Buck, there are three types of audiophile for the most part. Those who love the music and use the equipment to listen with the best possibly enjoyment. Those who love equipment and listen to music to show off their systems (according to many in the industry, this may make up about 60% or more). Third are those (me) who love both and will listen to anything they are in the mood for, but on occasion will listen to 'audiophile' pressings to show off what their systems can do.
I was just sent a pair of Audioquest Horizon balanced interconnects and a piece of their Diamond USB cable. I have always loved the Diamond as it makes a huge difference to MY EAR IN MY SYSTEM.
I have been running an AQ Niagara interconnect, which for it's price range is an outstanding value (if you believe cable makes a difference). The Horizon was the precursor to the top of the line WEL cable. I was in shock at what i've been hearing this weekend. The Horizon just does EVERYTHING better. It doesn't change the tone or anything, but the system just sounds so much better.
My wife doesn't give a crap about audio. She just likes music and will go to many concerts with me from rock to blues to jazz to... I never tell her what I've done or haven't done to the system, but she stopped me dead in my tracks after I changed the cables and asked what I did. She had no idea I had them and didn't see me do anything to the system. When she asked me, I asked her why. She said it just sounds like the Joe Bonamassa concert I took her to at Carnegie Hall last Jan for my birthday. They recorded it and just released it on Blueray and Tidal is streaming it (acoustic). She said the instruments sound like they did that night and that should could almost feel Tina Guo in the room (Google her as she's a GREAT cellist).
I audition a lot of gear. I have left cables for last to be honest and for good reason. They make a difference, but often taking the cost and upgrading a component makes a larger difference. When stepping up to this level of cable, I was shocked that in a system like mine, it make such a difference. If I had to pay full price, I could not afford a cable like this, but as I've stated, there is a point in a line where you get their best 'value' in a component or cable. I felt for years the Niagara or it's similar cable was that point and I believe it still is today, but I will not be selling these Horizon cables for a long time, if forever. I feel blessed to own them. Oh, the diamond going from my server to the DAC is equally as good and makes a full component difference for me from the Carbon that it's often compared to. JMHO
