Cable upgrades

Hi folks:

An update.  2+ weeks and 120+ hours of run-in on the Cardas Golden Ref XLRs.  They are sounding good!  Vocals are smooth, articulate.  Soundstage is wide but not thin.  Bass seems well-balanced, maybe not as beefy as some XLRs, but very pleasing and controlled.  Great dynamics/slam.  Highs are clean, clear, and not fatiguing.

However, the biggest improvement was the addition of a Cardas Beyond Clear PC, currently supplying the Lumin U2 and Benchmark DAC3 HGC, via the PS Audio Duet.

It was a game-changer.  Like a new system.  A true WOW factor improvement.  I was shocked.

I don't think I had an understanding of 'synergy' until I heard this change.  I still have to experiment further, swapping the Beyond with the AQ NRG-4 (which is powering the amplifier on a direct 20A line), but it's sounding so good I am reticent to upset the balance!

I still have to upgrade the stock PCs on the DAC and streamer, but I'm taking my time.  And I am curious about going back to the Neotech Mk IIIs and seeing how they perform now.  Originally, I felt the tonal balance was titled up, favouring the highs at the expense of the lows -- not all that different from what I felt about the Cardas GRs -- but now I wonder if that had more to do with the PC balance/synergy.

Anyway, I promised myself I'd give the GRs at least a month in the system, even though at this point I don't expect much to change.  I'll keep y'all posted on my further findings.

Best, JAMES.

Here is how a stock power cord compares with current delivery to a good aftermarket one: 

instantaneous current delivery

OP,

Thanks for your report on how it is going.

Yes, the change from good power cords can be huge and really counterintuitive. 

Hello all!

Well, after a handful of months, it feels like I've made huge progress in my system-refining journey.

The most recent upgrades are: the aforementioned Cardas Beyond Power cable, which I'm using on my AHB2 amplifier, now utilizing a Cardas 4181 duplex outlet, on the 10 AWG, isolated ground, dedicated 20A line.

I've added an Audioquest Tornado pc to the PS Audio Duet, which supplies power for the Lumin U2 streamer, the Benchmark DAC3 HGC -- and the newest component addition -- a Benchmark HPA4 preamp.  (I also demoed an ARC LS16, which I liked quite well.  It was a close battle, but I've decided to stick with the Benchmark.  It performs very well, and has advantages in connectivity and synergy with the rest of the Benchmark 'stack')

After extensive listening and running in, I've decided to keep my Cardas Golden Ref XLRs, running from the DAC to the HPA4.  And I've added a set of Neotech MKI XLRs from the HPA4 to the AHB2.  After testing many combinations, including the Neotech MKIIIs (which have 20% silver), I've found the Gold Ref/Neotech MKI combo to be the most musical, pleasing in my system.

The most recent tweak has been moving to an Audioquest Diamond USB cable (up the line from the AQ Coffee USB I've had for years).  The soundstage and detail with the Diamond seems much improved, with a greater sense of clarity.  I'm also about to receive a Wireworld Platinum Starlight 8 USB cable, which I'll compare to the AQ Diamond, before choosing one or the other.

As of this writing, the only remaining upgrade on my list is the stock PCs on the streamer, DAC & preamp.  I'm watching the used market, and hoping to keep the cable length down to 1M, to reduce cable clutter.  If anyone has recommendations for source PCs, I'd love to hear them.  I'm looking to spend max $1K USD for the three cords, ideally.

The system is sounding really great, and refined, to my ears.  I'm enjoying it very much.  And I'm very grateful for all the advice I've received in this thread, particularly regarding improving the power equation of the system.  It's made a huge impact...one that I would never have predicted.

It's hard to believe that I could be almost done building my system, at least, for now.  Lots of music to enjoy now, until the next bout of upgraditis!  :-)

Best, JAMES.

Thought I'd chime in here, James. First, although it is usually VERY important to reasonably match lengths of speaker cables, there is almost no legitimacy to matching lengths of well-designed interconnects...especially noise-limiting balanced ones. Think about it. Balanced ICs are used for micing at very long lengths...and rarely equal lengths, given asymmetric recording geometries.

So, if you're contemplating true solid Ag XLRs, for example (disclaimer: I am ArgentPur.audio), I would COMPLETELY countenance making an asymmetrical pair for you in order to save considerable expense. Indeed, I've used a balanced 3M+6M XLR pre-to-power duo for decades...NEVER needing to rebalance gain etc. But DO keep your speaker cables equal unless you have oversized cables linking to VERY high sensitivity and high impedance speakers that can mask the imbalance sonically. But this much harder to accomplish....