Analysis Plus Solo Crystal Oval 8...OMG!!

@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. 

Fun some days,maddening other days:-)

BURN-IN HYPE or REAL with AP cables ???

Not sure if I’m having one good or bad day with my ears either, but I could swear maybe these AP cables do tend to burn-in with more time. Is the recommended 300hrs of burn-in time the manufacturer for real, I don’t know, maybe so. They are finally starting to sound a little warmer with another 100hrs on them.

[Disregard] my former post about intermixing my Cardas and AP interconnects to achieve improved softer sound. It changed again... As things settled more past few weeks, I actually had to put the 2nd pair of AP Crystal Solo OCC interconnects back in the system. Its not nearly as lean now. No, its not just a matter of getting use to them. A quick swap back to other cables helps prove the differences and improvements over time.

Its changed enough that I’m going back and retrying different preamp tubes again, and the cables help to further show differences in tubes too.

As long as all gear is fully warmed up 1.5hrs+, the APs sound smoother than first 100hrs.

So decooney and I have been comparing notes and when I seemed to be stuck obsessing over wire he suggested trying different tubes again to banish the last traces of annoying glare.He was right.I needed to add some richnessBefore the AP scs Sofia 6SN7s worked great in my pre but adding them to the amp was way too lush.But as soon as I swapped in one Sofia in the middle with the two remaining Sylvainas flanking it - Damn! Just the slightest hint of glare(because I'm listening for it).Big sigh of relief.I really cannot stand glare or excessive sibilance.Both Ian Anderson and Joan Baez are sounding excellent as opposed to a referee whistle or a shrieking woman.Ok I'm exaggerating but those little things tend to make us audio fools crazy.Changing out wires and tubes for several months to feed the APs the best signal so they will feed the Tektons what they need to produce beautiful music.OCD:-)

Transport to Tubadour- Furutech digital cable
 CableDyne PC, Audio Envy PC,tubes various
LTAMicroZ2- Audio Envy Prestige ic,Audio Envy PC,
Sofia Blue,Sylvania
Aric Audio Transcend amp -AP Crystal Solo ic
CableDyne PC,Sylvania,Sofia Blue,TS KT 150
AP Solo Crystal Oval 8 spc - Tekton Impact Monitors

Thank you b_limo for letting us hijack your thread for our journal.These speaker cables are so good and so revealing,well worth doing a little tweaking upstream.

[Keeping it an all AP cable thread]

Goal and Score >> AP crystal solo Digital Coax in the house! <<

Next / AP Digi Crystal Solo Coax?
After replacing the input tubes on my preamp with smoother ones, further realizing what the AP Crystal Solo interconnect cables can do - i thought to myself [and reading for two more weeks about cables, jitter, and how it’s not just zeroes and ones] "I wondered what more the crystal solo DIGITAL COAX could offer - if anything"? Skeptical but willing.

Results:
Tone and added "texture" is coming through now, like never before. Now detail comes through yet digital glare and top-end harshness is pretty much eliminated. Music kinda just flows now, effortlessly at lower volumes.

How?
Not sure how but it’s as if the weak link (closer to the source, early in the chain) was eliminated and now both pairs of AP Crystal Solo interconnects and now the AP Crystal Solo Coax are all working together as a complete chain end-to-end, source to DAC to preamp to amps. While I cannot explain how or why, it works, well - for whatever reason.

YRMV your results may vary.