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Which aes/ebu cable? CCA Magnum Opus, Audio Sensibility Signature, or RAL Prophecy Ref?

Recently acquired my first separate DAC/transport and have been getting by with a regular balanced interconnect (which actually sounded better than an Acoustic Zen MC squared) as a digital cable.   My preference is for silver cables.  I'm big into detail and precision of imaging, a taut, well defined bass, and transparency.  The 3 mentioned cables are available at roughly the same cost to me.  Can anyone offer insights or opinions on these in general and hopefully how they compare to one another?   DAC is a Audio Alchemy DDP 1 w the PS 5 and RAL made umbilical while transport is a Bel Canto CD3.  Thanks!
lcherepkai
auxinput
2,921 posts
 
I have made about 5 different AES/EBU cables of my own. I used the Oyaide Focus XLR on a cable with 21awg OCC solid-core copper conductors. This cable definitely had a bright edge on the highs even though the conductor was copper. If you combine this with silver, it will become even more of a hard edge (in my opinion).

I have made a cable using 21awg OCC solid-core silver conductors combined with a Furutech FP-601M / FP-602F gold-plated XLR connectors. This is about as close to the Audio Sensibility cable as I have gotten. The sound is very nice with excellent resolution and good bass without any harshness or bright edge.

All of my cables used silver-plated copper braid for shielding.

Oh, one last note.  The Audio Sensibility cables I used were the "Signature" level XLR analog interconnects.  These were excellent.  However, I would avoid the "statement" level stuff because it uses stranded copper.  These actually perform rather poorly.
lcherepkai OP
290 posts
 
auxinput---I certainly believe you about the Oyaide Focus xlr. Strange how different a creature the Iego 8095 AC plug is then.  I actually have used that plug to tame a peakiness in the upper midrange which is where I usually hear brightness.  I've avoided gold plugs traditionally as they obscure detail (at least that's what I've heard in AC plugs and outlets).  You have me leaning toward the Audio Sensibility Signature.  Thanks for the help!
auxinput
2,921 posts
 
Gold plugs definitely obscure detail.  In fact, the Furutech gold-plated XLR connectors are very smooth sound, but man are they warm and slow!   However, when combined with silver wire, they are actually quite good!

I'm not going to 100% say that the Oyaide Focus on the digital cable will make your system have a bright edge.  It certainly did on my system, but my equipment is all fast  / high resolution stuff.  If your system is warm sounding, the Oyaide might not have a bright edge.
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