Morrow Audio 1m MA4 Balanced Interconnect

(12/7/22)

I received my new Morrow Audio 1m MA4 XLR interconnect today.  I hooked it up between my Denafrips Ares II DAC and Pathos Classic One MKiii integrated amplifier.  The previous interconnect was an Audioquest Sydney RCA.

So far, I'm very pleased with the way my system sounds with the Morrow Audio interconnects installed.  The sound is absolutely different and I think objectively better.

I primarily started this thread to have a place to document my impressions during the break-in period.  Morrow Audio provides a lot of information for what to expect during break-in.  The general description is that the cables perform around 70% initially and drop to 50% in the 50-100 hour timeframe and then achieve full performance sometime after that with the recommended full breaking being around 400 hours.

I plan to leave my DAC running for the next 17 days and should be able to listen at least a little each day.  Here's what Morrow Audio says to expect:

The first 50 hours:

When you first hook up your cables, you will hear about 70% of the sonic potential the cables have to offer. The highs might tend to be a little peaky and/or harsh, bass may lack and the midrange "sterile". This will soon go away and the frequencies will even out as the break-in process advances. Note from the testimonials below that the “high frequencies” is the area most noted.

Mid-way through the break-in process 50 to 100 hours:

Between 50 and 100 hours you will experience the "difficult stage" of the break-in process. The sonic potential of the cable drops to 50%. It may be difficult to listen during this time. This is when some of our customers make a pre-mature return, missing out on the full sonic glory of the product.

After full break-in:

As you reach the end of the break-in process, the frequency extremes fill and smooth out, the midrange bloom returns and the cable takes on a very natural sound presentation.