AudioQuest Pegasus vs Thunderbird Interconnects

With audioquest cables I’ve heard, the sound is slightly warmer and a bit more dense. In theory, rather than in practice, a cable shouldn’t make a difference. Some argue this difference with AQ cables is due to picking up noise/acting like an antenna. And it’s true that most kinds of distortions can create warm over/undertones in a music playback system.

But cables do make a difference. Go for silver-plated copper, or silver interconnects if you wish to place the least strain between the amplifier the the load (speakers) This is due to the higher conductivity and lower resistance of silver/plated cables.

Some say silver or silver-plated cables are harsh or dry sounding, but instead they are are acting as more of a "direct connection" vs cables with lower conductivity, such as regular copper. PCOCC copper is a nice alternative to silver/silver-plated cables.

@jeffreyw were you able to upgrade to the Thunderbird?

im also considering the Thunderbird RCA. 

@arafiq 

I ended up purchasing the TBirds XLR. I would consider them neutral with a similar sound characteristic of the Audience Front Rows. I wish I had auditioned the Cardas Clear Beyond also, but didn't have the chance. 

Thanks, I compared the Thunderbird  XLR and RCA in my system. Both are fantastic. I honestly couldn’t tell them apart so decided to go with RCA to save some $$$. 

For what it is worth, I recently upgraded to Pegasus XLR from Earth.  Sweeter highs, clear and natural mid range vocals, fuller bass.

I just replaced my Audioquest Earth, 1.5 meter, XLR, interconnects, with a 1 meter, XLR, pair of Pegasus, and I'm here to tell you, the improvement that I heard with the Pegasus over the Earth was a revelation in my system.  The Pegasus will make you question whether you ever would need to spend more or replace them with something else.  I know I'm not for the foreseeable future.  The Pegasus are big-time cables and are also end-game interconnect cable for me.  

@bwguy +1

@kennymacc +1

I did same- replaced Earth with Pegasus both between DAC and pre-amp and pre-amp to amp. (See my profile for description of my system.) Relative to Earth, sound with Pegasus was saturated- akin to production of deep, vivid color by wetting a dry cloth or stone. I also perceived an improvement in timing and imaging- in a particular a deeper soundstage. Yes, sweeter highs, clear and natural vocals, and fuller and more articulate bass. End result- emotion conveyed with ease- more joy.

Interestingly, in my system, I preferred Pegasus to Thunderbird between DAC and pre-amp. I felt that with Thunderbird that the background was blacker, that bass was stronger, and that instruments' timbre may have been more accurate. But less fun. Less sweet. Rhythm less engaging. Wider but shallower sound stage.

With Pegasus between DAC and pre-amp, I even preferred Earth over Thunderbird between pre-amp and amp. Although, again, sound with Thunderbird had blacker background and stronger bass, system was less fun than with Earth. The qualities that the Pegasus brings to the table were diminished.

Only downside of Pegasus is that cable is so thick that it is difficult to handle. Thunderbird solves this by possessing three separate strands. However, once you have Pegasus in place that issue is of no consequence.

Note that testing of Pegasus vs. Earth in my system produced same result as comparing the same at my dealer. See link to report of test below.

https://forum.audiogon.com/posts/2632909

@bossound  

Initially, my plan was to bring in both a pair of Audioquest Pegasus and Fire interconnects for auditioning and comparison.  Whichever sounded best would remain.  First up, was the Pegasus XLR interconnects.  As the Pegasus began to burn-in more and more, they began to open up more and more.  And after some further burn-in time, the Pegasus locked-in and began to synergize with my system so beautifully, I knew they weren't going anywhere.  Happy listening.

See also post on Pegasus below by @tomic601 that is consistent with above.

https://forum.audiogon.com/posts/2630730

Never tried the AQ Pegasus, however, there is a reason that the Thunderbirds are twice as much as the Pegasus.

Currently, I own the AQ Thunderbirds. They took quite a while to fully burn in, but today, I am really amazed at how well the soundstage is lit. At times when there is a solo guitar or a sax etc. it seems like it jumps out at you. Very impressive.

Check out my review.

Audiogon Discussion Forum

ozzy

@ozzy The AQ Pegasus XLR are truly wonderful sounding interconnects in my system that I could very happily live with for the duration. But, just the same, I’ve just ordered a pair of AQ Thunderbird XLR, which should be, I hope, my end-game interconnects. It was your comment that inspired me pull the trigger on the AQ Thunderbird interconnects. Thank you. Happy listening

kennymacc,

Sounds like AQ owes me a commission... Did you buy it new? If so, except a long burn in, at least 200 hours.

ozzy

@Ozzy  Yes, LOL!!!  AQ needs to send you a little something.  Also, I did buy the Thunderbird XLR ICs new and I expect for there to be a lengthy burn in.  You know what they say about system matching.  I must say, the Pegasus sounds so excellent, and synergizes so well,  and sounds so right in my system, they will be very difficult to give up.  We'll see.  Happy listening.      

"AQ owes me a commission... Did you buy it new? If so, except a long burn in, at least 200 hours."

at least 200 hrs? Can't they burn their cables in before they sell? Guess it's a bad idea for some obvious reason.

I looked it up and found out these cables are priced 2 - 5k/pair... wondering how much these guys earn (IF they're real end users not influencers).

classicrockfan,

You just joined AG in January and all your posts seem to be negative. Is that why you joined?

What type of equipment are you using that does not improve with better cabling?

ozzy

Just a curiosity question regarding manufacturer cable burn in I never thought about before.

Easy to understand why the time and effort of burning in individual cables already built is unpractical from a physical and cost standpoint.

But I imagine cable is manufactured/purchased on large spools.  Can the entire spool of cable be burned in wholesale while still on the spool prior to being cut for individual use?

jetter,

I would guess that if the wire was taken off a spool, then yes, the entire spool could be processed (burned in).

Some of the more exotic designs (like AQ) that would be unpractical. I believe that having music playing through the cables to be the best way to condition them. I say this because I did own a AudioDharma cable cooker which was good, but it still required actually music time to finish the process.

At least in my humble opinion.

ozzy

hi ozzy,

Thanks for your response.  It's live and learn.  I did not realize that separate time with a music signal was required to finish the burn in process after being on the cable cooker.

By the way, my original thought was for the cable end to be attached to the cable cooker while all the wire was still on the spool.  Basically cook the whole spool in at once.

George

classicrockfan,

You just joined AG in January and all your posts seem to be negative. Is that why you joined?

What type of equipment are you using that does not improve with better cabling?

ozzy

Amir’s paratrooper. 

a pure class A amplifier(s) that is capable of doubling the output power as the load impedance gets halved and a pure linear preamp that has a constant gain through its operating range and has two sets of balanced outputs. If you have that knowledge and skills you can build (or re-build) your own dream amplifier(s) and preamp. buy two identical old Krell or Levinson power amps and get their circuit diagrams somewhere. then you'll be  relying on computer modeling to re-design the amp to produce the correct values that you want. Of course you must use the finest components available to achieve this goal such as ultra precision resistors and capacitors from Japan. For the preamp you can this volume potentiometer from a company in Korea I know it's outrageously expensive but such an engineering marvel, a perfect linearity Vo=aVi+0, a is the gain factor constant and 0 is zero. A $1000 power cable with a magic lamp attached or a $1000 volume potentiometer with its data sheet.

classicrockfan,

I really don't believe you. Sorry.

ozzy

So the data sheet doesn't exist?

So, your equipment does not exist?

ozzy

Has anybody compared them to Fire? The newer PSS cables Firebird/Dragon are now very expensive. In the past the jump from PSC to PSS was big with PSS providing a lot more detail. 

re; Pegasus ; I have a set of Fire in SE which are similar to the Niagara XLR i used to evaluate Pagasus and 3 above in the AQ line. Detail and resolution Niagara has a slight qualitative edge. Yes the new top silver AQ are better…at significant cost. Just weigh out where you might make bigger improvement for $.

@classicrockfan Your skills need work. See DBS patent issued jointly to Bill Low of Audioquest and Richard Vandersteen of Vandersteen.  Let us know when you achieve anything similar.

ozzy

"So, your equipment does not exist?"

Does it matter to anyone? Nobody cares whether it's real or imaginary. I built my amp/preamp just for myself not for sale.

But the presence of the data sheet of that snake oil lamp DBS matters to your buyers who paid thousands of dollars. They should be able to understand what the device really is and how it performs in the system.

tomic601

I don't know these two snake oil experts. You should know 'patentability is all about 'uniqueness' (that is, not infringing other inventions), nothing to do with its academic authenticity, its performance/effectiveness in the overall system. I suggest they submit the device to the IEEE and/or AES for their professional review. It will be the biggest joke of the century. No? Someday when I get extremely bored I'll look it up to read the abstract and claims made I bet not any better than your website which is full of novel scientific wonders. Who knows... the scientists and engineered on the board may find it a genuinely 'magical' device that makes the world a better place to live as you have claimed.