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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.

mceljo
mceljo OP
1,357 posts
 

(1/3/2023)

I've stopped tracking hours on the Morrow Audio and also have gone back to my normal routine of turning off my system daily.

I'm home sick today, so have had some hours to spend listening when I wasn't dozing off.  

If I have a reference track it's The Traveller on Allan Taylor's album Looking For You.  I'd say three things from my listening today:

(1) I can hear some of the secondary guitars/instruments with more clarity.

(2) I can easily distinguish the delicate touch on the guitar strings in a new way.

(3) The deep bass notes have a new level of detail while not losing the overall presence. The lowest sound has become the lowest note with a true guitar sound.  I noticed this throughout the entire album and since I love deep bass this is a perfect improvement for my listening tastes.

I also listened to Chris Botti in Boston which I have not done in a long time and between the Denafrips DAC and Morrow Audio cable it's a new world.  The drums developed a distinct individual characteristic that made me listen specifically to the drums for the first time.  I'm not sure that I like the sound better because it's busy, but I'd say that it's objectively better and closer to the original recording.

leorousseau's avatar
leorousseau
70 posts
 

Yes, the Morrow Audio cables are very good sounding. I have been using Morrows for several years now, and I also have the Ares II. Do you have any aftermarket power cables in your rig?

mceljo OP
1,357 posts
 

@leorousseau - I have a Pangea AC-14XL on the Denafrips Ares II and a Waudio on my integrated amplifier and power conditioner.  I couldn't tell you anything the power cord on the DAC as it's what I used with my previous DAC and I can't say that I heard any difference with it on that one.

leorousseau's avatar
leorousseau
70 posts
 

I will eventually get around to upgrading the power cables on my dac and integrated, but I do have my eyes open for a second hand Shunyata power strip/conditioner. Looking for a spdif cable to upgrade from my Cardas Parsec which runs from the Node 2i to the Ares II. Fun, fun, fun...

mceljo OP
1,357 posts
 

@leorousseau - I'd bet that your money would be better spent somewhere other than a cable between a Node 2i and Ares II.  I also have a Node 2i and I can't imagine that a Cardas Parsec.  I'm using an Audioquest Cinnamon.

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