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Warm Interconnects

First, apologies as I know this has been asked before...a lot. I'm looking for a warm interconnect to balance out my system, but not wanting to break the bank if I can help it. I know everyone has favorites and the one I hear more often than not is the Cardas Golden Cross, but would like to find something similiar in tone but at a lower price. I've read/researched room treatments, speaker placement, etc and tried most of it, but it's the same results. I'll list my setup here, but to start I own Monitor Audio Silver 8s (last of the British made). They're bright in character already, I know (gold tweeter, but same as their gold reference line).

System is -
Benchmark DAC1 with HiFi tuning fuses fed by Shunyata Taipan Alpha Helix power cable
Musical Fidelity A308I Integrated fed by PS Audio Mini-Lab power cable
Monitor Audio Silver 8s
Shunyata Hydra 4 fed by Taipan Alpha Helix
Audioquest Bedrock 8' Bi-wire speaker cable
Tributaries .5 meter SCA-150 Silver RCAs from DAC to amp (these, I believe, are the major culprit as I hear that silver doesn't go well with solid state gear).

I'm demoing a pair of Home Grown Audio Silver Lace RCAs at the moment, but this was just to confirm silver is poor with my setup (and it looks like silver is, though the Silver Lace are an improvement).

Any thoughts are appreciated.
mb9061
aball
2,016 posts
 
I also have a pair of Monster M1000i. They are a great buy for sure. They lack a tiny bit of articulation when compared head-to-head with the Cardas Crosslink but they have a more open midrange.

Another great warm cable is the van den Hul First Ultimate mk2. It has amazing capabilities but never sounds bright or etched. Quite an enigma. It surpasses all other cables I have tried in terms of soundstaging as well.

I very highly recommend any van den Hul for your system (except for maybe the Orchid which is more on the lean side of things). The First Ultimate is kind of expensive but the D102mk3 and the Well are also first rate and never bright. You might also want to consider their speaker cables - like the D352. I used to have a pair and they weren't bright at all (not enough for my system and tastes actually). I think these cables will give you exactly what you seek.

Arthur
soix
9,456 posts
 
The original Acoustic Zen Matrix Refs were tonally rich and on the warmer side, and if you can find them you'll probably get a great deal since they've been replaced by a newer version. The new version takes a step closer to the Silver Refs and sounds a bit leaner than the originals, so they may not be appropriate for your needs. Best of luck.
mb9061 OP
137 posts
 
Thank you all for the insight.

I actually have several pair of old Monster Cable 400 MkII's and swapped a pair in just to see. They sound muddy with a lack of definition compared to the Tributaries and HGA Silver Lace, but then again they're not even the best Monster cable at that. I guess it sounds stupid to try and cut corners after dumping so much $ on equip, power cords and conditioning, so I'll probably pony up for the Golden Cross. I never thought I'd get to the point where my system is resolving enough to allow interconnects to have that big an impact. I do like the speed and articulation of the silver cables, but can't get past the high frequency emphasis and brightness.

I've heard good things about the Kimber Hero, but wondering if they would be on par with the Monster Cable given the price point. The Accoustic Zen Matrix IIs appear highly reccommended too.

Appreciate all of your input. Any other suggestions or thoughts are certainly welcome!
philjolet's avatar
philjolet
2,306 posts
 
I second Acoustic Zen cables as being warm - either the Matrix Reference or the WOW series are copper wire and full sounding
sherod
1,690 posts
 
I also recommend the original AZ Matrix Reference( not the newer MK II, which is more tonally neutral) The originals had a very seductively warm quality.
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