Well Kevin, the Mexcells made me change the way I listened to the 03s. Really. Both iLink and Balanced were much much better than any other brand I've tried regardless of price.
Which again brings me to say that considering the less than 800 USD the Esoteric iLink costs, it is the best, by far, price performance I know (actually it is the best performance, period, with the only exception of the cables that you have).
The Esoteric Balanced are better. BUT, and this is in my personal opinion and with my system, they are only better if you play the original rates. If you upconvert, then I liked better the iLink.
Much better actually when up converting CDs to DSD. This was the worst sounding alternative, to my taste again, when comparing the 2 cables.
Upconverting to 176 was better than to DSD, but still I liked better iLink at original rate. Better definition, more detail, more like the real thing, but still very musical. Maybe a bit less bass (not even sure) but better defined.
Now when using the balanced with up convertion and filters off, that is when the 6300 got better than iLink. Not by a huge margin but yes, it was clearly better.
All the above is a big surpise to me. Before trying Esoteric I always listened to the 03s (for almost a year and a half) in DSD or sometimes 176. Sounded better. Now I see I was missing a lot for such a long time. Not that the other way around was not good. It was. Is just that with these cables it is much better. Is ironic that I discover this just when I changed to the new 02s.... so basically been underusing the 03s for many listening hours...
So in your case, you are fine. More than fine. You already own the best, to my knowledge. The question really comes to someone who has to buy cables: do they go for the very expensive balanced or for the iLink. Hard to say really. It will of course depend on each one's budget and perception of value. I would recommend people to try both before they buy. Price difference is big, and sound wise is not in the same proportion.
I would say if Balanced are 10, iLink is maybe 9 or 8,5. Is the last point or point and a half worth the extra 7000 USD....? That is for each one to decide....
These results came after long listening sessions, with mostly classical music of all kind, and of course in my system and my room. In other systems things could change. Also maybe with other styles. However I know by now very well how system sounds and can tell changes easily, and very familiar also with music played, so very confident with the findings.
Best
Eli
Which again brings me to say that considering the less than 800 USD the Esoteric iLink costs, it is the best, by far, price performance I know (actually it is the best performance, period, with the only exception of the cables that you have).
The Esoteric Balanced are better. BUT, and this is in my personal opinion and with my system, they are only better if you play the original rates. If you upconvert, then I liked better the iLink.
Much better actually when up converting CDs to DSD. This was the worst sounding alternative, to my taste again, when comparing the 2 cables.
Upconverting to 176 was better than to DSD, but still I liked better iLink at original rate. Better definition, more detail, more like the real thing, but still very musical. Maybe a bit less bass (not even sure) but better defined.
Now when using the balanced with up convertion and filters off, that is when the 6300 got better than iLink. Not by a huge margin but yes, it was clearly better.
All the above is a big surpise to me. Before trying Esoteric I always listened to the 03s (for almost a year and a half) in DSD or sometimes 176. Sounded better. Now I see I was missing a lot for such a long time. Not that the other way around was not good. It was. Is just that with these cables it is much better. Is ironic that I discover this just when I changed to the new 02s.... so basically been underusing the 03s for many listening hours...
So in your case, you are fine. More than fine. You already own the best, to my knowledge. The question really comes to someone who has to buy cables: do they go for the very expensive balanced or for the iLink. Hard to say really. It will of course depend on each one's budget and perception of value. I would recommend people to try both before they buy. Price difference is big, and sound wise is not in the same proportion.
I would say if Balanced are 10, iLink is maybe 9 or 8,5. Is the last point or point and a half worth the extra 7000 USD....? That is for each one to decide....
These results came after long listening sessions, with mostly classical music of all kind, and of course in my system and my room. In other systems things could change. Also maybe with other styles. However I know by now very well how system sounds and can tell changes easily, and very familiar also with music played, so very confident with the findings.
Best
Eli
