Anyone been in contact with Jade Audio recently?

I agree with pretty much everything John (Jafox) has said. I also prefer the Jade cables. However, it is true that I have found gold cables in general to have a strong sense of harmonic textures that I enjoy. I've also heard gold cables from Gabriel Gold and Awesound. IMHO they all have a similar harmonic 'rightness' to the notes that makes gold so addictive. I prefer the way the Jade soundstages though, and the notes decay into a black space. It sounds more natural to me.

The one problem I have with cable manufacturers in general is that many tend to keep increasing the 'break-in' period, but they don't seem to be increasing the money back guarantee trial period. I've had other manufacturers besides GG originally tell me that 100-150 hours would be sufficient. When I hit that mark, if I'm not impressed, the number increases to 300-400. Virtual Dynamics did this to me as well. When I explain that that many hours would put me past the return window, I then realized that is probably the intention of it.

From my cable burn in experiences, I believe a cable may keep developing for 100-1000 hours, but I would say that 90% of the burn in occurs in the first 100 hours. FWIW, I felt Jade Vermeil cables changed more in the first 100 hours of any cable I've ever heard, that includes the Jade Hybrid and Gold. I can't explain why though.
After 100 hours with a cable, if I haven't heard improvement, or it's not in the ballpark, I tend to move on. I find it difficult to believe that a cable I've listened to for 100 hours and have mixed feelings about will all of a sudden just bloom into wonder cable after 300-400 hours. If this possibility does exist, cable manufacturers will need to extend their money back guarantee period to 90 days or longer. Otherwise I'm tempted to believe that this number is just extended to take you past the return date trying to burn the cable in. Call me cynical if you must, but that's my $0.02.

Cheers,
John

cynical?I don't know?but in the case of Gabriel Gold I think you may want to check out his feedback and reputation.I'm pretty certain he's not intentially expanding break-in time to keep your money.My gut feeling is he doesn't do this for the money.
Don't know about VD?Did you ever ask Steve for a refund?
My guess is he would have accommodated you.just my 2 cents.

I have not thought of it like Jmcgrogran2. I simply find it hard to believe that cable differences can be quantified between zero hours and X hours.

In the case of listening to a cold tube component and then playing that same recording 30-60 minutes later, it is very clear how some of the edge is smoothed over as the tubes and other parts have stabilized. Is this the kind of change people talk about when they say cables need burn in? But even cold, it is clear as to the overall sonic signature of tube electronics component. Are people claiming this is not the case with cables? .... you can not judge them at all until a minimum number of hours? It all sounds kinda silly to me. Now matter how long you rub a copper penny, it does not suddenly become a gold nugget.

I do believe in burn in John, as I have heard it. I think it has more to do with the dielectric breaking in.

I don't believe in it to the extent that some do, recommending at least 300, 400, even 500 hours or more until a cable starts to work it's magic. I haven't heard this happen in my 30 years of listening. I guess anything is possible, but I still believe that a cable's sonic signature is pretty much established by 100 hours. Certainly enough time to decide if a cable has serious potential or not. As I stated earlier, I've found 90% of the burn in happens in the first 100 hours. You may get some slight change after that, but it won't be much, IMHO.

Darealjaydee, you seem to take any GG comment a bit too seriously, as if it were a personal attack on you. Maybe you should stick to the GG threads, there are a few of them out there. I tend to leave those GG enthusiasts to enjoy their euphoria on their threads now. I made a few comments on there when I was trying them. Obviously I was not well received there because my comments were not totally ga-ga. I do not mean to demean the GG cables or Steve, they are good cables (they do have gold in them), and Steve is a good guy, they're just not the best that I've heard. Obviously personal tastes and system synergy have a lot to do with this.

I found it less confrontational to just leave the GG thread. I've found the same with the VD threads. If my comment on their cables is not 100% roses, I am booed and jeered. Some cables elicit more passion, like the GG and VD. You don't find that kind of passion on other cable companies threads. Passion can be a good thing though, so don't take this as another assault.

If this thread bothers you, maybe you will find more peace by ignoring it. Just a thought.

Cheers,
John

BTW, I did make the same comment to Rick Schultz of VD when auditioning a pair of his Revelation speaker cables. They were used cables, but he offered me a 30 day money back guarantee. As the 30 day deadline approached, I was at about 125 hours, and though I did like some of their traits, I decided that overall, I had heard better, and wanted to return them. Rick told me that they may require more burn in, maybe 250-350 hours. I asked him if he would extend the trial period, but he would not. He said he normally doesn't offer trial periods with used cables. So I thanked him for the opportunity to listen, and shipped the cables back. Maybe that has something to do with my jaded (sic) behaviour towards exorbitant burn in times. Well that and the fact that the cables I do decide to keep do not change much after the first 100 hours.

JD answered my mail concerning the Vermeil Digital. So the man is still alive and kicking ! ;-)

BTW. I have VD Masters on trial and they advised 400-800 hours of burning in. Ofcourse this isn't possible within the 45 days trial. But I hope they will be flexible...