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COAX Cable Recommendations.... need some glitter

Hello Dear Audiophile maniacs....

This past year I have upgraded my main system and I have been taken aback with the influence that cables and interconnects have had!

My new setup seems to be very resolving. I recently tried a Cardast Clear USB cable between my Mac Mini (which will soon be replaced with the Nagra Streamer) and my DAC, and the difference was (to me) huge ...soundstage, glitter, separation, black silence, etc... My system has been rich in the midrange. When I recently added the cardast clear USB cable the shrill on the highs with some vocals has disappeared which was a relief.  all desirable influences. so... 

This level of audiophilia is like alchemy with electrons! 

I am curious what your recommendations are for a new/used cable for when my Nagra Streamer arrives. I would like a cable for my Nagra Streamer that will have the following qualities:

  • Works directly (with no adapters) between the port on the Nagra Streamer and the port on my Holo Audio Spring 2 DAC (Why are there 2 Coax Inputs on the DAC? I am unfamiliar in the requirements of COAX.)
  • I would like to have this new cable bring out the glitter, the forward clarity, crisp forward wet upper mids and highs. 

I listen to mostly acoustic instruments, vocals, horns, but also strings.. jazz and some classical. The occasional electronic and rock. 

Thank you all for your suggestions. 

R. 

whyrichard

Showing 1 response by fastfreight

fastfreight
952 posts
 

Hello @whyrichard , as usual, @ghdprentice is giving sage advice.  You did say 'calm the shrill' so maybe we are agreeing, but glitter often does coincide with harsh, fatiguing overextended highs which at first sound amazing and then lead to listening fatigue.  Its ok, I call the goodness in my system 'sparkle' and to me it means resolving but without glare or fatigue.

Looking at the newer Nagra streamer, it has USB and coax outputs.  You need to pick which one is best for your DAC.  But build materials of the cable do matter.  For me, all copper cables are smoother than any I have tried with silver in them.

I have used excellent digital cables from Network Acoustics, and my favorite, a Realization  from Kubala Sosna.

And yes, Digital Coax cables use an RCA connector, but the cable should be built specifically for digital.

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