The Gearhead

Cardas Golden Reference and Cross Interconnects It’s weird to want to start a blog post by talking enthusiastically about the sound of metal, but then again, this is to be a blog post about cables. But when I say metal, I don’t refer to the actual conductor materials in the cable, though they play a big role. I’m talking instead about the sound of cymbals, the influence of interconnects on the sound, and how that’s one of my go-to testing and evaluating tools. I’m in the camp that believes subtle audio differences are experienced at least partly subconsciously, and quick A/B comparisons don’t let your brain settle into the sound of any option. For my sound quality evaluations, I like to sink into a track for a while in one mode, let the thoughts about the sound quality flow, and then not worry so much about hastening the switch between modes or components. I make the switch, re-queue the track, and then settle in again, with focus on what new thoughts are created in my bra...