Home
AudioAsylum Trader
Cable Asylum: REVIEW: Analysis plus inc. BiOval 9 Cable by GaryM

Interconnects, speaker wire, power cords. Ask the Cable Guys.

For Sale Ads

FAQ / News / Events

 

REVIEW: Analysis plus inc. BiOval 9 Cable

205.247.237.91


[ Follow Ups ] Thread:  [ Display   All   Email ] [ Cable Asylum ]
[ Alert Moderator ]

Model: BiOval 9
Category: Cable
Suggested Retail Price: unknown
Description: Biwire Oval 9 speaker cable, factory terminated.
Manufacturer URL: Analysis plus inc.
Manufacturer URL: Analysis plus inc.

Review by GaryM on November 26, 2001 at 15:05:12
IP Address: 205.247.237.91
Add Your Review
for the BiOval 9


This is a review of the Analysis Plus, Inc. (hereafter referred to as AP) BiOval 9 speaker cable. First and foremost, let me set a few parameters for the reader:

1. This review is strictly my opinion of this cable in my system. Please remember that every component typically sounds different, sometimes better, sometimes worse, in any given system and with any given listener's personal preference.
2. I am not reviewing this cable in comparison to every other cable in its price class.
3. I refuse to look down on any given product regardless of cost. Expense is only dependent upon one's willingness to pay. These cables are wonderful. I am sure that the high-cost Kimber Kable Black Pearl is also wonderful, but the two can not possibly be compared.
4. I am not in any way, shape or form, associated with AP.
5. If you do not like an extremely positive review in which no significant negatives can be found, do NOT read on.

That being said, let's get down to business!

These cables are large and heavy 9 gauge woven copper. They are not round but rather, as the name implies, ovular in shape. One side of the jacket is purple, the other clear so that the copper is clearly visible. They are very nice looking. They are extremely flexable and have no tendency to curl. They stay where you put them. Connections are either gold-plated spade lugs or top-of-the-line WBT locking bananas. They also are available with the large T1 silver spades. This brings me to the only real negative--the spades are so large and thick that they will not fit on most Bryston equipment (I have heard that Bryston has new binding posts currently in use, and they may accept the girth of the T1s). Is it a fault of AP? Could be, depending on how you look at it. I include it here simply FYI.

So, how do they sound? The raw cables sounded absolutely horrific. Dry, brittle, harsh treble, flat and cold midrange, and muddy uncontrolled bass. These cables need a long burn-in period. I noticed subtle improvements up through about 180-200 hours. I couldn't hear any other improvements past the 200 hour mark.

Okay, but this review is not about raw cables. So again, how do they sound? How can I possibly sum this up? Is there a single word in the English language that can help you, the reader, to understand that these cables are stunning, smooth, and outright excellent? Probably not, so let me elaborate a bit:

Treble:
Extended with no hint of being harsh or bright. Siblants are not at all overexaggerated. Subtle differences in timbre are easily identified. Mecca Bodega's percussive dream album "City of Rocks" or David Grisman Quintet's album "Dawganova" use many different similar instruments. Each difference on each recording was presented through a magnifying glass. The cable in general is very revealing--a bright recording is revealed as such and is sometimes difficult to listen to. A good recording however, reveals itself in all of its detailed glory.

Midrange:
Warm and rich. Again as in the treble, smooth with no harsh or bright quality. I could detect no "chesty" quality to male vocals. No upper midrange glare was present.

Bass:
Deep and controlled. Tight and tuneful. These cables really let the bass information flow. I found this to be true with both music (Bela Fleck and the Flecktones' "Flight of the Cosmic Hippo") and home theater (insert any given explosion scene here). I'm not sure that I necessarily heard more information down there, but I definitely heard a refined presentation of what surely must have been there all along.

Soundstage and Imaging:
This honestly is not my ears' forte. I can tell you though, that the sweet spot appeared to have congealed to be more defined, yet larger than I was used to. Lateral imaging appeared to be wider, but I could not detect any significant increase in soundstage depth. Ditto for soundstage height. But again, this is not a system priority for me, nor is it something that my ears can always clearly resolve.

Bottom line:
These cables did not contribute any sonic signature to the system that I could consistently identify. I found myself frequently listening to tracks I have known well for years and hearing new things, mostly subtle differences--a snare drum brush, a singer taking a catch breath, a scrape of a pick against a guitar string. I know it is somewhat cliche to say something to the effect of "I'm listening to my whole collection as if for the first time." Okay, so call me cliche--these cables are allowing me to listen to music with no noticable screen or fog between me and the recording. Not quite like the "first time" all over again, but certainly with a cleaner and clearer window into the music.

To wrap up this gushing review on these cables, I would be ignorant to not mention the superior customer support provided by AP. Their president, Mark Markel, is a very patient and knowledgeable man. I find it a treat to be able to directly email a company's president to ask specific questions and to gain clarification about key information. He consistently found the time to eloquently answer all of the (sometimes idiotic) questions I had. AP's website contains a tremendous amount of technically informative information and is well-organized to boot.

I would also be ignorant to not mention the dealer from whom I purchased these cables. Jack Bornstein, from JB Audio in Texas, is by far and away one of the very best dealers around (I do NOT have any connection to Jack or JB Audio other than the fact that I am an extremely satisfied customer.) He provided me with extensive support and patience. He was always quick to answer an email full of (also sometimes idiotic) questions. He also provided me with an absolutely astronomical value on these cables. I won't tell you what I paid, but I'd be surprised if you can find a better deal. If you call him, I'm sure he will extend the same curtosy!

What? You're still sitting there reading all of this? What on Earth are you waiting for! Email Jack (at jackson@aiu.net), place your order, and prepare to enter sonic nirvana! Double-mega-super-ultra-recommended!


Product Weakness: Those wonderful T1 spades will not fit on Bryston binding posts.
Product Strengths: Everything is excellent and controlled, from the highest treble through the deepest bass. Absolutely allows all of your other components to do their own job and allows you to hear it all!


Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier: Bryston 9BST THX amp
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Yamaha DSP-A3090 as pre/processor only
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Adcom GCD-700, Sony DVP-7700
Speakers: B&W DM 602 for a while, Paradigm reference 100v2 for a while.
Cables/Interconnects: DH Labs BL-1, Illuminati D-60, Analysis Plus Oval 12
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Everything from death metal to classic rock to jazz to classical
Room Size (LxWxH): 15 x 11 x 8
Room Comments/Treatments: RPG Profoam
Time Period/Length of Audition: Owned for the last month
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): Panamax MAX 1000+, extensive use of Brightstar Audio products--Airmasses, Big Rock, Little Rocks, DIY glass brick/rubber coat cable risers, RF chokes, warm kitten on lap.
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner




This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:
  The Cable Cooker  



Topic - REVIEW: Analysis plus inc. BiOval 9 Cable - GaryM 15:05:12 11/26/01 ( 5)