Who will survive? One last table til I die.

Since I believe the phono cable is the most important wire in an analogue based system, and the one I am most likely to be willing to overpay for, I shall now have to add the Omega Mikro Ebony to the short list. I admit to being totally ignorant of this line of wires until Rushton's post.

A website I found did not mention any phono cable, only the Ebony interconnect. I am assuming that this interconnect is used for both phono and line, which I always find troublesome since I have assumed that the signals from each were different enough that a cable should be optimized for either phono or line.

(As a barely related aside, oddly enough, I miss the little din connector I've always needed on my tonearm cable; its delicacy seems more symbolically suited to the subtle art of coaxing music out of microscopic scratches in dead wax than the cruder RCA plug that replaces it.)

Just out of curiosity, Rushton, what were the runners-up to the Ebony? And what other wires do you use in your system?

Suttlaw, the Omega Mikro Ebony comes as an "interconnect," there is no phono vs. line alternative in this cable. Please note that the Ebony is a more delicate cable than many people are used to handling. The design objective is to minimize dielectic so there is no sheathing to grab onto, just the woven net stocking (insulated fine copper wire) to which a bias voltage is applied. The bare conducting ribbon inside the stocking is a very thin copper foil to which a silver layer has been hand annealed, and these conducting ribbons are screwed, not soldered, to the RCA connectors. For a little extra care in handling, the sonic rewards are very high.

As to "runners-up," I'm going to ask to beg off that question. None of us can hear everything, and any discussion of alternatives will offend someone who really likes the other cable. For example, Albert Porter will tell you that he really likes the Purist Dominus cables, and that he's tried the Omega Mikro and did not think they were as good. At this level of performance, choices can become more matters of listening priorities than absolute performance differences. For me, the ability to resolve complex, large scale music, particularly orchestral, is important. I've tried other cables that sound very good on small ensemble jazz or single vocalist (in some respects better than the Ebony), but just do not continue to resolve detail well on orchestral or more complex music (like Count Basie's "88 Basie Street"). The strength of the Omega Mikro Ebony is that they sound good across that range, but they are outstanding when the music gets more complex and the demands of resolving multiple instruments and multiple musical lines come into play: this is where they clearly differentiate themselves from many other cables. At the same time, they are neutral, not at all bright or edgy (like some highly resolving cables), extremely revealing/resolving and always allow the harmonic overtone structure to come across without change or interpretation.

One last comment: Lloyd Walker makes it easy to hear these cables in your own system. If you're not completely satisfied, return them in original condition within 30-days for a full refund. He doesn't get many back.
http://www.walkeraudio.com/omega_mikro_cables.htm
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Suttlaw,

For about $665 more than Micro ($3,400), you should really heard and consider the New Siltech G6 Avandole. It's by far the best and the quietest phono cable i have ever heard.

It's expensive for phono cable, but you are done.

Suttlaw,

First, you are forgiven for your multiple sins! Nice find for your one last analog rig.

RE: Airy2

Right now I can say it has a wide and deep soundstage, great imaging, incredible low level detail retrieval, good transients, good tone.

Your impressions exactly mirror ours. As our Airy2 broke in we moved from a back row seat to the front row, since HF extension, speed and detail kept improving. This change was fairly steady and predictable from about 5 hours until about 50 or so. It seemed pretty stable after that.

My bass and impact seem a little lacking, but I think that is cartridge setup and speaker positioning changeable, so...

Somewhat, but it is also somewhat the character of the Airy2. It will rarely be a rocker's cartridge, unless everything is set up perfectly, the stars are aligned and the drinks are aligned too.

The Airy2's dynamics are very affected by SRA and VTF. Higher end ZYX's are all sensitive in this way. Fortunately your sin-ful JMW allows easy height adjustment so start experimenting with that. Very small adjustments become audible once you're attuned (by very small I mean .01mm in arm height or less). Getting SRA just right puts maximum weight behind the frequency center of each note or sound, which increases the apparent dynamic impact and focus.

Optimal VTF in two systems I know of was between 1.88g and 1.93g. It needs a bit more downforce OOTB but that range seems about right after break in, depending on temperature. Too heavy and the life is squashed out. Too light and HFs start to go fuzzy. The VTF sweet zone is always very small.

Impedance loading is also very critical when running through trannies. You're not, so maybe it won't be as critical for you, I hope!

I haven't heard the Airy 3 yet (didn't know there was an Airy 3 and what are the differences?).

The Airy3 is brand new, MSRP isn't even published yet. Check out SORAsound's ads for details.

Compared to the Airy2, the Airy3 is more dynamic and detailed. After break-in, which takes at least 75 hours, it has virtually all the Airy2's "integration" or "wholeness", but with more body behind the instruments and air between them. Harmonics, decays and overtones are nicer too. It will probably sell for $500-700 more than the Airy2, and it will be worth it. A slight veil of control over bass and dynamics are the only bad things anyone has ever said about the Airy2 AFAIK. The Airy3 corrects that.

RE:
>>>"A slight veil of control over bass and dynamics are the only bad things anyone has ever said about the Airy2 AFAIK. The Airy3 corrects that."<<<

That would be very good news,indeed.
Airy 2's lack of bass tunefullness & articulation and reserved dynamics were a dissapointment after all the early praise and recommendations.