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:
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.
OP ..."It in my mind, proved to me that the handling of the digital stream is just as important as the analogue stream." Back in the late 80's I got a two box CD player. Just to happily prove to myself that a digital interconnect couldn't possibly make a difference like in analog, I replaced the digital interconnect with a good aftermarket one. Jaw drop... a bigger difference than I had ever heard between analog components. Observation can be a really useful tool. Thanks for sharing. |
@ghdprentice Ditto. One of biggest surprises I’ve had in audio. |
I am already upgrading the zen coax with a Cardas clear coax, will arrive this week. I just couldn’t get over how the nagra with the audio zen seemed a little murky when compared to the mini with a Cardas clear usb…
so hoping the Nagra streamer with a Cardas clear coax will be the heavens bells…
thanks all, r |
Murky presentation on a $5k streamer! It might actually be caused by the MC2—not Albert Einstein’s MC², but Acoustic Zen’s MC2. This digital coaxial cable, sold by The Cable Company, has an impedance of 110 ohms. I was dumbfounded—who on earth designs and manufactures a 110-ohm digital coaxial cable these days? Interestingly, this cable doesn’t appear on Acoustic Zen’s own website, but it does show up on The Cable Company’s site for $500, and yes, it’s clearly listed as 110 ohms, the same specs for aes/ebu. There are several uninformed individuals here (no names mentioned) promoting this cable, and you might be one of the victims. When you use a 110-ohm digital coaxial cable on a 75-ohm standard connector of sensitive, delicate audio gear, reflections can occur. This leads to a ‘murky’ presentation—meaning veiled sound, reduced transparency, or even congestion during complex passages. If you still crave silver (plated), try the DH Labs D-750 digital coaxial cable—a true 75-ohm design—and see how it stacks up against Cardas. Both features gas-injection and extremely low dielectric constant that yields low signal loss. Personally, I enjoy the smoothness of Cardas, but DH Labs wins me over with its greater dynamics and punch, especially in the low end. |
