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Clear Day vs Acoustic Zen

As I mentioned in another thread, I am looking to make one or two upgrades to my system this year. Total budget is around $500 - 600. My current system is:
B&W CM10
Parasound A21
Cambridge Audio Azur 851D (preamp + DAC)
Cheap Audioquest wires (I think I paid around $50 for an 8 ft pair).

The two speaker cables that I've seen mentioned a lot here are Clear Day and Acoustic Zen Sartori. I almost pulled the plug on a pair of used AZ Sartori a week ago, but it was sold before I could make an offer.
There are other AZ Satoris on sale here at agon but they're all over 8 ft, which is not what I want.

However, I see that for the same $$$ for used AZs, I can get brand new Clear Day Double Shotguns.

Has anybody compared these two in their systems? Given that B&W is generally considered to be a tad bit on the bright side, I wonder if the silver in Clear Day might not be the best choice?
128x128arafiq
arafiq's avatar
arafiq OP
1,699 posts
 
@oleschool - thanks for your suggestions. Upgrading power cords and interconnects is definitely the next thing on my list. As for room treatments, it'll probably have to wait till we move to another house and can have a dedicated audio room. Until then, WAF is the reality I have to live with :)

I do have few questions regarding power cords though ...

1. The power cord that came with my Parasound A21 seems quite thick and well made. At what price point can I expect a noticeable difference? Someone told me that spending anything less than $600 on a power cord would be a lateral move. Not sure how true that is.

2. What would be a reasonable price point?- Given that the goal is best bang for the buck, similar to the Clear Day cable upgrade

3. Do I upgrade the power cord on my Pre/DAC (Cambridge Audio 851D) first or the amp?

4. What brands would you guys recommend? I'm planning to stay with Clear Day cables for sometime to come, so synergy is important.
oleschool's avatar
oleschool
722 posts
 
I have tsunami ac myself
best of luck . A/c made a difference maybe more then spkr  cable for me . Interconnects were night and day
cheers
oleschool's avatar
oleschool
722 posts
 
Sorry op power amp then dac
and go used buddy just watch they come up so a 600.00 cable will be 250.00
I use a revalation audio lab cord on my power amps supply that was a g
respect
cheers
milpai's avatar
milpai
2,421 posts
 
arafiq,
I have a Cullen Power Cord, Cross Over series, but customized for 10AWG for my Parasound A21.
ghosthouse's avatar
ghosthouse
4,319 posts
 
@arafiq -
haha...I forgot that I'd posted about The Antisocial Club.  I do tend to blab about the stuff I like mainly because it's great when something clicks for someone else.  We'll try again here (even tho' it's not  the topic of your post...but good test material, maybe).  See if you like the Jazz Pistols.  Superstring is their latest.  Listening to Special Treatment courtesy of Tidal right now.  Both are very good.  Contemporary fusion from Germany with more of a rock tilt than that Pasqua.  Excellent interesting music, great musicianship and recording quality.   Their bass player is killer.  BUT the one I really want to own is their "live".  Ordered it from a Discogs seller in Netherlands.  Hope it eventually gets here.  

Link to 'Bugs' from their "live" (also on Special Treatment).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qRym18h_74&ab_channel=ViantCadia91
More to discover