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

@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.

Analysis Plus"Crystal OCC":

16 months later, the AP Crystal Solo RCA interconnects definitely smoothed out and filled out. A very long settling in period. Patience is absolutely required for these.

Former founder/owner Mark Markel of Analysis Plus (now passed on) was spot on. He told me it would take 200-300hrs to finally settle. Recently compared to other very well known IC cables at 3x the price since too, keeping the AP Crystals!

Can hear things waaaay out there, at LOW volume too. Top end is there, smooth, no loss of detail, and bottom end really starts coming in after long burn in time. Thanks to Mark up there, wherever you are. :)

The sweet secret is in the cross section: 4 times #11 AWG = 1 times #5 AWG.
But it is just part of the story. the other part is:
1. Your Amp's DF figure
2. The length.
I made a pair of 3m long, #0 AWG cable set for $1,000 US.
Their price is a bit sharp (for new).
However, pass me the missing data and I'll tell you what AWG is required.
Yes, speaker cables do make a difference. The big once, are mostly due to very poor choices of picking the previous one.

FYI, we are referring more so to the Crystal copper "OCC" version of the Analysis Plus speaker cables and interconnect cables and digital coax cables in OCC. OCC (Ohno Continuous Cast) in the AP patented "Oval" design. In comparison to prior OFC cables. 

https://satinaudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/satin-occ-ofc.jpg

@decooney , good to hear that you still have them and still like them! I almost sold mine just to get an 8 foot pair instead of 6 feet. I’ve also considered trying the big silver ovals but haven’t done so yet.

I did get some solo crystal xlr cables but my current amp doesn’t have xlr input. The nice thing about Analysis Plus is you can send any of your cables in and get them reterminated. I’m going to get my 2.0m pair of xlr’s converted to a 1.0m xlr and a 1.0m rca.
Anyhow, yeah, these cables are awesome. My system has gotten leaps and bounds better since I posted this and the AP solo crystals aren’t going anywhere.