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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?
flameoforest

Showing 2 responses by slawney

slawney
242 posts
 
The primary reason that I use the NBS Signature II IC is for the midrange resolution. The King Serpent II could not separate instruments in the 200Hz-500Hz region as well as the Signature II. This is strange since the construction of the two cables seems similar with the Signature II measuring only .5 cm more in circumference. (HAS ANYONE OUT THERE DISSECTED THESE TWO CABLES TO DETERMINE HOW THEY ARE CONSTRUCTED DIFFERENTLY?) As far as warmth, I think the NBS Signature II has more than sufficient warmth, but then again I cannot really tell since I use tube amps. I have not done any comparison testing between NBS and Cardas, but I have done testing between NBS and Coincident, Ortofon, and AudioTruth. The NBS was overall superior than all of them, and also more expensive. My impression is that the Signature II is the lowest TRUE HIGH END cable in the NBS series and has the best price/performance ratio of the NBS cables (if that is a valid criteria in this price range). Some people I know prefer the Signature II to the Master II in their system; but this really depends on the system.
slawney
242 posts
 
Asa, you have my deep respect. That has to be one of the best posts about NBS cables that I have ever seen on audiogon. You go much further than I did, and are much more precise. A few questions: What Hovland phono cable do you use? Did you hear the NBS phono cable ("for vinyl lovers")? Have you any suggestions about the NBS digital cables? (I used a Pro II AES/EBU between transport and DAC for months without noticeable difference from a Mine Serpent II AES/EBU until one day the Pro II seemed clearly superior. After months of service, the Pro II digital cable all of a sudden seemed to have completed a path into the inner confines of my digital components finding the best, most direct route for their connection: greatly expanded dynamics, much improved immediacy and better low-level information retrieval was the result. But it took months of use. I believe Albert Potter has described a similar effect with regard to his Purist Dominus.) Last two questions for asa: what PuristAudio cable did you listen to? What do you think of the Monitor series?
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