OEHLBACH XXL Fusion Two
Speaker cables
Tonally the XXL Fusion Two is a mature speaker cable so do not expect any frequency lumpiness. However, its performance was quite dependant on the connected equipment so it required careful mix & match to shine.
Funkce a forma
For example, Dynaudio Confidence C1s were a bad match - the sound was unfocused and bloated so much that I had to check several times that the speakers were connected correctly. I received completely different performance with the Xavian Guilias, as described further.
The XXL Fusion Two uses two bundles of twelve ultra-clean copper wires (HPOCC) that are braided together. The total conductive cross-section is 5,4mm2. The conductors are wrapped in a copper foild and damped by polymer padding. Oehlbach is among few producers manufacturing its own terminations - both bananas and spades are available.
Nízké frekvence
The XXL Fusion Two's appearance represents everything audiophiles dream of - it is professionally made, amazing looking and easy to work with. The black braided jacket is terminated by precisely machined aluminum pieces with laser-engraved Oehlbach's logo. The final speaker leads are relatively thin and flexible so I had no issue to connect them to any speakers or amplifiers. The bend radius of around 35mm makes the XXL Fusion Two one of the most ergonomic cables in the test.
The expandable gold-plated bananas have extremely firrm grip in binding posts so no need to recheck the connection in use. I also liked plastic covers that protect the bananas from damage.
Čistota rozlišení
The performance of the XXL Fusion Two is close to that of the Xindak SC-01; the Oehlbach is better spectrally balanced and delivers more mature sound, with little to no lifts at the frequency extremes. It can also provide a plenty of detail, perhaps a touch more than the Xindak. The fact that it doubles on price vs the Xindak is the only issue.
Tonální věrnost
I was not sure how to approach the way this Oehlbach communicated the soundstage. Laterally it stretched the sonic picture more than any other cable in the test, but instead of just creating a wider picture it repositioned instruments within it. What I heard as natural imagimg before became sorted out to left-sounds, right-sounds and middle-sounds, with nothing in between. I know it is kind of confusing but thisis what I heard. It was like the XXL Fusion Two knew only East, West, North and South, with no Southeast or Northwest. So yes, the stage was wide but not natural and quite shallow.
Prostorovost
This review is a part of The Low and Mid-tier Speaker Cables Megatest that includes 18 different speaker cables. The pilot article is available at SPECIAL EDITION REVIEWS section of Audiodrom.
Doporučení prodejci
Vlk Electronic s.r.o., TG Masaryka 1280, Zlín, tel. +420 577 430 883
Web výrobce: http://www.oehlbach.com
Připojené komponenty
- Sources: Primare CD32, Luxman D-05 and Accuphase DP-510
- Amplifiers: Primare I32, Luxman L-590AX a Accuphase E-560
- Interconnects and speaker cables: Krautwire Fractal, Cardas Clear, Homegrown Audio DNA
- Loudspeakers: Audio Physic Virgo V, Dynaudio Confidence C1 and Xavian Giulia, Chario Constellation, Xavian Preludio, Revel Ultima Studio2, B&W 805 Diamond and Atohm G 1.0
- Power conditioning: Nordost Thor (modified), Snakeblock, Nordost Valhalla
Galerie
ANALYSIS PLUS Oval 9
I was impressed by the Analysis Plus’ proprietary solid bulk of pure copper – and gold plated – spades. They are really made from a billet of metal and milled into the shape - the mass of the single spade equals the mass of a fistful ...
Doporučení prodejci
Audiostudio s.r.o., Olomouc, tel. +420 608 752 475
ANALYSIS PLUS Silver Oval 2
Everytime the Silver Oval 2 returned to my system it reminded me of the immediacy of a live performance. Johnny Cash’s vocal was very emotional and communicative, it created a strong emotional link between the music and the listener. ...
Doporučení prodejci
Audiostudio s.r.o., Olomouc, tel. +420 608 752 475
ATOHM ZEF
Well, from a distance of 3 meters the ZEF looks like an ordinary white twin-wire. If you take a closer look it still keeps looking like the ordinary white twin-wire. There was simply nothing to indicate that the ZEFs would be such ...
Doporučení prodejci
Nisel SK, Bratislava, tel. +421 905 203 078
AUDIOQUEST CV-4
There is one thing that is common for both the CV-4 and the Rocket 33: the complex perception of a music and analog feel to it. The CV-4 is more mature, however, and the listener hears it.
Doporučení prodejci
AQ s.r.o., Červenka, tel. +420 585 342 232
AUDIOQUEST Dragon Zero | Bass BiWire
Supernatural silence. I mean the blacker than black canvas for music, as if the Dragon Zero | Bass was devouring the light. The digital zero is the first day of creation, one can hear molecules splitting in the empty space. Still, ...
Doporučení prodejci
AQ s.r.o., Červenka, tel. +420 585 342 232
AUDIOQUEST Redwood
Every great cable I had in my system before the Redwood has a certain feature that made it different from another – a certain quality that made it perfect match for one system and mismatch for another. In this context the Redwood ...
Doporučení prodejci
AQ s.r.o., Červenka, tel. +420 585 342 232
AUDIOQUEST Rocket 33
I have to say that I did not expect such a good performer in this price level. When I talked to Joe Harley of Audioquest this spring he kept assuring that the philosophy of Audioquest is to do as less harm as possible to a music ...
Doporučení prodejci
AQ s.r.o., Červenka, tel. +420 585 342 232
