Im going to regret my cable question

I had Rocket 44's at one time. My experience & opinion would be if you want to mellow out your sound they are a good choice. All the information is still there but are a very un-fatiguing  cable. A pleasant cable. That was my experience.

I think Audio Advice (not sure) still sells them in bulk. You could make your own for less cost. 

@moshif I mentioned Cardas because I also wanted to warm up my system a bit. I have the Clear Sky x4 and they did exactly that. No loss of detail or transparency. Just a really "meaty" sound. Thicker, not duller. 

@ghdprentice I recommend Cardas. They are designed to be more forgiving and natural at the lower cost levels and get much more detailed and revealing at the higher cost levels

@inna Nordost may sound thin, Cardas may sound bloated in midrange and upper bass.

@neversatisfied I will try to audition them first. Cardas is also in the running but I don’t know if I can audition both side by side. The shop I’m dealing with might not carry Cardas.

If you plan to try Cardas, be sure to demo different models in the product line.  The conductors, quantities, dielectrics change a bit throughout the line and each brings a different set of characteristics to the sound by design. Cardas offers tech support.  

It’s more than likely going to be between the Cardas and AQ. If AQ, it will be the Rocket 44. I think the one brand which came up the most was Cardas so that deserves a listen. In the end I still think they will all pretty much be the same. I don’t really cater to the whole “wow, that totally changed my system” theory. I still think a lot of what we hear is based on the dollar sign.

Having said that I do think that once one makes the step from box store RCA’s to pretty much any quality built cable that there is a gain to be had. My idea to upgrade is mostly based on gauge of the wire, Rocket 44 being heavier than my 20 year old Type 4. The fact that Cardas was a name which keeps coming up suggests that I at least have to have a listen to them if I can.

This is where I stand for now, at least until I get into the shop to a/b some stuff. Who knows, perhaps I will be surprised.

Cheers to all for the much appreciated suggestions.

http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm#differences

Cardas, more than most brands, has people who love them and those who do not like them at all...

@neversatisfied "I don't really cater to the wow, that totally changed  my system theory". You just exactly stated my perspective on Cardas. Over the years with all the auditioning of cables via lending library from CableCompany any number of times I heard cables that gave me that short term wow factor, this to the degree I ended up purchasing a few of these 'wow' cables. Problem with these over the long term some kind of unnatural coloration/presentation. So back in goes the Cardas, return to relaxed, natural, balanced presentation, Particular model Cardas I'm speaking of is Golden Reference, these purchased in 1990's, I call them my old 'workhorse' cables. These simply chameleon cable for me, these cables have been through many systems I've built over the years, and they could be perceived as warm/bloomy, analytical, or anywhere in between. In reality the entire system creates the presentation, the cable simply reflects that. In the end. This  how I now perceive cabling in general, mostly they simply reflect the system they're installed in. I no longer expect or want cables to 'color' my system. I can color/voice my system far easier with myriad other things. Now, you want to talk about power cables, much greater variables here!