Interesting opinions Carl - I guess you must have needed the wash. Your assumption that I get my opinions from dealers is unwarranted - I cannot think of a less likely source of useful information, but just because even dealers say it does not make it hogwash. I do not think I would be the first person to suggest that mixing and matching manufacturers just increases the number of variables, and reduces the chance of a synergistic result. But despite being the sort that loves to challenge conventional wisdom, I still came to the conclusion that fewer variables were better. Did I get there listening to dealers? No. Just 20 odd years of experience - starting out by mixing everything up - finding that a significant downside of this was that every upgrade resulted in having to shuffle the variables (expensively) all over again - and slowly but surely finding a state of grace was to be had by keeping it simple. You are right that I should not have said "vital". I just find it better to see the cables as a single item and use one manufacturer; I find it better to not mix manufacturer when mating a transport to a dac etc. This is because I have found that to get a synergistic result does not require the use of say 13 variables (count them - transport, dac, pre, power, speaker, digital link, 2 interconnect links, speaker cable, and 4 power cords). Instead, 5 or 6 variables will do just fine. If there is any hogwash here it is the use of pseudo-science to dismiss a product (as you did with Wireworld cables) by pointing out a design issue you happen to disagree with (in this case the coating of strands) and concluding the cable must therefore smear detail and be inferior to anything that does not coat strands. If you hear the Wireworld cables smearing details then say so. What more proof do you need? Similarly with your comparison with Cardas - they must be better because the strand thickness is varied? Truly hogwash Carl. Personally I found when placing Cardas Golden Cross throughout my system, in place of Wireworld Gold Eclipse, I did not like the result. It warmed things up a lot, but the effect was unnecessary and detracted from the music by introducing a pervasive coloration. There were other differences, but the simple fact was that with the Wireworld in place I enjoyed the music better. I do not have to justify or explain this with pseudo-science. Of course valuable knowledge can be gained from understanding cause and effect - but I cannot believe your explanations of the Wireworld or Cardas cables are sufficient to either dismiss the Wireworld cables (as you do) or prove the Cardas cables are better (as you claim).
