Cable Asylum: REVIEW: Bogdan Audio Pure Silver Speaker Cables Cable by the analog kid

Model:	Pure Silver Speaker Cables
Category:	Cable
Suggested Retail Price:	$45/meter
Description:	Pure Silver wire in air dialectric
Manufacturer URL:	Not Available
Manufacturer URL:	Not Available

Review by the analog kid ( A ) on February 12, 2003 at 19:35:18
IP Address: 35.12.23.67

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Wow - I just spent half an hour writing a review, and somehow it got vaporized! So, here I go again....

I recently reviewed the Bogdan Audio Interconnects, which I found to be exceptional. Based upon my positive experience with them, I ordered a pair of speaker cables, to try them out (at $45/meter, this is a no-lose proposition, at least by high-end standards).

Ben, the head designer at Bogdan, hand-makes each pair of speaker cables, based upon the customer's order (and based upon amp wattage and speaker impedance). Cables are made from 18 gauge pure silver wire, with a teflon sheathing, in a triple-braided format (with no shielding). Ben does not terminate his cables (although he will terminate upon customer request), as he believes that any termination impedes signal transfer. The cables have (at each end) silver wire protruding that is extremely flexible and bends easily around binding posts, allowing for a secure fit. Overall fit and finish of the cables is exemplary, and Ben is extremely helpful and friendly. As he has JUST started producing cables, they are not currently listed on his website, and only can be obtained by emailing him directly at mail@bogdanaudio.com.

My two meter pair of speaker cable arrived earlier this week, and I put it in my office system, which consists of an EAD Transport and D/A, an Anthem Integrated 1 with NOS tubes, and Totem Arro speakers. The Bogdans replaced my "primary" cable in that system, which was Audioquest Argent.

To give you a point of reference, I have owned or auditioned the following speaker cables over the last many years of audiophilia nervosa: Cardas (Golden Hexlink 5C, Golden Cross), Nordost (Blue Heaven, Flatline), Audioquest (Indigo, Type 4, Midnight, Forest, Argent, Clear), Nirvana SL, Kimber BiFocal XL, Mapleshade, MIT (Terminator), and Silversmith. Silversmith is my favorite cable, and my home reference system uses all Silversmith cabling.

The Bogdan speaker cables killed me straight out of the box. More precisely, they absolutely laid waste to the Argents, without even being broken in. Gains included greater transparency, naturalness of tone, clarity, sweetness, coherence - basically every stereotypical audiophile assessment dimension. This was after an hour play time! Keep in mind, the Argents listed for $815, and are no slouch of a cable. I set my EAD on repeat (with Corelli Concerto's) and went about my business. After a day, I listened more carefully, this time to one of my favorite audition disks, Sinead O'Connor's Gospel Oak. Having heard her in concert, it's easy to tell if a component hits or misses her voice. The Bogdan was dead on - absolutely natural, sweet, clear, clean, transparent, warm, relaxed. It's one of those experiences where everything suddenly seems to sonically slow down, and you realize it's because there is SO much more information being presented to your ears. Highs are incredibly extended, and lows are full, tight, and rich. There is the absolute absence of any stereotypical "silver" artifacts.

All in all, the Bogdan speaker cables - similar to their IC's - are most closely akin to my beloved Silversmiths. They have the same relaxed, NATURAL tone - they present the soul and essence of music in pure form. I guess this makes sense, as they share the same design philosophy - primarily air dialectric, pure silver cable, no termination.

In closing, the most amazing thing to me is how cable makers can charge what they do, and attempt to defend it. I don't mean to provoke argument here (that is NOT my intent), but we live right now within an industry in which companies routinely design extremely elaborate strand combinations of this and that, then charge over $1,000/meter. Here is a SIMPLE high quality cable that is hand made by a guy who charges $45/meter, and it absolutely kicks butt on ANY cable I've heard, excepting the Silversmiths. And its performance is SO good in comparison to my reference that I no longer listen to my office system thinking "if I only could afford more 'smiths...."

These cables are the essence of giant-killers, but to me they represent something more - true integrity and artisanship - BEAUTIFUL portrayal of the natural soul of music, at a price almost anyone can readily afford. I've been emailing audio buddies all over the globe telling them to check these out. In a decade of audio fixation, I have NEVER experienced such an amazing bang/buck ratio in a product. HIGHLY recommended.

Product Weakness: None that I have experienced.
Product Strengths: AMAZING bang for the buck; musical, transparent, sweet, coherent, extended, natural - the ENTIRE package.

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Anthem Integrated 1 with NOS
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	None
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	EAD Transport & D/A
Speakers:	Totem Arro
Cables/Interconnects:	Bogdan
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Baroque; Female Vocal
Room Size (LxWxH):	16 x 12 x 9
Room Comments/Treatments:	RPG panels
Time Period/Length of Audition:	1 week
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	Monster HTS2000
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	None that I have experienced.
Product Strengths:	AMAZING bang for the buck; musical, transparent, sweet, coherent, extended, natural - the ENTIRE package.