I auditioned both Purist Audio Design Musaeus - Praesto Version, Kimber 8tc, and Synergistic Research SE Active Core (I used the silver module for most of my listening) from the cable company. I bought the PAD Musaeus - Praesto Version. In my system the DAP excelled over the others in instrumental timbres, imaging, and dynamics as a result of its black background. Here are my overall ratings for each cable:
Purist Audio Design Museaus - Praesto Version: VG to E
Strengths:
Very black background with pinpoint imaging
Outstanding Instrumental timbres
Good dynamics
Wide soundstage
Weaknesses:
Sound stage is a little flat. The sound stage deepened as the cables settled in but they still did not reach the 3 dimensional depth of the Synergistic Research SE Active Core.
Synergistic Research SE Active Core (I used the silver module for most of my listening): VG
Strengths:
Wide and very deep, three dimensional, sound stage
Excellent dynamics and instrument attack.
Well focused images but not as tightly focused as the Purist Audio Design Museaus Prasto
Weaknesses:
Timbre: There is a coloration that homogenizes the timbre of instruments (especially acoustic instruments). This homogeneity of timbre lessened as the cables stayed in my system but never completely went away.
Haze: there is a little haze between (or surrounding) images. Consequently, these cables did not produce the black background and pinpoint images of the Purist Audio Design Museaus Prasto.
Kimber 8tc: VG
Strengths:
Very large soundstage with good depth
Very transparent
High frequency response was outstanding - almost magical
Very good dynamics
Weaknesses:
Slight homogeneity of instrumental timbres.
The large sound stage was at the expense of imaging. These cables lacked the imaging of the Purist Audio Design Museaus Prasto
