Need recommendation for hi-rez xlr plugs for re-termination project
I recently bought a pair of balanced interconnects, here, and am mostly quite pleased with the sound but the seller was mistaken about their length, and I have 3M instead of 2M and that too would have been longer than needed. I've contacted the builder of these fine cables and he's willing to re-terminate them.
Sonically, these cables have the blackest background I've ever heard and lots of wonderful detail. They are well-controlled with an excellent bottom end and the images are dense and corporeal. BUT, I find the top end a bit less extended and open than I'm used to. The xlr plugs are gold plated and I'm not fond of gold in my system for the most part. So, I'm looking for recommendations for very detailed and precise xlr's but want to avoid brightness.
I have a pair of male Xhadows from another project and could pick up the matching females for about $150. The re-term is already going to be pricey as the cables are fairly complex so price is an issue. I was going to repurpose the Furutech FP 601/602 rhodiums I have on another pair of cables but the builder glues them so can't do that. I rather like the rhodium plugs I've used, mostly on power cords, so am interested in that option as well. I have noticed that rhodium over silver sounds quite a bit better (to my ears) than rhodium over copper. The Cardas CG xlr's are rhodium over silver but I can't find any reviews of these plugs and seems they never get a mention. Also, looking at AECO plugs. Partsconnextion (Canada) said they are quite good but really didn't address my question about comparing them to other hi end xlr's so hard to know about these. They are, however, quite affordable. The quad costing less than the 2 female Xhadows, if I were to go that way. Anyway, opinions regarding the Xhadows vs the AECOs vs Furutechs vs Neotechs vs Oyaide xlr would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
mbolek: Glad to see someone has first-hand experience with the silver AECO xlr plugs. What are your general impressions, and do you have any other known xlr plugs to compare them to? Any shortcomings? Their price makes them attractive option if they're competitive with the likes of the xhadows or furutechs I have now. Thanks
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@lcherepkai I like the AECOs. They are my reference to date. Seems like the lowest mass connector that I have come across. Built many XLRs using Xhadow, Viborg, Furutech knock offs from eBay, Neutrik. Always searching for the right combo of conductors/connectors....I wish KLE made an XLR. |
mbolek & nationalbar : Either of you try the AECO rhodium xlrs? I do prefer good rhodium plugs to silver ones, at least on power cords. My experience with up-market xlr plugs is limited. I do have the Acoustic Revives rhodiums on a pair of intercoonects that I could retire for this re-termination. Wish the upper end plugs weren't so expensive. Thanks
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@mbolek Please don't take this as a challenge, it is merely a description of a perception of a Cable I use and a Comparative evaluation to a identical Cable. On a D.U.C.C Wire Cable I own. I have a 0.7 mtr Length with Aeco 4045 (Terrilium Copper) RCA's and a 1.2mtr length using Aeco 4055 (Silver). Connectors. I had loaned the Cables to be used on another system on the day there was a HiFi Group Meeting and Demo's of equipment was part of the activities. There was also the side event, where different Cables were to be hooked up to see where there was a difference to be detected. During this meeting the D.U.C.C Silver RCA Cable was used and my thoughts wer that it was it was showing a tendency to restrict a Vocal and present with a perception there was a Nasal Sound with the Vocal. The Same Cable in a shorter length with a Copper RCA was not creating this impression, the Richness the Cable can be perceived for producing was quite evident. I have used these cables in my own system and have not detected these differences, but have not got the system working during the time this new assessment has been in place. Recently in the same system, I took the 1.2mtr length to be used at a Group Demo' of a SS Power Amp', my perception was that there was a similar loss of Richness, and the Cable was enabling the SS Amp to have a harder edge. It is this experience of a Pure Silver Connector that has been instrumental in affirming I will be using a OCC Pin on my XLR Cables, 'when produced'. I am aware of Atlas and Furutech offering this as the Pin Material. I am hoping a PC Triple C Coil Cart' and RCA/XLR Connector is to come to the Market. These connectors will certainly be a exchange item if they materialise. In the meantime I did make a Female connector using a Tightly Coiled PC triple C Wire, wrapped around a small sized Allen Key. It connected with a tight hold onto a OCC Lead Out Pin on a Cart'. I have not used it, as I am yet to have wand wire produced from PC Triple C. |
