01-29-11: Jazzgene
Mogami 2534s for balanced xlr and 2549s for SE. Great for the price.
Jazzgene (Threads | Answers | This Thread)
My understanding is the 2534 has much more shielding than the 2549, so use it in areas of high RFI and the like. Otherwise, 2549 for balanced is fine, and is what I use. FWIW I bought a pair of 2549 XLR's for around $40. I ran them for a couple weeks but they sounded thin to me. I've had them in a box ever since, but recently took them out and put them back in the system. The current system is completely different than the one I had then.
My immediate impression was one of neutrality over the other cables I was using, one being a pair of AZ Wow!! xlr's, the other a DIY braided silver design. Those cables both seem to sound a little bloated and glary in the mid-bass and bass. The Mogami's neither highlight nor obscure anything. Details in abundance, but also a natural tone. And again, neutral. Surprising to say the least. I've noticed as I've been playing them now for around 36 hours that the mids and bass are opening up as well.
As with all things cables, and certainly in my case, system synergy is key. I think the Mogami's cleanness and apparent lack of midrange highlighting (coupled with surprising amounts of natural sounding detail) complement my system quite well. I didn't realize that the other cables, by comparison, were too much of a good thing -- warmer, but also thicker and with some midrange glare (I can't stand glare). The Mogami's lightness and nimbleness seem to be the ticket for me. The things I perceive as negatives with them are a slightly shrunken soundstage and a perceived bit of grain. Still, very enjoyable.
