Comparing some mid-line interconnects - thoughts?

09-12-06: Joncourage
Yes, I'm sorry - that's true the Cheetah's are on the expensive side.

I should have worded my inquiry differently:

"What ICs in the ~$300-350 used price-range would compare favorably to the AQ Cheetah?"

That's easy - Acoustic Zen Matrix Reference MkII.

Short list: VenHaus Pulsar, Ridge Street Audio Midnight Silver Edition. You pick: silver or copper. There
are two approaches, depending on the quality of power going to your DAC & transport. I can use silver in my system; most systems will transmit glare originationg from power line noise.

Consider first filtering the power to your digital gear and you'll be in a position to make educated choices. Don't do it and you'll end up with 'band aid' interconnects.

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These will be used between DAC and (integrated) solid state amp, approx. 1 meter length altho .5m might also work.

Far as copper/silver, shielded/not, I can't say - I'm more interested in what delivers the goods, in that price range, opposed to specs, I think.

I realize there's some subjectivety to this and I'm willing to try a few; I'm basically trying to build my "short list" of ones to check out.

Yes, I'm sorry - that's true the Cheetah's are on the expensive side.

I should have worded my inquiry differently:

"What ICs in the ~$300-350 used price-range would compare favorably to the AQ Cheetah?"

Go check out Audio Metallurgy GA-O's The technology is radical you will be hard pressed to find any cable that even comes close let alone surpass its performance regrdless of price. The customer service is second to none. Good Luck

Several questions: what length? Solid or stranded? Shielded or unshielded? Copper, Silver or a combination? Between source and pre-amp or pre-amp to amp or phono to pre-amp? These are questions I asked myself before shopping for cables. Good luck.

Both the Audio Art IC-1 and Speltz Anti-ic easily bested the Blue Jeans cables Belden 1505f that I had. Much better clarity and imaging.

I would also try "Revelation Audio Labs".

Try Blue Jeans cables. Nothing is more accurate. Try the Belden 1505F. The price is right.

Hmm...I wouldn't call AQ's US$1K-per-meter-pair Cheetahs to be 'midline' or midpriced, I'd call them expensive.

I just replaced 6 pieces of HomeGrownAudio's all-silver IC-4-based ICs with Cheetah. I heard more detail, less edginess, and more-real-sounding transients on orchestral percussion such as tubular bells. I've never heard your other candidates.

Also, do consider PS Audio's silver conductor IC. It's quite affordable at only $350 per meter-pair and apparently sounds very good. See 10Audio.com's review...http://www.10audio.com/psaud_ref_trans.htm
.