A couple of members here wanted me to try the new Lectraline Xe silver cables from Black Cat and report the changes over the non-Xe Lectraline cables. I've had an Xe cable now for five days and thought I'd share some impressions. I used the Xe cable in the Preamp to Amp position and recently in the VPI Scoutmaster to Modwright SWP9.0SE position on the analog rig. I previously had a Zu Mission phono cable there (non-WBT, Mk I version) and it was also excellent. This is even better. Versus the Lectraline non-Xe and the Zu Mission, some common observations:
Anyway, hope this helps answer a few questions. Respond here if you have any other questions and I will do my best to answer them.
- Definitely a step up over regular Lectraline in terms of resolution.
- Better tighter taut bass is the primary thing I notice. The Ludwig pressing of De Guello has sublime bass and I'm hearing most of it, notwithstanding the panel-based Maggie 1.7s.
- Slightly improved midrange and resolution are the the next two things that stand out. Today I've been listening to De Guello and the crunchiness of the guitars and clarity of vocals is really nice. I cannot imagine it getting much better than this.
- The guitars on this album and that on Neil Young's Massey Hall and Cellar Door performances are spot in in terms of guitar tone.
- Piano recordings have a nice bit of weight but still the natural but resolving quality of Lectraline (non-Xe).
- Soundstage is superb. Nice illusion of instruments back wide and deep on recordings where the information is there.
- Nice shimmer of cymbals in a natural way, not too "treble-ey".
Anyway, hope this helps answer a few questions. Respond here if you have any other questions and I will do my best to answer them.
