Upgrade from Cardas Neutral Reference speaker cables

I used Neutral Reference for a few years and they were very good with my system. In the last year or two, I slowly replaced my whole system, and the NR cables didn't sound as good with my new gear, so I installed 2 sets of Golden Presence interconnects, which I had purchased a couple of years ago, and never used because they didn't sound as good with my original gear. I am still using the NR speaker cables and I replaced my NR phono cable with a Clear Cygnus cable. everything sounds good now. The Clear Cygnus Speaker cables might be good choice if you want to stick to the Cardas sound. I'm thinking of replacing my speaker cables to the Clear Cygnus. It's tough because there are a lot of choices out there. Many good brands. Is there a specific reason why you want to upgrade. I had a reason. Knowing that will help you get good advice.

I used the NR speaker cables for several years and found them to be OK, but thin sounding. Upgraded to Cardas Golden Reference.

"Neutral Reference" is the only set in the lineup I had not tried from Cardas before I moved on to other brand OCC cables. @rlb61 your comment about it sounding "thin" is what I learned from a few friends, so I skipped them. Owned many others prior, and did some early demo evaluation with the latest clear line past 2-3 years. Never quite found what I wanted. Was hoping Clear Reflections would be a good mix, and for some reason just could not get there with them either. Maybe my system, almost gave up.

CGR:
While I’ve been experimenting with Analysis Plus Crystal OCC cables the past few years with my tube amps, and loving the amazing sound stage and depth...recently had a hankering to go back and re-try the Golden Reference (CGR) once again. Bought 3 pairs a few months ago. Two pairs for the sources and a 1.5M pair between my tube preamp and tube amps. Very nice, I had forgotten what these sounded like. I received the newer design/version with the updated connectors on the GCRs for my interconnects. I’m going to experiment with re-mixing the CGRs with the AP OCC crystals. So far its another interesting combo, a bit of the best from both worlds meshed together. Definitely hearing some of that memorable tone, texture, and musicality I recalled long ago from some of the earlier Cardas. Guitars, strings, and piano keys sound glorious once again. A fun throwback for sure, keepers this time around. Fun to rotate them in now every once in a while.

The original Cardas golden cross are the best I have used.

No longer made but can be found used.

I have been using Golden Cross now for about 7-8 years and have actually been looking at switching to Golden Reference. I am holding off on buying as I am looking at the possibility of mono blocks and that would allow me to buy shorter cables. I see NR a lot on Cable Co. and have wondered why they are getting traded in and what they are being replaced with. Seems like the few responses here seem positive, so I ask the OP why are you wanting to move on?

One thing about Golden Reference ... it can be too much of a good thing when using an entire loom (i.e., ICs and Speaker). When I did, I heard a distinct bloat in the mid-bass. So, I removed the ICs and kept the GR speaker cable in the system. The GR ICs are now collecting dust in my closet, and I have replaced them with Audio Envy.  

i am sure cardas makes even more expensive cables than the neu-ref!

surely a major sonic upgrade, for sure!  neutrality can be sooo overrated... :)

happy hunting...

@theo I have been using Golden Cross now for about 7-8 years and have actually been looking at switching to Golden Reference.

That’s partially what I did. Golden Cross was a very good match and musical with my brighter solid state amps of the past. Golden Cross was definitely too veiled over laid back for my prior and current tube amps. The next goal was to figure out something 1/2 way between.

Currently using the original standard "Cross" bi-wire for my speaker cables; not so veiled over. And, paired with the updated Golden Reference interconnects it's a nice mix. It’s more open and transparent yet retains the musicality and some of the weight keeping it all Cardas in my system. To open it up even more or to add a tad more detail, I mix in one pair of Analysis Plus OCC crystals anywhere in the chain. Allows for a few different presentations. The blend of the two brands and these models can also be very nice for those who prefer big open sound. It’s been fun and interesting to mix these for a hybrid result. Your results may vary.

Stretch to Cardas Clear. You’d be very happy you did!

decooney, I am in a transitional period here before I will make a change. But it is good to hear others experience with different Cardas products. I really plan to stay with Cardas as the cables and company both have served me very well. I am switching from a ARC Ref5se to an Ayre KX5twenty (not arrived yet) as I wanted to go back to solid state. And I just ordered new Sonus Faber Olympica Nova III's that I don't expect for a few weeks at least. So once these all get broken in, I will be making a decision and start looking for a set of Golden Ref's 

audiojan, I have only added the Clear line as power cords and use both the Clear and Clear beyond. I have been wanting to try a set of IC's and will someday. I think the best place to try them is between the Pre and Amp, but want to hear what I get with the new Pre and Speakers first. 

@theo I had a unique opportunity a while back to demo several. I also demoed and tried Clear reflections, Clear Cygnus, Parsec, and others too after my decades use of "Golden" series cables, I was still missing something. Came close to giving up and that’s what eventually steered me to Analysis Plus too. Yes, Cardas "Clear" and Clear "Beyond" is definitely an option yet I was still in search of the higher end "value" cable, not wanting to pay up for Clear Beyond. Someone at Cardas tried to sway me this direction yet its too speedy for me. Not for me, Kept trying...the one cable in the line I’d never tried was still in front of me.

Found myself looking back to the older Cardas sound somehow mixed with Clear. I thought THE cable would be Clear Reflections. Unfortunately nope, not in my system. Argh, was bummed. Yes, a neat cable, and later learned Clear "Reference" was the predecessor to the latest Clear "Reflections". Next!  My gut told me to go back and try "Golden Reference". The one cable I skipped when I had Golden Cross cables years prior. I’ve been running the CG-Refs now for a few months, relaxing and setting in. The only thing I don’t yet like about them is super duper low level listening levels.  Being super critical, I have to turn the volume up just a tad and all the sudden they reveal themselves. My preamp has lots of gain, its not my preamp. A bit more capacitance/resistance with CG-Refs I figure. My AP Crystal OCC cables require no added volume, I can listen at super low volume levels (for late night listening) with them. A tradeoff, and yet the CG-Refs are really neat, like them well enough with their blend of the old and the new clear line is how they sound. Dab smack in the middle. Hope you like them, I sure do. So far I’ve not wanted to rotate them out since I got them. Staying put for now. Maybe you can try CableCo for demos. Best of Luck.