New Cardas interconnect.

[GWN]

I'm currently listening to a new Cardas interconnect called the Musician's Reference. It is intended to fit between the Neutral and Golden Reference price wise. Not much info on it. Not shown on the Cardas site. The distributor just said it was a prototype and he wanted an evaluation. Anybody else in the business that has run across this new interconnect?

 

[lextek]

So how does it sound?

 

[GWN]

First impressions are good. Its currently between my Arcam CD23 and my YBA Passion integrated. It certainly has the Cardas house sound but is not as warm as the Golden reference. Nice timbre. I've been listening to it while setting up a turntable for a client. I'll post more impressions when I get a chance to try it out between different components and a few different systems and do more serious listening.

 

[lextek]

TY

 

[Welly Wu]

Would you please fill us in on the details as to how you acquired the Cardas Musician's Reference interconnect?

 

[GWN]

I have not acquired this cable. It is on loan from the Cardas distributor to a dealer who wanted me to evaluate it.

 

[mjg]

GWN,

must be an honor to get to try out prototype cardas IC's.


I have a feeling this could be a giant killer, if the price is right. Cardas Golden reference are my favorite ic's, if this even approaches them, what a value it should be : ]

 

[GWN]

Well, don't get too exited. The dealer had little info on them, they aren't on his latest price list which was just released. It may be an early prototype floating around to get dealer feedback. But then again, I was listening to Cardas SE9 speaker cable well before it was advertised on their site.

May be a deal similar to the Grado PS1. Cardas makes special order custom cables available only to recording studio or other professionals. In appearance it looks like a Golden Reference but slightly thinner and with Gold plated connectors instead of Rhodium.

Yeah, I'm lucky. Because of the consulting work I do for two local Hi-fi dealers I get the opportunity to evaluate quite a bit of equipment, most of which I can't afford. I've listened to pretty well everything they have in their store in my home (except for their largest speakers). Plus I do all of their turntable assembly and set-ups which allows me to hear so pretty nice turntables and cartridges.

Plus I'm friends with a couple of fellows who write reviews professionally, so I get the chance to go and listen to whatever they are reviewing at the time. They are also often asked to review prototypes and make recommendations before a product is released. Its quite interesting to see the evolution of a product before it is finally released.