Starting to plan out my next purchase, and considering the full upgrade budget. I’m gaining interest in the StellarGold + Airlens combo.
I’m wondering if most people are simply using the stock cables with these devices, or if they are upgrading cables. I have an AQ Hurricane that I could use on either device (I assume the dac) and I’m not opposed to upgrading power and HDMI cables as well. Just curious if anyone has tried swapping those various cables and if they have significant impact - aka should I budget for cable swaps at some point?
Brace yourself… folks can be “extra” when it comes to opinions on cables.
Here’s my .02: Modest upgrades to power and HMDI cables for my PS Audio gear have generated improved sound quality. I recommend looking at the used market (TMR, US AudioMart, the marketplace on this forum). I started off with lower end AudioQuest power cables, then AQ HDMI and AQ interconnects. I eventually upgraded to some Furutech Power Cables and higher level AQ HDMI and Interconnects. Each step in the process was enjoyable and gave me pleasure in hearing new improvements in sound.
Enjoy the journey, don’t be in a rush to climb to the top. Experimenting and researching options is part of the joy of HiFi for many of us.
Appreciate it. I’m no novice to the cable world, and I’ve had several positive and underwhelming cable demos in my time in the hobby. I try to buy used whenever possible, but if I’m really impressed with something and it’s obtainable I’m willing to save and go full retail as well.
Totally understand that some have strong opinions in cables (on both sides). I always encourage people to try various demos with an open mind and judge for themselves. If you don’t hear a difference, great! Spend your money elsewhere. If you do hear a difference, great! That’s an easy upgrade to make that can stay with you across various component upgrades. I won’t judge you either way.
I appreciate that you’ve heard upgrades with your components as well. That’s the type of input I was looking for.
I like your philosophy! I underestimated your experience with cables - sorry if my response came off condescending, that was unintended. I am no expert, but I have fiddled around in the low to mid-range cable space.
To be more specific about what upgrades with my PS Audio gear were significant, going from the DS Jr DAC to DSD MKII was a giant leap forward for me. Not that the Jr was bad, but the improved level of detail and sound stage was amazing! I’ve played around a bit with HDMI cable upgrades (nothing crazy) and didn’t notice much of a change. Many folks on the forum have been delighted with the RAL HDMI cable - I’ve not tried that and probably won’t as I do not like RAL’s business record nor the owner’s overt religious preachiness.
What I did find a pretty good upgrade was my power cable. I had an AQ Thunder supplying my power regenerator (P12) but when I swapped it out for a (cheaper) Maze Audio Braided ref4 cable I didn’t hear a difference. I sold the Thunder and eventually got a used Furutech DSS 4.1 power cable with NCF connectors and have noticed a very substantial improvement in soundstage and separation of instruments etc.
I also did some XLR interconnect cable switchouts (AQ MacKenzie to Carbon and then to Water) which didn’t make a huge improvement in sound but did produce enjoyable treble and midrange nuances.
I’ve heard really good things about the StellarGold and the Airlens. That should be a great combo! I imagine the HDMI cable between the two would be a good place to focus.
I didn’t take it that way at all, no worries here. I know I’m basically new on this forum and you were being kind letting me know that others may chime in with varying view points, often with passion.
I appreciate hearing your journey, and I’ll certainly look into DSS 4.1 as well. Not as familiar with that line, so I’ve got some research to do.
I’ve recently completed several months of trying out different power cables on my streamer, DAC, preamp, and amps. I used the lending library at the Cable Company to allow me to demo cables at home without making any upfront purchases. The cost of these rentals (not including shipping costs) is 5% of the retail cost of the cables, but that amount can be applied to the purchase price of any cables that you eventually decide to purchase.
After my recent rental experience, I ended up purchasing two Shunyata Theta NR cables for my Atma-Sphere GaNFET monoblock amps, and two Shunyata Alpha-X NR cables for my Innuos Pulsar streamer and my PS Audio DS MKII DAC. I found the Theta cables to sound very fast, clear, engaging, and 3-dimensional on my amps, even though I found myself wishing that they had a bit more body and richness than I was hearing. Fortunately, using the Alpha-X cables on the DAC and streamer complemented the Theta cords really well and supplied the fullness of tone I was looking for. I should point out that the Alpha-X NR is a really good power cable that is well-balanced and natural sounding. It is the entry-level cable in Shunyata’s “Reference” line. It is not inexpensive, but it is also not “crazy-expensive” and should be on the demo list for anyone considering what I would call “mid-tier” power cables.
Based on my recent experience, I’ve listed below a few suggestions for any cable searches you decide to launch in the near future:
First, compare stock power cables to aftermarket cables and see what you like best.
Don’t purchase any new cables, regardless of rave reviews, unless you have been able to demo them at home first.
A specific power cable may prove to be a better match on some types of audio gear than on others. (I’ve found that DACs and streamers tend to be more sensitive to power cables than are power amps.)