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

I have also bought a used pair of Wywire Diamond XLR to go with the other Wywire cables I have. They should arrive soon.

At this point am a bit spent out and need to sell some stuff before I can go buying any more!

The weird thing to me is that you’re finding an audio research piece to be bright. If anything the highs are somewhat muted and dark. Not a ton but more than I prefer. The caps they use are not my favorite.  
I had an ls28se. I went through everything while I had that pre. AQ thunderbird, Nordost Tyr 2, shunyata sigma x, Zenwave, some cardas, Clarus, audio art, fidelium and Furutech 

sigma x has a copper timbre but is smooth and somewhat rounded and for some reasons tonally displays itself more like silver. Wasn’t a fan it was too different. 
thunderbird was very good with very very minimal distortion and locked in imaging but it made everything sound hard

tyr2 I wasn’t impressed with was almost too normal with not enough detail. Really liked their pc in the dac a while back though

cardas is golden and fuzzy and and just too golden. However, there are some absolutely beautiful timbres  that make you wonder how some of these other super high end companies not getting this right like this. Ultimately fleshed out nature of its purity of copper just gets boring real fast as it’s a vivid coloration. 
 

Zenwave d4.2 actually reminds me of the audio research sound a lot.  solid state sound with tube like qualities. Organic, slightly bloomy and somewhat dark.   It’s imaging is very good but the soundscape it sits is panoramic    Detail is very good  he has an even higher end model that sounds similar but not as dark, added textures  I’ve used old cables that seemed like they had extra texture that is almost like they started to patina inside.   But this sounds good and not a negative

Clarus crimson. Strong organic, dark and bloomy, hefty copper timbres.  Detail is best I’ve heard for a copper cable.  But I would not add this to an already dark system. 
synergistic research wows you initially but it’s artificial and man does the silver come through in timbre hardcore

Furutech project v1   It’s not a cable   Cables are bad     Does need  a few hours of runtime before it starts its disappearing act

 

 

Also wireworld platinum eclipse 10

this ones weird. Definitely focused more on low bass than high bass. This is a capable cable close to the top like Zenwave and shunyata but different. I definitely preferred it more than the shunyata. It can be fast but then it has these weird soft slightly fuzzy attack and texture.   Detail was good but just slightly behind d4.2