straightwire crescendo vs acoustic zen, cardas?

I'm using Crescendo between CDP and my pre-amp and between my pre-amp and amp. These are probably the best interconnect cable you can buy for under $2k. I bought these cables on the suggestion of a good friend. He told me that I wouldn't regret it. I had demoed Kimber 1020 and that is what I intended to buy until he recommended the Crescendo. The only flaw that I have found with these cables is the fact that they don't sound their best until they a FULLY broken in. If the pair you demoed wasn't broken and you still like it, believe me they only get better. As a matter a fact, I think there is a 1M pair up for sale now, here on Audiogon. If you buy a used pair, you don't have to go through the break in.

I have tried both. Zen is a bit sterile and Cardas is bloated in my system. I currently use Pure Note which is superior to both brands IMO. Their site is: www.purenote.com

-Martin Logan ReQuests.
-Krell FPB 600.
-Krell KRC/Reference Phono.
-Sony SCD-1.
-Old VPI table, SME3009 arm, and various cartridges.
-All interconnects, Pure Note Epsilon Reference.
-Current speaker cables are Silversmith, soon to be Pure Note Epsilon Reference (perhaps).

Zspradlin - they were broken in
and my dealer in NEw Orleans is the person who patented them through straight wire. Yes, when I returned them the magic was missing just a little bit.

Wanted to hear comments on crescendo versus acoustic zen,
I'll check out Silversmith as well (why have these not been talked about much?)

thanks

Tom