If a cable makes your system sound broken, that’s usually a pretty strong indicator of a fundamental mismatch rather than something burn-in alone will magically fix. Yes, cables can settle a bit over time, but they typically move from slightly off to more coherent….not from “this is unlistenable” to “wow, end game…LOL!
Given that you already know and like the Anzus X2 signature, your instinct to move up that line makes a lot of sense. In a system like yours, synergy matters far more than brand hierarchy and your ears are telling you pretty clearly what the system doesn’t like.