I will try both , my system is still lil' bit raw ATM... Just need more time ...

https://www.hificollective.co.uk

I'm using silk tubing instead of cotton ... Small upgrade, but more air ....

Ghent has: cotton tube over the wire then layer of copper foil tape then very thin tin-plated shielding all of that covered with thin insulation and some shrink tubing ...

I think it bettered my favorite Audio Sensibility Signature Cryo DC cable . https://audiosensibility.com/blog/products-2/power-cables-2/#!/Signature-Silver-DC-Cable/p/102469015/category=2595837 I have it with my Master Clock ATM... It's very sensitive on LPS/DC/AC cables ...

Does the gold XLR cap "sound" different from the rhodium ? I have rhodium caps sitting somewhere , was wondering if there any difference b/c of plating ?

The tube pre in the new chassis gets really hot in the regen area (it's 90W) ... The R7 (60 W) is only warm .. not really hot "hot" ...

Go for the R7 / H7 . It sounds great with tubes and will better the X26 for sure ...

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256803196353311.html Looks like they are using all 4 with their RCA....

I don't think so... The OCK2 will beat it for sure.

You can always ask seller to lower the declared amount , so no duty at all :)

It depends ... Have you tried other silver cables ? Would you prefer Ag over Cu any day ? I would ... The Xangsane would be almost impossible to beat price-wise it's the best deal out there IMHO... $400 / You can try to snatch the Dragon XLR 1 meter maybe ... Also very nice cable indeed ...

I bought a pair back in the day . I don't have it any more , but I think it was the 9003 wire and it bettered my 12 core Odin 2 ...

Odin2 = Odin gold , but not always . Xangsane pure silver is the best . Furutech clones are not worth it. The best XLR clone on Aliexpress would cost you around 1,000 USD, but the best price-wise pair would be 12 core Odin2 or the Xangsane silver ( $80-$200)

For Odin2 cables (XLR, RCA, USB) Try to locate a 12 core version ... For the power, they have cheap (Below $100) and expensive (Around $200) Version ... Look into purchases and reviews to select your store...

Should be good for any digital , also pretty good on a DAC ... https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256802708005082.html or DIY https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256804678506708.html

They are very close , but the originals are not very good ... Way overpriced .

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805662346680.html The solid silver 8K HDMI version should better the Firebird with only 10% silver...

I've seen a few Firebird cables back in the day and they were below the AQ Dragon clones ... Go for the Dragon, IMHO ...

IMHO, go for the HE / MK2 or MK3...

AQ HDMI cables are not so good (unless it's Firebird or Dragon) and the recommended above I2s Tubulus is on par with the top AQ Dragon... IMHO, With that 5 K streamer you need to try the best i2s cable available (The Tubulus) to remove the bottleneck / unleash the streamer SQ ...

https://audiosensibility.com/blog/products-2/power-cables-2/#!/Signature-Silver-DC-Cable/p/102469015/category=2595837 One of the best I've tried ... Or Just DIY with this wire...

If you like Silver, I would say: The Concentus (The best I2S / Bettered the Original AQ Firebird HDMI) or that cheap Solid silver Av Play ... Less expensive AQ cables not worth it IMHO.

If I2S / good cable used the difference is not going to be small ...

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256801840926381.html could be purchased cheaper ...