I’ve tried lots of different PC’s and IC’s. I just put a new XLR between the pre and power amps last night. Cardas Parsec from a dealer sold as authentic, used. I had pro XLR’s in there because it’s a 6 meter run. My initial thoughts are I’m not sure I can decypher a difference between the two? I’ll go back and forth over the next couple of weeks. My experience has been when I’ve detected a noticeable difference immediately good or bad is when I make changes.
That happened with a fake AQ Dragon PC on the line stage and an authentic Cardas Clear IC between the phono and line stages.
Given this new data I might be inclined to try a 6m run of fake Cardas Clear. I’d love to have authentic to match my other CC IC but 12k seems a little crazy to me.