to hear that they have been replaced by a cable which appears to be like so many other manufacturers cables. The goldens they were unique and special. |
Theo....right you are.... I have Ayre too....I tried every Cardas they make because Ayre insists that they have had excellent results with Cardas. I found that Cardas is the very worst cable for MY equipment than any other. I have the top of the line Anti-Cables that work very well for MY system. |
04-12-13: Grey9hound
well . I am pretty sure that the Golden Cross IC is one of the most sought after cables , whether you like it or not.
I would think that a lot of people will still want that cable , fter they are all gone.
I think only THAT cable (Golden Cross) would hold or increase in value ..none of the rest .
Thats just my opinion .. i could be wrong .
We will just have to wait and see. In the market that is called speculation. Many folks have gotten very wealthy on speculation, or the ability to foresee the future. Maybe you should invest in your hunch and load up on Golden Cross cables now at their closeout pricing. If you are correct, you could make a bundle in the future selling NOS Cardas cables. Just like those who were smart enough to load up on Mullard tubes in the 80's. ;) |
well . I am pretty sure that the Golden Cross IC is one of the most sought after cables , whether you like it or not.
I would think that a lot of people will still want that cable , fter they are all gone.
I think only THAT cable (Golden Cross) would hold or increase in value ..none of the rest .
Thats just my opinion .. i could be wrong .
We will just have to wait and see. |
If you click on the link that the OP posted above and scroll down to the "Legacy" products and click on each of those, they show that almost all are still available. Theo is correct that Cardas will still offer these models until the supply runs out. No need to worry just yet. IMHO, the prices will not go up on used cables, but probably will be worth less as time goes by. |
Well another thing that I have noticed before, is that cable companies tend to listen to their critics more than their fans. Take Shunyata for example, when they first came out with their power cords and the Hydra, the flavor was very rich, warm and musical. Many folks fell in love with the sound instantly, while the critics said it was coloring the sound, with not enough resolution. So each newer generation of Shunyata cords that came out were increasingly transparent and decreasingly musical.
It sounds as if Cardas is moving in the same direction. Many have complained over the years that Cardas cables are too dull and lifeless, while the Cardas owners loved their musical sound. So Cardas, like many other companies is chasing after those who do not like their sonic signature, in hopes that their loyal following will hold true to the Cardas name in effort to grow their share.
It's just business, not personal. The original Shunyata cords did hold their value pretty good for a while, as those who liked their original attributes would rather buy older, used cords than the newer ones. You don't see many 10+ year old Shunyata cords are the market anymore, as they seem to have settled into systems or closets for the long run. Occasionally one will pop up for sale, and though re-sale has gone down, they still sell for a pretty good price for a 12-15 year old power cord.
As Theo said, they are not manufacturing the Golden series anymore, but they are still selling off current inventory. Eventually current inventory will be depleted and no longer an option. |
04-11-13: Drubin
I think your analysis is completely upside down.
How do you mean ? I do not understand what you are saying. That the Golden Cross will not be more valuable ? or that their newer cables wewre selling ?? Please explain what you mean , cause i don' get what you are saying. I actually agree with LUNA . he said 04-11-13: Luna
I think their 'Golden' series still have a big fan base and not too many people want to spend so much more for the 'Clear' series which are only marginally better! I actually like the slight coloured in the mid bass for its 'human' like character @ Jmcgrogan2. Most companies replace their previous models with new ones. Cardas continued to offer the older models as well as the new . I just think they had too many offerings and the newer ones were probably not outselling some of the older stuff. The Golden Cross IC had to be their #1 all time seller |
I was told that Cardas is moving away from the Golden Cross, Golden Reference and Neutral Reference. They feel that the new Clear line e.g Clear, Clear Light and soon the Clear Sky will be a better cable that will regain a foothold in the marketplace. I recently tried a set of Clear Light to compare with my Golden Reference between my Ayre C5xe and LS-26 and was disappointed. I found them to be more harse and forward by comparison. I want to try the Clear but haven't been able to do that yet. I love the GR's for analog but am wondering if a different cable might provide a less "digital" signature. I am thinking the Clear may be the ticket but need to get a pair to try when I will have time to really listen.
I was also told that Cardas will continue to offer the affore mentioned cables untill the supplies are exhausted.
They have some on hand just won't be producing them anymore. That has been a while, but I would think you could still get a pair, somebody has some in stock, try Dan at dedicated audio, or audio advisor etc. |
You do realize that Cardas is not the only cable manufacturer that comes out with new models to replace older models.....don't you?
I can't recall any cables from any manufacturer increasing in value after being discontinued. Go ahead and hang on to yours though, there is a first for everything. ;) |
I think their 'Golden' series still have a big fan base and not too many people want to spend so much more for the 'Clear' series which are only marginally better! I actually like the slight coloured in the mid bass for its 'human' like character. |
I think your analysis is completely upside down. |
