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Review: Darwin Ascension Interconnect

Category: Cables

This review is for the Darwin Ascension interconnect, their premium
IC. They also offer a lower priced version called the Darwin Silver.

To understand why this cable is so effective, you have to look at the basic
design features - silver conductor, air dielectric, and low mass ends. This
kind of simplicity of design is just the opposite of most high end cables.
But this cable makes it clear - perfecting a simple design works much
better than those other, far more complicated designs. The trick is in preserving signal integrity over the entire length of the cable. The Darwin
Ascension does that better than any other interconnect I have ever had in
my system. Period.

Just a word about the importance of properly breaking in this cable. Like most silver cables, it takes quite a lot longer than copper based cables. I
would say 2 to 3 times as long to reach the full break in point. I broke the
Ascension in for 200 hours and found it to be about right. If you assume
the Ascension is fully broken in after 50 or 100 hours, it has quite a bit farther to go before reaching full performance capability.

And what is that full performance capability like? Like everything you've
ever wanted in an interconnect ... 3-dimensional sound stage, superb
inner detail within that sound stage, terrific localization, full, rich tonality,
realistic attacks, realist decays, amazing timbre ... the list goes on and on.
All the things you've ever wanted to hear - are there with the Darwin
Ascension interconnect. AND in perfect balance!

How many interconnects have been in and out of my system in my quest
for the perfect interconnect? Far more than I can possibly remember
since getting into audio. All the frustration with overhyped products,
costs way out of line with product quality, one disappointment after another ... on and on ... and on. All of that ends when you put a Darwin
Ascension cable into your system like I did in mine.

If you have been searching for "realism" when it comes to listening to
music, the Ascension delivers that realism like no other cable I have ever
heard. And for me, this is the perfect way to describe this outstanding
cable design - truly exceptional realism.

It is said that all cables have weaknesses. Really? Can't find any with
the Ascension. Everything you want is there. And everything you don't
want -- isn't there.

One of the ideas we are supposed to mention is that if money was no
object, would you still own this? My answer to that question is "YES"!
And I would feel really good about not spending several times the cost
of the Ascension for markedly less quality.

Just getting off the cable roller coaster is reason enough to own the
Darwin Ascension. At least it was for me. My long search for the
perfect interconnect is over. Listening to music has taken on a whole
new sense of satisfaction, using this very special cable.

Would love to hear what others think.
budmoe
roxy54's avatar
roxy54
7,977 posts
 
Based upon the good word of others including Nonoise, I took a leap of faith and bought the silver digital cable about 5 months ago. I had high expectations based on the design theory which made a lot of sense to me, and after a short few days I did write some positive words, not a full review. I didn't and still do not want to hurt the company's sales in any way, but I feel at this point that I should update my findings.
I had a good initial reaction because the digital cable has a smooth pure sound. I started to notice that I was taking it out and putting my LAT International cable back in too often.
After a lot of listening, I realize that it is good, but not what I am looking for. To begin with, there seems to be a drop in volume as soon as I put it in. Bass strength and volume are noticeably diminished, although if you didn't have something better, you would likely be satisfied. What troubled me the most was softened transient response which affected the perception of correct timber as well. I kept feeling that the music was artificially smooth and at the same time dynamically restricted, which is a real no-no for me.
On the plus side, I felt that the treble extension was consistently better and airier/cleaner than the LAT. Overall though, that just wasn't enough.
So, although it is a very pleasant cable, and in no way irritating, it has a light, non-incisive balance that didn't do it for me. Sadly, it is now sitting in my closet with other cables I have tried
karmakarma
22 posts
 
Hey folks, Thanks for taking the time to share your experiences. Budmoe, your break experience does ring true with our Ascension cables. My experience with all of the Darwin Cables is they start fast but take a good while to really stretch out. Nonoise, thank you for your praise about the original Darwin Silver IC's. I had two people in the space of a week say it was better than the Nordost Tyr. And Roxy54, I appreciate your candid remarks. While your criticisms are quite mild, they are the first I have received from any Darwin Digital Cable owner. A couple of thoughts. I have noticed that with all analog cables, any disruption—moving them in and out of a system, can unsettle them. I suspect this happens with digital cables, too. It is possible you are hearing the cable at less than full potential. If you have not given the cable 200 hours straight it may well be rewarding to do so. At Darwin Cable Company we are taking a closer look at the break in process, even experimenting with a cable cooker and enhanced cryogenics trying to draw a bead on the break-in process. We do have a Darwin Ascension Digital Cable that features a superior dielectric approach to the RCA ends and a better wire. We cannot pretend the Darwin Silver Digital is the "ultimate" if we believe we have improved upon it—but it's pretty good. Call us sometime. W'd love to hear from you again! Tony Bender, Darwin Cable Co.
roxy54's avatar
roxy54
7,977 posts
 
Hi Tony,
I'm glad that you chimed in, because I had wanted to add to my previous remarks by making readers aware that this digital cable only cost $175, a price that makes it a very good buy.
It is also true that I did not break them in for 200 hours of continuous use, which I will try.
Thanks, and I will be in touch.
John
audioman58's avatar
audioman58
4,134 posts
 
Hello Budmoe what speaker cables are you using currently ?
For I am sure not everyone had $1500 to spend on speaker cables
To other owners please share can their interconnects stil work well with
Other brand Loudspeaker cables, thank you.
audioman58's avatar
audioman58
4,134 posts
 
I currently have the Darwin Assention plus interconnects ,these replaced my MIT 23 interconnects which were over $1,500 and very respectable
A bit warmer balance ,these had also replaced my Acoustic zen Silver reference cable. I found in my system left on 24-7 that after 10 days or roughly
250 hours these interconnects were fully settled in. I am using the Excellent
Revelation Audio Labs digital USB cable which also uses high purity Solid core as a conductor.i thought maybe all this Silver would be to bright ,
Not so ,after the first 100 hours it started smoothing out and developing
Focus inner detail and soundstage. The MIT cable was a bit smoother ,at the expense of inner detail, speed and soundstage width.which now goes
Way beyound the Loudspeakers. If the recording has little inflections or back ground noises now they are much more developed and focused.
Bass is fast and articulate, Ihad a friends transparent reference in here
And bass was a bit more full and taught ,and mids a bit more full but upper mids were at least as good even a tad more airy in the treble with the Assention plus interconnects. Which I feel these interconnects compete very well with cables even up to the $2,000 range ,everything system dependant. My Krell amplifier is MOSFET based and not too warm
I have Analysis plus Solo oval 8 Copper loudspeaker cables which offer
Great balance for my system.In my friends system the Assention plus cables were excellent with his Audio magic Silver loudspeaker cables.in this hobby Nothing is written in stone .IMO a best buy for sure.
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