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Post by MartinT on Nov 9, 2019 9:48:48 GMT
I have to agree, I think my two AQ Carbon cables (USB and AES) are excellent and good value for money.
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Post by Slinger on Nov 9, 2019 13:37:43 GMT
What, perhaps, should be said is that the money I paid for my 0.75M of USB cable is equivalent to approximately 15% of the amount I paid for my amp. The word bargain (and I still think the Carbon was a bargain) could be viewed as relative.
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Post by Slinger on Nov 11, 2019 16:58:30 GMT
Does this sound daft? I'm playing a CD of organ music, which starts with the obligatory Toccata & Fugue in D min and I was listening to the bass, rather than just feeling it. I'm getting the same now, from Albinoni's Adagio in G min. I'm putting a lot of it down to the AQ Carbon.
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Post by John on Nov 11, 2019 17:06:45 GMT
That makes total sense Paul With bass you start to hear timbre and the actual note, rather than just feeling it
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Post by MartinT on Nov 11, 2019 17:35:38 GMT
Agreed, bass texture makes it more musical and differentiates the bass used in different songs.
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alp
Rank: Trio
Posts: 160
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Post by alp on Nov 17, 2019 13:34:59 GMT
I have just returned to Amazon the Oyaide NEO d+ USB (Class B) I had bought because the top-end was largely missing. I have ordered a Pangea cable that someone on Headfi was using. Its about the same price as the Oyaide. I'll let you know how I get on.
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Post by Slinger on Nov 17, 2019 13:51:54 GMT
I have just returned to Amazon the Oyaide NEO d+ USB (Class B) I had bought because the top-end was largely missing. I have ordered a Pangea cable that someone on Headfi was using. Its about the same price as the Oyaide. I'll let you know how I get on. How long did you run the Oyaide? Reports say it takes a long time to run in. The top end started out sounding "brittle" to me, but eventually settled down. Having said that, it still wasn't a great cable, and the AQ Carbon bested it easily.
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alp
Rank: Trio
Posts: 160
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Post by alp on Nov 17, 2019 19:07:47 GMT
I only ran it for a couple of weeks and not continuously. I didn't notice any change at all during that time. Perhaps I should have been more patient.
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Post by Slinger on Nov 17, 2019 20:04:02 GMT
I only ran it for a couple of weeks and not continuously. I didn't notice any change at all during that time. Perhaps I should have been more patient. Two weeks should have been plenty of time. Mine got as good as I think it was going to get inside a week of continued use.
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Post by naim1425 on Nov 18, 2019 19:45:13 GMT
I use this,Paul.i think its a very good cable
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Post by Slinger on Nov 18, 2019 19:55:05 GMT
I was using a Wireworld Starlight 7 coax lead before I changed over to USB with the new DAC. I might try it against the Beresford optical lead I'm currently using between CD and DAC when I get things sorted out here.
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Post by MartinT on Nov 18, 2019 22:16:17 GMT
This is a " 2019 Nordost Valhalla Top-rated Silver Plated + shield USB Cable Type A to Type B Hifi Data Cable For DAC" and it has no distinguishing marks on it so it's not really physically pretending to be a Nordost. I've been running it for about 24 hours I suppose, and it's already on a par with the Oyaide. The bass is really giving my sub a good workout. I played Marcus Miller's "Renaissance" album and was impressed with the way the system handled his incredible bass playing. I wasn't just listening to bass, I was listening to bass guitar if that makes sense. The top end still needs a bit of taming, which is why I want to give it a bit more time. A while back I couldn't resist getting one of these, just for the want of trying it out after reading Paul's description. I received my 0.5m 'Nordost' today and slotted it in stone cold and not burned-in this evening. It's a nice looker and appears well made even if I can't see inside it. What's interesting is that it doesn't sound at all bad. In fact, there is not a single negative attribute about it: the bass is very well developed, midrange is highly detailed and treble not harsh. About the only thing it doesn't reach the heights of the AQ in are depth and ambience. It's early days and I'm going to keep using it until it's settled down. At the very least, I might be able to recommend it as a budget giant killer.
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Post by Slinger on Nov 19, 2019 13:47:48 GMT
For the price, I certainly found it to be a winner, Martin. As I said the top end never settled down for me but there's a world of difference between your system and mine, so I'll be interested in your findings. It was fairly easily beaten by the AQ Carbon in my system, but with the AQ at ten times the price so it should have been.
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Post by MartinT on Nov 19, 2019 19:28:56 GMT
Switching back to the AQ Carbon just now after some more listening to the 'Nordost', it's easier to hear the AQ's greater delicacy and layering in the treble and some more depth in the soundstage.
The Chinese cable is still a good 'un and tremendous in the bass.
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Post by brian2957 on Nov 20, 2019 20:52:24 GMT
Anyone got a link to the ' Nordost ' USB cable please ? It looks quite interesting .
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Post by Slinger on Nov 20, 2019 21:20:20 GMT
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Post by MartinT on Nov 20, 2019 21:20:24 GMT
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Post by MartinT on Nov 20, 2019 21:21:31 GMT
Looks like they read our reviews, the price has gone up. So it has! It's still a good cable for the price.
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Post by brian2957 on Nov 20, 2019 21:33:35 GMT
Thanks gents , I was looking on Ebay
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Post by Slinger on Nov 21, 2019 15:30:05 GMT
Thanks gents , I was looking on Ebay It'll be interesting to hear your thoughts if you do order one, Brian.
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