Help with XLR ICs.


Ok gang. So here’s my situation. I’m looking to upgrade my XLR ICs. I’ve been using Straightwire Crescendo XLR ICs for many years now. I originally bought them for my first system I put together about 10 years ago. Since then I have totally upgraded my whole system including PCs which are 4 Audioquest Dragons (2) HC and (2) source. I really did want to go with Audioquest Dragons for my XLR ICs. But the prices for them brand new is to high for me. 2 m xlr are 18k and 1 m are 12k. I was looking for used for a few months now but never ever seen any that were ever for sale used. I also am using Straightwire Crescendo speaker cables which are quad wired. That’s 2 pairs for ea speaker going into ea mono amp. So u can imagine what the AQ Dragon quad wired speaker cables would cost.100k ++ That being said I will be keeping for now my Straightwire Crescendo speaker cables. So back to my original question post. What high end XLR ics would be a lot better than my Straightwire Crescendo XLRs. Budget is about 4k a pair. And will need 2 pairs. 2 m and 1 m. . I really did like the Straightwire Crescendos ICs and speaker cables for their powerful bass as they are also known for. So that being said I would like high end ICs that are known also for extremely good bass. My system consists of ARC Ref 750s mono blocks. ARC Ref 6Se pre. ARC ref 9 CDP. And a McIntosh MQ 112 EQ.  

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I have an ARC REF 6, and I use Shunyata Anaconda XLR's, which can be had used at very reasonable prices.  In fact, I have a Shunyata loom because I think that their cables sounded so good in my system.  I have them between my MSB DAC and the ARC REF 6 and to the Pass Labs 250.8.  Surprisingly, when I replaced the ARC stock power cable with a Shunyata Alpha v2, the improvement was clearly audible -- enough to make me very happy with the purchase!.

I didn't read the whole thread, but I'll be putting my AQ Thunderbird 0.75M XLRs up for sale in a few weeks. Watch for those, strong bass, excellent sound, same family, just didn't work out in my system.

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Iconoclast UPOCC Gen 2. They are the high end division of Belden .They will send you the cables to try . If you do not like them they will pay for return shipping also. You have zero dollars out of your pocket to try. Fantastic cable and company to work with