Once again, I would like to thank Dave for allowing me to audition his XLR version of his D1 interconnects. My system description is right below my avatar, and honestly, it would take a little more than 1/2 this post to just describe it, so I refer you there!
I inserted Dave's D1 cable between my dac (
Poseidon's Voice Sabre 32S) and my preamp (
Poseidon's Voice Lazarus). I felt this position was best due to the way my system is configured - controlled directivity loudspeakers augmented by multiple subwoofers. My 'stock' cable is
VH Audio's Symmetry Copper XLR cable which I built myself. As a factory direct retail product, the cost is about $725/meter pair. I diy'ed the product for considerably less, about $400/pair as I received a discount from VH Audio and also a larger discount on the Furutech FP-600 series gold connectors from Parts Connexion. The VH Audio Symmetry Copper XLR cable uses a pair of 24AWG copper solid core conductors with solid FEP insulation and a double shield of foil and silver plated copper spaced away from the conductors. Measurements on the cable are available from Chris Ven Haus by request, as are now Dave's cables.
I auditioned the cables at the same volume level on my Lazarus preamplifier, initially with quick A/B comparisons and later on with longer listening sessions. The following selections were used:
Track 12 - Carrickfergus;
Celtic Woman: A New Journey
Track 5 - No Sanctuary Here;
Chris Jones: Roadhouses & Automobiles
Track 5 - Bigfoot;
Bela Fleck & the Flecktones:Live Art
Track 7 - Devil May Care;
Diana Krall:Live in ParisEvery single one of the above recordings I strongly recommend purchasing, they are absolutely fantastic. Chris Jones' Roadhouses & Automobiles album should be a reference for all references. It is the most analog recording on a digital medium that I have heard to date.
To be honest, my review is going to closely mirror what Launche said. The fact that Dave's D1 cables sounded quite close to the Symmetry is a complement to Dave's design and execution. The differences were in fact, subtle. I listen at very high volumes - about 85-90 dB at the
listening position, which is roughly 11-12 feet away. To that end Dave's D1 cables accentuated the upper midrange a bit more and lost some of the smoothness that was apparent on the Symmetry cables. Staging was very similar as was imaging. Dynamic attack was similar, although the bass with Dave's D1 cables was a smidgen less defined. The Symmetry was a bit more cohesive whereas Dave's cables accentuated an extreme here and there. I immensely enjoyed Dave's D1 cables regardless and they didn't deter me from appreciating the music in the least.
If you were to ask me to tease the differences when blinded - it would be
impossible. The differences are subtle and small, at least in my system, and with my ears (which I recently had tested by my audiologist).
What is shocking though is the apparent difference in price, especially if you went with the factory direct retail price of the VH Audio Symmetry Copper XLR's. One of the reasons for the large differences is that Dave's D1 cables use a considerably cheaper XLR male/female connector from Furutech versus the VH Audio's use of the nearly top of the line Furutech gold XLR connectors.
I purchased Dave's DD cables (RCA) to go from my turntable to my phonostage. I am now thrilled with that purchase after having auditioned Dave's D1 version of his XLR cables.
Best,
Anand.
