Slawny is correct about KSII vs. Sig (both Sig I & II, for that matter). Although KS II red jacket is superior to KS II Grey jacket (earlier iteration), it still loses out to Sig in upper mid/ upper treble/ upper bass resolution (natural resolution, not spotlighting). With that said, I still consider KSII red to be a great cable ( particularly at the going rate of $425-490/4ft pr used). Again, as Slawney states, in a very good, harmonically correct system the KS line is shown to be a little thick at frequency extremes (but less so as you move into the mids). BUT, harmonically correct systems that can increase resolution are very rare and take very good ears to construct, so KSII is a great place to start - just as Slawney did. Which brings me to this: you can only have a harmonically and spatially correct system with tubes.Its a fact and if you dont know it then, well, you dont know it and theres no use talking in circles about it, ie I can't describe the color purple to a blind man. What NBS does, and increasingly as you head up the Classic line, is increase resolution without decreasing harmonic complexity, voice musicality, and spatial envelopment & dimension. Once you achieve these traits in a system that amplifies "musicality", it becomes very difficult to also increase resolution without losing something precious. The NBS's let you do that - which is why the Japanese SE market went ga-ga over NBS and escalated the prices. As for Master series, its always been the poor sister between Sig & Pro lines. Master speaker cables are better than IC's, but I'd go Pro line. As for Cardas, it is a musical cable as far as it goes, but not in the same league as NBS. If you have SS gear and you need warmth, by all means go Cardas, you'll never notice the difference (or if you are at CES and need to tone down a room...), but to maintain that there is a comparison, even for diplomatic sake, reveals a problem further upstream in the system.
Cable observations ....Cardas NBS
In my earlier post Cardas vs NBS, I posted the following comment (see below) but wonder if the observation was consistent with those who had done similiar comparison.
Cardas Golden Reference sounds netural but not cold - in fact it is able to retain the warmth sound I have had experienced in the Golden Cross without the bloated bass! Mid-range has a nice body to the sound. The only thing about the GR is that it does not go as deep as the NBS.
NBS Signature III improves on the highs of the previous model ie Sig II and has plenty of bass definition. However, what I miss is the mid-range warmth which the GR has.
Anything further to add, anyone?
Cardas Golden Reference sounds netural but not cold - in fact it is able to retain the warmth sound I have had experienced in the Golden Cross without the bloated bass! Mid-range has a nice body to the sound. The only thing about the GR is that it does not go as deep as the NBS.
NBS Signature III improves on the highs of the previous model ie Sig II and has plenty of bass definition. However, what I miss is the mid-range warmth which the GR has.
Anything further to add, anyone?