Cardas Golden Reference or Clear Cygnus? Which would you choose?

It depends on where you want to go. Gold Reference is really warm,  subduing details. I am not familiar with the Cygnus, but Clear Reflection, Clear, and Clear beyond. They are less warm and more detailed as you go up. Most likely Clear Beyond would be your best bet in Cardas. For me, all are too warm and Transparent are much better at imparting no tonal shift or harshness… well, just being transparent. Something, you may or may not want.

Cardas = warmth not my cup of tea YMMV

@rsf507 Cardas = warmth not my cup of tea YMMV

Have you actually tried and listened to Cardas Clear -or- Cardas Clear Beyond in your own system?

Yes both at a dealers several times. No matter the equipment I came away with that warm sound, not to my liking. The Golden Ref was the worst, great midrange but rolled off at both frequency extremes. Again my own impressions

@rsf507 Yes both at a dealers several times. No matter the equipment I came away with that warm sound, not to my liking. The Golden Ref was the worst, great midrange but rolled off at both frequency extremes. Again my own impressions.

Sure, but that’s why I asked "in your own system". So the answer is no.

In 45 years of audio life, I have yet to demo a piece of gear at any dealer and have it sound identically the same as when I get it home to my own system and room, environment. Some times the results can be a complete 180, better or worse.