What Harmonic tech cables should I used for CD

I have a 1.5m run of HT Truthlinks. In both my system as well as my friends they don't sound as good as the Cardas Crosslink which is Cardas's entry level cable. I do like the HT speaker cable though.

I agree with Dave above as to what DAC sounds better to your ears as being the one you use. Often in mass market receivers the DAC isn't the biggest consideration when designing the unit. As you say, for DVD-Audio, RCA is the only way to go as your receiver will get a converted PCM signal if fed the digital from the DVD-Audio and you will likely lose something in the translation. Invest in some good IC's and you can move them to your next equipment purchases as you move up the food chain. Oh, you think you've bought your last equipment? Guess again. You're here on Agon aren't you?

I had hoped the Truthlinks would have done better as well especially condidering what I paid for them. The largest difference is that the high frequency and upper mids are smeared and grainy on the Truthlinks in comparison to the Crosslinks. I use the .5m Crosslinks presently between my Cablebox and AV receiver. The Truthlinks are between my AV receiver L-R outs to my preamp surround pass through. I run Virtual Dynamics Audition IC's between the CDP and Pre and Amp. The Audition cables blow the Truthlinks out of the water. They are more balanced top to bottom and much quieter. Having said all this I am on the lookout for a 3m pair of balanced silver IC's for between the pre and the amp at some point. Apparently the Silways are out in a MK III version now and are supposed to have cleared up some of the glare. I have tested the Truthlinks in two different systems between the Cardas Crosslink and the Virtual Dynamics Audition IC's. My friend and I both rated the HT's as the worst of the three with the Crosslinks better, and the Auditions much better still. Some of this may be system dependent but as I said his is using quite a bit differnt gear from mine and the results were Identical between both. YMMV. I am glad that the Truthlinks are doing good for you in your system but would suggest that perhaps you explore some other manufacturer's cables if only for comparison's sake.

I agree with Subaruguru that the VD's are probably shelving the top octave or so. They are pretty revealing other than that. I am unhappy with the top end I'm getting from them. However, on my buddy's system they didn't shelve the top octave at all it seems. He has the Arcam FMJ23t CDP which is more revealing than my MF A3 CD. It has been said that the MF also rolls off the top end itself. Still what I am saying is that the particular 1.5m Truthlink cable sounded grainy to both me and my friend on both our systems. The fact that my VD's sounded better on his system than mine just goes to show how these things are system dependent. I am interested in running about a 3 or 4m set of quality silver IC's balanced between my pre and my amp in the future in an effort to regain this lost octave and keep some of the other detail and niceness the VD's do bring to the mix. I am not saying the HT's were bad, just how they sounded in the two systems I'm familiar with in comparison to a couple of other cables I'm familiar with. Use this info at you own discretion. On the whole I prefer a clean and very open high end verging on being bright. If that is what the HT's were doing then I would have certainly prefered them over the VD's. The HT's simply sounded smeared in comparison.

I have been considering the Pro Silway III's. I understand what you are saying about the source having the best cable first. I have heard too many reports that using a silver cable between the pre and the amp is supposed to provide a magic all it's own that I am wanting to try. Besides which I need a longer run in any case as I want to reposition my gear. The audio sickness will force me to recover every iota of sound from my system sooner or later. Thanks.