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Interconnect suggestions for Audio Research Ref 5SE?

Recently acquired an Audio Research Ref 5SE to replace my LS-16.

Had been totally pleased with the open organic sound of WyWire Diamond interconnects with the LS-16 but find the Diamonds to be rather bright with the Ref 5SE, emphasizing the mic and the very top of female vocals.

Have reached out to thecableco.com for a few samples from their library....Shunyata Alpha, Cardas Clear,...amongst others.  I also have a pair of Nordost Valhalla 1's coming from another vendor for consideration.

Really excited about the 'grunt' and more forward sound the Ref 5SE brings to the game as it helps with presentation on the Grand Funk, Allman Bros, John Mayall, etc. I listen to...along with the acoustic, jazz, and classical....that make up my primarily vinyl collection (Audio Research Ref Phono 3, VPI Classic 4, Proteus Transfiguration)

But, so far, am missing the open organic clarity I guess the LS-16 and Wywire brought to the table. 

The Cardas and Shunyata seem a little recessed, the Nordost Frey seemed a bit recessed and analytical. They all resolve the brightness but seem to be holding back everywhere else.

I've been going back and carefully leaving the various cables in place for at least a few days...

looking for suggestions... Kind regards, and thank you in advance!

fanotunes
salectric
783 posts
 

You need to leave Cardas Clear cables in place for a couple days to hear their full potential.  It’s not a matter of electrical break in; instead the upper tier Cardas cables have a number of hollow tubes inside and moving the cables causes a build up of static electrical charges.  The cables settle in after a few days.  This is all explained on the Cardas website.  

audphile1's avatar
audphile1
7,824 posts
 

I am not a fan of cardas sound. I have not heard Clear but auditioned Clear Reflection recently. They were warm, wooly and had a bit of harshness in rendering sibilance. Kind of warm and bright at the same time. It’s very system dependent so if they work for you, great. I don’t think they’re bad cables. Just not for me. 
 

I know people are recommending transparent. It’s tough to audition. Unless you buy brand new. 
 

The original Valhalla could be good. Although that iteration/generation of nordost cables suffered from brightness and thin sound. I compared original Tyr to Tyr 2 and there’s no competition. Tyr 2 is a much better cable. Worth trying the Valhalla though. 

decooney
2,564 posts
 

A lot of guess work going on here swapping different cables in/out every few days - and particularly an issue with any of the Cardas interconnects mentioned here. 

While TheCableCo offers a service to try many, I think it also adds more confusion if you don’t have the Cardas cables rested in place for several days - untouched. New cables are worse than used, and Clear, Clear Reflection, even Cygnus, open up and change more after they’ve sat in place and played for more than just a day or two. I've tested and compared this many times with identical pairs of new and used too, giving them at least 14 days and that's hard to do with short demo periods and too many cables getting rotated in/out back and forth. Oh well, best of luck. 

swede58's avatar
swede58
193 posts
 

Shunyata Alpha was a very matter of fact studio like quality - detailed but somewhat on a cooler side. 
 

I agree, very detailed but analytical and a bit lean sounding compared to my SR Accelerator.

lanx0003
1,926 posts
 

The Cardas Clear cable is smooth, but it compromises dynamics and low-end weight.

The DH Labs silver-coated copper cable is the opposite: it offers excellent dynamics and low-end performance, though some recordings may exhibit a slightly shimmery treble.

Recently, I experimented with the Veritas Magnus XLR cable, and the result combines the strengths of both Cardas and DH Labs.  Sibilance is well controlled.

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