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...amazed by 15+ year old interconnect...

Hello to all...

Wanted to experiment with my stereo - (IMHO) improve the sound , more towards elements I heard from an audiophile friends' system: dug around in my closet and pulled out a 1 meter pair of HARMONIC TECHNOLOGIES PRO-SILWAY MK III (which was part of an equipment buy about 5 years ago), and replaced the Stager Silver interconnects from my Marantz SACD SA-8001 into my JOB INT integrated amp. Let it play low 24 hr/day for 7 days and then for about 21 days (still at 24hr/day) med volume during the day and low overnight - and am now thoroughly amazed at the change (positive in my  estimation) in so many aspects of the musics' presentationthru my system.

This leads me to question who else is using 'older' interconnects and/or speaker cables (meaning 15+ years old) and how they rate in comparison "... to new and of course better constructions and technologies..."

Also: do cables " burn out" or lose their effacicy to perform over time?

Looking forward to real life experiences being shared... Thanks!
insearchofprat
mtdining's avatar
mtdining
131 posts
 
Having replaced 8 gauge 20+ year old copper with modern 14 gauge Synergistic speaker wire and being stunned by the improvement, I conclude even copper ages. I also know that silver gets bright as it ages.
rodman99999
6,032 posts
 
All of my current interconnects(Kimber KS-1132 and KS-1032, Synergistic Tesla Apex(w/Spallone MPC mod) and Analog Tricon, Wireworld Eclipse 7 Golds, not to mention my Analysis Plus, Big Silver Oval speaker cables), have silver conductors. So did every other interconnect I’ve owned, in the past 30 years. None of them have ever gotten brighter(in the least)after, "aging"(most, for over 15 years each). I’ve been very pleased/happy, with their abilities to pass whatever’s fed them, without editorialization. I’ve no doubt, I could move up the food-chain, in each company’s offerings, which is why I haven’t auditioned anything, lately. I’m getting cheap, in my old age.
pastorbob's avatar
pastorbob
74 posts
 
 I have had any number of cables in various systems over the years; Audioquest Diamond, Mackenzie, Water, Sydney, XLO, Audience ONO, Synergistic Research Foundation, Morrow, MIT, and others which do not come to mind now.
Well, after a recent move I came across a forgotten 1m pair of Cardas Hexlink Golden 5C.
I had only briefly given the Cardas Hexlink a listen, as I bought them used quite a while ago. Initially
Initially I felt they were a bit rolled off and went with Synergistic for a while.
In the meantime I attained a new RME ADI 2 DAC. I had some time and decided to plug in the old Cardas.
I was amazed at how good they sounded. Much more "substance" or body to the music than the Synergistics, yet all the musical detail was there and the spaciousness and instrument separation seemed to simply allow the music to float in the sound stage.
Needless to say I was very impressed; thinking if this is what a 25 year old Cardas can sound like, the newer stuff must be Dynamite!
So, I ordered a pair of Cardas Golden Presence IC's. I liked them a lot. Very musical signature, similar to the Hexlink 5C's  (Apparently a Cardas house sound).
Well, after around 2 weeks of listening decided to listen to the Hexlinks again.
Once again I was taken aback by the spatial characteristic of those older cables. I have decided to continue with the Cardas Hexlink Golden 5C interconnects.
They are absolutely superb! And this is from a 25 year old interconnect.
Whodathunkit??? 
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