Cable Asylum: REVIEW: VH Audio XLR Pulsar Interconnect Cable by George Hoenninger Interconnects, speaker wire, power cords. Ask the Cable Guys.

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Model:	XLR Pulsar Interconnect
Category:	Cable
Suggested Retail Price:	$499/meter
Description:	XLR Pulsar Interconnect with Furutech Rhodium connctors
Manufacturer URL:	VH Audio
Model Picture:	View

Review by George Hoenninger ( A ) on September 19, 2004 at 10:53:10 IP Address: 216.15.89.140

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All my comments are in direct comparison to the balanced version of the Argent Audio Pursang (my reference ic's)

Here is the system:

VMPS RM 40’s w/ FST, TRT caps, and Analysis Plus wire

Jeff Rowland 201 Mono Blocks (Flavor 4 - gold option)

Electrocompaniet EC 4.7 Balanced preamp (Argent Audio Brujo power cord)

Electrocompaniet ECD-1 DAC (Sonoran Plateau pc)

Empirical Audio modified Sony S-7700 (transport only)

Argent Audio Pursang digital ic

BPT 3.5 Signature Power Conditioner

Argent Audio Pursang speaker cable on mid/treble

Sonoran Plateau speaker cable on woofers

I used the following music:

Rusted Root – When I Woke (bongos, drums, gourds, layered vocals, male vocals, soundstage (l/r and f/b)

Ben Harper – Fight for Your Mind (male vocals, acoustic guitar, cymbals, percussion)

Tori Amos – Boys for Pele (female vocals, piano, harpsichord)

Harry Connick Jr. – She (male vocals, piano, percussion, stand up bass)

Here are some notes I took as I listened. Reading back through them, I see consistency throughout the various cd’s.

Rusted Root

Drum Trip – This is an instrumental track that is mostly percussion with some background vocals

With the Pulsars the drums had more drive and slam than the Pursang. When a snare drum is hit, you feel the whack and its aftershock. The Pursang is more delicate and refined in its presentation. The Pulsar does a very good job of separating out the various instruments and not getting confused or muddied, just not quite as good as the Pursang (again very close).

Laugh as the Sun – lots of percussion (drums, bongos, gourds, tambourine, bass), layered vocals, guitar

The Pulsars again do a very good job. Imaging is excellent from side to side and front to back. Voices of the various singers are easy to place and have the correct tone. I can easily hear the breathy qualities in the female voice and raw power in the male singer’s voice. The Pulsars did a very good job conveying the rhythm and pace of the music. Detail was also very good. At the start of the song there is a strong bass line in the center with percussive instruments to the right and left. Everything is very clear and easy to identify. In fact, I feel like I can count the number of beans in the gourd!

I have seen this band half a dozen times live and I can say the Pulsar nails it. I preferred the Pulsar over the Pursang b/c this song is all about pure emotion and raw power. I had the system cranked up to 100+db peaks and the Pulsars continued to shine!

Ben Harper

Another Lonely Day – male vocals, acoustic guitar

Pulsars allowed in a great amount of detail (can easily hear Ben’s hand work on the guitar) and made it sound like Ben was in the room playing. The guitar notes have texture and depth to them. They seemed to hang in the air, but not in a way that each note overlapped the previous one. Ben’s voice was a little deeper with the Pulsars and the notes maybe a tad richer.

Gold to Me – male vocals, cymbals, bass, triangle, tambourine, acoustic guitar

Pretty much the same results as with Rusted Root songs. Excellent drive and dynamics. A more forward and aggressive presentation than the Pursang (but not in a bad way).

God Fearing Man – male vocals, slide guitar, bass, percussion

Opening slide guitar just pulled me in and grabbed my attention. Pulsars again let you hear the finger work and the better bass gives a more solid foundation to the music. This might have been my best experience with this song and I have listened to it probably 1000’s of times!!

Tori Amos

Horses – female vocal, piano

The Pulsars presented piano very well and gave it the weight and heft it should have. Notes were delicate/powerful when they should be. Tori’s sings in a breathy, sultry style at times and the Pulsars did a good job portraying this. You could easily hear her intake for breath and little shudders as she sang. Very enjoyable.

Way Down – vocals, piano

Tori sings dead center and the piano plays off to the side. The chorus is behind her. With the Pulsars I can hear the individual members of the chorus and they aren’t just one big blob of sound.

In the Springtime of his Voodoo – vocals, drum track, piano, percussion, harpsichord

Very big sounding with the Pulsars. Images are more lifelike in size when compared to the Pursang. Midrange and bass are well balanced and articulate. East to identify the various instruments and their placement on the soundstage. Harpsichord has the appropriate bite and presence. First attack on the notes is excellent.

Harry Connick Jr.

She – stand up bass, percussion, male vocal, guitar

WOW!! The stand up bass is sooooo good. I can clearly hear the individual notes and there is such weight and body. Drums are tight and clearly defined. Bongos are very musical. Harry’s voice is clear and powerful. in case you haven't picked up on the trend, the Pulsar is more dynamic than the Pursang.

That Party/Booker – male vocals, percussion, piano, guitar

Great dynamics with such a big image! Underlying bass line is well defined and creates a solid foundation for the rest of the instruments. Very good imaging. Music just jumped out at me and said “Listen Up!!” Piano is crisp and clear.

Conclusion

These are outstanding!!

In terms of macro dynamics, they are the best ic have heard in my system. They produce a large image that is a little forward and aggressive (in comparison to the Pursang), but in a good way. I found myself tapping my foot and really getting into the music when the Pulsars were in the system. They have lots of detail without being too obvious about it. They are well balanced and very clean.

Chris has made an excellent ic that will compete (and beat) against much more costly competition.

These are now my reference ic. Not because they cost less than half the price of the Pursang, but because ultimately they sounded better.

George

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Product Weakness:	don't have the mega dollar price tag and can only be purchased direct with 60 day trial - name won't impress people.
Product Strengths:	Dynamics, detail, soundstage

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Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Jeff Rowland 201's
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Bent NOH
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Empirical Audio modified Sony S-7700 (transport) and Electrocompaniet ECD-1 (dac)
Speakers:	VMPS RM 40's w/ FST, TRT, and Analysis Plus upgrades
Cables/Interconnects:	Argent Audio Pursang IC's and Speaker Cable + Sonoran Speaker Cable
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	see above
Room Size (LxWxH):	25' 2 x 17' 7 x 7' 2
Room Comments/Treatments:	Combination of 8thNerve, Realtraps, and 4
Time Period/Length of Audition:	60 days
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	BPT 3.5 Sig power conditioner
Type of Audition/Review:	Home Audition

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