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Help with XLR ICs.

Ok gang. So here’s my situation. I’m looking to upgrade my XLR ICs. I’ve been using Straightwire Crescendo XLR ICs for many years now. I originally bought them for my first system I put together about 10 years ago. Since then I have totally upgraded my whole system including PCs which are 4 Audioquest Dragons (2) HC and (2) source. I really did want to go with Audioquest Dragons for my XLR ICs. But the prices for them brand new is to high for me. 2 m xlr are 18k and 1 m are 12k. I was looking for used for a few months now but never ever seen any that were ever for sale used. I also am using Straightwire Crescendo speaker cables which are quad wired. That’s 2 pairs for ea speaker going into ea mono amp. So u can imagine what the AQ Dragon quad wired speaker cables would cost.100k ++ That being said I will be keeping for now my Straightwire Crescendo speaker cables. So back to my original question post. What high end XLR ics would be a lot better than my Straightwire Crescendo XLRs. Budget is about 4k a pair. And will need 2 pairs. 2 m and 1 m. . I really did like the Straightwire Crescendos ICs and speaker cables for their powerful bass as they are also known for. So that being said I would like high end ICs that are known also for extremely good bass. My system consists of ARC Ref 750s mono blocks. ARC Ref 6Se pre. ARC ref 9 CDP. And a McIntosh MQ 112 EQ.  

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jji666
536 posts
 

This is a serious question, not intended as a flame:  can someone please explain to me, given the topology and function of balanced circuits, how any particular XLR cable composition can make a significant difference in sound, since whatever influence is cancelled back out by the recombination of the signals at the receiver end?

I do agree that well constructed cables that don't lose signal are beneficial.  I'm a Mogami fan.  But those are street cables compared to what is being recommended here, and I am not understanding how the composition of an XLR cable would be as with single-ended. 

muvluv's avatar
muvluv
45 posts
 

Mogami is the best you can get for most gear, the prices company charge for simple copper is insanity, if you want gold wires you need gold all the way from the generator. Making your own using neutik or switchcraft gold ended connectors is nearly the best you can get 

moto_man
362 posts
 

I have an ARC REF 6, and I use Shunyata Anaconda XLR's, which can be had used at very reasonable prices.  In fact, I have a Shunyata loom because I think that their cables sounded so good in my system.  I have them between my MSB DAC and the ARC REF 6 and to the Pass Labs 250.8.  Surprisingly, when I replaced the ARC stock power cable with a Shunyata Alpha v2, the improvement was clearly audible -- enough to make me very happy with the purchase!.

nagel
56 posts
 

I didn't read the whole thread, but I'll be putting my AQ Thunderbird 0.75M XLRs up for sale in a few weeks. Watch for those, strong bass, excellent sound, same family, just didn't work out in my system.

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