Pr: Thanks for the quick and thorough response.
As to the "automated default" of the TG processor, i agree that it can be a hassle. Then again, what other devices that try to be "convenient", "high tech" and offer a lot of "features" AREN'T getting harder to use ? Hell, i've got so many "user friendly features" on my cell phone that i don't even know how to access 90% of them !!!
As to your selection of cables, i don't know if that was a good choice for the Sunfire. Sunfire's thoughts are that most recordings are quite hot and forward sounding so they took this into account when trying to design and deliver a "musical" sounding product. As such, Sunfire and most of their knowledgable dealers will readily admit that their products are voiced slightly "soft & mellow". Going with cables ( Cardas ) that are known to typically introduce similar sonic traits into the system may have been "too much of a good thing". Contrary to popular belief, balanced cables still impart their sonic qualities to the signal just as much as single ended cables do. The real advantages to going to a well thought out balanced design are that you have twice the voltage swing, a reduced noise floor and less susceptability to outside influences ( RFI & EMI ).
This is NOT to say that the Anthem is not a better sounding unit, only that it is possible that someone using different components and cabling might have come away with a different preference. While i do have a Sunfire TG II, i'm not about to think that it is the best available. A local dealer that i'm friends with had compared the original TG to the original Anthem and he highly preferred the sonics of the Anthem. Since he carried both brands, he had no reason to BS me with a tainted opinion. Having said that, there's no reason to doubt that the latest Anthem could be a superior product to the latest TG, given that both companies have progressed with ideas and circuit design at the same rate.
Besides all of that, there is one MAJOR reason why i asked about xlr vs rca. That is, it is quite possible that the pin-out on the Sunfire did not match the Aragon whereas the Anthem did. There are two different XLR configurations being used in high end audio even though it is pretty much a fixed arrangement in pro audio. Sunfire happens to be one of the companies that is NOT using the European based / pro audio XLR wiring configuration. Instead, they are using what is now being termed the "American high end" XLR configuration. As such, one needs to pay attention to compatability between various balanced products before hooking them up. While the plugs will always fit from unit to unit, that does not mean that they are wired the same internally. Having said that, all one has to do is to reconfigure the wiring at ONE end of the XLR if the components aren't wired the same. This effectively changes and converts the connections to the proper and matching polarities so that both units are operating in sync with each other. If one does not do so but tries to connect two balanced components together that are not wired identically, damage or poorer performance could be the result. The severity of the problem would obviously vary with the components being used and their individual designs.
So that others know, Sunfire provides the pin-out of how their XLR's are wired in the manuals of their units. It may also be on their website, i don't know. Obviously, running Sunfire pre / pro to a Sunfire amp will not produce problems, but mixing and matching various makes / models / brands may be another story. This is also true of other brands, so don't think that Sunfire is out in left field by themselves on this one.
As such, this is something to think about when looking at or auditioning components. Then again, many dealers may not be aware of this themselves. As such, they could be demo'ing mixed gear in less than optimum configurations and / or based their opinions of gear that they've already auditioned on those less than ideal installations. As a consumer, you really DO have to pay attention to what you are buying and how to obtain optimum performance from it.
Having said all of that, i'd be curious to see whether all three components were wired the same ??? Sean
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