Ayre balanced interconnects

can´t support your opinion. I use Cardas GR and they sound excellent with my gear (beside I use Acoustic Zen, Shunyata and Stealth Indra).

I'm sure glad some of you are happy with your Ayre Cables. I am positive of what I hear on my system, and Audioquest Silver or Anti-Cables kill the Cardas or Ayre stuff. Ayre sounds almost identical but a little flatter - less tube-like than Cardas. Ayre uses Cardas hookup wire, etc, but that stuff is way different than speaker or interconnect. I clearly hear lots of grain, and smaller picture, etc. with the Cardas/Ayre cables. You pay your money and get what you want.

Ayre uses double gauge of Cardas GR and sounds at least in my system better than Cardas Golden Reference - although I use the GR.
Saying a cable kills another is quite difficult as I´ve experienced quite cheap cables performing superb in one system and failing in another. Same with very expensive cables. The only exceptions I know of is the Stealth Indra, the Transparent Opus, and the taralabs Zero and Omega.

Anti-Cables are soooo cheap and returnable if not satisfied, it would be a shame not to try them. I know what I'm talking about

I tested an Ayre XLR in my Ayre system and found it quite boring (good and open mids, but highs a bit grainy and base a bit dull). My favourite Cardas is still the Golden Cross, which I even prefer over the Golden Reference. The GC is a bit more colorating then the other 2 but to me it has a better flow and is simply more musical.
If I have to choose for a neutral cable I would prefer other brands. Of course it's a matter of taste.