Audioquest/Acoustic Zen/Analysis Plus?

I was pretty happy with AP Oval Nine. I've used (am using) AZ Matrix ICs; personally, I think that AZ is a little overated. I replaced my AZ Matrix MK-2s with Nordost Red Dawns, and I think that latter works much better in my system (and it was $100 cheaper on the used market). Sometimes the most expensive and popular thing really isn't the best.

AZ is slightly warm IMO, I recommend Audience instead for more neutral sound and better value.

All i can say here is "sheesh". One guy says Brand A is warm, the other says it is slightly lean and the third says it is over-rated. Nothing against any of these folks as they are sharing their opinion and experiences, but how is someone to draw any type of conclusion from suggestions like this? You really have to try cabling in your system to see how you like it. That is, unless one person has tried that cabling in multiple systems and has found it to bring consistent results with it each time OR someone has the same exact componentry being used. Otherwise, it is strictly hit or miss. Sean
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I agree Sean, the ideal method is to try the cable in your system but that is not always easy to arrange and I think it is best to have an idea of what to expect.

I think my comment about AZ being warm is conservative, I have heard it (specifically Satori, Hologram, WOW, Mat Ref and Mat Ref II) in 2 different systems and made many changes to my setup when I owned it. In general I think AZ cables are warm and smooth and if that sounds good to Adiorio he may want to arrange an audition. I know there are exceptions but typicaly I think cables have a sonic signature that is fairly consistant.

BTW I am guessing Adiorio does not need to be told to audition the cables and also probably knows there could be different results than the other responses.

Philojet: I actually thought that the AZ WOWs were "hot" in my system. I went from those to the AZ Matrix REf MK-2s (more refined, but still "hot"), and, finally, to the Nordost Red Dawns. YOO-REEK-AH. It was all about speed, I guess. The RDs let my Cary 308 CDP, VTL Pre, and Rogue 88 amp do their thing.

Yes, Sean, is right: try it for yourself. If you mix gear like I do, you need to tweak a lot, but, if you're patient, you're gonig to find something that works.