Mix & Match Interconnects

I don't really have a problem mixing cables. Yes, I do use my favorite interconnects starting at the CD.

I am of the opinion that decent quality Acoustic Zen, XLO, etc. cables are better terminated and of superior quality than what one usually finds at Radio Shack, Circuit City, etc. This is probably enough.

I think that the perfection sought through subtle differances in cables is undermined by slight variations in CD productions, amp quality, speaker quality and room accoustics.

I am sure room humidity, time of day, the long drive home you just got out of and the quality of what is in your glass are of even greater factors than the brand of your interconnects.

Like Jmcgrogab2, my entire system is wired with Tara Decades (balanced). Well, that was true until yesterday when my Air 1s arrived. They are now between the DAC and preamp and are currently breaking in.

All one cable all one voice.. Internal and external..Sonoran Plateau cable thru out.........Tom

I do not use same cable from source to preamp and preamp to amp. The source cable should be as clean as possible and as neutral, open, excellent top to bottom frequency response as possible. The amp cable can vary based on your matching since taste and system matching are different. It should sound similar to the source except fuller sound. IMHO, the amp cable should have bigger band width.

i am a big believer in different interconnects and follow the same line as S23chang...with that being said, i have found a interconnect that works well in both spots, so "for" now" i am using the same.

the key is to experiment....depending on the resolution of your system and what you are trying to acomplish, i would really try as many combinations of interconnects so you can and "dial in" your system.

despite what manufactures say there is no suhc thing as a neutral cable...i have found some more neutral than others, but they do have a sonic signature of some sort. when you take that sonic signature and multiply it ( you use it from cd to pre and pre to amp) it becomes really, really obvious. sometimes to syrpy in the case of the cardas golden cross or somtimes too thin midbass with the xlo signature.

with that being said -i will use xlo signature or straightwire crescendo between source and pre..they are very fast, neutral cables, that image well and have incredible dynamics.

now from pre to amps you can go with the same signature and mutlipy it or change it slightly......i went with the cresendo again...because it is the only cable i have found that works well with minimal sonic signature in both spots ( there was little to no differnce when i had the xlo here) so what i have now is a somewhat neutral cable that is synergestic with my gear.

really experiment with as many cables you can in differnt spots, i think you will be surprised with what you come up with.

hope that helps.

mike