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Cable Asylum: REVIEW: PSL Audio Bolex Cable by vocalion

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REVIEW: PSL Audio Bolex Cable

209.193.71.165


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Model: Bolex
Category: Cable
Suggested Retail Price: $99
Description: One meter audio RCA interconnect
Manufacturer URL: PSL Audio
Manufacturer URL: PSL Audio

Review by vocalion ( A ) on November 21, 2003 at 11:00:43
IP Address: 209.193.71.165
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for the Bolex


PSL Audio (Paul Lim, owner) is a cable manufacturer that offers a complete line of audio and video cables. I have recently become acquainted with PSL Audio by way of ebay, where Paul has been offering his products for sale at promo prices. Although the Bolex RCA interconnect normally retails for $99 per meter and is worth every penny of that price, I was more than happy to buy mine at a fraction of retail. The PSL Audio Bolex is quite attractive and well made, similar in design to the ZuCable Oxyfuel interconnect (see the PSL Audio website for details) that has gotten such great reviews so far. This cable is rather stiff and may not be suited to applications that require sharp twists or anything but a very smooth, gradual arc for an interconnect. But that's a good thing, actually. Rather than recommend this cable to all without reserve, I will simply compare the Bolex directly to a very different IC design - the Mapleshade Golden Double-Helix interconnect (was $240 per meter pair). The sound of the Bolex is best described as warm, smooth, and coherent. Details are in abundance, and the soundstage is extremely wide and it is presented to you as if a you are a few rows back from the music. The Mapleshade seems a bit more upfront and bombastic, with a slightly deeper, more 3-D soundstage. And yet, the music does not seem as unified as it does via the PSL. The Bolex design rejects interferences quite well and so allows for a nice, black background of silence against which the details of the music emerge in a calm manner. The Mapleshade does does not shield out interferences very well due to it's reliance on air dielectric. This design will not keep hum down to acceptable levels in certain applications regardless of the care taken to maximize the insulation. While backgrounds are never as "black" via the Mapleshade's, a cool, lively, and transparent sound is nevertheless one of it's major sonic traits. The Bolex presents a slightly more opaque sound, but one that is easier to listen to sometimes. Dynamics in music are transmitted very well via the Bolex, yet there is a "spreading out" of the sound that is not noticed so much via the Mapleshade. Bolex bass seems very natural and is felt as much as heard, while Mapleshade bass seems audibly impactful but less "felt". The Mapleshade and the PSL present dynamics in different ways. Sound leaps out at you via the Mapleshades, dynamics seems to fly toward you rather than across the soundstage. In short, I'm describing two excellent yet very different cables. The real bargain is the Bolex, IMO. And, if a shielded IC is required then the choice is simply a no-brainer. Soundwise, do you prefer Yin or Yang (that is the question!)? I listen in nearfield and the more relaxed, wider panorama of sound that the Bolex provides seems to suit my system arrangement better. PSL Audio offered this item on ebay with a great 30 day full money back (including shipping both ways) promo deal. But, I won't be returning mine.


Product Weakness: Very stiff cables.
Product Strengths: Well made, good looking, smooth sounding, rejects RFI, EMI well, priced very competitively with a 30 day trial offer that can't be beat.


Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier: N.E.W. A-20.1
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Onkyo Integra P-304, A.E.S. PH-1 (phono)
Sources (CDP/Turntable): SOTA Sapphire TT, Sony DVP 9000ES CDP
Speakers: Reference 3A MM DeCapo i
Cables/Interconnects: PSL Audio, Mapleshade, Audioquest, Black Rhodium
Music Used (Genre/Selections): All.
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner




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Topic - REVIEW: PSL Audio Bolex Cable - vocalion 11:00:43 11/21/03 ( 3)