What Are Your Favorite Interconnects and Why?

[Nightfall]

I thought this might be an extremely useful thread that we could keep going and thus provide continuing valuable information to everyone. Some of you have, or have had access to many more interconnects in varying price ranges than others amongst us.
Please list the name of the interconnect, the list (or preferably "street" price) and also the typical used price if applicable and why you rate it so highly (its characteristics included).
Better yet, if you can also include comments on other cables also tried, it would give a perspective to your ultimate choice.


JC

 

[Welly Wu]

I have very limited experience with interconnecting cables but here is my reply:

DiMarzio High Resolution IC (1m) $89 USD
DiMarzio M-PATH IC (1m) $150 USD
Cardas Neutral Reference (0.5m) $385 USD

I noticed that the DiMarzio HR IC was clean, clear, liquid, warm, and detailed. I used it with the NAD C 541i HDCD, HeadRoom Cosmic (Reference Module) / Cosmic Power Supply Upgrade, and Etymotic ER-4P/S & Grado RS-1.

I tried the DiMarzio M-PATH IC and noticed subtle improvements including greater clarity, focus, and speed along with slightly more open dynamics.

I now use the Cardas Neutral Reference IC. See my signature. It is by far the best damned IC I have ever used or tried thus far. It is very fast, very detailed, and very transparant with a touch of sweetness in the midrange. I now understand Mr. George Cardas' philosophy of sound. I love his very sage and wise philosophy. I am crazy about the Cardas house sound. Also, see Jude's review of the CNR. I might get the Cardas Golden Reference ICs for Christmas 2004 but much depends on my current job hunt.

 

[Nightfall]

Very good post, Welly,

Now lets hear some more. This benefits EVERYONE!


Quote:

Originally Posted by Welly Wu I have very limited experience with interconnecting cables but here is my reply: DiMarzio High Resolution IC (1m) $89 USD DiMarzio M-PATH IC (1m) $150 USD Cardas Neutral Reference (0.5m) $385 USD I noticed that the DiMarzio HR IC was clean, clear, liquid, warm, and detailed. I used it with the NAD C 541i HDCD, HeadRoom Cosmic (Reference Module) / Cosmic Power Supply Upgrade, and Etymotic ER-4P/S & Grado RS-1. I tried the DiMarzio M-PATH IC and noticed subtle improvements including greater clarity, focus, and speed along with slightly more open dynamics. I now use the Cardas Neutral Reference IC. See my signature. It is by far the best damned IC I have ever used or tried thus far. It is very fast, very detailed, and very transparant with a touch of sweetness in the midrange. I now understand Mr. George Cardas' philosophy of sound. I love his very sage and wise philosophy. I am crazy about the Cardas house sound. Also, see Jude's review of the CNR. I might get the Cardas Golden Reference ICs for Christmas 2004 but much depends on my current job hunt.

 

[cansman]

Rega Couple and Kimber KCAG

I'm currently using the Couple - it is extremely transparent in the mid range and gets the voicing and articulation right (I would say about as transparent as the KCAG in the mid range!). I have tried it against the DiMarzio cables. Whilst the DMs are good, but they have less dynamics as compared to the Couple. Also, they are less transparent. The frequency extremes of the Couple are good - not lumpy, but of course not as extended as the KCAGs.

Of course in my almost Rega system, I prefer the Couple than the KCAG!.

 

[stuartr]

Kimber Select 1010 (or 1030, but I don't own them). They are just more musical in my system than any other cable I have heard, including the cardas neutral reference. They are not harsh or bright in any way, but do not sacrifice detail or soundstage. If sound were not enough, they are beautifully made and tasteful.
Edit: I have a review comparing them to the CNR if anyone cares, but since then I have decided that I like the Kimbers better for my speakers as well as my headphones. They are just better in general to my ears.

 

[meat01]

another favorite interconnect thread

DIY or Radio Shack, because the build quality is better than the ones that come in the box and they don't cost a fortune.

 

[dudlew]

Well I have limited experience but in my system, I have tried some home made cables using IXOS speaker cable, the generic type, some Radio Shack Gold series, some Cable talk and some Van Den Hul D102 MKIII.

From all of these, I like the Van Den Hul the best. It does everything well.

After this is the Cable Talk, It emphasizes the extremes and sacrifices the midrange a bit but is generally good.

The home made is next, having all the detail and a good balance tonally but sounds restrained dynamically, as though it has taken a strangle hold on the music.

The generics are next with rough and ragged sound and harsh treble

The Gold series is last because of a mid bass bump that it provides in my system that gives the music a bloated sound and stifles some of the detail. Everythingelse is better than the generics but that one aspect is something I really dont like.

D

 

[tom hankins]

The best I've heard and now own, but won't get to use until my Balanced Singlepower gets here are the Kimber KS1130. After that, the one cable I have always come back to is the Kimber KCAG. I'm using the Bogdan Silver spirit reference in my system right now and its very nice also. Not quite as fast or extended as the KCAG but in my present system it really is enjoyable. When I can afford them I will be using the Kimber KS1030(single ended version of the KS1130) in this system.

 

[JB.]

The AR Pro II's are my IC of choice. In my limited experience, one would have to pay ten times as much to have even a 3% improvement in performance over these cables.
I do admit to being skeptical about the merits of high-end cables (I prefer to spend my limited funds on more critical areas of my system) but I have spent a great deal of time critically listening to the AR II's and have never been disappointed.
After all, for $9.99, how can you go wrong?

 

[markl]

Surprise surpise, it's Virtual Dynamics.

My sample size is limited to around a dozen or so $100 plus ICs, but I keep coming back to the VD cables. I've found the old Reference cables which can now be found at around $200 for a 1M pair (list price around $700 or so) to be the peak in the price/performnace for VD. All the VD cables have a similar house sound with incremental improvements in refinement and the degree of their effect as you climb up the line. I've tried virtually every VD power cable in the line, and again, IMO, the Reference is pinnacle of price/performance.

The sound can't be beat (based on what I've heard). Everything just sounds "right" in terms of tone/timbre. You get solid bass performance, great soundstaging in 3D, and a more "substantial" and "present" sensation without it being thin or tipped up, "etched" or harsh. These cable are the antithesis of "thin" in both sound and in actual physical existence. They are extremely thick and stiff which can make them a pain to install, especially if space is limited.

The more recent David ICs and power cords are probably roughly equivalent to old Reference cables.

 

[Calanctus]

Wireworld Gold Eclipse III+: has a slightly silvery sheen to it, but very clear and nice sounding.

VD Nite: I have not tested this one 'scientifically'

but it sure does sound great in my speaker setup! (VD Nite from source to pre).

 

[smokey]

Switched out a pair of balanced Cardas Neutral References between my Cary and my Weebl, for a pair of AudioQuest Skys. The Skys seemed to tighten up the bottom end and reduced some very low level noise I hadn't noticed was there before.

I also have and like Kimber 1030s, when I have an unbalanced source or amp in the rotation.

FWIW

 

[Stringreen]

Oh - that's easy. I have had many cables in my system - Cardas Golden Ref., Nordost, Purist Colossus, - nothing was as revealing, as neutral, or as musical in every way as my Ayre Signature Series Balanced. I understand they're made by Cardas, but they sound WAY different than any Cardas I have had. I have experienced Cardas as being warm, opaque, and textured. The Ayre cable is very open, clean, way extended, expensive, but damned worth it.

 

[JMedeiros]

Sound for dollar....My favorite ICs are the Outlaws and Signal Cables. They are low-cost and deliver sound I find as pleasing (to my ears) as any of the $500 plus cables I have had in my various systems.

John

 

[Mark of Cenla]

I like the AR's from Best Buy and Midwest Cable, which I learned about from this site. Peace.