TESTS

Cardas

Links to the full article Test conclusion
 
Link to tests on the Cardas website  
SOUNDSTAGE
 Cardas Audio Golden Reference Interconnects and Speaker Cables		 Sound: "Consummate" -- " smooth and detailed, physical in the bass, and not at all warm and rich, as earlier Cardas cables had sounded." "In the end, what defines the sound of Golden Reference interconnects and speaker cables more than anything is their high level of neutrality, real neutrality, not the thin, washed-out sound that audiophiles often think represents neutrality."
Value: "You can find interconnects and speaker cables that will better them in one specific way or another, but the Golden Reference cables' self-effacing way with music is something that few other cables achieve, and they cost less than most other top-of-the-line competition."
SOUNDSTAGE
Cardas 300B-MicroTwin Interconnects
and Twinlink A Speaker Cable		 Cardas has created an excellent value in cabling, providing good imaging and detail in the highs and mids, and deep, rich (though slightly muddy) bass. My system uses McCormack’s passive TLC-1 linestage, which makes bass an iffy, difficult-to-discern issue; in the context of a more traditional active system, I think the difference in bass would be more distinct and noticeable, making the difference much more of a decision in personal taste. Even in the end, the sound of the Cardas wire was very similar to that of my current Kimber setup, and I had to work very hard to discern the differences. All the differences I did find were merely changes in character, providing a slightly more forward and dry sound with deeper lows than I was used to from my system.

The Cardas wire deserves a serious audition. I think the minor differences I detected could be extremely important during the fine art of system matching, especially in a system with an active preamplifier. I’d happily recommend the Cardas cable to anyone interested in wire in this price range, especially if the sound it helped create found a happy home in the context of the buyer’s personal audio system.
 
Cardas Neutral Reference
& Golden Reference Cables		 Yes, friends, I can say these cables have impressed me too. This cable casts a brilliant soundstage. It is clean, open, transparent and FAST. The Neutral Reference, as its name suggests, hides nothing. If the system needs to be tonally adjusted with interconnects, this is not the cable to choose. I don’t mean to suggest it’s "analytical," but it is certainly revealing. A fine distinction in terminology, I know, but appropriate here.
 
Cardas Audio Neutral
Reference Interconnects		 The Neutral Reference by Cardas is a detail freak’s dream cable. It is a very open window into recordings, good and bad. And so the effects of its ultra-high resolution can be perceived as, well, good and bad, depending on what you're listening to. I find that, overall, the effects are largely positive, especially considering that many audiophiles are trying to build the most resolving rig they can. And if straightwire-with-gain is the ideal you seek, then these should definitely be auditioned. Overall, I find them to be a very exciting, enjoyable cable to have in my rig.

If I only listened to well-recorded vinyl, CD's and SACD's, the Neutral Reference would be the only cable I'd need until I found something even more transparent (a daunting challenge I'm guessing). However, since I do have a boatload of poorly executed recordings in my music collection, I will also search for interconnects that bring a combination between the Neutral Reference’s precision and a more forgiving presentation. It might end up being one of the other cables from this review group. And I also want to try Cardas’ Golden Reference some time in the near future.

As I intend to continue reviewing many different products, I feel the Neutral Reference would be an indispensable tool. It was designed to let the components do the talking, and does such a great job of it that the effects are truly stunning -- you might not believe what your recordings and various components are saying to each other. If you haven’t already guessed, I bought ‘em. And until I find a cable more neutral and more transparent, the Neutral Reference will likely be used in every component review I do, where applicable.

Don’t let the age of the Neutral Reference design fool you into thinking these cables aren’t cutting edge. Cardas Audio is a company very well known for its research and development abilities. Remember, they built a headphone cable from the ground up (and with stellar results) -- and this included the development of a new ¼” plug design, as well as the manufacturing of custom earpiece plugs. They frequently build custom parts for component manufacturers (including HeadRoom). It would seem to me that a company with these capabilities would be able to quickly come to market with new innovations as they come to fruition. It’s just that their current cables -- if my experience with a couple of their models is any indication -- may simply be ahead of their time.
 
Cardas Golden Cross PEAKS
FOR Honest integrity of original signal is reproduced. A reference cable.
AGAINST Audition in your system before buying.