Iām totally engaged in music since Friday (itās raining and my wife is so comprehensive). Here in Italy itās holiday (liberation day - thank you American guys who helped us during II world war to defeat nazism/fascism and to reach again our liberty) so Iām running a non-stop listening session - the fool man in the basement! Iām filling a chart to fix on paper my impressions, just like school report. Unfortunately I have no time to keep all cables as long as needed, so I feel the pressure to experiment, evaluate and analytically listen listen listen.
What imediately obvious to my ears?
All three cables are fantastic, a real step above my previous AQ Fire and Recable Invictus.
Iconoclast cables shine in analog path for their magical musicality, neutralness, realism and ability to recreate a live, palpable scene with partcular width and depth soundstage. Music totally blew up through the walls. Galen is a genius, really.
I canāt explain in words how these cables can bring relax, easy and equilibrium to music. Engagement is the primary feeling, all instruments are in the right place, voices are vivid and palpable, details abundance makes the scene realistic and itās so pleasant without any excess nor in high neither in bass area. Yes I can opine that there is a lack in openness compared to Dragons and FireBirds, even basses are less punchy but in a way you can appreciate not judging it as a limit but on the contrary as a merit. And for what concern soundstage Iconoclast cables are really impressive: wide more than room walls, incredible, and deep in a way you feel an intimate new touch with music, never felt before. Honest, real, no signatures, no colorations just music as it is. More club performance, with a restrict audience, than a concert crowd sensation. Rather then a studio room, too much cold and analytic, here I imagine an intimate concert with students and friends in a little smoky basement, with glass clicks and soft giggles on the background. When suddenly silences occur oh, what a black profound background then. These cables are made for music lovers who know live performance and love to recreate that kind of emotions.
SPP to BHK Preamp and BHK Preamp to M1200s are connections I definitely appreciate. Just ordered to @BobBJC another cable without any more hesitations.
FireBird cables have one limit: they are second to Dragons. Even if they excel I think there will always be a better cable so they are never enough! The cost is not an option now, just thinking about my ears (not my wallet) I didnāt fall in love for them. A bad feeling of exaggeration, uncontrolled power, too much muscles and warm.
Dragons. Ehmā¦ here we are! One more time Dragons are Dragons in the same way you loved them for power cords you really hear a huge difference, a real improvement in sound quality. Openess, airy, separation and really tons of detail, detail, detail. Revealing yes but without harsh, fatigue or any kind of exaggeration that on the contrary I encountered with the FireBirds.
Oh man in digital path they simply overperform any other set up.
PST with I2S connection is my only listening area, so just Cds and SACDs no liquid music at the moment.
Here I really cried listening to Dire Straits SACD Love Over Gold, my wife said āWhat the hell are there tears on your face??? Whatās the matter?ā How can I explain to her? Iām so happy my 20 years old guitar son perfectly understands and said āWow is like Mark Knopfler was here in the room, I can see his hand on the cords of the 1954 sunburst Stratocaster. Mom donāt worry itās only rock and roll but WE like it!ā. Never been more proud about my fatherās role!
Dragon XLR cable IMO completes the digital path from DS DAC to BHK Preamp perfectly mating the Dragon 48 HDMI from PST to DS DAC. I can easily imagine it will become soon a new milestone here, as Dragon HDMI for I2S or Dragon HC PC for wall-powerplants.
Al I really suggest you to place an order for it, if one of your systems needs an XLR for CDs path in addiction to PST-Dragon HDMI-DAC combo. Donāt know for Gryphon sources but PS Audio digital chain really shines here. Just to try, it is worth.
And last but not least: SYNERGIES! What a wonderful mate or wedding between Iconoclast on analog rig (especially BHK Preamp-M1200s amplifiers combo) and Dragons on digital rig (DS DAC-BHK Preamp combo) all together at the same time! A new world for me.
Next days Iāll share here on the forum my charts, only numbers no more words, Iām not a reviewer, Iām a newbie audiophile without experience, I donāt really care measurements only trust in my ears and most of all pay attention to my āItalian enthusiasmsā take my sentences with more than a grain of salt. You are warned!
To be continuedā¦
