Audioquest Cinnamon Digital Cables

Discussion in 'Audio Hardware' started by SirMarc, Jun 25, 2019.

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  1. SirMarc

    SirMarc Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Cranford, NJ
    Hey guys, I'm using Forest coax cables and a Forest HDMI cable between my Sony X800/Bluesound Node 2i and my PS Audio Gain Cell Dac. I'm feeling like I should upgrade them.

    I want to stay in the Audioquest family since all my other cables are Audioquest, but don't want to jump up to the Carbon because that will get expensive fast!

    Will the upgrade to Cinnamon be worth it from a sound quality standpoint? Or should I save up for a while and jump up to the Carbon cables?

    Please no cable arguments here, all negative comments will be ignored. Looking for helpful advice, not bickering.

    Thanks in advance,

    Marc
     
  2. blair207

    blair207 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Fife, Scotland
    I use a Carbon coax and it sounds great but I can’t comment on the Cinnamon as I haven’t compared.
     
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  3. SirMarc

    SirMarc Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Cranford, NJ
  4. swvahokie

    swvahokie Forum Resident

    I auditioned the Cinnamon hdmi when I upgraded from my Forest. Currently using a Chocolate hdmi on my cable box and a Carbon HDMI on my 4K blue ray. The cinnamon is better than the forest. But, don’t audition the carbon unless you want to buy it.
     
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  5. SirMarc

    SirMarc Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Cranford, NJ
    Thanks man, appreciate the response. The problem is I'll need two coax cables and one HDMI cable. We're looking at around 260 for the Cinnamon's and 670 for the Carbon's!
    Yikes!

    Wish there was one in between the two, because my rule when upgrading is usually to jump up at least two rungs. Ugh...
     
  6. Dave

    Dave Esoteric Audio Research Specialist™

    Location:
    B.C.
    Best to save up and get the Carbons I would think.
     
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  7. SirMarc

    SirMarc Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Cranford, NJ
    Part of me wants to do this, but the more logical side is saying, dude! You spent 680 on the Node 2i and X800! 725 if you count the HDMI de-embedder.

    Think I may be talking myself into the Cinnamon's, seems nuts to spend the same on cables as I spent on the gear lol
     
  8. elvisizer

    elvisizer Forum Resident

    Location:
    San Jose
    Buy both from a place that takes returns, then do a little blind test- if you can’t hear the difference in the carbon cables, return ‘em.
     
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  9. Dave

    Dave Esoteric Audio Research Specialist™

    Location:
    B.C.
    I used to go with this premise as well... until I heard the the cables. :hide: One power cord I purchased I paid the same as I did for my pre-amp, which wasn't cheap even being on the older side, but I'm sure glad I did.
     
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  10. SirMarc

    SirMarc Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Cranford, NJ
    You're not helping you know...:cool:
     
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  11. Dave

    Dave Esoteric Audio Research Specialist™

    Location:
    B.C.
    :winkgrin: I know, just sayin'.
     
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  12. 500Homeruns

    500Homeruns Peaceful Punk

    Location:
    Lehigh Valley, PA
  13. SirMarc

    SirMarc Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Cranford, NJ
    Well my Golden Gates and Red Rivers are red, so I can always go Cinnamon and match colors...lol
     
  14. Roger C

    Roger C Near Kalamazoo Michigan

    Location:
    Southwest Michigan
    I am pleased with my USB Carbon cable which I found worth the upgrade from the Cinnamon it replaced.
    I could have been happy with the Cinnamon but the Carbon was worth the extra cost for me.
    I haven't heard the hdmi version.
     
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  15. SirMarc

    SirMarc Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Cranford, NJ
    Picked up one Carbon coax, and man, it kicked the Forest's ass! My wife came in and was like no way you just replaced a cable! What else did you buy?!? Lol. Ugh, guess I have to get the rest...
     
    Eigenvector and Dave like this.
  16. Neil S. Cohen

    Neil S. Cohen You Enjoy Myself

    Location:
    Valley Stream, NY
    Not trying to hijack this thread, but I was just about to post a similar question regarding the USB cable running between my streaming dac and my iMac. I ordered a Schiit/Straightwire Pyst because, for $30 shipped, why not, but I can’t help wondering if I should have gotten the cardas clear for $140 or one of the several audioquest offerings. Sounds like you guys really like the aq carbon - does that apply to the usb cable as well? Do digital cable differences correlate to analog cable differences? What kinds of improvements are we looking for? As stated by the op, please no cable flame war. I’m just an old audiophile who’s still a streaming neophyte, trying to get some opinions from those with more experience in the digital domain.

    Thanks.
     
    Last edited: Sep 12, 2019
  17. SirMarc

    SirMarc Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Cranford, NJ
    Not sure, but the jump from a similarly priced AQ Forest coax to the admittedly much more expensive Carbon was not subtle...
     
  18. Dave

    Dave Esoteric Audio Research Specialist™

    Location:
    B.C.
    :thumbsup: Glad to hear it worked out well for you and now that Mrs. SirMarc is convinced your next SHM's inspired purchase should be a breeze. ;)
     
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  19. SirMarc

    SirMarc Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Cranford, NJ
    Not so sure about that lol. I do use her as back up in case of bias though, because she can give a schiit about it. She appreciates that it sounds good, but doesn't really care. She also has no problem calling bullschiit, or calling me an idiot lol.
     
    Dave likes this.
  20. Dave

    Dave Esoteric Audio Research Specialist™

    Location:
    B.C.
    :p Sounds like you're married to Mrs. Dave.
     
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  21. SirMarc

    SirMarc Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Cranford, NJ
    Sounds like we're lucky guys :edthumbs:. 20 years this past January, and no regrets...
     
    Last edited: Sep 12, 2019
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  22. DigMyGroove

    DigMyGroove Forum Resident

    I bought a Schiit Gungnit MB here in the classifieds last week and also a Cinnamon USB at $35 so I figured it was worth a try. Compared to the regular USB cable I was using which came from my computer cable pile it was better, but only a subtle difference mainly in bass definition.

    I also bought Audioquest's USB 2.0 to USB-C adaptor which is $15. The difference there between it and an Anker brand adapter was more pronounced. Once gain it was the bass that improved the most, more realistic and dimensional.
     
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  23. SirMarc

    SirMarc Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Cranford, NJ
    I may have to pick up the AQ adapter. I'm using a generic one off of Amazon. I don't use the tablet as much since I got a Bluesound Node 2i, but for when I do, better sound is always good lol
     
    DigMyGroove likes this.
  24. Neil S. Cohen

    Neil S. Cohen You Enjoy Myself

    Location:
    Valley Stream, NY
    What kind of improvements did you get going from cinnamon to carbon usb? Seems like, at $150 for usb, carbon might be the sweet spot of the aq line.
     
  25. SirMarc

    SirMarc Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Cranford, NJ
    What are your thoughts on optical cables guys? I've always been a coax guy, and have heard a nice improvement moving up to the Carbon coax's, but I'm out of coax connections and have to use an optical for either my Node 2i or Cambridge Audio CXC that I'll be receiving from Amazon today.

    I'm thinking Carbon Coax to the CXC, and optical to the Node 2i. I've got a Blue Jeans optical cable I can use for now, but I'm wondering (like we audiophiles always do lol) if I should get a Carbon optical cable.

    Will I notice a nice upgrade with optical like I did with the coax cables? Or is optical more limited because it's just light?

    Thanks in advance,

    Marc
     
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