New Zu Mission cable

Just put in the PC on the amp and there was an immediate improvement. Any haze (which I hadn't noticed) was gone, daddy gone. Clear as a sky of azure blue, clear as an unmuddied lake. Next, one for the CDP. Improvement not as substantial as the first, but what would one expect?

Put in the ICs and likewise, no waiting, big improvement. Big grin on my face. No downside, to speak of.
CD after CD showed an improvement.

Next, the SCs. ??? More detail. All of a sudden I have vertical balance in the soundstage. Big improvement in lower midrange and bass (nothing earth shattering but it now has presence), deeper insight (more detail and nuance), but....what happened to the air? There's smoke where there used to be air and sparkle. Its almost homogenized but not. Certain CDs sound better but most have that smog about them. For the time being.

Not really a complaint since they have to break in but right out of the box, I must say I'm impressed. From what I've read, here, 200 for break in is expected but I think it will take less.
We'll see.

@ Tholt - I'm not sure, as I don't work for Zu, but I assume it was a product rationalization &/or marketing rethink.

A shame in a way as I was planning to get another couple of sets of the Libtech cables. But I am not as impressed with the Mission & will probably look elsewhere ...

Salmonsc

What didn't impress you about the Mission ICs or SCs? Did you audition them and find the Mission line lacking? What were your issues with them? So far my only gripe is the pricing. The Mission line is still available for 65% off.

Tholt

I'm not sure exactly why Zu cxled the other product lines. Maybe to just to simplify things and focus more on the speaker line?

Nonoise

Looking fwd to your thoughts on the Mission SCs. I gave mine over 300 hours of break-in non-stop. I played different kinds of music each day with them.

Artmaltman

With Zu still offering the 65% off the Mission cable line I'd give them a shot. I confirmed with Zu if you buy the cables new and not B-stock the 60 day return policy applies. I paid $200 + shipping for my 3M Mission SCs. The exact same cables can be had now for approx $140 + shipping.

Thanks everyone and have a Happy New Year.

Game over. At least for me. Just got my new Burson integrated and boy oh boy, it just blew all the smoke, dust and debris out of the Mission cables. All of them. Maybe the high winds we've been experiencing out here in L.A. helped.
I dunno.
Hate to highjack this thread but all you need is something really special to get immediate benefits from the Mission cables. You've got nothing to lose and a lot to gain from experimenting with them. If there is an improvement (and I know there will be) at the 200-300 hour mark, I'll just wear this shit eating grin for all next year.
The amount of improvement has not been subtle.
Far from it.

Nonoise,

You've making me very curious about the PCs. I picked up a pair of the B-stock interconnects to fill a soon to be gap in my system (adding a SUT) and they have really exceeded my expectations, turning out to be very good cables and not just for the price...

I recently discovered another affordable power cable I love, but with the promo/b-stock pricing these Zus are actually cheaper... Shoot, even the B-stock events are a hundred less...

Anyone else play with their power cables and find them to be as great a value as the interconnects?