Which aes/ebu cable? CCA Magnum Opus, Audio Sensibility Signature, or RAL Prophecy Ref?


Recently acquired my first separate DAC/transport and have been getting by with a regular balanced interconnect (which actually sounded better than an Acoustic Zen MC squared) as a digital cable.   My preference is for silver cables.  I'm big into detail and precision of imaging, a taut, well defined bass, and transparency.  The 3 mentioned cables are available at roughly the same cost to me.  Can anyone offer insights or opinions on these in general and hopefully how they compare to one another?   DAC is a Audio Alchemy DDP 1 w the PS 5 and RAL made umbilical while transport is a Bel Canto CD3.  Thanks!
lcherepkai
Gold plugs definitely obscure detail.  In fact, the Furutech gold-plated XLR connectors are very smooth sound, but man are they warm and slow!   However, when combined with silver wire, they are actually quite good!

I'm not going to 100% say that the Oyaide Focus on the digital cable will make your system have a bright edge.  It certainly did on my system, but my equipment is all fast  / high resolution stuff.  If your system is warm sounding, the Oyaide might not have a bright edge.
auxinput---I certainly believe you about the Oyaide Focus xlr. Strange how different a creature the Iego 8095 AC plug is then.  I actually have used that plug to tame a peakiness in the upper midrange which is where I usually hear brightness.  I've avoided gold plugs traditionally as they obscure detail (at least that's what I've heard in AC plugs and outlets).  You have me leaning toward the Audio Sensibility Signature.  Thanks for the help!
I have made about 5 different AES/EBU cables of my own. I used the Oyaide Focus XLR on a cable with 21awg OCC solid-core copper conductors. This cable definitely had a bright edge on the highs even though the conductor was copper. If you combine this with silver, it will become even more of a hard edge (in my opinion).

I have made a cable using 21awg OCC solid-core silver conductors combined with a Furutech FP-601M / FP-602F gold-plated XLR connectors. This is about as close to the Audio Sensibility cable as I have gotten. The sound is very nice with excellent resolution and good bass without any harshness or bright edge.

All of my cables used silver-plated copper braid for shielding.

Oh, one last note.  The Audio Sensibility cables I used were the "Signature" level XLR analog interconnects.  These were excellent.  However, I would avoid the "statement" level stuff because it uses stranded copper.  These actually perform rather poorly.
wturkey----unfortunately, 2 are on the used market so no sampling and I recently had Mel at CCA work on a Master Class interconnect and then offer a good deal on a digital cable I inquired about.  He clearly states that all sales are final  and that they don't offer trials, hence my inquiry here.  Shame more dealers/manufacturers don't have trials!  Thanks for the response.

Ah auxinput!  This is exactly the kind of response I've been hoping for.  The review on the Audio Sensibility cable sounds quite promising and I'm glad to hear your personal experience conforms to that review. 
Regarding the CCA MA cable, the Oyaide Focus plugs have a inner silver plate with rhodium over that.  In my experience with the same plating on the Iego 8095 AC plug, the sound is not at all bright.  The high end is both very extended and vivid but somehow is extremely smooth.  It would almost seem to be a contradiction but that's what I hear.  I have used them plugs as well as the Oyaide 046 and 004 on the same wire so feel confident in that assessment.  I think rhodium over copper is warmer but lacks the detail and the extension of rhodium over silver.  
And I purchased a Revelation Audio Labs unbiblical for  my Audio Alchemy DDP 1 and found it much better than stock but that's not saying much.  I don't know why manufacturers use the cheap and mediocre plugs.  Sure, it saves some money, but it really does compromise the sound of their offerings.  I know how big a deal it is to have the best plugs  (or none on speaker cables).  Thanks for your insights!


I have had Audio Sensibility "signature" level cables are they are absolutely excellent for the money.  The "Signature AES/EBU" uses really large 20awg OCC silver conductors that are twisted and inserted into a teflon tube (so you have almost no dielectric resistance that would normally happen with insulation.  They are combined with Furutech gold-plated XLR connectors with a custom steel shell.  The gold-plated will help compensate for that fast/bright silver and likely give you the best sound here (larger awg will give more powerful bass).

The Crystal Clear Audio magnum opus combines silver wire with the Oyaide Focus XLR connectors.  These connectors use a silver-plated over rhodium-plated pins and will definitely be bright and harsh in the high frequencies on a digital cable.  I would probably avoid this cable unless you have an extremely warm and laid back system.

As far as Revelation Audio, I don't know.  They don't publish what kind of wire (is it solid core?  What awg do they use?).  But one negative is their use of Neutrik XLR connectors, which are very poor and sound harsh and dirty (even on a digital cable!).  The Furutech gold-plated XLR are just so much smoother (yes, even on a digital cable!).

So, out of the three, my choice would likely be Audio Sensibility.
They all appear to be fine quality cables. Perhaps audition whichever has the finest return policy?