Continuation from this locked thread. @frenchrooster I finally share the same experience of hearing a big difference with interconnects. It’s a complicated situation but I’ll attempt to make it short. I have been swapping amps, DACs, power cords and interconnects lately. All these components and cables have been compared several times throughout the years. I finally heard a meaningful difference when I swapped the interconnects. It’s the same experience I had before, and this time the difference is much more obvious. I don’t think the inferior sounding cable will be used in the system in the future, for good.
If it’s of any interest, the inferior sounding cable sounds flat and 2-dimensional with a smeared bass. The other pair of interconnects have a larger 3 dimensional soundstage and the notes glow a bit more. Basically everything sounds more spacious and illuminated, and there is subtlety in the presentation as the micro detail is reproduced slightly differently in a better way.
I actually bought the Wireworld new after using the Acrolink for several years, which I regretted. I was just curious. Anyway I bought the Acrolink used at a higher price.
I was so impressed by the Acrolink that I went bonkers and bought the top of the range 7N-DA6300IV Mexcel for £3k+ new, shipped from Japan. The previous comparison between the two Acrolinks did not reveal a night and day difference but I’ll be comparing again when I manage to optimise few areas in the system.
I’m completely done with cables, ditto the system.
I certainly love anything made in Japan as much as I like UK made stuff
I’ve owned Japanese cars for many years and they certainly know how to build exemplary items that, with a quick yearly service, will run and run reliably for years
Anything British tends to be very well made and built to last… Japanese items tend to be more intricately made with a certain precision to them but still made to last
However would I buy a Japanese amp?… errr no I wouldn’t but I would buy a Marantz cd player made in Japan though as their mechanics are so good … built as only the Japanese know how to
The Acrolink is very well built with high quality plugs, and it is much heavier and stiffer to manage than the Wireworld. The cables don’t bend easily and care is required to install the cables. The Wireworld cable feels cheap in comparison, and it sounds slightly cheap as well.
The Wireworld Silver Eclipse 8 in 1.5m length which I have is close to £1k.
No name, AQ, Chord, Nordost, TQ and others. I think the most expensive I’ve owned was the Chord Signature TA at nearly £1k. It made essentially no difference to my ears.
If I am to single out a coax cable to go back to that worked best, this would be the old long discontinued Chord Signature which was a dual coaxial cable (a fully separated return path I believe as a design). Heavy and stiff but if you can find one and can accommodate it (needed some connector support not to pull too much down in my case), I would recommend it.
I am in lower division when it comes to interconnects. However six months ago I changed from Audioquest Evergreen to Chord Epic X Aray between the DAC (Chord Qutest then) to the Pre Amp.
What a difference was immediately noticeable. Improved detail and sharpness, together with an improved sound stage.
Unfortunately this has whetted my appetite on what other interconnects to consider for a change out
I feel I will go for Canare or Mark Grant. I think Chord cables are overpriced. Went recently for Audioquest Pegasus XLR . Vs the Signature I had, the difference is huge.
Last October I swapped from TelluriumQ to a full loom of Vertere Redline - Speaker cables and both XLR & RCA interconnects. I have a 222/300/250 into SF speakers and things never sounded better to my ears.
The Redlines blend really well. I’m not planning on anymore cable changes.
Mark Grant have been and stayed no nonsense in hifi and make excellent stuff, although I did not really get along with their RCAs that I’ve tried. No personal experience with their coaxials.
Hey, I resemble that remark- I owned a triumph tr-250 (tr5) for several months way back when. My next car was a Toyota corolla lift-back which lasted many years.
Echo this. I also have redline power cables. It was the equivalent of a box upgrade for me. The redlines just add clarity, nothing excessive, nothing fatiguing just more of the Naim sound. Very good value as well as cables go.
‘Twas me. No difference in a nd5xs2/nDac/nait50/petite classic system. And the bnc connections felt better fitted too. I chose the 0.75M version. Nice to be able to select his custom lengths.
