Looking for a "dark" sounding xlr ic....?

I agree with David99...my system is similar to yours and I don't feel it is bright...maybe a different silver IC would work. I have tried 2 different ones in my system and like the Homegrown Audio myself. I'm sure to a tubophile it would sound bright...maybe that is the direction you may want to head?

i have auditioned the adcom cd player and had good results with a hybrid balanced cable. i heard them with a harm tech pro-silway ii.

Cardas Golden Cross, warm and rich.

I'll second David99's endorsement of the RSA Illume` cables, I'm using the rca's with the bullet plugs and think they're great. Open like all good silver cables but well-balanced. I'm sure they would sound great balanced as well. FWIW I'm using tubed seperates, so perhaps there won't be synergy with ss gear, but like others I've heard the Electro integrated described as dark and rich, and the price on the RS cables is tough to beat.

I've tried a few XLR cables between my Benchmark DAC1 and BAT preamp. One that did not show any signs of brightness in my system was the Pure Note Cerulean. I wouldn't call it "dark" though. Very natural and listenable. I'm still undecided long term between the Cerulean and a Cardas Golden Reference.