2. cables
  3. 166356-149763

Initial disappointment with 1st set of “expensive’ IC’s...

I’ve been slow working my way to equipping my rig with all Cardas as I’ve been fan of their quality/sound signature an for a long time. I just received 2 sets of Clear Light IC’s which I’m using DAC to Pre and Pre to Amp. up until now all other Cardas cables that I have were obtained used and sounded great from day 1. The Clear Light however are brand new..when I sat down to give them a listen I was surprised not to hear any improvement...I was actually disappointed to hear what I can describe as a fatter bass and subdued upper end. My prior IC’s were Shirokazu Yazaki Belden 8402. I admittedly do not have golden ears but the difference was obvious. I’m interested to hear what other Cardas owners have to say about how their cables sounded when 1st installed. 
128x128jl1ny

Showing 4 responses by dill

dill
2,424 posts
 
" The difference between cables should be obvious the moment you swap one for another."

Not true, that is why A-B tests are flawed. Many times I have been listening to familiar music and heard sound clues I had never heard before, weeks or month later. That brush stroke, fingers rubbing on guitar strings, increased or diminished depth or width, background sounds created by the musician touching the instruments, decay, pitch, vocals becoming more clear or smeared, etc.

If one hears a difference in a A-B comparison in an instant, how can one know it is better or worse, long term?
dill
2,424 posts
 
" When we change something we are normally critically listening for the first time in a long time. To that end, we may pick up on things that are not right (and probably were not before either), or we notice things we did not notice before, even though they were clearly there before and they are unchanged. It's like Where's Waldo. Waldo does not suddenly appear. He was always there. You just were not looking for him."

- Is this artistic privilege or creative license? You seem to be speaking for the collective "we". I know I am not part of your way of thinking. Maybe speaking for yourself will serve you better and not present the air of arrogance.
dill
2,424 posts
 
"I am speaking for those in this place called reality."

So  dletch2, now you are in charge of reality?
dill
2,424 posts
 
" I’m surprised no one suggested placing the cables in the freezer for 72 hours.."

Because there is no reason to do that, however, if you are talking about cryogenics one needs to be at least  -150 degrees C.
More to discover