| Model: | Hollow Oval 9 | | Category: | Cable | | Suggested Retail Price: | $299.00 | | Description: | 9 Guage stranded copper w/ new patented Hollow Oval technology | | Manufacturer URL: | Analysis plus inc. |
I have built my system around the Zen Satori and some Zu Druid Speakers and an Almarro 318B amplifier. I have recently purchased some newer Analysis Plus Black Mesh Oval 9 speaker cable and have found that in my system the Analysis Plus speaker cables have a very rich well balanced sound and offer some competition and an acoustic alternative to the Acoustic Zen Satori speaker cable.
I noticed right away that the Oval 9 sounded quieter than the Acoustic Zen Satori and a tad smoother in the upper midrange and a little less extended than is ideal to me in the highs. The Bass seems about a tie. However, I noticed that a little bit of true to life sparkle in the highs that the Zen Satori offer was lost with the Analysis Plus Oval 9.
On balance, I feel that the Zen Satori are the best cable for my system and are a little more dynamic and image better than the Analysis Plus Oval Nine. However, I have found that the Oval 9 are a rich well balanced speaker cable which leans ever so slightly toward the smooth side of things. I am in a quandary as to which Speaker Cable I prefer in my system as they both bring something to the table. However, at present, with more breakin needed beyond the 100 hours given them, I am inclinded to stay with the Zen Satori unless the Analsysis Plus open up a little more and offer a little more treble extension after breakin.
A friend of mine with brighter speakers than mine prefers the Oval 9. I think those needing to tone down their system's brightness slightly will prefer the Oval 9, and those wanting to open up their system slightly, will prefer the more dynamic Zen Satori. However, under no circumstances is the Analsysis Plus Oval 9 intrinsically a bright harsh sounding cable.
In fact, before breakin I found the Analysis Plus cables a little dark and murky and lacking top end extension. However, after 100 hours of break in I find that the Analysis Plus have opened up quit a bit yet are still are a little smoother and quieter than the Acoustic Zen Satori Cables and slightly less extended in the treble. To me, the Oval 9 is a geat sounding speaker cables which errors slightly on the side of warm without being overly warm or dull like many other audiophile speaker cables many others prefer (which to me suck the life right out of the music). To put my preferences in perspective, at the other end of the spectrum, I do not like silver speaker cables in general as to me they are usually overly lean and sterile sounding.
It is hard for me to imagine anyone calling the rich smooth well balanced Analysis Plus Oval Nine or more open yet Acoustic Zen Satori Speaker cables bright. However, I suppose those who like even warmer yet speaker cable or who already have a bright amp or speakers which are inclined to make their system sound harsh, may prefer some cables that are even warmer yet than the Analysis Plus Oval 9 speaker cable.
At present the Acoustic Zen Satori seem to be the best speaker cable in my sytem heard yet to date. The Satori have an impressive midrange, great bass, and are open and warm and detailed without being harsh.
| Product Weakness: | May be a little too smooth to some (or a little too open for those who like cable which to me is overly warm and dull like some lower rung MIT cable I had) | | Product Strengths: | Smooth Rich Extended Balanced Sound Comparable sound to more expensive cable like Transparent for much less cost. |
Associated Equipment for this Review:| Amplifier: | Almarro 318B | | Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): | None | | Sources (CDP/Turntable): | Kora Hermes DAC | | Speakers: | Zu Druid | | Cables/Interconnects: | AZ Wow | | Music Used (Genre/Selections): | Jazz Rick | | Room Size (LxWxH): | 22 x 18 x 10 | | Room Comments/Treatments: | none | | Time Period/Length of Audition: | 1 month | | Other (Power Conditioner etc.): | Powervar | | Type of Audition/Review: | Home Audition | | Your System (if other than home audition): | Home |
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