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Cardas: Cross vs. Reference and Clear

Anyone out there prefer the old Cardas Cross line to the Reference line (Neutral Ref, Golden Presence, Golden Ref) or Clear?  I read that some preferred Cross to Golden Cross because Cross had bigger soundstaging and dynamics, while Golden Cross was more laid back/reserved, even if Gold Cross was more refined.  

Similarly, Clear has been disliked by some of the faithful for stepping too far away from the traditional Cardas house sound.  In fact, with Clear Reflection, Clear Beyond, and perhaps Cygnus (the newest entry to lineup as of this writing), it seems that Cardas has reincorporated more of the warmth, or romance, of their older cables.
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tzh21y
1,654 posts
 
lol.  So many are listening to Cardas and do not even know it.  lol
ctsooner's avatar
ctsooner
2,480 posts
 
tzh, many of us know it, we just don't discuss it too often.  I made a post last year bout how many of the cables companies are using their raw cable that is made for them by Cardas.  Just because Cardas is making their cables, it doesn't mean they are similar.  I used to work with some smaller cable companies here in New England who actually pulled the wire for Kimber, Cardas and a few others.  Everything is made to the end companies own specs.
durkn
70 posts
 
I had been using Audioquest cables for years & then tried some Cardas.

Tried one set of Golden Presence IC & really liked it after burn in. Then swapped the others out with GP.

Then I went with Neutral Reference Bi-wire speaker cable.

I then realized how much my previous cables had been limiting the system. I have reached a new level.

I have since switched to Golden Reference bi-wire speaker cables.
These cables are not warm cables with the “house sound” how some describe the Cross line.

I’m convinced that many are holding their system back by their cable choice & it is affecting / biasing their opinions of certain equipment & speakers
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