As a test, I ran XLR Belden 8423/Neutrik from my JC-3+ into my #1 JC-2 input, and I ran a pair of Goertz Micro-Purl CU RCA from the JC-3+ to my #6 JC-2 input.
While listening to the newly remastered 180G Pink Floyd Animals, I switched between input 1 and 6 on the remote. I "think" I may have heard very slightly more detail in the upper midrange on the Micro-Purl. Like the soft tapping of the ride cymbal may have been just slightly more revealed. The soundstage "seemed" to be maybe a little bit wider with the Belden 8423.
By the time I got through with the listening session, I convinced myself that I really heard no difference at all. And yes, the levels are perfectly matched between the RCA output and the XLR output between the two Parasound boxes. I'll see if the Ayre outputs the same levels between the XLR and RCA and try the test there as well.
I'm not a cable non-believer. I think well constructed cables using the right gauge, inductance, capacitance, shielding, etc are necessary. I've got an AudioQuest Diamond between my Mac Mini and the Ayre because there was an obvious difference in clarity and detail over the Belden Gold USB cable I had been using. The only thing I can think of there is that the Diamond reduces the self-correcting error rate between the USB receivers by sealing the signal inside a DBS path. Honestly, I really have no idea and I hate the fact that it sounds better, but it does, so it was money well spent.
I wonder how I would compare XLR vs XLR and not get confirmation bias. The way I did the XLR vs RCA, I get immediate feedback since I'm listening to the exact same piece of music at the exact same level and switching back and forth on the remote is instantaneous and seamless. If I'm taking time between listening to the same track during a physical cable swap, I'm not sure if what I'm hearing is real or imagined.
Sorry, I know I think I switched gears here, but I'm just re-thinking my current cable setup. I might be good to go with what I've got.
While listening to the newly remastered 180G Pink Floyd Animals, I switched between input 1 and 6 on the remote. I "think" I may have heard very slightly more detail in the upper midrange on the Micro-Purl. Like the soft tapping of the ride cymbal may have been just slightly more revealed. The soundstage "seemed" to be maybe a little bit wider with the Belden 8423.
By the time I got through with the listening session, I convinced myself that I really heard no difference at all. And yes, the levels are perfectly matched between the RCA output and the XLR output between the two Parasound boxes. I'll see if the Ayre outputs the same levels between the XLR and RCA and try the test there as well.
I'm not a cable non-believer. I think well constructed cables using the right gauge, inductance, capacitance, shielding, etc are necessary. I've got an AudioQuest Diamond between my Mac Mini and the Ayre because there was an obvious difference in clarity and detail over the Belden Gold USB cable I had been using. The only thing I can think of there is that the Diamond reduces the self-correcting error rate between the USB receivers by sealing the signal inside a DBS path. Honestly, I really have no idea and I hate the fact that it sounds better, but it does, so it was money well spent.
I wonder how I would compare XLR vs XLR and not get confirmation bias. The way I did the XLR vs RCA, I get immediate feedback since I'm listening to the exact same piece of music at the exact same level and switching back and forth on the remote is instantaneous and seamless. If I'm taking time between listening to the same track during a physical cable swap, I'm not sure if what I'm hearing is real or imagined.
Sorry, I know I think I switched gears here, but I'm just re-thinking my current cable setup. I might be good to go with what I've got.