Cable Asylum: REVIEW: XLO Signature 2-5.4 Cable by Luminator

Model:	Signature 2-5.4
Category:	Cable
Suggested Retail Price:	$3500 for an 8-foot pair
Description:	internal bi-wire speaker cable
Manufacturer URL:	XLO

Review by Luminator on June 18, 2008 at 10:34:44
IP Address: 66.47.253.226 Add Your Review
for the Signature 2-5.4

In the mid-90s, the original XLO Signature series was a knock out. It made quite a few competitors sound colored, slow-footed, congested, and warped. But then, in 1998, XLO made some changes to their lineups, and came out with series 2 versions. Also at this time, XLO added their Unlimited and Limited Edition lines, which drew attention and sales away from the Signature 2 series. Which is too bad, because, in some ways, the cheaper Sig2 series outperforms the UE and LE.

XLO have recently closed out the Signature 2 series. As of this writing, I do not know anything about the series 3 lineup. Yeah, yeah, I've used the Signature 2 products for a decade, and I'm only now getting around to writing a review. Shame on me.

The original Signature 5.1 speaker cable consisted of two runs, one silver and one red/burgundy. As such, it could not be configured for internal bi-wiring. If you wanted to bi-wire, you had to buy the Signature jumpers, or, if you could afford it, a second run of cable.

The Sig2 speaker cable is a four-leg design. As such, it can be configured for internal bi-wiring. This model is called "S2-5.4." The single-wire version, not reviewed here, is called "S2-5.2."

I've already reported on the S2-5.4's details. I'm not going to repeat myself, so I direct you instead to the links:

Part 1 - UE-5, bag, Deltron bananas, termination block
Part 2 - Cable Cooker
Part 3 - cable towers, different speakers

I am fortunate to have Nordost's Odin interconnects and speaker cables. The Odin really does come close to the ideal of "no cable" at all. As such, it makes other cables' shortcomings blatantly obvious. It is truly a let-down to give back Odin, and listen to most other cables. Going to the XLO S2-5.4 is no exception. The S2-5.4 simply does not have Odin's expansive soundstaging, resolution of micro detail, and see-through transparency. But compared to XLO's UE-5 and LE-5, the S2-5.4 has a more even, neutral, flat tonal balance. The UE-5 and LE-5 warm up the harmonics, and add weight to the midbass. The S2-5.4 has more freedom from these tonal games.

Okay, so the S2-5.4 cannot reproduce an E-X-P-A-N-S-I-V-E soundscape. But if your system is capable, the S2-5.4 preserves image focus. That makes it easy for you to "see" the music. Think of it as high-quality headphone listening.

But I'd have to say that the S2-5.4's calling card is its ability to keep up with the music. It reminds me of the time I took summer sports after 6th grade. There was this one girl, Alexis, who was mouse-like. A bundle of energy, she was constantly moving her feet. I could see her growing bored and impatient with volleyball, softball, and football. She wanted to be let loose. She could not wait to bust out. Indeed, when the class did lap swimming, track and field, basketball, and soccer, Alexis was all over the place.

It wasn't just Alexis' raw speed. She could start and stop on a dime. She blazed through the tire drill faster than I could! She zipped over the hurdles. She could run backwards while dribbling the basketball faster and more skilled than anyone else. And I fondly remember Alexis fidgeting in the (football) huddle. I was the quarterback, and she looked me in the eye, and eagerly pleaded, "Just gimme the ball." She turned to the linemen, and directed them, "Just block!"

Hey, who are we to argue with her? I handed off to her. She took the football, ran parallel to the line of scrimmage. She made this awesomely sharp cut, and was gone. Touchdown!

Alexis just blew me away. She was zippy, smart, cute, fun, and could go on forever. You could see the guys just shake their heads, as if to say, "No way can I keep up with her!"

The XLO S2-5.4 is like Alexis. It has the speed and stamina to keep up with whatever gear or recording you throw at it. So you really have to be careful. When we had the downbeat Cary CD-303/300, it was easy to fall into the trap of blaming the cable. But when we got rid of the Cary, and subbed in the commanding Boss DJ that is the Simaudio SuperNova, it was as though the S2-5.4 woke up, and started jivin' on the dancefloor. Now of course, the cable is only reflecting what we fed it. Nevertheless, the S2-5.4 has the requisite character to keep up with, and showcase, the upstream changes.

Similarly, when the Wilson Benesch ARC was in play, everyone settled in to the couch, and took in the smooth, relaxed, refined sound. But replace the ARCS with Totem's The One, and everyone got up and started kicking out the jams!

Overall, the S2-5.4 has a well-balanced sound, one that makes you stop thinking about "bass," "midrange," and "treble" as separate entities. The sound is unified, top to bottom. It has good image focus, with speed to burn. You could get the Simaudio Supernova and I-7, lash up the S2-5.4 to an appropriate speaker, and be done with audio.

-Lummy The Seahorse

Product Weakness:	discontinued, stiff, requires 4.5 days on the Cable Cooker
Product Strengths:	excellent preservation of PRAT

Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: Mark Levinson No. 431, Simaudio W-7; BAT VK-300x SE, Simaudio I-7
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Conrad Johnson Premier 18LS, Mark Levinson No. 326S, Simaudio P-8, EAR 324
Sources (CDP/Turntable): EAR Acute, Esoteric DV-60, Simaudio Andromeda; Koetsu Jade Platinum, Rega P9
Speakers: ProAc Response One SC; Sonus Faber Concertino; Totem Hawk, Forest, The One; Wilson Benesch ARC
Cables/Interconnects: Nordost Odin, Tar a Labs The One, XLO Limited Edition
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Rock, pop, metal, oldies, Hawaiian
Time Period/Length of Audition: 10 years
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner

Amplifier:	Mark Levinson No. 431, Simaudio W-7; BAT VK-300x SE, Simaudio I-7
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Conrad Johnson Premier 18LS, Mark Levinson No. 326S, Simaudio P-8, EAR 324
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	EAR Acute, Esoteric DV-60, Simaudio Andromeda; Koetsu Jade Platinum, Rega P9
Speakers:	ProAc Response One SC; Sonus Faber Concertino; Totem Hawk, Forest, The One; Wilson Benesch ARC
Cables/Interconnects:	Nordost Odin, Tar a Labs The One, XLO Limited Edition
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Rock, pop, metal, oldies, Hawaiian
Time Period/Length of Audition:	10 years
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner