Hi Randy...good luck this weekend...looking forward to your thoughts....I've likely passed 500 hours on mine..I swear they broke in a little more from the 200 to 500 hour mark...more ease and flow...
The Trans Ref XL will connect the battery powered Audiobyte Hydra X to the Aesthetix Romulus (hope to be sending the Romulus in for the Signature upgrade soon so it can play DSD files in that format).
I *think* the Reference is the current version. It's a browny-brick red in colour. I'm told it's had enough running but I'm pretty sure it's the version that was released in January (?) or so.
Oh - would love to hear if anyone else is using the Lessloss AES cable as I want to know if it improves significantly? It has potential, I can hear it, but is still a little frustrating at the moment.
I think that is also the colour of the previous version (which I have owned), so colour might not be a good indicator.
The sound you describe does remind me of the previous reference digital but appreciate you could had been auditioning latest model as it was from a dealer; I also felt something was wrong in terms of instrument placement/phase related type information with the previous Reference digital from Transparent.
Interesting to see if someone has listened to both the current and old model.
Cheers
Orb
Testing the ultra expensive Argento Serenity Reference extreme edition usd10k , custom order for the rich Russain & china clients . Due to its prohibitive cost & I was told the difficulty of building this digital cable , it's only a special order product. It seems Argento will be launching the Flow Master Reference model during Munich Hifi show in May as their top model but cheaper than this version
What can I said but wow, wow , wow. Tested the RCA version - the best RCA plug I have seen & my MSB diamond preferred connection is the AES/Ebu connection . Despite that it sounded so good. All I can say is that the mid range sounded superb & its so 3D with so much details that I have not heard before . Eg Harry Belafonte , Jamaica Farewell. I used or cringed a bit whenever I listen to this song . It sounded sharp & harsh to me but with this argento digital cable , I find the presentation more relax & natural & not so fatiguing
How is it compared to Transparent reference XL ? For 1/3 of the price I plan to buy the transparent cable even though Argento is probably marginally better esp the clearer midrange & better zing with percussion music . However some of us may prefer the more balance tonal balance of the Transparent . So value for money , I will go for Transparent . Money no object & if u listen to a lot of acoustic music & vocal I will definitely buy Argento. My 2cts worth of opinion testing in my system only
I think that is also the colour of the previous version (which I have owned), so colour might not be a good indicator.
The sound you describe does remind me of the previous reference digital but appreciate you could had been auditioning latest model as it was from a dealer; I also felt something was wrong in terms of instrument placement/phase related type information with the previous Reference digital from Transparent.
Interesting to see if someone has listened to both the current and old model.
Cheers
Orb
I'm somewhere between 150-200 hours on the Trans. Ref. XL cable. So far, compared to other xlr digi cables I have, one of the biggest improvements is soundstage, especially depth. Separation seems better too, giving a better illusion of real instruments, etc in the room. Initially the bass was almost overwhelming (I have a REL Strata III sub which is integrated well with my main speakers); thought I was going to have to turn the sub down from its usual already very low gain setting. But that soon smoothed out.
I'm very pleased with the cables impact on my sound--it pretty handily bests my next best, a Jena Labs Valkyrie digital xlr, although the Valkyrie is certainly a very good cable IMHO.
Has anyone had a chance to compare the classic tried and true Cardas AES-EBU vs. any of the other cables mentioned here? Wondering if it is worth looking into an upgrade....
Just taken delivery of a Reference XL (admittedly an S/PDIF but I've heard the AES too). I've tested the Reference on my system too and the XL is way better. The Reference has some qualities of the XL, but the XL is almost perfect in every way.
