XLO Signature S2-2.2 Balanced Interconnect

Category: Cables

This is my first review on the XLO Signature series interconnect. This cable had prevented me from selling off my power amp and that was the point when I knew this cable was something special.

SOUND CHARACTERISTICS

First, let me start off by saying that this XLO Signature 2 interconnect is a very dynamic cable. If you want dynamics, attack and taut defined bass that goes deep, this is it. If you like transients and sudden burst of energy in your music, this cable will let you hear all of it unlike others. The sound of strings and drums in particular sounded sharp and real in comparison with the other interconnects I have which include the Nordost Frey, Acoustic Zen Silver Reference II and the Wireworld Super Eclipse 5.

HISTORY

I have been always a Nordost fan. My very first wires I got for my first 'high-end'(come to think of it it's low-end actually) system since college was some Nordost Flatline Gold speaker cables and Solar Wind i/c's. Tried some cheapo QED Silver Anniversaries and Kimber 4TC's along the way and eventually ended up with the Nordost Blue Heaven speaker wires and Frey interconnects. These stayed the longest in my system(Blue Heavens for 5 years, Frey 2 years). Time moved on and my system changed. I figured out it's time to upgrade the wires. After 7 years I finally managed to own my all-time dream wire -SPM Reference. I was always fascinated by the candy-colored purple wire since I first set my eyes on the SPM and wondered how would they sound like(looks do matter!). My dreams came true last year when I spotted a pair of these bi-wired cables here on Audiogon. Negotiated with the seller and after getting the price down a little, they arrived at my doorstep a few days later. These were certainly a marked improvement over the Blue Heavens with a more refined highs and an overall more balanced sound.

COMPARISON

Next up was the Nordost Frey interconnects. Good resolution, good bass but slightly lean. Then came the XLO. Heard and read good things about these. XLO cables rarely get any press or reviews and this just made me wonder how Roger Skoff, the founder of XLO sell their cables. Spotted a pair of these here and grabbed them. Once I swapped the Nordost Frey out for the XLO Signature 2, I was utterly shocked. Words cannot fully describe how I felt about this cable. Dynamics were improved drastically, by leaps and bounds (I was exagerrating but can't help it) and the bass was so much better than the Nordost -goes deep and very defined. Normally I don't expect cables to have such big effect on the sound but this is by far the biggest sound improvement I have discerned throughout the years of upgrading. The Nordost Frey, in fact all Nordost products were known to have an in-yer-face kind of sound, lean and dynamic and somewhat bright-sounding. The XLO is even more dynamic than the Nordost minus the lean sound with much better bass to boot. THe bass on the XLO just blew away the Nordost.

So impressed with the XLO, I have bought another pair of Signature S2-2.2 to go from my preamp to power.

I also happen to have a pair of Acoustic Zen Silver Reference II balanced cable for comparison purposes. In comparison with the XLO Signature, the AZ Silver Reference II shares quite a similiar sound but still loses out in dynamics and transparency. Drums in particular sounded more real with an added snap with the XLO. The Acoustic Zen however is more balanced-sounding than the Nordost Frey. The Frey sounded lean and thin in comparison with the other two. Nevertheless, I believe in some warmer and fat-sounding system the Nordost would work a treat.

There are many more cables out there that I have not tried, and I am sure there are others that will outperform this XLO cable that I am so fond of right now. The question is, how much money I have to spend to get this kind of sound and performance? I don't have the luxury to spend more than $1,000 on a pair of interconnects, not to mention I already have about $3k worth of cables in my system. Comes to think of it, I may have actually overspent on cables having noticed some members here are actually using cheaper cables on their more expensive components and/or speakers. Nevertheless, I do not regret a bit for settling on the XLO.

Btw, I am now in the process of negotiating for a pair of XLO Signature 5.1 speaker cable to replace my Nordost SPM.

SYSTEM IN REVIEW

Krell KPS-30i CD player
Audio Research LS-16mk1 preamp
Plinius SA-100Mk3 amp(nearly sold this, saved by the XLO)
PMC LB1 Signature speakers

Nordost SPM speaker cable

Nordost Frey 1.0m RCA interconnects
Acoustic Zen Silver Reference II 1.0m XLR interconnects
XLO Signature S2-2.2 1.0m XLR interconnects (CD to pre)
XLO Signature S2-2.2 1.5m XLR interconnects (pre to power)