Sonically -Cardas the difference between the CLEAR Loudspeaker cable ,and CLEAR BEYOND

I had the same conversation with Josh Meredith at CARDAS (Hubby of CEO Angela Cardas-Meredith ,,,) before I bought my eventual CARDAS speaker cables to support my CLEAR cables array (XLR IC’s, power…) , it was a surprising recommendation choice : CARDAS CLEAR REFLECTION over CLEAR BEYOND or CLEAR models. Who,knew?

IN SHORT: it is ENTIRELY system and room acoustics dependent 

IN DETAIL:

I had a new listening room situs with large windows along a long wall that now impacted my audio pleasure, The first reflection points and “glare” were now a PITA.

Josh explained that he had the same issue in his own home…lotsa glass window Wall(s);…acoustic warts needing a proper address . . He intuitively started with a full Monty introduction of CARDAS CLEAR BEYOND but with glare questions, and then faced off with CARDAS CLEAR speaker cables …. Neither solved the listening room warts issue,

His CARDAS engineers suggested that he step down to CARDAS  CLEAR REFLECTION speaker cables with a slightly “warmer”  bespoke sonic signature paired up with CLEAR BEYOND ICs in his home .…. WOW ….Problem finally solved with no loss in detail, dynamics, or slam. 

Josh reinterated that the CLEAR and CLEAR BEYOND models are incrementally “better” models to consider IF AND ONLY:

- you actually have the ultra high-end system upstream worthy of their model choice as a proper system synergy matching , ( there is a reason why CARDAS CLEAR BEYOND / CLEAR and NORDOST ODIN / VALHALLA dominate in the audio shows ,,,,)

- he reinforced that your bespoke listening room acoustics influences need to be fully assessed first. $$$$ alone spent blindly in isolation hoping for that superior audio performance is a misguided approach, (….hoping is not a strategy …).The litmus test  He found out himself in his own home.

MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE TAKE: ….me too …CARDAS CLEAR REFLECTION IN MY SYSTEM rules 

I was upgrading from a full loom of NORDOST FREY and I followed his recommendation to assess the glass wall acoustics warts first , just like he did .

CLEAR REFLECTION was a step-up that tamed the glass wall “glare” with no loss of legendary CARDAS  top-shelf detail, slam and dynamics ….full stop.

YOUR TAKEAWAY

-I would resist a blind assumption that an automatic best of breed in their very top model for your system and listening room  ..,one size does NOT fit all….

- Audition options if possible first ….

Then Choose wisely. 
 

FOOTNOTE 

Personslly, I found that a full loom/array of CLEAR with my CLEAR REFLECTION speaker cables works best. CARDAS CLEAR ( insert model) power cables bested other contenders and pretenders, and added an incremental step up in audio performance for me .,.. FWIW

Thank you. Akg_ca  much appreciated . I have no glass and plenty of room panels 

 have a warmer dac and Pathos2 Inpol mk2 integrated Class A Amp that uses the tubes as a buffer and front tubes preamp .

since I just installed the Cardas Clear beyond XLR cable how long is runin time on these I have 40 hours, .My main question is  sonically how much difference between The clear,and clear beyond  if it sounds pretty good with the wire world awg Ecplise loudspeaker cable. I can get a demo pr of clear for 60% off retail l

thank you  for all your  help !!

I would select the CLEAR as the preferred / sweet spot over paying the significant Ka-Ching! added drain on your wallet in order  to step up the CLEAR BEYOND speaker cables It’s the identical copper materials and sheathing …. its double the diameter thickness. 

“Price is what you pay ….VALUE is what you get.” - Warren Buffett .

You don’t specifically mention your streamer source, dac, or your speakers models  , but your amp is a fine quality  build choice.  We all know that cables are important pieces in system synergy , but the inescapable law of diminishing returns on moving up the food chain - and especially for cables - always rules.

MY TAKE:

 I highly doubt that choosing a CLEAR BEYOND speaker cable step-up from CLEAR will provide you with an “Aha!” or “Jesus Moment “ audio performance improvement. ,,( if any … emphasis added ) 

So if it’s an ethereal added detail, slam, or dynamics you are seeking …think stepping up in your source(s).

Run -in time on CARDAS Cables ….I can only report on my direct personal experiences. Yours may be different.

My experience:

- it’s a series of incremental steps with pauses in between. overall,

- it’s well over 200+ hours ..I kind of lost count after a while with the staggered step program highlighted following. 

- it was never a linear progression . Rather it would flatten out for a time at a new plateau …. and then sound a “bit better” ,  and the trends continued for a series of ad hoc indeterminate periods…. until it kinda “planed off “.

- My not-insignificant run-in time on these high-end cables was mirrored in like form by the 400+ hours recommended by SIMAUDIO on their MOON streamer / dac / network player 

My take: I highly doubt that CARDAS CLEAR BEYOND will offer ANY  perceptible audio performance upticks over CARDAS CLEAR speakerscables in your system.

The improvements - if any - I predict from the CLEAR BEYOND will be comparably minuscule and only perceived as minute ones in a direct bake-off in your system, and conducted in  your listening room. I would not drink any KoolAid that touts them as an automatic magic silver bullet on the Yellow Brick Road to Audio OZ based on doubling of price and and a doubling of their mass .