General Asylum: REVIEW: Bocchino Audio Brenda B9 Solderable RCA Connector Accessory by Todd Krieger

Model:	Brenda B9 Solderable RCA Connector
Category:	Accessory
Suggested Retail Price:	$US100 each
Description:	High Conductivity Oxygen Free Copper (HCOFC) RCA Connector
Manufacturer URL:	Bocchino Audio
Model Picture:	View

Review by Todd Krieger ( R ) on January 30, 2002 at 23:39:06
IP Address: 208.176.172.32

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for the Brenda B9 Solderable RCA Connector

I took the gamble in trying the Australian-made Bocchino Audio "Solderable Brenda" B9 RCA connectors, based on the sonic improvement I perceived with another OFC connector in the Vampire 800C, compared to the highly-touted WBT Topline RCA connector. For the improvement gave me a feeling that the RCA terminations may be the weak part of a lot of single-ended interconnect cables out there.
When I got the connectors, I first could not get over how **massive** these things were physically. At about 3 1/2 inches long and 5/8 inch in diameter, they can pose a problem with tight spaces behind components and especially equipment with line jacks in relative close proximity. About *half* the equipment out there have jacks *less* than 5/8" apart center-to-center- The plugs cannot be used on such equipment, without putting lateral strain on the jacks. (One alternative would be to use the less-expensive Brenda B7's, although they lack an outer shell and hence look "unfinished" aesthetically. But the B7's can be used with jacks 1/2 inch apart.) Fortunately, what I have is not a problem in this regard.
The other thing I discovered is the massive ground shell requires a soldering iron that puts out more heat than what is normally used with either electronics or smaller connectors. 700 degrees into the large "load" is a must. (Many irons can put out 700 degrees, but not into a massive metal load.)
But once I got an iron that could put out enough heat, I applied these connectors on some Belden 88281 coaxial cable, my long-time reference for interconnect cable. The solder used was Johnson Manufacturing IA-423 Organic Core. Once the connector was soldered to the cable, three Allen-wrench driven "grub" screws then secure the cable physically, so there is no strain on the solder joints, even when the stiff cable has lateral strain on it. The locking shell is applied to finish the termination. The finished termination looks very impressive, and the sheer weight pulls down on the relatively stiff Belden 88281 cable.
I replaced a pair of Vampire 800C-terminated cables on the main system, between the Supratek Syrah preamplifier and the Symfonia Opus 10 amplifier. When I powered up the pre and amp, I immediately noticed a difference in the sound of the "noise" from the Syrah. It sounded a tad quieter, and more like "steam" instead of electronic white noise.
But the shocker was when I started playing music. The four things that jumped at me with the Brenda B9 in the system were an *authoritative* bottom end, refinement at the top end, a *huge* increase in stage size, and most-importantly an ease in the ability to pick out individual instruments in performance after performance. A greater sense of transparency. I have **never** heard a sonic change *this* big comparing two sets of interconnect cables of any kind, let alone just the connectors.
The other improvments brought on by the Brenda B9 include a truly organic quality in the mid-band. The timbral accuracy of voices, piano, and other acoustic instruments has made me re-listen to a *lot* of familiar recordings. The slight "analytical" character of the main system was ameliorated. Background ambience is also much more apparent. The natural steely qualities of cymbals and triangles (along with the attacks and decays) become more-apparent. (This was further enhanced by the DH Labs D-110 digital cable- Review of that product to come.) The subtle differences between recordings are also far easier to pick out. As well as the ease of doing things like tweaking the adjustments on a turntable/tonearm/cartridge.
Since the cable (and solder) I was using was the same as before (in fact, from the same bulk run), I was *dumbfounded* over how much the terminations could be stifling the performance of the vast majority of interconnect cables, be it production or DIY- Exotic conductors and expensive wire materials cannot overcome terminations that obscure the sonic advantages the wire itself may have. When switching between the WBT Topline and Vampire 800C with the source components, with the B9 later in the chain, I now have a *much* better grip on the character of these connectors- The WBT has a slight "additive" character- Slightly analytical, big stage, deep bass, strained mids... where the Vampire is a little "subtractive"- more organic, smaller stage, less ambience and "air", slight HF rolloff, more-relaxed and natural mids.
The differences between the WBT and Vampire are quite large, but I really cannot choose one or the other when complemented with the Brenda B9 downstream. It also turns out that without the B9 in the chain, I prefer a mix of WBT Toplines and Vampire 800Cs over all Toplines or all 800Cs. (This was why I initially thought the 800C was an improvement- The other part of the chain had Topline.)
At $US100 a piece (quantity discounts available), the Bocchino Audio Brenda B9 RCA connector is not cheap. But it doesn't look cheap either. And if your equipment can physically accommodate these *behemoth* RCA connectors, the revelation in tonal refinement and transparency will even open the eyes (ears?) of those who think "wire is wire." This is a state-of-the-art product that should almost be treated as a component in itself. For those who like to tweak already-good interconnect cables, you will bring the sonic abilities of your system to the next level. Note that I am normally cynical about hideously-expensive tweak and accessory-type products, but in spite of the sky-high price for a set of Bocchino B9 RCA connectors, I have to say that this product is a bargain in regard to the sonic performance it delivers in return.
The contact person for Bocchino Audio is Carmine Bocchino, whose email address is cbocch@bocchtech.com. He does quote prices in Australian dollars, but http://www.xe.com/ will convert $AUS to $US. And the method of payment is PayPal, which is very expedient. It takes only a week for delivery, provided the product is in stock.

Product Weakness: Disgustingly-expensive as far as RCA connectors go. But once you've tried them, you'll realize the price is justified. Extremely massive- May not work in tight quarters or with closely-spaced jacks. Requires a soldering iron that can solder heavy loads at 700 degrees F. Will make people wonder why companies focus on the wire but ignore the terminations.
Product Strengths: Once you listen to cables with these connectors, you'll wonder how you've lived with cables (some of them expensive) with lesser connectors. Ultimate transparency and musicality. Built like a Rolls-Royce. A "once-you-try-it-you'll-never-go-back" type of product.

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Symfonia Opus 10
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Supratek Syrah
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	G&D UTP1/Prism DA-1 for digital; AR/MMT/AT OTC9ML/BRB 20 for analog
Speakers:	Von Schweikert Audio VR 4.5 Mod 5
Cables/Interconnects:	Belden 88281 for analog, DH Labs D-110 for digital
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Rock, Jazz, Classical, Others
Room Size (LxWxH):	19 x 16 x Vaulted
Room Comments/Treatments:	None
Time Period/Length of Audition:	1 week
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	Brickwall, Tripp Lite, Bybee, Shunyata Hydra conditioners. Absolute Power Cord, Tek Line, and ESP Essence power cords
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	Disgustingly-expensive as far as RCA connectors go. But once you've tried them, you'll realize the price is justified. Extremely massive- May not work in tight quarters or with closely-spaced jacks. Requires a soldering iron that can solder heavy loads at 700 degrees F. Will make people wonder why companies focus on the wire but ignore the terminations.
Product Strengths:	Once you listen to cables with these connectors, you'll wonder how you've lived with cables (some of them expensive) with lesser connectors. Ultimate transparency and musicality. Built like a Rolls-Royce. A "once-you-try-it-you'll-never-go-back" type of product.