What about Audio Quest Quartz? Does anyone try it?

I've enjoyed my AudioTruth Diamond x2 for about 9 months now. These are my interconnects of choice right now. In my system they outperform the Monster M2000 Sigma (another very worthy interconnect) in enough ways to be the winner. One complaint that is very noteworthy, however, is in ambient detail, which the Diamonds have a wealth of. While having great detail, there is just a touch of darkness to the overall tone of the ambient material when compared to the Sigma, which sounds more like the ambient character of, say, Bernadette Peters at The Cerritos Center For The Performing Arts. I know. This is a totally unfair comparison. I'll Be Your Baby Tonight was NOT recorded at the Cerritos Center For The Performing Arts. All in all, these interconnects are part of the whole in my reference system which changes character remarkably with less than quarter inch differences in speaker placement. 5 stars.

After reading the reviews below, I figured somebody here might as well note a major difference of opinion on these cables. First of all, the AQ Diamond either in the old X2 or newer X3 do not have ambient detail. This is one cable that simply robs the music of this very important aspect. The T/A Ultra does a great job here even though it has a rolled-off top end, the NBS Master is exceptional here in all aspects, the Cardas Golden Cross is also very good with harmonic richness and bloom. But the AQ Diamond? ...... Doesn't even come close!
I tried a 1-meter X2 and a 5 meter X3 and there was no difference at all in the context of the fatal flaw described above. The cable does not have any obvious bumps or dips in the frequency range so it is a rather neutral cable, but the simple fact that it removes the musicality in the process makes this a cable unsuitable for systems where 3D, harmonic richness, ambience, etc., are the strengths.

For lifeless systems, those of Mark Levinson electronics for example, the AQ Diamond might be fine. But for tube-based systems such as those from ARC, CJ or VTL, the user would be very disappointed. Once you hear what these tube-based systems can do with fine cables, and then you insert the AQ Diamond, you know immediately that the magic you paid so much for, is instantly gone.

Compared to the cables I mentioned and the exceptional SilverAudio Cables, the AQ Diamond deserve a 2-3 rating ..... and only because of their neutrality. If you can afford $1000 for a 1-meter cable, then the Cardas Golden Cross or SilverAudio Appassionata will surprise you .... and they both cost less than the AQ Diamond.

For comparison purposes my system is the following:
Linn/Ittok/Grado
ARC PH2
ARC LS5II
ARC VT130
Magnepan MG3.3
Cables are Cardas Golden Cross and SilverAudio Appassionata & Symphony 48

I think the audio quest diamond is the best interconect i have ever heard it sounds beutifull enough said.
my system set up is
proceed transport pct
vimak ds-1800 da converter
audio research ls1 preamp
symphonic line kraft-100 power amp
dali 40 loudspeakers
speaker cables audio quest dragon
audio quest diamond interconects
audio quest video z digital cable.

Excellent cable in all respects. Generous amounts of detail without brightness and exellent amount of realism is delivered in all types of music. Regarding the review below, I will acknowledge the Cardas Golden Cross in it's own right is a good cable. But superior? I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I feel this cable when used with the proper caliber of equipment is the standard by which all inter-connect should be judged.
Solid state or tubes, this cable works and is extremely revealing. This can be a good thing and yes, a bad thing depending on the recording. Audition this cable and try different speaker wires with it. Recomended.

Owning a pair of Emeralds already, I was curious to see if AQ was really giving us something better for 900 + dollars, or just pulling our collective leg. So I auditioned some.Yep, they're better. Slightly less grain, more smoothness. That little bit more definition to each instrument. That slightly more compelling soundstage. The changes are very much in line with the AQ sound -- tonally and harmonically honest, open at the top end, firm at the bottom. If you can afford, they are tbe best AQ, although I don't know how they'd compare with the top offerings of other cable makers.

trancparecny, natrualnes, detail.

nothing

The diamonds have a sound of there own pure and natrual nothing added nothing taken away just pure signal.
If your coponents have more to offer these are the perfect cables. which only silver cables can do.
even the smallest of details pass threw.
This cable should be the audiophile standard, if you love music you will love these pure silver cables.

Similar Products Used:

n/a

Sense of timing, dynamics, bass, tonal richness, quickness, overall balance; laid back.

Maybe ambience, although hard to tell with my mixture of cables.

I wanted to check in with a confirmation of my original opinion: I still have AQ Diamond interconnects in my system after close to 2 years and still love them. I use them in tandem with XLO Type1 (from my preamp to amp), and together these 2 cables with my passive preamp give a fully satisfying sound that is particularly noteworthy for bass punch and depth, in addition to being just the most honest or realistic sound I've heard from any interconnect. I also salute the reviews below which are very thorough and well done, since the reviewers actually take the trouble to compare the Diamonds with other cables (gee what a concept). Although I haven't heard everything, nothing I've heard in the cheap seats has this kind of class. I had a brief attachment to the Pro Silways, but aside from their excellent treble, I found them lacking ultimately in dynamics, bass, and the subjective involvement factor.
In my system only a few pieces have stood the test of time and this is one. I understand that AQ has stopped production on them, a mistake IMHO.

Similar Products Used:

AQ Emerald, Transparent Music Wave Plus, Pro Silway Mark II

Just got my AudioTruth Diamond x2 and replaced my Kimber KCAG. It's like getting a new pair of glasses where things become more focused. Since my speakers already had a clearly defined base, I didn't notice much extension, but the base became more separated. Vocals improved too with a clearer definition as well as the at the top, high end. Kimber KCAGs were good and half as expensive as the Diamond. However, to get your system that little extra push towards Audio nirvana, the Diamond will do it. If your system doesn't sound as expected, you will know that the weak link is not the Diamond interconnect. Regardless of cost, the Diamond definitely gets 5 stars. Some people will wince at the cost because you can by a medium-end CD player for it. But if your system is high-end, and you have to have one of the best, you must try the Diamond. Considering the cost, it gets 4 stars. But 5 stars for performance, easily.

Very natural and smooth.

Laid back.

This review is for the x2 and the x3 model, both RCA.

As you can see I have tried all the "classic" Audioquest lines of interconnects. Diamond x2 or x3 are simply the vesy best. The x2 and x3 are very very similar - musically very smooth and spacious. They do sound very zippy with many pop music recrodings that feature high female voice (like those singers from Japan).

Diamond x2 does sound better than the Lapis x3, if you are curious.

All previous reviews are done beautifully so I won't add much more to it. I do start using Harmonic Tech Pro Silway Mk II ($399 for 1m RCA) and actually they are more open and balanced than both Diamond x2 and x3. HT is not as smooth and quiet as Diamond but the price differential is ridiculous (I think Diamond x2 does for around $1400 1m). Just an alternative if you wanna have 93% of Diamond x2/x3's performance at 1/5 of the cost.

4 star for the value rating because it's so expensive, 5 stars for performance since it's one of the vesy best at any price.

Similar Products Used:

AudioTRUTH Lapis x3, Emerald x3, Opal x3, Ruby x3, Quartz x3, Topaz x3, Turqouise x3, Jade x3. Harmonic Technology Pro-Silway Mark II.