To achieve what is being sought, this is what did the trick for me:
Speaker Cables- DH Labs Q10 (silver clad over copper);
IC- Kimber Silver Streak
Cable upgrades
Happy Holidays to all!
I’m reconfiguring my system and am interested in upgrading my interconnects and possibly my speaker cables, and I was wondering if you could make some recommendations.
I was running Audio Sensibility Impact SE XLR between my Benchmark DAC3 HGC (as a DAC/pre) and my Benchmark AHB2 power amp. The amp is running bi-wired Kimber Cable 8TC (I think that’s the model #) to a pair of ATC SCM40 tower speakers. In this setup the bass is tight and the mids are clean - overall I’m quite happy - but sometimes I feel, for my ears, I’d love a bit more openness / brightness in the higher end.
My questions are: would improved XLR interconnects help to open up the top end a bit, without being harsh, and perhaps increase the dimensionality of the soundstage? Or would I be better off starting with upgrading the speaker cables? I’ve been looking at the Cardas Parsec level of cable, and could perhaps stretch to the Clear line, pending your recommendations.
Also, one other question: pending the possible move to 2 AHB2s (in mono-block configuration), do both XLR interconnects have to be the same length? If not, would it cause any timing issues between, say, a 2' XLR and a 6'?
I’d appreciate any guidance. Many thanks in advance.
Best, JAMES
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@jimboman it was great to read they did reterminate yours for you while they were there being serviced and certified. I had a few pairs of the older Golden Cross ICs done the same way, with the new solderless method - with compression connectors. The result is not meant to be an overly-forward -or- ridiculously expansive type of sound and presentation. It’s just "there" in front of you, in a nice way. After the cables are left in place connected, undisturbed, It will be interesting to see what you think at the 30-day point. Best of Luck on the journey 👍 |
Thanks @decooney I’m not sure exactly what Cardas did, but they certainly went above and beyond the minimum. The cables definitely sound better than before their factory visit. I’m giving them overnight cycles, and they are connected and will stay in place, as you suggested, for 30 days before I make a decision. At this point, I would categorize their sound exactly as you did — not overly forward, just ‘there’. We’ll see how that evolves over time. Best, JAMES |
Well, this almost feels like it should be the start of a new thread, but -- just plugged the Cardas Beyond Power cable into my PS Audio Duet (which is feeding the Lumin U2 & Benchmark DAC3 HGC via stock PCs) -- and it feels like my system just took a massive leap forward! First blush is a cleaner, more detailed presentation, but not harsh or etched. Saxophones in the Coleman Hawkins encounters Ben Webster sound very smooth, and that sometimes screechy 'kazoo' quality is gone. I can hear the piano much more articulated. The soundstage is wider. The upright bass is not MIA, even with the Cardas Golden Reference XLRs, which up until now, felt a bit bass-shy. I have yet to listen to anything else, and this is totally 'first blush' perceptions -- but I'd say this upgrade is a game-changer. Feels like my components just took a leap upwards in quality. I was hoping for a 'wow' moment, and I think I've got one! The feeling of wanting to revisit all your library is very strong right now. The sound feels more confident, less strained, and that makes me feel more relaxed while I listen, and is deepening my enjoyment of the music. That is quite astonishing to me. And I was worried that I had jumped off the deep end in spending as much as I did on the Beyond Power cable. It's turning out to be one of the best upgrades I've made. Woooo Hooooo! JAMES. |
- 137 posts total