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REVIEW: NBS Stingher Cable Review by Keith at Audio Asylum

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This Stingher cable is NBS's assault on the low-priced section of the audio cables market, where it is dominated by names such as Kimber PBJ, DHLabs BL-1s, AudioQuest Topaz, etc. In fact, one could find this cable for $99/2 pairs (buy one get one free) when it was first released; for $99, now, you will get the one meter run which is designed with a single-run jacket: the two runs of analog interconnects are bound together in one, black nylon mesh-run throughout most of the cable, except at the ends where the shrink wrap opens into two smaller wires, each ending with a "SwitchCraft" RCA connector (which has a pretty solid grip, by the way). The small wires leading to the RCA connectors are rather thin and contains two smaller twisted wires inside; be careful using this cable in tight quarters as the smaller wires joining the RCA connectors can not take a lot of strain; I suspect this will be a major breaking-off point for some users.

I'm comparing this cable with my standard DHLabs BL-1 interconnects, which are very well known for their value-for-the-buck. They cost roughly $80 for the meter, and have a trial policy. These are rather casual observations, so take it for what it's worth. :)

- The NBS has a sense of weight to the music that DHLabs doesn't have. Drums, cellos, bass, bassoons all carry more tonal depth and solidity with this cable. Changing back to the DH Labs, I feel as if the entire atmosphere of the music is slightly "light", as if I shifted the entire frequecy emphasis up. The lower bass is still there , but definitely does not seem as balanced before. This should be definitely noted on some entry-level systems looking for good cabling, as many of them tend to be bright.

- The tonal shadings on the NBS seem to be slightly richer. This was only noticed when I used the NBS for several days and switched back -- surprising, the voices and instruments with the DHLabs sounded "gray", as what people like to say. It is also as if everything is held back and sounded distant, as if there is a clear veil of some sort in place. The NBS sounds a bit more realistic and uninhibited.

- The NBS and the DHLabs has about the same amount of treble extension, but I found that the DHLabs has a slightly thinner sound. Some hi-hat hits sound very dry and stick-like, and had more of a ring with the NBS (more definition). The NBS will not make any silibance problem better. Other than what I said about the richer tonality, the midrange is equally smooth on both cables.

- Both cables are very quick and detailed; the NBS has a bit more background details.

- Both cables swing, but I think that the DHLabs is slightly pacier and more fun; in a different way, the NBS has more life. It gives a slight taste of what the higher-up NBS cables have to offer.

I really don't think the entry-level buyer can go wrong with either choice. Definitely worth the try if you just started out and don't want to abuse your new components with RatShack wires. Enjoy!



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Topic - REVIEW: NBS Stingher Cable Review by Keith at Audio Asylum - Keith 21:32:24 11/4/99 ( 0)