I have two pairs of decent ones, but cannot really tell if they are good or not.  Bought them many years ago so I don't remember what these are. They seem to be working alright in my current system.

The RCA terminal connectors have a black Bat logo on them, and the cable has the code: ZTC 75005.  Anyone knows what these are?

Anyway, I need to learn from your experience with interconnects.  Are there any good sounding and cost-effective that you know of?  Should we get Decware's DSRII?

Honest user opinions are quite welcomed. Thanks!

I'll agree with Greg on both counts. I've only one analog interconnect in my main system at the moment, but it's a Decware Silver Reference and I've tried a few other brands and an earlier version or two of the Decware and I can't take it out. The all silver Audioquest Greg linked to is a very good cable, and I have used that but in comparison the Decware is clearer and more open. I've tried TARA Labs and PS Audio interconnects and those are now in a closet. There are two of the Decware cables in my second system, a half-meter to connect my DEC685 to my CSP2 and a meter to connect my CSP2 to my Torii Mk II. Their compatibility with Decware components is superb.

The one drawback I've found is that they do take time to "break in." If you believe such a thing exists. . . break in time.

I like Decware cables too. Also, I have gotten some really good MAC cables on Audiogon auctions very inexpensively. I got some UltraSilver ($329) for about 60. By all appearances and sound, they are made similarly to Decware, but have a slightly more solid and transparent presentation to me. I use them over my Decwares. I just looked at their site http://www.myaudiocables.com/ and it looks like they are using a new auction area. Check this one: www.proaux.com more specifically:
http://www.proaux.com/3-MAC-UltraSilver-ICs,name,3276,auction_id,auction_details...

Could possibly get a real bargain on a very good cable.

That was MAC, or My Audio Cable, the cables that will is recommending. I've used one of their power cables. .. I wasn't too impressed. It was the Digital Sound Pipe. Didn't work for me in audio, was too thin and edgy even months and months later. . . I use it on my bedroom tv. It failed on me at one point, but MAC repaired it for free.

Fireblade, I now there are people who can hear things I cannot. And I know there are phenomena for which we often have no explanation. I am an objectivist at heart, but as wise man once said: "Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence." Just because we cannot prove or disprove something, does not mean that it is or isn't happening.

I used to be in that "bits is bits" camp. But a simple read of why CDs are not truly digital will teach one to be circumspect about such conclusions.

If humans can repeatedly, and reliably discern something that a machine cannot, that doesn't mean it isn't happening [though it could mean that], but it definitely means we might not know how or why. So, over time, I have come to the conclusion that quality power cords and ICs appear to contribute to the holographic sound we are trying to achieve with this equipment. Can I double-blind pick the same cables out every time? Nope. But I can discern, as my wife did just the other day: "wow, it's like an empty stage, and suddenly there is music in all the right places."

I can tell when that is happening, and my odds of getting it seem to increase with the improvements in which I have invested. Now, for me, it probably means that a $179 power cord is arguably worthwhile, while a $795 power cord might not be.

I am a big fan of chaos theory, which I succinctly summarize with a small sign on my desk that says: "Everything matters." Some of it may matter more than others, but it all contributes to the outcome.

Greg, Can you recall the MAC thing Steve spoke of. I looked around and could not find it, but if memory serves I believe he was working with MAC on Decware power cords early on? Maybe still is??? Hmmmm. Can't say for sure.

Anyway, the Ultra Silver is a great IC. I got onto them quite a while ago since I needed more ICs, wanted more options, and they were very inexpensive at auction. If you like the Decware IC, I would be surprised if you did not like the UltraSilver. I just did a direct comparison, and they are very similar in look, feel and sound though the MAC have Neutric RCAs and my Decwares have simple silver RCAs. With the Tranquility DAC, I would say the MAC sounds like the Decwre IC, but with everything a little more smooth, solid and defined top to bottom, including body and a touch more warmth without detail masking. Also better black.

Fireblade, MAC makes a lot of different cord configurations for each use and had I not gotten onto their auctions, I may not have any of them either. I have a pair of Braided Silver ICs that are the only thing I consistently like between the ZDAC and ZSTAGE to date. They sound very accurate and defined, no wishy washiness, which for me completed the synergistic thing between these components in my setup. But for a primary interconnect The MAC Ultra Silver has brilliant definition, but also a very convincing, "not-cable" feel. To me it does not have a sound...but I might call it defined, nuanced, smooth and musical. Nothing sticks out.

I have a MAC HC power cord, and it gets out of the way pretty well, but I would not call it a favorite. It works really well in my modded Oppo though and brought out noted improvements over the stock and over a VH-Audio cable I DIYd. More flow, definition and palpability. A no Brainer for the 50 bucks at auction. And the VH cable sounds great in the ZSTAGE.

Have you checked out the Shunyata cords. Their least expensive Venom 3 has gotten good press and it has temped me to try it, but I have not. May be worth looking at if you get to wanting to dip your toe in the power cord waters. http://www.musicdirect.com/p-9670-shunyata-venom-3-power-cable.aspx

It always interests me the vocal dudes who so adamantly say a cable is a cable or whatever is a whatever. There is no clear explanation for this to me, but I guess it has to be there system, room, or bodies somehow truncating the sound. If you can't hear the difference, then there is no need to go into it, but if you can, I have found that every cable I have notably improves the stock stuff, and a variety of decent cables is quite useful for fine-tuning component synergy.

I agree entirely with Greg's thoughts on this. Science is only trying to figure out reality anyway, but always through the filters of the scientist doing the work (which very rarely comes without personal bias and "baggage") and from within the limitations of the time, effort and technology. Actually, I seem to hear everything...which is sometimes a bit of a curse. But I love the quest for experiential reality. As with power cords, ICs and tube amps, reality is a vast matrix of unified complexity, and if science could read it in its most minute detail, and with the unification factors of the billions of details that make music, it could describe what we hear. But with good gear and a good room, the simple experience gives us all the wonders of all this input.

I wonder, why bother with the science unless it is truly and purely used in a quest for a better and healthier relationship to life. This is why I don't get the naysayers who have for some reason denied what they hear, or can't hear what others can hear.

Fireblade, sorry we crossed on our responses, so I responded before your last post.

Thanks Lon. That was where we read that Steve was working with MAC. I wonder if my MAC HC power cord is similar to the Decware one. They say it is 10 gauge plated copper. No matter, it works for my use and I don't have a Decware cable to compare.

I recall that MAC HC cable taking a long time to burnin. I even put it on the refrigerator for a week or so and then on my tower computer with and IEC adapter, and still......I wish these guys would cook them! If you get a Shunyata, pleas let us know your impressions!

Interesting. The Digital Pipe construction looks like it is #12 pure copper wire, but with "Plated pure copper mesh shielding - provides protection, looks & drains RF/EMI from your equipment."

With the better picture, it sounds like they met their objective for your TV anyway.

I think it is so interesting how most small companies come up with one to a few solutions they think really gets it, and most are pretty different in the subtle details of sound.

Then there is MAC who seems to cover the waterfront with materials and methodology making a lot of different sounding cables.

I may order a Shunyata Venom just to try it out, and the price is reasonable.

I noticed that the HCM site also has the AudioQuest GBR for speaker cables, and they look like a bargain. I am very happy with my ZenStyx, but in order to reach the back ERRs, I had to order a 20-foot pair, and those were just barely long enough. I got those at a discount, because I ordered them at the same time as one of my ERR pairs. But right now, those 20-foot ZenStyx would set me back a cool grand. While a 20-foot pair of the AQ GBR are $160 and a 30-foot pair are $210. I actually plan to buy a set, to have as backup in case anything happens to my Styx, but given how they are made........I doubt that will happen.

I have to echo something Lon said, and I say this as someone who picked up his PS Audio Statement power cords from him. Things like the power cords, or the Power Plants, or the in-wall receptacle replacements really do make a difference. And it is often expressed in the form of negative revelation about another component. I have seen many theories about why the last few feet of power matters, e.g., here. And Paul McGowan of PS Audio writes a lot on this topic, but getting to anything like "truth" here may well be nigh impossible. At least, for now. For me, it makes a difference.

The Volex came out solidly in the middle. Not bad for basically a ten buck cord.

I can't help noticing the cable review is from 2006, a while ago in audio development.

I too figure you rule out a lot of issues with good advice. The trick is to get in with those you trust the ears of. This is part of what I like about Decware, DbAudiolLabs, Pi Audio, HerbiesAudioLab and the like....they are all made up of seasoned audio heads on deep quests themselves for the real sound on a reality budget, and have fleshed out reasonably priced quality. Well....relatively, for the world class sound we can get.

I have a bunch of power cables, all relatively reasonable, several DIY. They all have good quality parts and designs, and though I like certain things about each, I can say that by starting off with a certain level of quality, they all work together. None hurt anything else.

I like to do the research too. A fun part of the quest. And I find that some people's evaluations sound real to me, and some less so, but in this time with net shopping and the option to return a lot of stuff if it does not suit me, I feel pretty good buying quality, value stuff that sounds good from reviews, knowing I have an out if it doesn't work out. It always seems to work though with good research.

Science is of use, but all the people I tend to buy from use the science only as a basis to good sound and the gear is finally refined and finalized by listening. Lots of trial and error based on listening. I think this is where the reality sound comes from....what makes us feel right with the sound.  I am glad they work this way because my sound is eerily real thanks to them.

Interesting to note that if you look at the entire thread after that cable review post you'll see others with conflicting experience with the same cables, skepticism that there's any science behind power cables, arguments about expectations of power cord use, etc. All over the map. Interesting how varied listeners are in this arena.

I found his impressions of the PS Audio xStream Plus cord to be different than the impressions I had of the one that I owned. I think our source material, systems, and tastes can be so different that these sort of cable shootouts are entertaining reading, but very hard to use as a tool for evaluating how cords will perform in your own system, more's the pity.

Here's an easier to read version of the thread:

http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showthread.php?t=81533

It's all there in the thread. It's the same thread as you linked to, just different format (archived vs. active).

One important qualifier for this review is he's using a cord to a headphone amp mostly. A high current amp for speakers may perform very differently.

will's post about the age of the thread is also worth noting. PS Audio's entire cable line is radically different now than it was before, all the way down the line from metal used (the POCC they use now is really refined metal!) to shielding, wire size and shape and configuration. Probably true of the offerings of other of the reviewed cables as well.

Apparently they archived the article incomplete.  Even the title says 15 power cords (instead of 22), and somewhere else talks about 16.  Still, four participants are missing in this archive copy (check it out), although the conclusions are the same.  

Congrats on the MCA auction!

Great Lon. I hope they give you the refinement over the Decware I got! As usual, they take time. I look forward to your impression of them!

Greg,

I seem to recall that HC being a looooong burnin. Have you got a IEC adapter? Awesome tool for a less painful burn in. Let the refrigerator or something do the hard part!

I agree, power and all the little EMI, RFI grunge is a huge area of importance! What comes in effects everything!

Well, my MAC "UltraSilver" interconnects arrived.

Very well-made items, with impressive connectors. So far I'm impressed, though they haven't embarrassed the Decware Silver Reference yet, but I know that it's unfair to expect them to be "all they can be" yet.

Oh yes, I don't really expect them to embarrass the Decware, just funnin'. They've a different "view". . . we'll see how they turn out in a month. Enjoying the difference and they're a quality product.

We'd definitely not want to pay the manufacturers in general for burning in the wire! Would probably cost a LOT!

So far I'm definitely impressed, the tonal balance is nice and there's a tad more body to the sound that is nice to have. I expect them to go through a few shifts for a few weeks.

For 71 dollars total, a real bargain.

My listening impressions are a bit skewed as I experimented with different footers under my speakers. A month or so ago I went from using nothing under them (just sitting on the carpet--I still haven't received stock spikes or grilles) to using the Herbie's Audio Lab "Little Fat Gliders." Reading about Barry Diament's isolation theories I tried using the clear acrylic balls for Herbie's Audio Lab "IsoCups" sitting inside 2" automotive freeze plugs, to sort of make a version of Diament's "Hip Joints." Though a pain to set up, this has been a fun experiment. The midrange has been freed of some congestion I didn't know that I had and overall the dynamics have been a bit more showcased as well. Luckily the speaker height hasn't been raised too high, that makes a big difference to me in my room and with my ears.

IN a week or so I'll put the Decware Silver Reference ICs back in and compare the sound to the MAC ICs.

If these continue to impress me I may consider one of the top of the line MAC ICs in time. I only have one analog IC in my system. . . .

Thanks will.

That's definitely a good question. If I decided to try one I'd contact Steve Halick and seek his advice. I've been reading reviews on the 'net and have some ideas what questions to ask and I think he would be helpful.

Makes sense that a very open and articulate cable would work well with th ZDAC. In my system that DAC was on the considerably warm and rich side and such a cable would be a nice balance.

It's likely quite a ways down the line but seems something worth exploring as a vital link that could be addressed.

Definitely worth looking into, thanks.

Yes the proprietary info stuff can be off putting. But I guess it is understandable. After loads of research, when you arrive at something amazing and want to benefit from you efforts, while still having the stuff be inexpensive....well.... Even MAC, or the big dogs rarely say the specific wire, twists, solder etc they chose...They just don't tell us they are not telling us!

And the basic story is there. Lots of experimentation and listening. Best copper they could find for sound, vampire, best assembly/construction they could find for music, all cryo'd, all burnt in, 20 day return. To me the 20 days is a clincher. If they stand behind their stuff without restrictions, this is a very good sign.

By the way, it sounds like standard IC lengths are returnable straight up so presumably the balanced to RCA are?

I guess part of it is that the little guys are audio heads themselves on a budget, and are trying to make really good stuff inexpensively. Then they may not be so focused on marketing tools and don't want to raise the price by hiring marketers to do it just right?

I am always happy to check out someone with a value approach, so I may try the Reality at some point. "Proprietary" this and "secret" that can contribute to suspicion, but it's all in the sound either way.