Cardas Clear Beyond Interconnects ?

I also use Cardas Clear Beyond XLR between my Aqua Formula xHD DAC and my Vitus SIA-025 Mk2 integrated amp and Clear Beyond SC to my Thiel CS 3.7s speakers.

I've demoed several top notch cables in my system and in the end Clear Beyond were the ones that worked best for my system.

@jgladden36 have you tried the scenario of using Clear Reflection ICs for both of you your sources (DAC and Phono) upstream, and then a Clear Rev1 -or- Clear Beyond IC downstream between your Holo Serene preamp to your AHB2 amplifier?

I’m doing something similar putting the more transparent cables further down in the chain. I’ve tried this with my Cardas, Analysis Plus, and Apature cables. Works wells too if there is a way to test and try it.  

 

 

biggy79

An update on your system?   Happy Listening!

Anyone else enjoying Ayre and Cardas Clear/Beyond combination?
AYRE does voice their gear with Cardas internal cabling(wire).

Happy Listening!

Garebear787:
I saw your posts from back in 2017 on the Cardas Beyond Clear cables. Do you still have them in your system? If so how have they evolved once fully broken in?

My God Stringreen ….give it a break. I think you actually troll for any Cardas post just to interject the same statement each and every time. You had noted in many posts in which you just bash Cardas that you haven't even listened to their newer Clear Line of cables. I do not like Ayre components, well made and with a strong following but I have always felt that they were a little thin sounding to me ears ......so I never bough any Ayre equipment but I do not impose my thoughts on every post here about Ayre. Getting old my friend ...let it go.         

For some reason Cardas never worked well in my system - no matter which variant. (Ayre)

I agree with the above poster that changed from Purist to Cardas.  Cardas are very neutral and natural sounding, at least in my system

I am also searching for a 2 pair of XLR cables , I just purchased the Luxman M-900u / C-90u combo and before that I ran single ended . My current speaker cables are Antipodes Ref and I’m trying to decide between Antipodes Ref XLR or something in the upper Cardas line 

@fsonicsmith   Thanks for sharing your findings with the Clear Beyond ICs in your system. 

Good points regarding what is not often said:

"Strict neutrality" is one of those concepts that sounds undeniable to the brain but in earthly practice is not necessarily a good thing. My point; my system needed a little manipulation and I think that Cardas would never admit it, but Cardas Clear and Clear Beyond to some degree manipulate the sound to create a sense of reality-all things being system-dependant of course.

I tried many different XLR IC's between my ARC Ref6 and ARC Ref150se in all different price ranges. Mogami Gold, Morrow MA-6, Sommovigo Airwave, Harmonic Technology (model unknown-dealer lent them to me), and then Clear Beyond. The Clear Beyond are nowhere near burnt in yet, but I can confidently say that with my electronics, the sound is just "right". Before, the sound was too in-my-face and music seemed to be emanating out of each speaker (DeVore O/93's). I was unable to get the soundstage to gel despite playing around a lot with speaker position. With the Clear Beyond, I am now getting exactly what I was longing for-a coherent soundstage and a sense of organic rightness. One of my favorite fall-backs is Sufjan's Illinois on vinyl with the two last tracks on side one, "John Wayne Gacy Jr." and "Jacksonville" on Asthmatic Kitty records. Last night listening to these, Sufjan was in the room and the various instruments sounded halographic, a first since buying the electronics new in August and the DeVores in September. I also tried many different sets of speaker cables and none sounded right until I bought a set of Clear at the same time as I bought the Clear Beyond IC's. Again, I (obviously-given how good things sounded last night with Sufjan) am very happy with the Clear speaker cable. I have no way to know for sure, but I suspect my sensitive DeVores would not benefit much by the thicker gauge Clear Beyond. My gut/instinct was to buy the very best IC I could afford for the preamp-amp interface and the ARC manuals confirm that too. I conferred with four different dealers with great reputations about choice of cabling with my equipment and while various names came up, the one common denominator among all four was Cardas. One Brooklyn-based dealer sold both DeVore and ARC and Cardas Clear or Clear Beyond was at the top of their list. What sets Cardas Clear and Clear Beyond apart? I don't know and don't care. All the gobbledy gook marketing stuff dulls the brain after a while. I trust Cardas though for manufacturing it's own wire, forging their own spades, and crimping with extreme pressure rather than soldering. Again, for my equipment, the proof came in the results. While I am at it, I might as well bring up Auditorium 23. John DeVore recommends Auditorium 23 irrespective of electronics but I auditioned my DeVores with VTL gear and Auditorium 23 and I thought the sound was a bit on the dark side. The Brooklyn dealer advised me not to go with Auditorium 23 on the basis that they were too neutral and at the same time, would not reveal all that my Ref6/Ref 150se was capable of bringing to the table. I think he gave me good advice. "Too neutral" some (or many) would question? Well, I have come around to that view. How can this be? Look folks, trying to create verisimilitude/plausible deniability out of recorded music amplified to two loudspeakers is inherently artificial and flawed. "Strict neutrality" is one of those concepts that sounds undeniable to the brain but in earthly practice is not necessarily a good thing. My point; my system needed a little manipulation and I think that Cardas would never admit it, but Cardas Clear and Clear Beyond to some degree manipulate the sound to create a sense of reality-all things being system-dependant of course. 

@david_ten from what you are saying, it sounds like the Audience SX is the way to go.

I think the Clear Beyond will give you some of that. How does it compare to the Audience SX? I will await your feedback.

@mikey8811

Which Pass separates are you trying the Au 24 SX XLR’s with and how do they sound so far? I wonder if they have a leaner sound than Cardas does.

My current ICs with the Pass XP-20 and XA-30.8 are the Cardas Clear Reflection XLRs.

I compared these with the Audience Au24 SX Single Ended RCA as well as XLR ICs.

Both the Audience Au24 SX -- SE and XLR ICs DO NOT SOUND LEANER than the Cardas, within my system...to answer your question specifically. And neither does the Cardas (sound lean).

The Audience SX ICs have a ’bigger, bolder sound’ with greater dynamics, more slam and impact and energy. Bass is heftier and tighter. They also offer more air and bloom and also convey a greater degree of venue information and ambience.

The Cardas Clear Reflection sounds more polite and refined in contrast and with an overall more delicate presentation. It moves the stage back a few rows. It sounds ’cleaner’ and less energized and less resonant (Note: these terms are not meant in the negative).

I like the Audience A LOT. But I do believe (within my system) that it accentuates the lower frequencies and the aspects that make it so very engaging and enjoyable (air, bloom, dynamics, etc).

The Cardas Clear Reflection steps away from accentuating and to my ears is ’perhaps’ more accurate (relatively). However, for me, this comes at the cost of being less engaging and exciting (THAN). I also like the Cardas A LOT, but for different reasons than the Audience. It remains engaging and exciting and enjoyable...but when compared to the Audience it is less so.

Both of these cables are very good. It will come down to your preferences and system and goals.

@david_ten Which Pass separates are you trying the Au 24 SX XLR's with and how do they sound so far?

I wonder if they have a leaner sound than Cardas does.

@mikey8811    Thank you. That's good to know.

I will report back once I have the loaner Cardas ICs in system. 

My SCs are the Audience Au24 SX and I've been evaluating the SX RCA/XLR ICs with a Lyric Ti 140 Mk2 amp and Pass pre/amp separates.

Since the Cardas will be coming after the loaner Audience ICs are shipped back, I will have to go by memory and my notes. I will let you know.

Hi guys.

@david_ten I am still using the Clear Beyond from pre to power with a Clear Reflection from DAC to pre. I find the Clear Beyond can be a bit tipped up in the highs on some source material. You are using Audience SX speaker cables correct? It will be interesting for you to also try Audience SX interconnects and compare them to the Clear Beyond

@biggy79 This works out well as I like the midbass bloom the Clear Reflection gives. I haven't got the funds to try another Clear Beyond so it will have to do for now.

I am sorting out my power cords now and am wondering what works best with Clear Beyond Power. I have them everywhere except for the sources where I have Golden Reference. In this context, there is a little bass boom

@biggy79   Thank you for your update. I'm in the process of evaluating ICs and stepping up in the Cardas line from my Clear Reflections is an option. 

Are there other points / impressions you can share about the Clear Beyond ICs, within your system?  Beyond : ) what you already have, in your previous post. It would be good to know for my upcoming evaluation.

@mikey8811   Do you have any updates on your the Clear Beyond ICs? Do you still have them?

@david_ten @jafant @garebear @mikey8811 
As I told in the Beyond Power topic, I have Clear Beyond Interconnects in my system.

After a long (and painful!) break-in I can say it's virtually free of faults, a huge improvement versus both Clear Reflection and Clear Rev.1 Interconnects.
No more Reflection's fat midbass, nor the Clear's "flatness".
All is how it should be.
It's musical but it is not dark or overly warm.
All music sounds good with the Beyond Interconnects, without being too forgiving.

I tried the Clear Rev.1 Speaker, it was a great (positive) surprise, I did not expect that improvement over the old Golden Reference.

I have two pairs of speaker cabkes so I tried the only pair of Clear I had in demo first on bass, than on mid highs.

It does not "blend" with the Golden Reference, they are too different.
Golden Reference is more focused on mids, losing deep bass and "air" and detail in the upper end, which is exquisitely musical.

It went better mixing Clear Rev.1 with a Clear Light I could demo at the same time; the result was I have to pass from double run of Golden Ref. to a double run of Clear Rev.1!

Sound was balanced in every way I put the cables, but there was a loss of bass depht and articulation putting the Light down, and a more grainy sound putting it up; on the other hand, Clear provided a startling deep bass when used on the woofers and (as I told before) an exquisite, airy, roch, smooth top end when used on the mid-highs section.

Now the new Beyond Power XL is coming, so I have to decide: new speaker cables (I have to find 2 used/demo pairs) or a new power cord for the integrated?

@biggy79   Just re-read this thread you started. Have to say it was good to do so, after a few months break. I'm currently comparing some USB cables and the latest Cardas High Speed Clear is one of them. 

Any updates on your cabling journey?

I am from Italy, I think it's worthless for you ;)

biggy79-
I had asked whom is your dealer/retailer?
Happy Listening!

Stringreen  - geeeezzz I always thought that you were the self proclaimed expert here. Some people do have some good advice here.....like everything else in life, take the advice and then go see for yourself if it works for you in your system. That has been pretty consistent.    

... just one.....the internet is loaded with a bunch of BS ....everyone is an expert....everyone knows what they are talking about.....  YUK

Yes pennsy I would like to know ! Thank you in advance !  What's with the ; !!!! ?  

@pennsy, care to share which other brands have a similar sound to Cardas at more competitive prices?

@mikey8811 :

Saw your post on the Audience thread, so cycled back to this one.

For me, the Clear Reflections offered the right balance for my needs and system. There are surely more resolving ICs and surely warmer ICs...but for my system and needs, they strike the right balance. And they are 'relatively' well priced, especially compared to some of the other dealer based alternatives. I think Cardas' description and positioning of these cables is pretty spot on.

I don't know your system components, but I wouldn't be surprised if they achieve what you are looking for: great "mid-range with full bodied sound and with more openness" across frequencies. 

I'm looking forward to hearing your impressions once you have them in your system.

@biggy79 I think you are right. My DAC has had a firmware upgrade which has enhanced midrange richness. This has counteracted the tipped up highs with the Clear Beyond I was hearing before. They are pretty good now.

@david_ten I am thinking of replacing the Golden Cross from DAC to preamp with a Clear Reflection.

Hopefully that gives me the same midrange and full bodied sound that the Golden Cross has but with more openness.

I think the Golden Cross is hard to beat in a solid state system, I preferred them to Golden Reference and they will remain one of my all time favourite interconnects.

I never experienced hardness and sibilance with Clear Reflection, too.

Maybe it is a burn-on issue, however consider to change DAC if you know yours sounds etched: good cables can only highlight problems.

When my system had problems I had hard and fatiguing sound even with the warmer Golden Reference; the fact you use Golden Cross makes me think ...

Now that perfect electric current powers my gear and a reference SACD player like my Accu DP700 is the source, no sibilance passes through neutral and transparent integrated amplifier and speakers, even with more "revealing" cables; rather, Clear sounded in my system even softer in the highs than Golden Reference (but also lacked in musicality, "body" and entertainment) !

@mikey8811  I have the Clear Reflection XLR ICs between the DAC and Preamp and between the Preamp and Amplifier.

These have been in-system for close to a year and I HAVE NOT HAD any issues with them regarding those you list (specifically: highs tipped with sibilance and hardness).

Hope this helps.

I have done about 50 hours on the Clear Beyond now.

Overall, I find the highs still tipped up with some sibilance and hardness.

Hopefully, this goes away otherwise it may be too neutral for my liking.

I have not heard the Clear Reflection and am wondering if this is a trait too.

I had AQ Sky silver interconnects in the past, exchanged with a pair of Golden Reference (replaced by Clear Reflection after 5 years): one of the best deals of my audiophile life.

@dbarkovic : no, unfortunately I could not audition the Beyonds yet. I think I will this fall.

dbarkovic

Describing what you want to improve.....you might try an Audioquest interconnect with silver conductors.  I am now using AQ Fire, but used AQ Niagara for a couple years also.  FWIW I had Cardas Golden Reference interconnects to compare with Niagara.  I think the AQ silver may do what you want.

@biggy79 Any chance you auditioned the Clear Beyond interconnects yet? Would love to hear your observations as I'm in a similar position. I currently have Cardas Clear Reflection balanced interconnects going from an Ayre QX-5 Twenty DAC to an Ayre AX-5 Twenty integrated, and Clear Reflection speaker cables to Aerial 7T loudspeakers. I love the musicality of the Clear Reflection, but would love a little more top-end detail, improved dynamics and faster bass, without sacrificing musicality of course. Hell, I just want it all. 😉

For what it's worth, I originally auditioned Audioquest Earth/Oak, Audience AU-24 SX, Purist Venustas, Cardas Clear Rev 1, Transparent Ultra Gen 5, Shunyata Python, and Synergistic UEF Level 3 before settling on the Clear Reflection.

@garebear

Thanks. Can you tell me what you found past 50 hours and then past 100 hours? How did the characteristics of the cable change?