Saxo---To each his own! All I can report is what I heard in my system in my room. I would have kept the Matrix if I really thought it was better but that is not the case. I had ALL of the cables on hand for direct comparisons. I did like the Silver Reference but as I noted, factoring in the cost, the HT PSII was a better performer. On an absolute basis, the AZ Silver could be said to be more open but not $600 worth of more open. It also, as I said, had a tinge of brightness. I think this is why when Stereophile reviewed them, the reviewer suggested not to use them in a system that was a little on the bright side already. You know it is really hard to make a Vandersteen sound bright so it had to have gone that way somewhat. But, as I said, it is all really system dependent. If that wasn't the case, we would all be using the same cables. One things for sure, not many people on this sight agree on much of anything!