Audio envy - dang!

Since I had been so impressed with my AE power cord and speaker cables, I purchased XLR cables from AE about a month ago. Initially they did sound a bit too detailed, but things got better after about 30 hours or so. Unfortunately, I could hear a very prominent hiss coming from the speakers. I contacted @audioenvycables, and Captain agreed to send me another pair. I think the replacement has the updated tuning that captain mentioned in his post.

Anyways, while I was waiting for the replacement, I tried two other XLR cables in the meantime - Audioquest Mackenzie (which I have owned for 5 years) and Shunyata Research Black Mamba (borrowed from a friend). First off, the Mackenzie was simply not even close to the AE cables. The sound was dark, rolled off, and a bit boring. The Shunyata Research were quite good, but definitely not better than AE, at least in my system. Or perhaps my system is not ’high-end’ enough to do them justice.

It’s funny how sometimes we only learn to appreciate a component when it’s removed from the chain, not when it’s added, which was definitely the case with AE cables. I have now put about 50 hours on the replacement AE cables, and I can say without reservation that my system has never sounded better. I think their main strength is offering loads of detail and clarity but without the downsides -- i.e. brightness and fatigue, that often come with the territory.

I am currently using Audio Envy Interconnect and Speaker cables. My take is the cable is very good in clarity and resolution. It open up the top end and not being bright and fatiguing. The vocal to me is uncoloured and flat frequency response.

What I think can be improved is the mid bass and low end extension. But I can foresee that for big speakers, having AE may be able to reduce bass boom problem in untreated room. However for my YG carmel 2, the need of lower end extension is important.
And I just email captain about tuning the timber :)

@kimurastanley,

Have you tried AE’s Power Cords? I am in the process of upgrading to his latest Mega ‘3’ PC’s. After trying one of his ‘3’ in front of power distributor (Nordost QB8), there was a noticeable improvement in mid bass and low end extension. The ‘3’ PC uses twice the conductors (6) vs. last generation Mega 3. The second ‘3’ is being added to my Accuphase Integrated. I am quite ecstatic to hear how ‘3’ strikes a beautiful balance in upper, mid and lower frequencies and complementing rest of AE cables in my system.

@lalitk 

I haven't tried audio envy power cable.

I am using full nordost in my power part (odin 1 from wall to qbase 8, rest are valhalla 2 to my lumin x1, vac pre and accuphase A75). I am not sure if using audio envy power cable will improve the low end.

@kimurastanley,

Very nice system! I believe changing out Odin 1 to Odin 2 or Valhalla 2 should provide the missing bass in your system. I’ve heard both Odin / Valhalla Series 2 are vastly superior to Series 1. 
Are you using QKORE in your system?