This cable game is making my head spin

Not challenging your experience, however its a little perplexing to read a cable with OCC copper is dull, lifeless, or taming too much. The Audio Sensibility Statement SE is supposed to have low capacitance and low inductance.

Do you have another source component (CD or streamer > DAC) or other to test with on the front end instead of a phono player? (leaving the AS Statement as-is) between the amp and preamp? Re-test, is it still dull or lifeless?

@blue_collar_audio_guy ...I want to streamline all my cables so I bought a pair of Audio Sensibility impact se interconnects. Same make as my phono cable. When I put them in between the preamp and amp I was shocked how dull and lifeless the sound was. Granted they are not broken in and only went through the 3 day burn in process Audio Sensibility offers but I was not expecting that dramatic of a change.

THIS step is where you noted the drastic change, correct?

@blue_collar_audio_guy if that’s where the last change occurred, focus there yet there can be a double-up effect if you run the same cables at source/pre and pre/amp if its already headed in a certain taming direction you don’t like.

Fwiw, while I do run same_brand and model cables (Analysis Plus Crystal OCC) from streamer>DAC as source>pre>amps, some times I intentionally intermix different ICs at different layers to change it up every once in a while. I was a 25+ year Cardas diehard, tried 12+ different TOTL pairs, and use to intermix some for fun. Did some demos for the factory too years ago, was asked to give feedback on new versions.  Sometimes with great results, "intermixing". Remember, the wiring inside each of these components can be different too. The notion of holding firm that you "must" run all of the same type/model of cable is one way, not always the best way. Each system and each of components, internal wiring, can be unique and not the same there either. This is why I was recommending trying other source components to re-test in the chain (instead of phono) and leaving your AS Statement SE cable in play pre>amp. You may in fact notice a difference there not having a phono/pre section in play with the Audio Sensibility cables doubled-up source>pre>amp. Try it.

"Cardas are warm, accentuate the bass relative to the details and can hide some noice / hash from some overly detailed electronics."

No, not all Cardas are warm. Depends on which cable model/version you are referring to. Having owned, tested, factory demo’d many-many pairs over the past 25+yrs with Cardas, each cable offers a different result. The newer Clear, Clear Beyond, are in a completely different league on their own for transparency, less bloom so to speak. Some of the newer mid-level cables from Parsec to Cygnus or Clear Reflections can still be warmish. Yes, some of the older vintage golden series are warmer than most. The newer Clear lines, not so much. Different designs.

It’s worth demoing with TheCableCo before drawing all-encompassing conclusions. While I’ve strayed mostly from Cardas except for my bi-wire speaker cables I still use sometimes, I still appreciate what they do and all of the variations. Its amazing George still comes up with all the different versions.

@ghdprentice that makes sense given the other cables you are comparing to. You hear what you hear and that’s what matters. I wonder if you’d feel my other Analysis Plus Crystal OCC RCA interconnects are warm sounding too. Different from all of my prior Cardas for sure.  

I’d be curious to know which is warmer to your ears, Cardas Clear RCA interconnect vs. Wireworld Eclipse 8 (the version with OCC-7N Copper and those Silver clad contacts) - if by chance you compared or took notes on the Eclipse 8s?

@ghdprentice Thanks for your thoughts and responses.  Actually, I'm referring more to varying levels of cool/warm within higher quality copper ICs. I bailed on silver and silver over copper a few years back. Nice, but not my cup of accentuated tea. Most silvers were not a good match for my last two pairs of tube/mono amps or prior SS amps. Your results may vary of course.  

I've probably wasted a lot of time trying too many over a few decades like you, and learned a lot too. I've done some factory beta version demos for a few MFGs over the years too. Past few years I've come across some occ/ohno cables with non-soldered machine-crimped connections that lean more towards silver sound, and TheCableCo has confirmed similar findings in their knowledge base. Today, I may go back and revisit a few over again.  Probably a waste of time, but it can be fun too. Thanks again for your responses.  👍 

@blue_collar_audio_guy if doable, what happens if you swap the Audio Sensibility Impact copper cables upstream closer to your source / phono preamp, and moving the silver cables downstream in the chain - does it smooth out a little more for you?

@blue_collar_audio_guy Thats a negative. Putting the silver cords anywhere in the preamp, amp or both brings out way to much harshness for my liking. Bob Dylan’s harmonica becomes ear screeching for example.

^^ This is telling^^.

Btw, I run all Cardas Grade 1 Ultra pure copper -or- Analysis Plus OCC Crystal Copper interconnect cables. All Silver ICs are stored away, no longer used. Neither of these brands and lines of copper interconnects are harsh. Smooth and natural.

An ear screeching Bob Dylan harmonica does not sound like much fun. Hopefully with some good loaners you can get it figured out for your ears. Best of Luck.