June 8, 2012

• XLO Ultra 1 Interconnects

  The XLO Ultra 1 interconnects under review today are a half meter long, made from 99.994% pure OFHC copper and consist of six stands per positive and negative in each cable.  The interconnects are constructed with a Teflon central tube, insulation and wrapper.  The strands meet at a right angle with the black strands wrapped over the lavender ones – the lavender conductors are, in turn, wrapped around the central Teflon tube.

  Price is $185 terminated with XLO’s nonmagnetic, gold plated RCA connectors.  The interconnects are relatively flexible, skinny, and therefore easy to work with.

  For some reason, the barrels appear to be blue in these photos but are, in fact, lavender in color.

  
  

        

       

  This review should be read in tandem with that of the Amperex Bugle Boy ECC88 6DJ8 dual triodes.  The reason for that is they seem to form a synergistic union when used together.  Initially, the Premier 16LS2 preamp was outfitted with Amperex JAN 7308 green label tubes.  The 7308’s were not complementary to the Ultra 1’s, as the Bugle Boys later proved to be.

  These interconnects replaced a set of Shunyata Antares, 1 meter single-ended interconnects which retailed for $2,000 when new.  So at least in terms of price, the Ultra 1’s had some very large shoes to fill.  This could very well be a case of Keds sneakers taking on Manolo Blahnik.

   

  Listening Impressions:

  • Volume levels need to be raised two or three clicks (1.5 dB to 2 dB) in order to give the same perceived sound levels as the Antares.  See comments in the concluding section as to why this may be the case.
  • The sound is relatively clear and somewhat lean.
  • Not as smooth, rich or dimensional as the Antares.  However, once the Bugle Boys were brought into the picture, the Ultra 1’s approach, but never quite reach, the degree to which the  Antares exhibit these qualities when matched with the Amperex 7308’s.  The Antares/Bugle Boy combination, however, is decidedly in a different class and at 11 times the price, should be.
  • Bass response is well articulated and tuneful but not as deep as with the Antares.
  • Voices are clear and massed vocals allow for distinguishing individual members.
  • Good initial transients and music exhibits a pleasing quickness.
  • Cymbals shimmer nicely but decay a little too quickly even with the Bugle Boy 6DJ8’s in the mix.
  • The soundstage although foreshortened, is clearly delineated left-to-right with smaller, more compact images.

   

  It may be that the unaccentuated midrange, lesser resolution and smaller images resulted in my compensating with a slightly higher volume level.  (Thank you, John, for providing this insight into why I was doing something but couldn’t explain the reason on my own.)

  If you’re looking to add some punch to your system and these cables fall within your budget constraints, they are a worthy choice. 

  
  

  • 8:25 am
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