Huge difference in my recent experience, Kadlec. This week I placed Audioquest Diamond between my DAC and pre-amp. This difference was *significant* and immediate. Much more detail, more open and a deeper soundstage. On the downside, it is thinner and/or truncated bass *on some recordings*. My guess is that what I'm hearing is more of what's really there. (Bear in mind that my esl's are not known for playing down low and are quite transparent.)
The difference is somewhat "quantifiable" to me due to the preferred adjustments on my amp. Prior to adding the Diamonds, I would listen in two-thirds pentode/one-third triode to get the best detail from my system. Now I'm getting more detail from two-thirds triode/one-third pentode than I did with the previously mentioned settings -- and a smoothness and lack of grain that I didn't have before. No loss in dynamics. And this is with silver IC between the DAC and pre only, the rest is copper AQ. Can't say whether this is true of all silver IC's to the same extent, I'm sure design has a great effect irrespective of materials.
Now, that said, I'm not sure whether I would like this cable *in my system* for the long haul if I were not adding a pair of very substantial subwoofers. While less accurate, and less detailed, I think the copper AQ cables are better to my speakers sans subs. Errors of omission aren't such a bad thing sometimes. Maybe the silver cable will "break in", as I said it's only been a couple of days. I think it should be swell once I add the subs.
By the way, has anyone tried the DH Labs Q10 speaker cable? I'm looking for a low imedance/low inductance cables for my esl's. This is silver coated copper. Does this stiff get bright? Any experiences or informed opinions?
The difference is somewhat "quantifiable" to me due to the preferred adjustments on my amp. Prior to adding the Diamonds, I would listen in two-thirds pentode/one-third triode to get the best detail from my system. Now I'm getting more detail from two-thirds triode/one-third pentode than I did with the previously mentioned settings -- and a smoothness and lack of grain that I didn't have before. No loss in dynamics. And this is with silver IC between the DAC and pre only, the rest is copper AQ. Can't say whether this is true of all silver IC's to the same extent, I'm sure design has a great effect irrespective of materials.
Now, that said, I'm not sure whether I would like this cable *in my system* for the long haul if I were not adding a pair of very substantial subwoofers. While less accurate, and less detailed, I think the copper AQ cables are better to my speakers sans subs. Errors of omission aren't such a bad thing sometimes. Maybe the silver cable will "break in", as I said it's only been a couple of days. I think it should be swell once I add the subs.
By the way, has anyone tried the DH Labs Q10 speaker cable? I'm looking for a low imedance/low inductance cables for my esl's. This is silver coated copper. Does this stiff get bright? Any experiences or informed opinions?