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I just got a pair from Amherst Audio. They have a clean, raw, but precise sound, if that makes sense. They replace my Audio Note (UK) Vx cable between my CD player and preamp...at 1/3 the price. They make music sound real without any coloration or romance.
Observe, don't think
Edits: 05/27/12Follow Ups:
How do they compare to the AN-Vx? I have a pair of the AN-Vx between my 47 Labs Shigaraki DAC and Gaincard. The results with the Gaincard gives me a "clean, raw, but precise sound" similar to what you are experiencing with the Crimsons. I may need to go to a minimalist copper interconnect to temper the effect a bit.
What I meant was that it gets you down to the raw music...no frills added, natural and honest. The Vx adds what I would call "elegance" to the signal compared to the Crimson. It fits well with Audio Note equipment.
I heard these cables, first, in Bob Neill's main system which includes Crimson electronics and JMR speakers. The sound was very natural and neutral. At first this was a bit shocking: I'm so used to tubes + Audio Note, but it didn't take long to adjust.
When I got home to Denmark, I used the Crimson IC cables I had bought from Amherst Audio, I plugged them into my AN CD 4.1x and deHavilland UV-3, which is connected to my Fi 2A3 monos (AVVT tubes). The Fi is a pretty neutral bird compared to AN amps. But, still, the Crimson cables produced a more direct and honest sound than the Vx's.
I then switched to the 45 tube in the same amps. The Fi 2A3 monos can play 45s, if you switch the rectifier, which I did. Initially, I switched both the cables and the tubes, and was really astounded by how good the 45s sounded. Last night, I did some very brief comparisons of the Vx with the Crimson, still using the 45s. It really is not a valid comparison, because I am not used to the 45s and I was only playing around for a couple of hours. But the Vx's seemed to soften the 45s a tad and make them more mellow (if that's the possible) and the 45's seemed more real. The difference was clearly noticeable on the first song on Howe Gelb's CD, Blury Blue Mountain, where the bass is deep and Gelb's baritone is recorded faithfully (for a change). I highly recommend this album, by the way.
I hope I've answered a bit of your question. To sum up: in the end, it's a matter of taste.
Observe, don't think
...based on your observations and comparisons. In my particular setup with a Gaincard it would seem that the Crimson IC's might not be the best match. The AN-Vx IC's push it a touch too far toward the analytical with some recordings, yet on other recordings they sound just right.
Maybe Lexus? I wouldn't call the Crimson analytical. They sound natural.
Observe, don't think
I'd love to try the Lexus IC given my very positive experience with the Lexus speaker cables. In the meantime I think I'll experiment with a minimalist DIY copper IC and see if I like the results.
In a sense, Crimson is minimalist copper. Lexus has 50 strands (!) of copper. Lexus is the warmest, richest sounding Audio Note cable. If you find Vx clinical in the least, you will likely love Lexus. The sonic difference between Lexus and Crimson is that the former sounds thicker, fuller, richer, less informative. That said, it is very good stuff that makes many folks very happy. It is especially good at taming bright, lean systems if that's what you want or feel you need to do. But it does hold a good deal of what's on recordings back. It has a tendency to do the blending that some of us prefer to do with our own ears. That's its trade-off. It's a comparison worth making.
It is true that Crimson cable can make Audio Note cable sound a bit mellow (or creamy) -- even Pallas, Sogon, and Sootto, which can be a surprise if you're used to considering AN cable fairly neutral. Crimson is copper cable, so the sound is not bright, just clear. (I think I'm allowed to make this comment because I sell both Audio Note and Crimson!)
And I agree with Mac that while Crimson has this effect in an Audio Note system too, it is a matter of taste: it changes the AN system in ways that may not please all AN fans, clearing the air a bit. I use one length of Crimson between my AN digital transport and AN dac, then AN cable the rest of the way. Crimson speaker cable sounds exactly like Crimson IC's...because it's exactly the same cable. And Crimson electronics sound just like the cable.
n/a
More expensive doesn't necessarily mean better.
Edits: 05/28/12 05/28/12 05/30/12
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