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Opinions sought: WireWorld Oasis vs. DH Labs BL-1

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Posted on July 6, 2014 at 09:09:14
dogwan
Audiophile

Posts: 871
Joined: December 16, 2004
 Got a little coin in my pocket for graduation and want to invest in some adult IC's. Within my budget (≈$200) I'm looking at WW Oasis 7's and DH Labs BL-1's. However, I am still open to suggestions and have been scanning the used market. They need to be 2 meters with RCA terminations and would run between my Pre and amps.

System:
-full-range electrostats powered by dedicated (and upgraded) servo-drive tube amps.
-tubed preamp (12AX7 based, sonic signature is very dynamic and not too "tubey")
-listen to mostly vinyl (have multiple TT's and switch them out between MM and MC occasionally)

Currently using a DIY IC from pre to amps made from 24ga. magnet wire in teflon tubing, 3 strands braided (1 hot, 2 neg.) with Vampire RCA's. It's good, but I think I can do better. Oddly enough, this unshielded configuration is the quietest I've tried.

System is very revealing. Anything too bright or etched will show through in spades. That being said, I feel like my cables are limiting how realistic highs like cymbals can sound. Also, these panel speakers are capable of incredibly deep tight bass if the information can get through.

These two cables seem to take different approaches to noise suppression. My gut instinct and limited experience is that shielded cables sound closed in on my system. But, the DH labs have not been criticized for that. The WW geometry instead of traditional shielding is intriguing.

Also, have a bias towards un-plated wires since I prefer the sound of solid core un-plated copper for internal hook-up wire in every project I've done. However, I don't think I've heard it done right in IC's before. From the reviews I've read the DH labs have a silky smooth top end, but some think it's too bright (mixed messages?).

Due to the nature of full-range electrostats I am looking for a well rounded presentation with detail at both ends. Both options seem like they will be a step up from where I am now. I wish I could afford to climb the food chain here, but I gotta eat too.


 

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RE: Opinions sought: WireWorld Oasis vs. DH Labs BL-1, posted on July 6, 2014 at 10:44:50
lancelot
Audiophile

Posts: 1722
Joined: March 23, 2001
I've used the DH Labs BL 1 and the Air Matrix. Both have a very open ,detailed sound ( used with Bryston pre and power ) that I wouldn't necessarily call bright but very revealing and transparent. They are not warm or laid back by any definition.

I tend to prefer a more harmonically rich presentation so use Neotech NEI 3004 purchased fron Take Five Audio in Canada(internet based) They are basically neutral but with a little more meat on the bones. Do a google.




 

RE: Opinions sought: WireWorld Oasis vs. DH Labs BL-1, posted on July 6, 2014 at 11:30:30
dogwan
Audiophile

Posts: 871
Joined: December 16, 2004
 I like that description.... "harmonically rich". I tend to think of myself as a detail junky, but that only partially describes what I seek in music.

Thanks for the suggestion!

 

RE: Opinions sought: WireWorld Oasis vs. DH Labs BL-1, posted on July 6, 2014 at 18:31:35
Chris K.
Audiophile

Posts: 400
Location: West Central Florida
Joined: August 15, 2001
 I've owned the DH Labs BL-1 before and I currently have both the Wireworld Equinox 7, which is just one step above the Oasis 7, and Wireworld Eclipse interconnects. My experience with the BL-1 cables was that in an all solid state system, they were rather bright. After putting in a tube pre, a tube buffer and a tube DAC, the brightness issue was no longer a factor. However, in comparison to other cables, I found the soundstage to be somewhat compressed.

My concern about the Equinox is that it is rather "light" sounding and lacks body and bass compared to the larger gauge Eclipse and most of my other interconnects. The Oasis has the same 21 AWG conductors, so I'm surmising that the result may be similar. Overall, the Eclipse with its thicker gauge seems to provide the best balance and sense of realism of most any cables I've used, including others such as Audioquest, Kimber, JPS Labs, etc. On the used market, you may be able to find a pair in your required length for around your price of either the Eclipse 7 or the Eclipse 6 (difference between the two is minute). Lancelot can give you more insight on the Air Matrix, which may be available used in your budget range. Feel free to pm me if you think you might consider the Eclipse.

 

RE: Opinions sought: WireWorld Oasis vs. DH Labs BL-1, posted on July 7, 2014 at 00:06:30
dogwan
Audiophile

Posts: 871
Joined: December 16, 2004
 Thanks, that is helpful insight. Definitely something to chew on. I think that even used the Equinox's would be beyond my current budget. I do like the idea of a fuller presentation though. Not sure why I would PM you, unless you have a pair that you want to sell?

 

RE: Opinions sought: WireWorld Oasis vs. DH Labs BL-1, posted on July 7, 2014 at 00:10:14
dogwan
Audiophile

Posts: 871
Joined: December 16, 2004
 Can you describe the difference between the Neotech and the Air Matrix a little more? On the Neotech how is the high end? Do cymbals sound realistic? How's the all important mid-range presentation?

Having a hard time finding a good review of the Neotech. The price is certainly right even with cryo'd.

Thanks,
Dogwan

 

RE: Opinions sought: WireWorld Oasis vs. DH Labs BL-1, posted on July 7, 2014 at 10:01:21
lancelot
Audiophile

Posts: 1722
Joined: March 23, 2001
The biggest problem is that I'm not using the same equipment (although both are solid state ( Bryston, now NAD ) but the speakers are the same (PSB Stratus Silver i ).

I didn't find the Air Matrix very much different than the BL 1-perhaps slightly more bass and midbass. The treble was very open but slightly metallic.

The Neotech NEI 3004 just sounds more natural for lack of a better word. Not closed in or soft but a treble where the decay seems right and the leading edges of notes don't slightly sizzle.

I'm using a Neotech power cord on my CD/SACD player ( Pioneer Elite)
and they certainly compliment each other.

 

RE: Opinions sought: WireWorld Oasis vs. DH Labs BL-1, posted on July 7, 2014 at 15:39:07
DrN
Audiophile

Posts: 366
Joined: January 31, 2014
 Not familiar with WW or the DH but I also use Neotech but it is the
NEI 3005 and is as described very natural musical.
This is on phonostage. I like these cables. The rest of the system is all WyWires silver.
I also have a pair of Transparent musiclink super that is very nice.
Everything system dependant of course.

 

RE: Opinions sought: WireWorld Oasis vs. DH Labs BL-1, posted on July 24, 2014 at 22:46:34
greg.landesman@yahoo.com
Audiophile

Posts: 25
Location: Texas
Joined: July 20, 2014
 Can you say Hubbell great secure contact!

 

RE: Opinions sought: WireWorld Oasis vs. DH Labs BL-1, posted on July 25, 2014 at 01:10:46
Tom Schuman
Audiophile

Posts: 2632
Location: Bremen
Joined: October 22, 2003
 Just make sure the cable is low capacitance, check any specs.
I've had good results with DH Labs using a tube pre, they're definitely good sounding cables.
It's hard to go wrong with Cardas, I like their sound too, but then you might need some patience on the used market.
Good luck

 

RE: Opinions sought: WireWorld Oasis vs. DH Labs BL-1, posted on July 25, 2014 at 09:30:53
digilog5
Audiophile

Posts: 23
Location: New York
Joined: December 5, 2010
 I did try the BL-1 (balanced) few years back between Dac and power amp (both Wyred4Sound)in a system driving at the time ML Sources. They seemed very open sounding but to be honest they didn't fit in my system. Perhaps I didn't let them settle in much but they were a bit rough in the HF and spatially congested a bit. I replaced them with ribbon XLRs from Pure Note at the time but at a different price point. I've heard great things about the Matrix IC DH LAbs has, which also has very different geometry and better dielectric materials. I am still using though DH LAbs Q-10s in two systems (MG 1.7s and ML SL3s) which are really good at their price.
I think you may be better off building a new pair perhaps with silver OCC with minimal dielectrics. In one of my systems (the one with the SL3s) I've made a shielded balanced IC with VH-Audio's 24awg silver OCC (in foam teflon) which turned out really good. Also had success with Neotech's wire (24awg in solid teflon) with Vampire xlr's.
Unfortunately i have not heard of the WW Oasis.

 

I'm currently using Oasis 7 I/Cs, posted on July 29, 2014 at 05:12:56
mt10425
Audiophile

Posts: 2399
Location: 3 hours west of Chicago
Joined: January 23, 2004
 As my phono cable. It replaced a Cardas cable. The WW is more balanced top to bottom. There's a naturalness to dynamics with no noticeable frequency emphasis. Bass has more impact, detail nuances and stage imaging/depth are very good. I have Neotech NEI 3001 I/Cs in the cable box unused. The smaller gauge of the WW seems better as a phono cable. I agree with others regarding the harmonic richness of Neotech.



"It's all fun and games until someone doesn't pick up on the sarcasm"

 

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