Cardas Golden Reference XLR or Straightwire Crescendo XLR ?

Cardas never worked in my system.....

Thanks! 

     Wanted to add a couple more thoughts.
  First of all nothing will make a stereo system sound better than speakers. Cables are one link in the chain. If the speakers are not top-end than any cable would not really help. Invest in great speakers & equipment first.
  Second. Power Cables are a almost a waste of money. I recommend getting 10-3 cable. witch consist of 3 wires of. 10 gauge THHN Stranded wire and terminate with good plugs.   
   Don't mind spending good money on audio equipment, but dont want to waste it foolishly on tweeks. 

     I am a big fan of Crescendo, I've owned Cardas, (Very good cables and have there phono cables in my system now). Also have owned Transparent Reference XL SS and some high-end MIT. The MIT & Transparent lower end are crap. There trick is to get you hooked on the lower end cables, then get you to up-grade. The lower-end cables remove the highs and lows and mute detail. That way when you up-grade, of course it will sound better.
     I have a McIntosh, amp & preamp in front my B&W 800 N speakers.  Don't care for McIntosh CD or DVD players. Furthermore the MS-300 & 750 are a disaster, I owned 2 MS-300 & 1 MS-750. I had to send them all back to have the hard-drives replaced and one need a new power supply too. Now have Straightwire Crescendo for line inputs, preamp out to amp and Crescendo bi-wire speaker cables.  I am very pleased with my system.

Don