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

@jtcf
@decooney you have a whole loom now!I might end up with one too.I’m somewhat of a cable junkie and am still trying some different ics.But the speaker cables are staying forever.Somehow the Analysis ics keep finding their way back between the pre and amp,just a perfect fit apparently.But the digital cable and the ic between dac and pre I continue to "try just one more and I promise to quit" .Right.
The speaker cables are just so revealing it’s interesting to hear how each change is better/worse.I’ll write a little more about that later.

I gotta say, all priors with OFC copper and before I tried AP cables I could mix and match other cables and levels and achieve something to stick with for a while and leave it alone.

Once I tried the OCC copper with AP interconnects and started moving them around within my system, something really different occurred. Puzzling, actually. Then I had to try a second pair, and yes closing with the full loop with AP Crystal Digi Coax.

The OCC oval interconnect result is smoothness of copper and the detail of silver over copper blended together with a specific un-smeared type of sound top to bottom. Clear and smooth, not sure how else to describe it. Time will tell if the cables actually change or smooth out any more with long term use.  We will see...

Dave from Zenwave sent me several ics and a digital cable to try.Surprisingly his two top of the line cables were not a good fit at all.Others have reported how detailed and reference quality they are so I had great expectations.I loved the D1 which is the entry level ic,lush and beautiful.The DSR (mid level) was outstanding to my ears,tone,timbre,detail and really dimensional.So real at times like I could reach out and touch the musicians.That paired with the digital cable was clearly the best fit.Worked really well with the AP speaker cables and AP ics.

Last update and post on AP "Crystal" OCC interconnects and lesson’s learned. 
Heads up, these specific OCC copper cables may cause you to completely re-evaluate other pieces of your gear after 60 days of use, burn-in, and using these ICs end-to-end now throughout my entire two channel audio system.

Yes, the Analysis Plus Crystal Solos open up pandoras box. Both good and bad come with them, whatever the source and recording is.

These Crystal Sol IC cables and the partner Crystal Digi Coax cable from AP forced me to go back and completely re-evaluate and re-tube my tube preamp and the re-tube the input tubes on my mono tube amplifiers.

Once opening the floodgates with the crystal (OCC copper) AP interconnect cables, watch out what you ask for as it all comes through with larger sound. Sure, burn in helps over time but it does not tame or mask any garbage recordings coming through like some thick OFC copper cables can do. These cables do what they are supposed to do, if you let them. Takes patience. Can be rewarding once you figure out how all the different pieces are working together (good or bad) end-to-end from source>cables>audio components>speaker cables>speakers.

Solution:
Re-tubed preamp with more lush tubes.
Re-tubed monoblock amps with more lush input tubes.

Result:
No edge, no harshness, larger soundstage, more musical midrange, no loss of upper end detail - yes, it’s possible. Now I can listen to most everything streamed (fair to good recordings) in Redbook CD lossless format. And, of course any great recording on CD or Streaming sounds great all of the time. Piano sounds like piano.  Guitar sounds like guitars should.  Voices are improved and it catches you by surprise some times when running these end-to-end throughout your system.    

As a reverse upgrade test, I revisited prior lower version interconnects from AP and other brands.  The difference is not subtle in comparison IF the rest of the system is up to par to take advantage of the AP Crystal Solo cables. Now I'm finding other cables I formerly used and tested to be closed in, having less texture and less enjoyable tone.  Also, while I can't be certain, with more time on these cables they really do seem to be settling in and it's not me just getting use to the sound.  

@b_limo Thanks for keeping us posted on your experience with them! I’ve been following the thread and its awesome to see you guys having the same results as me. I absolutely love these cables..

@b_limo
On demo, I intermixed some other brand TOTL interconnects with AP Crystal Solos last month with moderate success. Won’t mention the brand, but highly respected but 2-3x the price of the APs, and a totally different design. Returned them. It kinda helped me to see staying with similar designs may be recommended.

I then decided to intermix same-brand AP Crystal Solo interconnects with the two models below the Crystal Solos (first the AP purple Oval One and then the black/yellow Copper Oval-In Micro) interconnects with some interesting and telling results.

I found if you place the Crystal Solo (OCC) interconnects upstream at your source (CD, DAC/Streamer or high end Tuner [FIRST in line]; you still retain a nice clear sound and larger and more open soundstage is mostly retained when you place the next downstream set (AP Oval One or AP Oval-In Copper Micros) between the preamplifier and amplifier(s), it essentially adds their signature about 50% into the results. The "blend" makes for another option and it does change the sound.

I have confirmed using the Crystal Solos (OCC copper Oval-in Micro, oval design) throughout the system end-to-end are by far the most pure, clear, covering the top end and bottom end frequencies with no rounding of the signal. When you intermix the AP Oval-In Copper Micro, it retains clarity with a bit more mid-bass and a slight rounding of the high-frequency (OFC copper, same oval design), slightly more grainy sounding but also sounds a bit fuller too, maybe a slight bass hump in the midrange, not bad - just different. Intermixing the lower version Oval One is a waste. Too grainy, downgrades the end result, not worth it to pair up with the higher cost OCC  Crystal Solos. The Copper Oval-In Micros is a decent end-to-end cable to use for the $, yet it’s definitely not as clear and smooth with "no grain" like the Solo Crystals are. An interesting test.