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Cardas Clear Beyond Interconnects ?

Any impression, review,etc. on these new cables?

I own two Clear Beyond Power cords for the Luxman 509u integrated amp and Accuphase DP700 SACD player, Clear Reflection XLR interconnects and a double run of old (but still good) Golden Reference speaker cables biwiring my B&W 803D’s, plus an old Golden Reference Power feeding the Goldnote Dumbo AC (the power filter dedicated to the digital source), while the Purepower 3000 feeding all system receives the dedicated power line (10 meters -I write from Italy- of 3x12AWG for hospital grade UPSs cable terminated with Oyaide C279) from the electric panel.

I am planning to replace the Reflection XLR with the new Beyond, and the G.R. Power for the AC filter with a Clear Power.

More extended, neutral and dynamic but still musical interconnects, and less bright/forward power cable should re-create the same balance, but a step "beyond" ;) .

I read from the Cardas website the new Beyond should be a musical cable with increased "slam" on low frequencies, instead of the too resolving, light character of the old Clear, still the Rev.1, I never liked; maybe Beyond is a more extended Reflection than an improved Clear, who knows?!
biggy79
mikey8811
259 posts
 
I have done about 50 hours on the Clear Beyond now.

Overall, I find the highs still tipped up with some sibilance and hardness.

Hopefully, this goes away otherwise it may be too neutral for my liking.

I have not heard the Clear Reflection and am wondering if this is a trait too.
david_ten
5,480 posts
 
@mikey8811  I have the Clear Reflection XLR ICs between the DAC and Preamp and between the Preamp and Amplifier.

These have been in-system for close to a year and I HAVE NOT HAD any issues with them regarding those you list (specifically: highs tipped with sibilance and hardness).

Hope this helps.
biggy79 OP
64 posts
 
I never experienced hardness and sibilance with Clear Reflection, too.

Maybe it is a burn-on issue, however consider to change DAC if you know yours sounds etched: good cables can only highlight problems.

When my system had problems I had hard and fatiguing sound even with the warmer Golden Reference; the fact you use Golden Cross makes me think ...

Now that perfect electric current powers my gear and a reference SACD player like my Accu DP700 is the source, no sibilance passes through neutral and transparent integrated amplifier and speakers, even with more "revealing" cables; rather, Clear sounded in my system even softer in the highs than Golden Reference (but also lacked in musicality, "body" and entertainment) !
mikey8811
259 posts
 
@biggy79 I think you are right. My DAC has had a firmware upgrade which has enhanced midrange richness. This has counteracted the tipped up highs with the Clear Beyond I was hearing before. They are pretty good now.

@david_ten I am thinking of replacing the Golden Cross from DAC to preamp with a Clear Reflection.

Hopefully that gives me the same midrange and full bodied sound that the Golden Cross has but with more openness.

I think the Golden Cross is hard to beat in a solid state system, I preferred them to Golden Reference and they will remain one of my all time favourite interconnects.
david_ten
5,480 posts
 
@mikey8811 :

Saw your post on the Audience thread, so cycled back to this one.

For me, the Clear Reflections offered the right balance for my needs and system. There are surely more resolving ICs and surely warmer ICs...but for my system and needs, they strike the right balance. And they are 'relatively' well priced, especially compared to some of the other dealer based alternatives. I think Cardas' description and positioning of these cables is pretty spot on.

I don't know your system components, but I wouldn't be surprised if they achieve what you are looking for: great "mid-range with full bodied sound and with more openness" across frequencies. 

I'm looking forward to hearing your impressions once you have them in your system.
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