Cable Asylum: REVIEW: VH Audio SYMMETRY Cable by Asrale

Model:	SYMMETRY
Category:	Cable
Suggested Retail Price:	$1199
Description:	XLR Balanced Cable - silver
Manufacturer URL:	VH Audio
Model Picture:	View

Review by Asrale on July 14, 2008 at 15:21:31
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for the SYMMETRY

BACKGROUND:

As a fan of silver interconnects in general, I've tried my share of them - Signal Cable Silver Resolution Analog (my first ones), PS Audio xStream Transcendent, Harmonic Technology Pro-Silway MKIII+, Acoustic Zen Silver Reference II, Silver Audio Appassionata. Most recently, the Analysis Plus Silver Oval and VH Audio Spectrum Ag. And the subject of this review, the VH Audio Symmetry XLR.

I recently sold these actually, the following review is from saved notes back in May where I compared to it to the Analysis Plus Silver Oval XLR in three balanced CD players - Plinius CD-101, bel canto CD-1, and dCS P8i.

SYSTEM:

Power cords - Black Sand Silver Reference MKV (no power conditioner, directly into wall) on CDP, LAT International AC-2 MKII and Audience powerChord E (primarily) on amp
Comparison CDPs - bel canto CD-1, dCS P8i
Comparison Interconnects - Analysis Plus Silver Oval XLR
Headphone amplifier - DIY balanced Beta 22, $1.8K in parts (discrete design w/ MOSFETs) (and more info at www.amb.org)
Headphones - AKG K701 w/ SAA Equinox XLR re-cable, Audio-Technica AD2000 & W5000 w/ APureSound V3 XLR re-cable

LISTENING CDs:

A Fine Frenzy - One Cell In The Sea
Alison Krauss - Forget About It
Alison Krauss & Union Station - New Favorite, Lonely Runs Both Ways
Laika - Good Looking Blues
Renee Fleming - Thais ("Je n'ai pas plus choisi mon sort que ma nature" and the Meditation in Act 2)
The Crystal Method - Community Service, Tweekend
Wynonna - The Other Side

AUDITION TIME:

2 weeks (if this sounds short, please note that I listened for at least a few hours each night, often staying up late)

PHYSICAL & TECHNICAL ASPECTS:

As Analysis Plus publishes on their Web site, their cables are built with a patented "hollow oval" design that they claim is scientifically engineered for optimum frequency response. The jacket on their cables is pretty thick and transparent, allowing you to see the actual wires comprising the cable. While their cable is relatively thick, it's still also relatively thin compared to some other interconnects I've handled, like the RCA versions of the Acoustic Zen Silver Reference II and Harmonic Technology Pro-Silway MKIII+. The Silver Oval XLR is still relatively flexible though and coils when force is applied. The Silver Oval XLR also uses Neutrik-grade connectors, probably the NC3-MXB. Analysis Plus's MSRP on the Silver Oval XLR is $875 for 1M.

The VH Audio Symmetry XLR is part of VH Audio's high-end "Gold Label" line and looks very nice too. It's a thicker cable but is marginally more flexible than the Silver Oval - it bends easier and stays in form better too. The Symmetry XLR uses the state-of-the-art Furutech FP601 Rhodium connectors. VH Audio's direct-order price on the Symmetry XLR is ~$700 for 1M.

SOUND DIFFERENCES:

Initially I started with these interconnects on the Plinius CD-101.

The difference between the two was fairly obvious almost immediately and remained consistent. A subtle difference of course, but it was surprising how reactive the system was to the interconnect swap.

The Symmetry XLR offered a clearly richer, bolder, and more dynamic sound. For a cable that's advertised as silver, it actually didn't sound like silver that much - the mid-range was nice and full-bodied with it, and decays seemed to be perfectly held. It also had more dynamic punch, with more intensity on loud bursts or volume surges otherwise. Very engaging and with the Plinius, it made for a very exciting listen, it was like a wham-bam knockout. Bass too went very deep and offered up plenty of slam and impact. Soundstage went very very wide, but the depth impressed me more than the width - lots more projection to the image that made it sound out and away. Excellent soundstage in other words, with lots of open air and very well-defined discrete instrument positions.

With the Silver Oval XLR in place, the mid-range noticeably thinned out in comparison. Not so much body and fullness. It did sound a lot like silver though, and true to Analysis Plus' design literature, it was clearly faster in the time domain. There was significantly more attack with it, affecting the range of cymbal pre-strike movements, guitar strumming, plucking, tapping, and high-order harmonics. In comparison, the Symmetry XLR felt slow and skipped over the tiny-fast details. The Silver Oval XLR also clearly had more treble tilt to the frequency balance and gave more convincing teeth-gnashing on metallic sounds - there was a superb "taste of steel" sensation with these in place on the Plinius, as I really felt the cold edge of a metallic sheen with them that wasn't there with the Symmetry XLR.

The Silver Oval's bass was really good too, though in a different style than the Symmetry's. While the Symmetry gave some great slam and impact, the Silver Oval seemed to offer lower audible bass extension for a better rumble effect that came across as more subterranean. Its mid-bass punch wasn't as forceful as the Symmetry's but to compensate it seemed quicker, swifter. It recovered from insistent bass rhythms faster whereas the Symmetry seemed to "plodge" just a bit.

As far as soundstage, the Silver Oval had decent width but seemed to offer less width span - far-away instruments didn't sound quite that far away with it. Depth too was a bit constrained compared to the Symmetry, the whole image felt a bit closer.

CONCLUSION:

Personally I far preferred the Silver Oval XLR in my system. I like the effect that a treble tilt brings - razor-thin lining around edges, fast attack, and crystal clarity. (And yes I do like being able to virtually taste metal and other cold sheens.) If something is etching, that's something I want to know and the Silver Oval XLR is an excellent carrier of that information.

But of course I know that's not a quality that's favored by everyone and in that case, the Symmetry XLR is also an excellent interconnect that doesn't carry the typical silver sound. Deep, wide soundstage with gobs of dynamic intensity and a very well-balanced frequency response that really only sacrifices on the high treble, at least to my ears. (FYI: I'm 27 years old if that's relevant here, heh.) And very nice bass depth too, though I was disappointed by its audible bass extension and speed. Overall a very smooth, fluid sound.

In the right system, either interconnect is sure to please.

Product Weakness:	Speed, high-frequency detail, high/low extension
Product Strengths:	Dynamic range, holographic soundstage, smoothness & fluidity

Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: DIY balanced Beta22 headphone amp
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): None
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Plinius CD-101, bel canto CD-1, dCS P8i
Speakers: AKG K701, Audio-Technica AD2000 & W5000 headphones
Cables/Interconnects: Analysis Plus Silver Oval XLR (comparison)
Music Used (Genre/Selections): bluegrass, electronica, alt country, indie
Time Period/Length of Audition: 2 weeks
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): no power conditioners
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner

Amplifier:	DIY balanced Beta22 headphone amp
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	None
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Plinius CD-101, bel canto CD-1, dCS P8i
Speakers:	AKG K701, Audio-Technica AD2000 & W5000 headphones
Cables/Interconnects:	Analysis Plus Silver Oval XLR (comparison)
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	bluegrass, electronica, alt country, indie
Time Period/Length of Audition:	2 weeks
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	no power conditioners
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner