A little late with this post, but I also highly recommend the TG Audio cables. I have Merlin VSM-M and use them with an Alta Vista Audio NP100 amp (totally rebuilt Counterpoint SA-100). I used Cardas Golden Refs for a few years and liked them, but found other cables to be better overall and much cheaper. I originally compared them to Luminous Renaissance wire. The Luminous were much much cheaper. They were perhaps a little edgier sounding and not as refined, but they did seem to pass more low level detail than the Cardas (I still use them for my TV/Movie set-up). I tried Audience AU24 wires next and enjoyed them very much. They were extrememly musical and involving, with lots of low level detail (which doesn't mean tipped up treble, like it often can). I compared them directly with the TG Audio, ending up selling my Cardas Golden Refs, and went with TG Audio. Both Audeince and TG Audio were both extremely musical and involving - one being and excellent copper desing and the other being an excellent silver design - but the TG Audio truly disappered in my system. I had also read Bobby's warnings about silver wire and in most cases I think those warnings are very wise, considering the VSM's very revealing tweeter, but there were no such side-affects with the TG Audio wire. I was able to hear many more details in all frequencies, with no noticeable boost in any of them. Compared to the Cardas, sounds throughout the entire spectrum sounded more real and lifelike with the TG Audio (and Audience AU24 as well). My system sounds like whatever source I'm playing...for better, or for worse. I haven't changed my amp, preamp, speakers, or speaker cable for more than five years now. I think that says something.
I believe much of the "sound" of Bob Crump's silver TG Audio wires was due to his terminating methods and detailed burn-in process. I heard one other brand of silver interconnect and didn't find its sound anywhere near as smooth or enjoyable. The Merlin VSM/TG Audio combo is highly recommend (try searching some old threads here and at AudioAsylum.com), but I would be wary of mating them with other silver wire.
As far as the Cardas Golden Refs are concerned, they really do sound fantastic with the Merlins. You probably won't know what you're missing unless you compare them to the TG Audio or another better cable. If you do compare them, I think you'll find that the TG Audio wires really take advantage of Bob's amazing design and the excellent tweeter. The price difference is also nice. No matter which route you go, I highly recommend taking Bob's advice (is it still his advice? I haven't checked for a few years) and skip bi-wired cable. Buy single wire and use jumpers. I switched from bi-wired Cardas Golden Refs to single wire with Bob's jumpers (made from Cardas wire and used to cost something like $50) and found it to be a huge improvement in sound. Everything sounded much more coherent and "right" to my ears. I auditioned the Audience AU24 with jumpers as well and settled on the TG Audio with TG audio jumpers.
Phil
P.S. The two interconnects between my source/pre and pre/amp are copper. The first is is a Luminous Sychestra Synch Ref with bullet plugs and the other is either an older, single-ended Coincident interconnect or Luminous Synchestra Sig balanced.
