INTERCONNECT-advice from knowers!

Piezo, I have to back Carl up on this one. Magazines are not only important, but mandatory. Even as recently as a year or two ago, they were all we had. You can only talk to so many people, and they all have DIFFERENT opinions. Everyone has biases, even the reviewers. But eventually you find a guy who is into the same type of sound you are and you go from there. Also, some advice for a neophyte. DON'T listen to dealers, they only make money if you buy what THEY are selling. Listen to your EARS(and your heart). They are the only thing that matter. All else is unimportant. As Carl(someone who DEFINITELY knows what he's talking about) said, when you are in this hobby a little longer...

I was having the same problem with my system using nordost quatro-fil,went to nirvana sx and it is heaven.No more lean sound,thin or a slight bit forward.I you have any questons yell--roger

I used the JPS with the 4's. I am now using Audio Tekne which are excellent. In my opinion, I couldn't find any tube amp to control the bass. Your problem may be your amps. You will not get a night and day change from a new cable. I've owned the 4's,4A and now the5's

Carl and Trelja - I don't know about this mag idea. These guys are businesses first, journalists second, and then audiophiles. Sure, they are not lawyers, but still, I find they are merely a good read. For example, I find TAS is one of the better ones, yet they positively rave repeatedly over the Nordost stuff, which as Roger puts it is very much on the thin side. I have no doubt that Nordost works for some people in some systems, but to give it an unqualified rave smacks of some sort of agenda to me. I think the mags are useful when you are getting started, as they give you a way to think about improvements to your system - as opposed to swinging from one trade-off to another - ie. they are educational, but I am not so sure they provide good advice on individual components - I could list several components that I have experienced significant flaws with, but which the mags have failed to pick up on at all.

This topic is like inviting everyone to the Ice Cream Polar & think everyone will like the same flavor. I have found you have to experiment with different combinations until you find the one that best suits you. After all, the only ears you are able to hear through are yours. I might add, as you are grow older your hearing changes, so what you like in your system may change as well. Enough about Ice Cream. I have been fortunate try own many different cables. With your equipment, you may like the Goertz Alpha-Core speaker cables; I currently use a shotgun pair of the Ag 2’s. But I am always willing to consider others. Goertz offers many other choices in copper as well as silver. I like the Magnan Vi interconnect, very natural, great sound stage & detail. Each sound is correct, as compared to the live sound. I use these between the pre-amp & amps. I am using the Cary between my DAC & pre-amp. I may suggest to one & all if you have not tried the cable offered by Cary Audio, do yourself a favor. http://www.audioelectronicsupply.com/ These are very cost effective, 2-meter pair only $80 RCA or $95 for XLR. Take time to burn them in & you might be in for surprise! There is nothing that I have auditioned under $400 that will even come close to the quality of the cables. Give your ears a Christmas Present! Even if they are not your first choice, at their price point they are handy to have, as an extra pair to use, while you are waiting for its replacement to arrive. Good Listening!