Cable Asylum: REVIEW: Discovery Cable Essence XLR Cable by watercourse

Model:	Essence XLR
Category:	Cable
Suggested Retail Price:	$850
Description:	Stranded OFC copper ICs
Manufacturer URL:	Discovery Cable
Model Picture:	View

Review by watercourse on July 27, 2013 at 22:35:20
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for the Essence XLR

I had initially heard very good reviews on Discovery's Plus-4 tonearm cable, tried them out in a DIN configuration, and was so impressed that I tried out a pair of balanced Essences between my Pass Labs X1 and X150.5 a bit later.
What I was looking for was a bit more mid-bass and soundstage depth that my RS Audio Duets (solid core Palladium/Silver) weren't giving my system, while retaining the speed, dynamics, detail, smoothness, and shimmer of the Duets. The Essences delivered exactly what I was looking for, plus the ability to disappear, get the instrument tonality, sense of scale and dynamics just right, and get out of the way of the music. They are simply excellent quality cables, and have a great synergy with Pass equipment.
After hearing them between my pre and amp, I wired most of my system with Essence cables: a DIN from the Audiomods tonearm to my Aleph Ono and from the Ono to the X1; another from the Bel Canto DAC3; the only sources remaining that are not wired with Essence are my WTL Simplex and Bel Canto PL1, but I do plan to get RCA versions soon.
Once I wired up my sources with Essence cables, it was as if everything fell into place: smooth musicality, resolution, control, finesse, black background, and of course the bass and depth I was looking for. They make it very easy to listen to music nonstop and just keep pulling out more. The wife loves it too.

Product Weakness:	None at price
Product Strengths:	Excellent bass extension, neutrality, musicality, dynamics and resolution. They disappear, really don't leave much to be desired. They make the Pass gear as well as my other sources shine.

Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: Pass Labs X150.5
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Pass Labs X1
Sources (CDP/Turntable): WTL Simplex (dual arm)
Speakers: DeVore Nines
Cables/Interconnects: vdH Orchid, RS Cables Duet, Auditorium 23, DIY
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Just about everything
Room Size (LxWxH): 16 x 14 x 8.4
Room Comments/Treatments: Just curtains
Time Period/Length of Audition: 6 months
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): REL Strata III
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner

Amplifier:	Pass Labs X150.5
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Pass Labs X1
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	WTL Simplex (dual arm)
Speakers:	DeVore Nines
Cables/Interconnects:	vdH Orchid, RS Cables Duet, Auditorium 23, DIY
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Just about everything
Room Size (LxWxH):	16 x 14 x 8.4
Room Comments/Treatments:	Just curtains
Time Period/Length of Audition:	6 months
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	REL Strata III
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner