Cable Asylum: REVIEW: PNF Audio Icon Cable by spindrifter

Model:	Icon
Category:	Cable
Suggested Retail Price:	$189
Description:	Interconnect - Absolute Sound award winner.
Manufacturer URL:	PNF Audio
Model Picture:	View

Review by spindrifter on January 04, 2009 at 16:42:13
IP Address: 218.215.56.73 Add Your Review
for the Icon

No need to dwell too long on this marvellous interconnect with a neutrality, transparency and musicality unheard of at the price. Already an Absolute Sound award winner.

And to quote from their website: " PNF Audio is pleased to announce our line on CC (Continuous Cast) OFHC (Oxygen free high conductivity) copper Audiophile Cables! The CC Process Eliminates the crystal barriers typical with Standard OHFC copper, as many as tens of thousands of barriers per meter! Because the signal follows the path of least resistance, this directly effects the most important sonic parameters i.e. capacitance, inductance, and resistance. Icon Audio Interconnects represent the finest in itâ€™s class, starting with Continuous Casting Process 23awg OFHC Silver Plated Copper assures that the skin effect (skin effect carries the signals current densities) is the entire diameter of the conductor; then there is the dielectric which has the ability to absorb the electrostatic energy stored in the conductor. Here we want to absorb as little of the energy as possible and use our AIRLON dielectric. AIRLON is PTFE TEFLON & air foam honeycomb matrix achieving the highest Dielectric Constant possible today = 1.4. A PERFECT VACUUM is 1.0 and Solid Teflon is 2.1! In addition, we use a solid foil 100% coverage shield to reject noise and a PVC Jacket for toughness and flexibility. Our connector is PNF Audio Copper Alloy Locking RCA with a rating of 93.3%. "

PNF Audio design principles and raw materials appear similar in approach to at least one other audio cable company - DH Labs. And that company also offers excellent products well worthy of consideration.

Over my (many) years in audio, I've auditioned literally dozens of interconnect cables (including Nordost, MIT, Cardas, van den Hul, Straightwire, Wireworld, Audioquest, Tara, Kimber, QED, Chord, XLO, DH Labs etc etc). So far this PNF Audio Icon is the biggest bang for the buck it's been my privelege to slot into my system. For the reasonable cost you cannot lose!

Product Weakness:

Some may not be used to screw-down locking RCA plugs. No big deal once you get the hang of them!

Product Strengths:

Neutrality, transparency, nuanced inner detail, unconstrained extension at both frequency extremes, airy highs, deep-controlled-fast-vise-like-grip bass, immaculate imaging, soundstaging and instrument bloom, immense PRaT and an overall coherence that engages the listener. These are not for those who seek a %22tone control%22 or %22passive filter%22 - they are completely accurate and literal in what they reproduce.

Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: modified Atoll HEX FET power amp
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): modified Shanlin PH-300 pre-amp
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Roksan Radius 5, Lyra Argo, modified JLTI phono stage, modified NAD M55 disc player
Speakers: Merlin TSM MMe
Cables/Interconnects: PNF Icon interconnects, Clear Day Double Shotgun speaker cables
Music Used (Genre/Selections): jazz, world music, hiphop, broken beat, drum n bass, reggae, dub, electronica, folk, blues, classical
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): Custom unfiltered power strip, Zu Audio Birth power cables
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner

Amplifier:	modified Atoll HEX FET power amp
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	modified Shanlin PH-300 pre-amp
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Roksan Radius 5, Lyra Argo, modified JLTI phono stage, modified NAD M55 disc player
Speakers:	Merlin TSM MMe
Cables/Interconnects:	PNF Icon interconnects, Clear Day Double Shotgun speaker cables
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	jazz, world music, hiphop, broken beat, drum n bass, reggae, dub, electronica, folk, blues, classical
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	Custom unfiltered power strip, Zu Audio Birth power cables
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner