Kharma versus Nirvana cables

I've heard the Kharma Grand Reference and Nirvana S-X Ltd. speaker cables, both in New York on Kharma Grand Ceramiques. I didn't hear them on the same systems, though, so please take my comments with a grain of salt. I thought the Grand Refs were quieter and more detailed, but there was a slowness and thickness to their sound that I didn't like at all. Their cost was also prohibitive. The Nirvanas struck me as much quicker and overall more musical. Depends on your taste, I guess. I also heard a specially terminated pair of the Grand Ref speaker cables in a state of the art system out here by me. Again, I thought they were a little on the slow side, but they were very quiet, which let a lot of inner detail pour forth.

Thanks Hooper for your reply. I'll have Nirvana SL speakercable today, but I can't compare in my system with Kharma speakercable... I have the opportunity to switch my Nirvana SX ic with Kharma Grand Reference ic, but I don't know if this is a wise thing to do...

Renaat

Renaat:

If you own both the Grand Reference and Nirvana ICs, it certainly can't hurt to try both in your system and see which you prefer. If you don't, which is what I think you mean, I definitely wouldn't trade the Nirvanas for the Grand Refs sight unseen or unheard. As I said, they have radically different sounds, and you really need to hear both back to back to make an accurate judgement. Give a call to GTT Audio (I don't have the number handy, but they have a website) and see if they'll loan you a pair of Grand Ref speaker cables for audition. Good luck!