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AQ Water XLR or Yukon XLR - DAC to Preamp- sound comparisons

Hi all,

I have an opportunity to upgrade from my Yukon XLR that I just purchased to the AQ Water XLR interconnects that are connected to my Oppo 105D dac to my Marantz preamp. I find the Yukons are good but I think the Waters will provide that extra smoothness and detail in the bass, clarity and even more openess. The Yukons are a nice interconnect as well and I found at first there was a brightness and midrange harshness  that was not so pleasing to my ears and the bass was a bit more laid back but having them in my system for over a week they seem to be breaking in and the sound is not as harsh and it seems to have settled in and the sound is clear and refined. I also have an AQ Monsoon power cable hooked up to my preamp as well and perhaps that is helping as well with the presentation of the sound I am describing. I am using AQ Water XLRs from my preamp to power amp as well.

I want to know does anyone have any experience with either one of these interconnects hooked up from dac to preamp? What are your experiences in having either one of these cables hooked up from your dac to preamp? Has anyone tried the Yukons in their system and then went with the Waters or vice versa? Since my Marantz preamp is a warm sounding preamp would the Waters cause the sound to be overly warm cause I have them hooked up to my preamp and power amp and perhaps the Yukons provide that balance with the blend of highs and midrange forwardness to my Waters I have from my preamp to power amp? On a side note if it matters but I will be upgrading to the Blizzard power cable for my preamp very soon. 

I would like to keep this to Yukons and Waters as I have no intentions right now to move up the line for now or try other brands. Thanks in advance and appreciate your thoughts.

2007audioman
2007audioman
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
13,754 posts
 
@2007audioman  in the system w Water a change to Fire in a 5 meter cable is not small $ and since it is a system, i would choose to spend that $ elsewhere ( for example in Casa Pacifica changing the Delos to the next better Lyra ). Attack or if you prefer invest in improving the weak link…

Sounds like you have an excellent dealer. I think that relationship is important.

best to you

Jim


2007audioman OP
80 posts
 
jayctoy- thanks for sharing your experience with the AQ Water XLR speaker cable. I am looking even more forward to getting this cable real soon. :-)

tomic601- Good point in terms of your preference in spending the funds elsewhere and improving the weaker link. Yes I have been with my dealer for quite a few years now and bought lots of audio equipment from them. They have always treated me with excellent customer service and fair pricing as well. They keep their customers happy for sure. 

2007audioman
jayctoy's avatar
jayctoy
4,653 posts
 
2007audioman the Water is also effortless to listen, it bring musicality as well, with proper matching the bass gives you just the right body to the music.The slam of the water is fast maybe because the transient is excellent.
2007audioman OP
80 posts
 
Hi jayctoy. I still haven't received my XLR Waters as of yet and reading these types of posts is making me more excited to the day I can finally install them from my Oppo Dac to preamp. I am curious if you would ever move up at some point and try the Earth XLR's in your system? Have you thought about it or Water is enough for you?

2007audioman
2007audioman OP
80 posts
 
Well the wait is over and I finally received my AQ Waters 1.5m yesterday. I am not sure but I found that the dbs packs were installed in the male connector end and not the female end on the XLR cables. This is inconsistent with the three other AQ Waters I purchased from my dealer and not sure if this effects the cable in terms of sound. I have alerted my dealer and asked if he can accept a return and get a pair with the dbs packs installed at the female end. A lot of images on the internet show the dbs packs installed on the female end. 

Does anyone here have this configuration? If so, did you return them or leave it. Does it matter what end the dbs pack is installed? 

2007audioman
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