Cardas Audio cables

caesar

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I'm not convinced of this because experimentation has told me otherwise. Though, I will say "it depends". IME, there can be certain choke points in a system that must first be discovered and removed in order for a single component swap (be it a cable or other type of component) to fully come through. But that definitely doesn't require "full looming". I've found there to be "dominant" positions in my system for interconnects. That is, the position in which I normally hear the greatest impact from a single swap. This tends to be between phono stage and line stage for me, and in this position I can get a very good feel for the character of a new cable. I've also found that the same cable doesn't always sound good in every position. I really like my speaker cables, for example. But the same wire doesn't work well when used as interconnects in my system. The inverse is also true of my interconnects (that company doesn't make good sounding speaker cables to my ears). Etc. The "full loom" concept was most likely put forth initially by the cable manufacturers themselves for obvious reasons. It's also a fair approach for those who loathe cable auditioning, which may be most of us, granted. But it's far from a requirement in order to assess character and performance. And it shouldn't be viewed as guarantee to maximize the latter.


Nice post!

the most disturbing thing about the top of the line Cardas digital cable is that the digital cable is arguably the most important cable in the digital system.

Once you lose the transparency and dynamics and instead get soft, mushy stuff from the source, tye musical detail and aliveness of music are gone forever!


but again, as I mentioned a lot of guys have gotten used to that sound. years and years of conditioning And acclimating.

And they enjoy that. it’s fantastic that they do. This is a hobby after all.


All we can do is state the differences and trade offs and let people exercise their freedom of choice For what they like. There’s no point arguing about taste.
 

Kcin

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Have you ever tried the Tara Zero Evo interconnects Marty is talking about?

Sorry, I have not tried the Tara cables.

Regarding the Mogami 2534 vs. the Clear Beyond... not close in any respect. Decent but not close. I have some 2534 here that I use as utility cables.

I have tried previous generations of Cardas and the Clear Beyond is the only one I could live with. Great detail with the right degree of harmonic naturalness in my system.

I do hate trialing cables. I came from Nordost Valhalla prior to the Clear Beyond.
 
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Lagonda

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Sorry, I have not tried the Tara cables.

Regarding the Mogami 2534 vs. the Clear Beyond... not close in any respect. Decent but not close. I have some 2534 here that I use as utility cables.

I have tried previous generations of Cardas and the Clear Beyond is the only one I could live with. Great detail with the right degree of harmonic naturalness in my system.

I do hate trialing cables. I came from Nordost Valhalla prior to the Clear Beyond.
You have tubes everywhere, and electrostatics ?
 

Lagonda

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My brother has a full loom of clear in his system, to bright for my taste.
I will try to borrow them over christmas for a try in my own.
 
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Kcin

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You have tubes everywhere, and electrostatics ?
Yes, all tubes with Io and volume controls to direct drive tube amps for the stators of the Beveridge electrostatics. No step up transformers for the electrostatics - no step down transformers for the amp. Straight from the amp's output tube plate to the stator.
 
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Lagonda

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Yes, all tubes with Io and volume controls to direct drive tube amps for the stators of the Beveridge electrostatics. No step up transformers for the electrostatics - no step down transformers for the amp. Straight from the amp's output tube plate to the stator.
In my experience stats favor cables with a little extra sizzle in the treble, but
you have rare stats, never heard them.
 
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Kcin

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My brother has a full loom of clear in his system, to bright for my taste.
I will try to borrow them over christmas for a try in my own.
Will be good to try.
Of course , everything very system dependent. The CB is written up to be incremental to the C but I think it is significantly better in detail and space retrieval. Again, the first and only Cardas cable I have ever liked. YMMV and all that.
 
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Kcin

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In my experience stats favor cables with a little extra sizzle in the treble, but
you have rare stats, never heard them.

Probably mostly true, the Beveridges are different .. I believe it it is the direct drive amps and the constant charge low R diaphragms which is very different from ML, Acoustat or most any other stat on the market today.
 
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Lagonda

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Will be good to try.
Of course , everything very system dependent. The CB is written up to be incremental to the C but I think it is significantly better in detail and space retrieval. Again, the first and only Cardas cable I have ever liked. YMMV and all that.
I had a full loom of Golden Reference for a while, sounded to me like a cable
made to change SS sound into tube sound.
 
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Kcin

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I had a full loom of Golden Reference for a while, sounded to me like a cable
made to change SS sound into tube sound.
Agreed.
 
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microstrip

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I had a full loom of Golden Reference for a while, sounded to me like a cable made to change SS sound into tube sound.

Still have such loom - just with these intentions. Colored, full bodied, surely, but very musical. An unbelievable sound connecting the DartZeel CH8550 integrated with the SoundLab A1 px. But could sound dull with electronics or speakers that were not airy enough to compensate the fullness.

I feel I should try the Cardas Beyond some day ... ;)
 
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Lagonda

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Still have such loom - just with these intentions. Colored, full bodied, surely, but very musical. An unbelievable sound connecting the DartZeel CH8550 integrated with the SoundLab A1 px. But could sound dull with electronics or speakers that were not airy enough to compensate the fullness.

I feel I should try the Cardas Beyond some day ... ;)
They sounded nice on older Utopia speakers with the telar tweeter used in older
Wilson’s too. I still have a set of Mini Utopias and they are screamers with
a bright cable;)
 

Marcus

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Last edited:

Marcus

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A 2019 Brutus Award to Cardas Audio!

 
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Ron Resnick

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Sorry, I have not tried the Tara cables.

Regarding the Mogami 2534 vs. the Clear Beyond... not close in any respect. Decent but not close. I have some 2534 here that I use as utility cables.

I have tried previous generations of Cardas and the Clear Beyond is the only one I could live with. Great detail with the right degree of harmonic naturalness in my system.

I do hate trialing cables. I came from Nordost Valhalla prior to the Clear Beyond.


I would think that Nordost Valhalla and Cardas Clear Beyond would almost be at different ends of the sonic spectrum?
 
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Rocoa

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I would think that Nordost Valhalla and Cardas Clear Beyond would almost be at different ends of the sonic spectrum?

I agree. An overview could be Cardas Clear for transistors and Nordost for tubes. I use both in that configuration and I'm fully satisfied with the results obtained.
 
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Kcin

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I would think that Nordost Valhalla and Cardas Clear Beyond would almost be at different ends of the sonic spectrum?

Or to take another perspective on it... Cardas has come the other way with the Clear Beyond.

BTW the Valhalla is not silver- but silver- plated copper. Very different in my experience.

Regardless, I believe the Cardas is worthy of the "industry honour" bestowed by PF as noted above..... although I think PF was late to the party :)

YMMV and all that with cables. Try before you buy.
 

GuidoCorona

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All, I have been using a full loom of Cardas wires for a couple of years with fabulous results: Clear Beyond XL PCs on Rowland M925 monos, Rowland Aeris DAC + PSU; , Esoteric X-01 alternating between Clear and Clear Beyond XL Clear digital from X-01 to Aeris; Clear Reflection XLRs from Aeris to M925; Clear Reflection from M925 to Vienna Die Muzik.

About a month ago I started scribbling about my new experience with the Rowland Daemon Superintegrated. I have powered by Clear Beyond XL; fed from X-01 by Clear SPDIF; and connected to Vienna Dia Muzik via Clear Reflection.

Hope you visit my chronicle at:

https://whatsbestforum.com/threads/...-a-statement-superintegrated-amplifier.30327/

Regards, Guido
 
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Jeffy

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Guido I just placed Cardas Clear Reflection balanced between amp and preamp. I would say I have 50 hours on it. Can you go over break in period. Can cables sound bright in beginning. I hope the warmth develops in time.
 

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