Cable plaudits: Iconoclast and AudioQuest

Audio Systems
1

I thought some folks might be interested in this short post by Paul McGowan of PS Audio, as there are a lot of fans and users of both of these brands on the forum. Cheers, Richard

December 2, 2025:

“In my experience, no one brings more science to cable design than Galen Gareis of Iconoclast, and no one has contributed more to the art of cable voicing than Bill Low of AudioQuest….

Full post:

4 Likes
2

Thanks for posting. I first learned about Iconoclasts over at PS Audio’s forum. Excellent cables with sound engineering.

3 Likes
3

I can’t remember where I first read about Iconoclast, possibly it was here on the Forum (from one of @Palerider’s posts most likely) or just poking around on the internet. Anyway, I’ve been very happy with their cables. It was a relief to be able to buy something with a straightforward technical justification for the design choices (even if some engineers, such as John Siau of Benchmark, wouldn’t necessarily agree with them). With Iconoclast cables my system is resolving enough to hear differences between DAC filters, which is a test I’d managed to avoid for years, believing I would just be opening a new can of audio worms if I could hear any differences at all. And - oh dear - I can.

3 Likes
4

^^^^^This.

1 Like
5

Agreed 100x!

The marketing language on Transparent’s website, which is the brand that I own (Reference XL)… how do the “cool kids” say it these days… (?) I think it’s like this… (forgive the crassness): Makes me want to throw up in my own mouth.

: /

2 Likes
6

Just checked Transparent‘s website. The cables are not for me because I usually listen to music with the lights on.

2 Likes
7

lol. Exactly!

My interconnects are absolutely amazing, when the lights go down!

(Apologies to other XL owners who may not share my clearly warped sense of humor):

“XL Balanced Interconnects are a great addition to any well-established Connoisseur Level music or film system with balanced components. They will free a superior system to provide unexpected levels of musical involvement when the lights go down and the music starts to play. Designed for high-resolution fully differentially balanced source components and preamplifier, XL Balanced Interconnects are for discerning individuals who demand even more performance and precision than REFERENCE Balanced Interconnects. Balanced interconnects at the XL level will help you extract the last measure of performance from your existing investments.

2 Likes
8

Galen posted an excellent reply that I thought was spot on;

Bill and I aren’t driving to different ndings, we just chose different roads to try to arrive there. Me, with a more empirical pure science driven path as a Belden Engineer, and Bill can afford a more iterative change and listen stance on things. In the end, though, the science, even if just tweaked and listened to until you find it, will be supported by more proper fundamentals. I can’t believe it can be true any other way, to be better it has to be measurably better.

5 Likes