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MIT and Cardas

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Posted on February 6, 2015 at 11:55:10
gkirkos
Audiophile

Posts: 201
Location: Seattle
Joined: February 6, 2015
 After years of upgrading, the last remaining MIT loom in my system are the AVT2 speaker cables. I've long since switched to Cardas for IC's - I love their naturalness. Now I'm thinking the same for speaker cables. I have Avalon Ascendants but am currently running Magnepan super MMGs with tube amplification. (toddler has brought about the change, the Avalons are safely put away). I love the Maggies and they are very revealing. The MITs have some real advantages (great bass, huge soundstage) but, in my rig, have always seemed to have a bit of mechanical nature, (at least in comparing the ICs to Cardas ICs) Sources are Rega Saturn and VPI Scoutmaster/Soundsmith Aida.

For speaker cable, I'm thinking of one of the lower Cardas models to start like Quadlink. Opinions welcome!

Sources are Rega Saturn and VPI Scoutmaster/Soundsmith Aida. Amp is Rogue Cronos Magnum with all NOS upgraded tubes.

 

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RE: MIT and Cardas, posted on February 6, 2015 at 15:43:08
Duster
Manufacturer

Posts: 17117
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 25, 2002
 I've re-discovered inexpensive Cardas Crosslink 1S bulk speaker cable for a recent project. It's a very sophisticated design that sounds good if you like Cardas' sonic signature. I would recommend careful choice of premium speaker cable connectors in order to provide good synergy. Good used market value if terminated with excellent audiophile connectors.

http://www.cardas.com/chassis_wire.php

http://www.partsconnexion.com/CARDAS-64331.html

 

RE: MIT and Cardas, posted on February 6, 2015 at 17:09:42
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15524
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 Welcome! gkirkos.
You have a very nice system!

 

Ditto: Welcome to Cable Asylum, posted on February 6, 2015 at 17:36:20
Duster
Manufacturer

Posts: 17117
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 25, 2002
 Cheers, Duster

 

RE: MIT and Cardas, posted on February 7, 2015 at 07:54:33
thebordas
 This is right in my wheelhouse as I have recently compared Cardas cables in my system to MIT cables that I had in house to demo. I used Clear Sky XLR and speaker cables against MIT AVT 1's/M1.3's and my MIT Oracle V1.2 Prolines. I also have Transparent Ultra Gen 5 biwire speaker cables which I swapped in and out. Bottom line is that the Cardas sound was slow and lifeless with a touch of grey. The full MIT loom was warm, rich and tonally complete with far better soundstaging. Ultimately I went with MIT MA-X Prolines and kept my Transparent Ultra Gen 5 Biwires...this combo gave me the color, tone and warmth with superb imaging and SOTA dynamics and low level resolution.

 

RE: MIT and Cardas, posted on February 7, 2015 at 11:26:03
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15524
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 Interesting combo indeed -Dave.

 

RE: MIT and Cardas, posted on February 7, 2015 at 11:28:21
thebordas
 Always wanted to try Cardas as well so I took the opportunity!

 

My general opinion of Cardas, posted on February 7, 2015 at 20:52:11
Stale
Audiophile

Posts: 3263
Location: So. California
Joined: August 3, 2001
 I tried several Cardas lower end ICs and speaker cables (Quadlink, Crosslink, Microtwin) in few systems and I always found them constipated. Truncated transients, grayish and uninvolving.

I also had several MIT cables sets. Terminator 2 and 3 (white and gray boxes), MITs Shotgun S3 and S3s and finally AVt1 ICs with AVt2 speaker cables. The first few although good (nice soundstage, good extension, sense of space) always had something that did not completely involve me. AVt-s however brought that last piece and they replaced Straightwire Maestro-s (which are BTW also very good cables).


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite insane."

 

RE: My general opinion of Cardas, posted on February 8, 2015 at 05:28:24
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15524
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 Thanks! for sharing -Stale.
For their price point, Straight Wire is tough to beat.

 

The new Cardas lines are more transparent than the old ones.. nt, posted on February 8, 2015 at 13:43:24
Nuit
 .

 

RE: MIT and Cardas, posted on February 8, 2015 at 16:52:44
Jive Turkey
Audiophile

Posts: 2409
Location: far left, geographically speaking
Joined: May 5, 2010
 I've used Cardas Crosslink speaker cables and Golden Cross interconnects in my system for over a decade with great success. Just a matter of system synergy, I suspect. The rest of my system is Rega P3-24 (Groovetracer upgrades), Ortofon 2M Black, Oppo BDP-83, Dunlavy SC-IVA's, Parasound P7 preamp, and Parasound A21 amp.

See ya. Dave

 

Cardas Crosslink 1S bulk speaker cable, posted on February 8, 2015 at 17:12:59
Duster
Manufacturer

Posts: 17117
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 25, 2002



I'm considering re-cabling some of my distributed audio system with Cardas Crosslink 1S bulk speaker cable. It's a bit pricey for long speaker cable lengths, but nonetheless relatively fine bang for the buck value compared to upper-line cable prices at the same lengths...

 

RE: Cardas Crosslink 1S bulk speaker cable, posted on February 9, 2015 at 16:23:44
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15524
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 Be careful Duster, I have read that Cardas is in cahoots w/ china...

 

RE: Cardas Crosslink 1S bulk speaker cable, posted on February 10, 2015 at 18:12:48
Duster
Manufacturer

Posts: 17117
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 25, 2002
 Not sure what you mean...

 

Plot Thickens Considerably, posted on February 13, 2015 at 11:19:24
gkirkos
Audiophile

Posts: 201
Location: Seattle
Joined: February 6, 2015
 So...interesting development.

Turns out, all along, I was not hearing the MIT speaker cable, really. You see, the Magnepan Super MMGs, with bass panel, requires two sets of cables. One for amp-> bass panel, the other for bass panel -> main speakers. I was using the MIT cables for the first connection and a pair of Audioquest Rocket 44 for the main speaker connection.

So I switched them. Wow, wow, wow. With the MIT cables where they should have been all along (bass panel -> main speakers) the results are astonishingly better. All the MIT traits come through in spades. Bass has great tone, impact, authority, mids are super clear, highs are beautiful and the soundstage is precise and stable. I love how my system sounds now. I'm not exaggerating when I say this is the single most impactful change from a single component that I can remember (including the Soundsmith, which is a dang good cart) I was chasing this tail for a long time with tube upgrades, everything but all along it was the AQ cables. Now I'm back to MIT and have even purchased a better set. MIT is back on my "no brainer" list.

 

RE: Plot Thickens Considerably, posted on February 14, 2015 at 05:06:23
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15524
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 Very cool- gkirkos.

 

RE: Plot Thickens Considerably, posted on February 14, 2015 at 07:56:36
Mikey8811
Audiophile

Posts: 188
Joined: June 4, 2011
 Which Cardas interconnects are you using with which MIT speaker cables?

 

RE: Plot Thickens Considerably, posted on February 20, 2015 at 10:59:28
gkirkos
Audiophile

Posts: 201
Location: Seattle
Joined: February 6, 2015
I'm using Cardas Cross IC's for the analog front end, and Cardas Neutral Reference for the CD player. The MIT Speaker cable is AVT1. I've just purchased a pair of Shotgun S3s but haven't tried them yet.

 

RE: Plot Thickens Considerably, posted on February 20, 2015 at 14:42:00
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15524
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 Looking forward to your impressions- gkirkos.

 

Tastes are tastes ,,, but then why so many fakes ?, posted on April 12, 2015 at 10:00:11
beppe61
Audiophile

Posts: 4705
Joined: January 29, 2004
 Hi i see many fake Cardas cables on the market.
Usually they make fakes of something very popular, wanted.
So i would like to understand if this commercial success is for real or not.
Thanks for any commercial information.
Kind regards,
bg

 

RE: Tastes are tastes ,,, but then why so many fakes ?, posted on April 12, 2015 at 16:13:41
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15524
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 The fake market all started w/ Tara Labs about 10 years ago.
From a production stand-point, it is easy to copy cables/cords like Kimber, Cardas or Tara. It is substantially more difficult to copy Transparent or MIT, as both companies, use a network device integrated into the wire.

 

RE: Tastes are tastes ,,, but then why so many fakes ?, posted on April 12, 2015 at 22:50:45
beppe61
Audiophile

Posts: 4705
Joined: January 29, 2004
Hi and thanks for the reply.
Now i understand that the fakes market is not limited to Cardas.
As i said i had mainly positive experience with Cardas.
I am about to try a cheap XLR one Hexlink something and i am afraid it is of the fake family. The price was very good.
Then i discovered another litz XLR from Sommercable.
For me the midrange is key. I can live with some lack in the extreme, but the midrange is key. Usually it is where the digital is poor.
Thanks again.
Kind regards,
bg

 

RE: Tastes are tastes ,,, but then why so many fakes ?, posted on April 13, 2015 at 07:44:42
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15524
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 Thinking about Cardas, in particular, it is rumored that all of their cables/cords come from china- buyer beware.

 

RE: Tastes are tastes ,,, but then why so many fakes ?, posted on April 13, 2015 at 14:00:27
beppe61
Audiophile

Posts: 4705
Joined: January 29, 2004
Hi and thanks for the information
Actually i have no competence to give an opinion on their build quality
But i was impressed by them when used with digital.
A pair of Neutral Ref transformed the sound of my Rotel cd player for the better and i have tried many other cables, like cheap Transparent, XLO, Audioquest, Kimber Silver Streak.
No comparison honestly.
To get some of that sound i bought then a pair of 300B Microtwin that i find a little close on top but same nice midrange.
Still looking for something cheaper with that same midrange.
I will try soon some litz cables.
Thanks again.
Kind regards,
bg

 

RE: Tastes are tastes ,,, but then why so many fakes ?, posted on April 14, 2015 at 04:08:07
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15524
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 Keep me posted- bg.

 

RE: Tastes are tastes ,,, but then why so many fakes ?, posted on April 14, 2015 at 08:44:06
beppe61
Audiophile

Posts: 4705
Joined: January 29, 2004
Hi and with pleasure but i have not a bat-ear and also my system is basic. Anyway i will report if i will hear something interesting.
As i said 2 litz wires twisted plus screen is what i am interested in.
And a nice price as well.
Kind regards,
bg

 

RE: Tastes are tastes ,,, but then why so many fakes ?, posted on April 14, 2015 at 13:36:22
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15524
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 Much Thanks!

 

RE: Plot Thickens Considerably, posted on April 15, 2015 at 21:07:57
SgreenP@MSN.com
Audiophile

Posts: 3538
Joined: April 23, 2007
 I've posted this so many times, but few listen. You really have to listen to the cable in YOUR system since all cables sound different in different systems. Cardas was the very worst cable for ME in My system....all Ayre and Vandersteen 5A speakers. I tried a dozen or so different top of the line cables from as many manufacturers I could find. That's not to say Cardas is bad....only in MY system.

 

If you are referring to your " Music Maker " system this is strange, posted on April 16, 2015 at 01:12:28
beppe61
Audiophile

Posts: 4705
Joined: January 29, 2004
 Hi
read somewhere that at Ayre Acoustics used to use Cardas cables to test their units.
So i was understanding that the matching should be guaranteed in some ways.
Disclaimer, i am an admirer of Cardas cables.
Especially with digital they have indeed a magic touch IMHO.
Even starting from the cheapest ones like Crosslink and 300B that i personally have.
Just and addition. When i read that they tend to slow down music, this is good. Music should not be fast.
I am always hearing for a sort of time alignment between different frequencies.
And the Cardas i think deliver in this aspect quite well. All the frequencies arrive at the same time to the listener, very well aligned.

Kind regards,
bg

 

RE: Plot Thickens Considerably, posted on April 16, 2015 at 05:15:06
SgreenP@MSN.com
Audiophile

Posts: 3538
Joined: April 23, 2007
 Audio is strange. When I got the Ayre stuff, I also got a full loom of Ayre cables thinking that was the way to go. Not until someone came over with a hunk of Purist Anniversary did I hear the system open up. I knew that with Cardas in the system, the result was a closed in, kind of brown sound with not much definition. Ayre told me to try other Cardas cables ...I think I had their whole line. They all sounded similar...a bit more highs, a bit more or less of this or that, but they all sounded lousy. I began my glorious quest for the perfect loom. It took months, but my favorites then where Audioquest Sky/Everest (which Vandersteen uses in the 5A's. As a whim I got some AntiCables due to a great Absolute Sound Review. Although the Anti's didn't sound like the Audioquest.....no one could pick a winner between the 2. Due to the price difference, I wired the system with Anti's. (I'm interested now in the Wireworld stuff and will try that, after a very positive purchase of their HDMI cable for my 5.1 system.) Anyway...if Cardas is your favorite, it might very well be giving you that sound from something going on in YOUR system. Cardas is awful in mine. Enjoy!

 

About system dependency ... , posted on April 16, 2015 at 07:54:32
beppe61
Audiophile

Posts: 4705
Joined: January 29, 2004
Hi just one word about system dependency.
I tend to believe more to the " good cable - bad cable " distinction.
A good cable (i.e. well designed and built) should be at least good, if not the best solution, with many system.
Cardas are good. Very.





Kind regards,
bg

 

RE: About system dependency ... , posted on April 16, 2015 at 09:16:09
SgreenP@MSN.com
Audiophile

Posts: 3538
Joined: April 23, 2007
 Beppe....it may be wonderful for you, but it is awful in MY system. I even spoke to Cardas about it and they told me it needs more break-in (after a few months of using every day). That's why I urge people to listen and evaluate what its doing for you. I live in Arizona...hardly rains, never snows, 90 degrees, etc....that's why the car I drive is perfect...FOR HERE. If I still lived in New York, it could never exist with pothols, snow etc. Also, if you use different designed cable in your system how can you solve any sound problem. Obviously, you're happy, and I'm happy for you.

 

RE: About system dependency ... , posted on April 16, 2015 at 10:31:34
beppe61
Audiophile

Posts: 4705
Joined: January 29, 2004
 Hi and ok i trust you.
I think that "few months of using every day" should be enough for a burn-in.
My friend who has all the Neutral Ref series (ics and speaker cables) tells me that the burn-in took him some weeks.
Clearly they are not a universally valid solution.

Kind regards,
bg

 

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