2. cables
  3. 1208368639

Best interconnect between Ayre AX-7 and CX-7

Time for another change in the second system. I found a few months’ old Ayre AX-7e at a bargain that I’ll pair with my Ayre CX-7. In every review of the AX-7 I found, and especially when looking at it together with CX-7, reviewers have praised the superior performance of balanced interconnects. Sadly, mostly without mentioning the IC’s used.

I read through a few older threads on interconnects for Ayre gear as well as the (disputed) general merit of balanced IC’s, particularly over short lengths. And was left a bit puzzled as to what the views expressed there would boil down to for this particular pair of machines.

Can anyone lift the veil (… or add to the confusion) what IC’s would bring the best result with this gear? In case Stealth Indra leaps to your mind, I am rather looking at something in the $ 500-600 range here (between 0,5m and 1m length, new or used). As far as XLR’s are concerned, I have seen a pair of Acoustic Zen Silver Reference II that would fit the bill, but would it fit sonically? (I have as yet not received an answer from the German distributor as to the availability of Ayre’s own IC’s btw, so I can’t judge their price level over here.)

As always, many thanks in advance for your thoughts or recommendations (XLR or RCA).
karelfd
bigtee
803 posts
 
Well, everyone has their favorite cable and I do too. I have used Ayre equipment with the Audioquest Cheetah interconnect with superb results. AQ has changed the name but the basic cable remains the same.
As for balanced, the Ayre equipment is like four amps in one. Each one drives half the cycle either positive or negative (which is truly a misnomer because the audio signal is AC) for each channel. What is does relate to better is one half the signal going one way and the other going the otherway (alternating.) The signal is isolated in the circuitry of the amp and requires more engineering effort than single ended. The parts really have to be a close tolerance. When these are separated with truly balanced equipment (using balanced cables) it does make a difference in dynamics and overall sound.
A lot of equipment uses a splitter(or a transformer) to separate the signal for balanced. In this case, balanced cables will not sound any better (if as good) as single ended. I think this is where a lot of the disagreement starts.
Ayre's own IC is very similiar to Cardas Golden Reference and is made by Cardas. It's a realitively warm cable but doesn't offer the see through quality I like.
beerdraft
198 posts
 
Should be able to get into the Shunyata Altairs for this. I noticed several pairs are on Auction of Altairs and Antairs. The antair is more expesive but the bids haven't gotten very high yet. I own the Altairs and love them. I imagine these auction cables are probably new and for auction since Shunyata has reintroduced the inter connects and has a new line up now. Nothing at all wrong with the altairs or antairs though. Get them for a steel..

beerdraft
karelfd OP
476 posts
 
Hi Beerdraft,
Thanks for the interesting lead. The Altairs look indeed a bargain. Would you happen to know whether the XLR Altairs are a true balanced design, as Nrenter pointed out?
Karel
nrenter's avatar
nrenter
766 posts
 
Bigtee,

I think there is some confusion over how a balanced topology works (or perhaps your understanding just wasn't articulated well).

A balanced circuit is "one in which there are two identical signal branches connected so as to operate with the inputs in phase opposition and with the output connections in phase, each balanced to ground."

While you are correct that "positive" and "negative" is a misnomer, it would be better to describe it as "the signal" and "the mirror image of the signal". Each half of a balanced channel does not drive "half the cycle", but the "positive" amplifies "the signal" and the "negative" amplifies "the mirror image of the signal".
beerdraft
198 posts
 
On the true balanced, I don't know. That would be a question for Shunyata. Email them on thier site and they will let you know. I don't use balanced. Some interesting threads on AK about how balanced is not good or something, I don't understand it but the equipment and the i-connect aren't matching correctly. Seems many are having problems with balanced and get better sound out of single ended. Don't know all about it and don't understand it though.

beerdraft
More to discover