Hello DaveAllison,
I am in full agreement with you that Cardass always sound dull and with lower resolution (relative to better cables). Their advantages were natural midrange and... this is what I can remember. No deep bass, May be very good highs but not too extended either.
Regarding "Homegrown Audio X-32" - I never heard it and cannot comment directly but when someone describe cable (power or speaker etc). I always ask myself - does he describe the true sonic characteristics of the cable or its effect on overly bright or overly dull system making improvment in overall sound.
Finally, I am a bit suprised that people who invest $60k (retail) into the speakers and I am sure good money into the amplifiers (power and pre) insist on chocking of the signal coming to these speakers.
Very recently, I got confirmation of that by auditioning of Gold Elrod speaker cables instered between pair of Spectron monoblocks to cheap (in comparison to MBL) $25k speakers. System sound was always good. With previous Elrod Silver (its the name of the line not metal) speaker cables it was excellent or may be more then excellent. Now, when I hear it with "Gold" - my jaws drop - its beyond my dream (and budget...today) but good cables do not add music (bad cables add coloration) - they allow amplifiers to show its full potential.
Thus, what is the point to invest $100k - $150k (retail) in system electronics and then screw yourself on wrong (not nesseceraly cheap) cables?
All The Best
Rafael