maybe you need a bit of time. using radio shack adapters, original breakout cable, and audioquest diamondbacks, it sounded like cotton. switching to starquad 1/4 to rca helped clean things up, but it still sounded a bit too slow/warm/goopy. the fid-audio breakout terminating in RCA is like - hmm, how to put it - it's like they aren't there. totally out of the way and transparent. i don't think of ICs at all anymore, it's like my brain knows that this is one part of my rig that i don't have to fuss with anymore. that's a serious relief, considering the ton of ICs out there. Plus, my breakout had a mini analog input as well, so i can crunch some guitar work or hook up my vinyl!