@jtcf
...I have a basic understanding of how reflections and timing errors distort the digital signal so finding one that is a perfect match is yet another adventure.
-----------------------
Okay, good to know. So let the experiment continue. I ordered a 1.5M coax AP Crystal Solo on a black friday sale. Not sure what to expect, but I’ve wanted to try this for a while completing the system with AP Crystal Solos. More than a few places I’ve read the shorter .5m and even 1.0m can produce more "reflection", bounce-back, and "glare" compared to a tad longer 1.5M. I did not believe it myself until trying it and comparing. So, I tested it with ICs on my DAC to pre first and truly did see a difference, like it more. So, I’ll try the same with my Arcam streamer to DAC next, and need 1.5M regardless keeping them apart. Guess I should not be too quick to let go of my Cardas lightning and other cables yet til’ I let this new cable run for a while. Last piece to complete the chain with all AP Crystal Solos.
re: "timing". Speaking of timing, I was driving myself batty past few weeks after adding some Jensen PIO bypass caps to the DAC, paralleled over some Mundorf Silver Gold Oils as the base caps in the tube DAC. Even up to 100hrs of burn-in I kept hearing something almost like an added reverb / out of timing effect on some instruments on good tracks. Almost a reverb (1.25x repeat sound) and blurring or smearing effect at times. I really noticed the difference with my AP Crystal Solo cables, not so much with my Cardas interconnects which tend to smooth over a bit more. Finally gave up and removed the bypass caps. As soon as they were removed, the timing issue was completely GONE - back to normal, nice clean smooth signal, improved sound stage too. It was really odd, and never had played with or experienced notable timing issues much except for tweeter/woofer mis-alignments in my own custom speakers. While I've had okay success with other bypass caps, components, this was a first and a surprise to a few audio friends. Perhaps just an incompatibility between two different type caps.
Trying the different AP cables has been a fun experiment, the Crystal Solos OCC copper version seems to be in it’s own lane if you like this type of sound, tone, sound stage changes - it’s unique.
