Review: Darwin Ascension Interconnect

Category: Cables

This review is for the Darwin Ascension interconnect, their premium
IC. They also offer a lower priced version called the Darwin Silver.

To understand why this cable is so effective, you have to look at the basic
design features - silver conductor, air dielectric, and low mass ends. This
kind of simplicity of design is just the opposite of most high end cables.
But this cable makes it clear - perfecting a simple design works much
better than those other, far more complicated designs. The trick is in preserving signal integrity over the entire length of the cable. The Darwin
Ascension does that better than any other interconnect I have ever had in
my system. Period.

Just a word about the importance of properly breaking in this cable. Like most silver cables, it takes quite a lot longer than copper based cables. I
would say 2 to 3 times as long to reach the full break in point. I broke the
Ascension in for 200 hours and found it to be about right. If you assume
the Ascension is fully broken in after 50 or 100 hours, it has quite a bit farther to go before reaching full performance capability.

And what is that full performance capability like? Like everything you've
ever wanted in an interconnect ... 3-dimensional sound stage, superb
inner detail within that sound stage, terrific localization, full, rich tonality,
realistic attacks, realist decays, amazing timbre ... the list goes on and on.
All the things you've ever wanted to hear - are there with the Darwin
Ascension interconnect. AND in perfect balance!

How many interconnects have been in and out of my system in my quest
for the perfect interconnect? Far more than I can possibly remember
since getting into audio. All the frustration with overhyped products,
costs way out of line with product quality, one disappointment after another ... on and on ... and on. All of that ends when you put a Darwin
Ascension cable into your system like I did in mine.

If you have been searching for "realism" when it comes to listening to
music, the Ascension delivers that realism like no other cable I have ever
heard. And for me, this is the perfect way to describe this outstanding
cable design - truly exceptional realism.

It is said that all cables have weaknesses. Really? Can't find any with
the Ascension. Everything you want is there. And everything you don't
want -- isn't there.

One of the ideas we are supposed to mention is that if money was no
object, would you still own this? My answer to that question is "YES"!
And I would feel really good about not spending several times the cost
of the Ascension for markedly less quality.

Just getting off the cable roller coaster is reason enough to own the
Darwin Ascension. At least it was for me. My long search for the
perfect interconnect is over. Listening to music has taken on a whole
new sense of satisfaction, using this very special cable.

Would love to hear what others think.