Cardas Clear Beyond XL Phono Cable

Ron Resnick

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Does anyone use, or have direct experience with, Cardas Clear Beyond XL phono cable?


7C5BAC95-6EE8-4B9B-9DEB-9F121360366F.jpeg
 
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Bobvin

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Interesting timing Ron, I have no experience with the cables but just re-read the Positive Feedback review from last July. I have been contemplating an upgrade of phono cable for a long time as my current cable is the ‘reference’ level cable that was offered with original AMG v12 turntables (a couple lessor models were options too). The reference was made by Cardas.

With my new cartridge displaying such a remarkable improvement over my LPS, I just started talking with Mik in the UK about a phono cable. Of course he offered the top of mountain version MikeL recently raved about, but that is a step beyond for me currently (Superlative says Mik) so I’m looking at another he is offering ”remarkable thing, promise quite special” about half the price.

The double wired shotgun approach of the Clear Beyond XL reminds me of a modification I made to my water feature in the back yard. The original builder used two (terribly inefficient) high output pumps each into a single 3” pipe. The friction losses over the long run to the top of the pond really mounted up, so the output of each pump was half what it would be had the builder chosen a larger diameter pipe. When one pump died I did some engineering geekiness and found a single pump that would offer more flow than the other two combined, with about 80% of the electrical cost. But to get that efficiency I split the output from the single pump into both the 3” lines. I wonder if perhaps the same ligic is what gives the Clear Beyond XL the performance leap over the Clear Beyond the reviewer describes?
 
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Ron Resnick

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Great timing, indeed!
 

Tbzc

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The cable arrived today. I left it to acclimate for a couple of hours then I connected it. First impression very positive: open, defined, organic. Very good flow. All this is quite rare for a new cable IMHO. Will give another update at the end of the week.
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Ron Resnick

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That is a great start! Thank you for the update, and please keep us closely posted!

Is there anything special to know when ordering the cable from Cardas with a DIN connector? Is there some variability with regard to the fifth pin on a DIN connector?
 

Tbzc

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From the Cardas brochure:”Custom terminations including Cardas R-DIN and SME 90° DIN connections are available.”

In my understanding there are only options regarding the shape of DIN connector.
 
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Ron Resnick

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Jan 24, 2015
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The cable arrived today. I left it to acclimate for a couple of hours then I connected it. First impression very positive: open, defined, organic. Very good flow. All this is quite rare for a new cable IMHO. Will give another update at the end of the week.
View attachment 72193

What phono cable is this Cardas cable replacing, if any?
 

tima

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Does anyone use, or have direct experience with, Cardas Clear Beyond XL phono cable?

I don't know how much help this will be, but M.Fremer did an article on tone arm wiring options from Franc Kuzma for the 4Point tonearm. The article covers Cardas Clear (not Beyond XL), Kondo, Crystal Cable Silver Monocrystal and the stock/default Crystal Cable Silver/Gold. You don't get his opinion but you do get 4 .aiff files to download for sampling each wire.

Do Tonearm Cables Make a Sonic Difference? You Decide!
 

Ron Resnick

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Jan 24, 2015
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I don't know how much help this will be, but M.Fremer did an article on tone arm wiring options from Franc Kuzma for the 4Point tonearm. The article covers Cardas Clear (not Beyond XL), Kondo, Crystal Cable Silver Monocrystal and the stock/default Crystal Cable Silver/Gold. You don't get his opinion but you do get 4 .aiff files to download for sampling each wire.

Do Tonearm Cables Make a Sonic Difference? You Decide!
Thank you!
 

rich121

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Dec 10, 2017
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The cable arrived today. I left it to acclimate for a couple of hours then I connected it. First impression very positive: open, defined, organic. Very good flow. All this is quite rare for a new cable IMHO. Will give another update at the end of the week.
View attachment 72193
Do you have an update/review?
 

rich121

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Dec 10, 2017
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And so would I :)
 

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