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Cable upgrades

Happy Holidays to all!

I’m reconfiguring my system and am interested in upgrading my interconnects and possibly my speaker cables, and I was wondering if you could make some recommendations.

I was running Audio Sensibility Impact SE XLR between my Benchmark DAC3 HGC (as a DAC/pre) and my Benchmark AHB2 power amp.  The amp is running bi-wired Kimber Cable 8TC (I think that’s the model #) to a pair of ATC SCM40 tower speakers.  In this setup the bass is tight and the mids are clean - overall I’m quite happy - but sometimes I feel, for my ears, I’d love a bit more openness / brightness in the higher end.

My questions are: would improved XLR interconnects help to open up the top end a bit, without being harsh, and perhaps increase the dimensionality of the soundstage?  Or would I be better off starting with upgrading the speaker cables?  I’ve been looking at the Cardas Parsec level of cable, and could perhaps stretch to the Clear line, pending your recommendations.

Also, one other question: pending the possible move to 2 AHB2s (in mono-block configuration), do both XLR interconnects have to be the same length?  If not, would it cause any timing issues between, say, a 2' XLR and a 6'?

I’d appreciate any guidance.  Many thanks in advance.

Best, JAMES

jimboman
jimboman OP
102 posts
 

@ghdprentice  That is excellent advice re process.  Thanks for that.

I'm trying to take a page out of your book now...after plunging down the XLR IC rabbit hole, I've decided to take a breath and live for awhile, with a couple of options I've amassed.

I've got the Neotech 3001 MkIs (all copper OCC) that I quite like.  So far, they have bested the Audio Sensibility Statement SE and their own Neotech 3001 MkIIIs (20% silver), in my system, for my ears/tastes.

And, I received my Cardas Golden Reference cables back from Bandon OR today.  They did an amazing job refurbishing them!  They put new Cardas wraps on the ends, and in so-doing, brought them into this decade, haha!  They are now certified, and come with paperwork, so if I decide they don't work in my system, I should have a much better time reselling them.

I'm going to live with them for a month, see how they settle in.  If the low bass/slam is still missing, I'll revert to the Neotech MkIs.  (I may also experiment with some AZ Matrix Reference IIs, if a pair comes up on the used market...'cuz I'm a glutton for punishment, it seems!)

Once I get through this phase, I've got next on my agenda -- an upgrade of my AQ Coffee USB cable, and some experimenting with upgraded PCs for the streamer and DAC, and possibly the AQ NRG-4 on the amp.

Thanks again for all the guidance.  I really appreciate the insight and perspective you and others have offered.

Best, JAMES.

jimboman OP
102 posts
 

Here's some pics of the rejuvenated Golden Reference XLRs.

Now let's see how they sound!

JAMES

audphile1's avatar
audphile1
5,363 posts
 

Awesome! Looks like they did a nice job and now you can evaluate them and if they don’t work out, you have a great set of cables certified by cardas that will be easy to sell. 
Just give the cables a few days to settle by running a signal thru them before you judge. 

jimboman OP
102 posts
 

@audphile1 Copy that!  Will give 'em lots of overnight burn-in, with a resting period during the day as well.

Best, JAMES.

audphile1's avatar
audphile1
5,363 posts
 

No rest needed just keep running signal thru them.

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