Cable question .... how good Cardas Golden Refe...


How good is Cardas Golden Reference in your opinion compared to say the Audience Au24. They are not cheap but the Golden Reference is much more pricy...........

Advise please

rapogee
rapogee
CGR is better for a less than perfect system. Errs on the yin side of the spectrum. If you want great transparency, consider the Pure Note Paragon which reveals all. Also AU24's are worth a listen.
I've compared the Golden Ref. to some of the high priced spread from PAD, Siltech, Nirvana, Synergistic Research. The Golden Ref. remains between the preamp and amp while a PAD Venustas goes on source to preamp. I would describe the GR as essentially neutral, but somewhat forgiving and musical, slightly light sounding. This is one good cable regardless of price, I would think it would work in a wide variety of systems.
Have not heard the AU24`s but have read good things about them however, I do use Cardas Golden Reference in my system. They are warm sounding with great mid`s, smooth highs, big soundstage, very musical. That being said the Golden Reference is also revealing....not really ``hi fi`` revealing but ``live music`` revealing. They may not be for your system depending on your equipment and or room. Try a pair if you can, also the Cardas Golden Cross is a excellent cable that is warm sounding and musical and works very well with most systems just remember if you try any Cardas cable be patient with them because they do not like to be moved and take a long time to break/burn in....once they do they are wonderful sounding.
happy listening
Cabling is most definitely system dependant.But some camps like the litz some like solid core. I had the GR and GC for a while in my system . Went to a full Audience AU24.
Then I tried some Z-squared on a whim cause the Auction price was ridiculously low.
Now I have Z-squared AU/AU ,IC's are xlr's,also power cords and a Z-cube conditioner.Really cheaply priced conditioner too.
However the speaker cable remains Audience AU24.
Nice combination. Gold Alloy in the start of the circuit and copper at the end.Don't know but it works for me.
Have used it with solid state and more recently changed to tubes.
I found that I didn't fancy the tonality of the GR it could be my taste or my ears. The GC was warm and very inviting, but ultimately looses its footing when the music gets complicated.
I have a liking for solid core wire I guess.
The multistranded or litz formation has big following but all have a similar sound to me.
That being said in my brothers system which is totally Golden Reference including power cords sounds pretty damm nice.So it is your pick.
Peter
Pretty much the same story here. Never tried AU24 but tried several before deciding on Cardas GRs. If you buy the used you save about 50%. My system is just about complete with the GRs and have never seena brand new pair. Look at usedcable.com, they get them pretty regular. That does raise the question though...what are they being traded in on?