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Written by Peter Allison
The other week I was thinking about a cable upgrade for the XLR connections on my PS Audio Stellar Gain Cell Dac and the PS Audio M700 mono Bloc amplifiers. There were so many to choose from, did I go down the same TQ Black II speaker cable? Or try something completely new to me. I decided on what I already had and was happy with, a set of XLR cables made by a one man (and one lady, Jane Foster)) business and Audiophiles UK forum member, Andrew Foster who runs AF Audio. And to this end I E-Mailed Andrew, and was promised a pair of cables that would “Blow the bloody doors off” some of the “high end” competition. They are made with multi strands of Silver Wire, which I believe is not cheap and “other” things.
Andrew calls the new cable, the “Bodhi” meaning enlightenment. The cable is a collaboration between 2 friends who met at the Daventry Hi Fi show in 2022, I will let Andrew comment...
“at the last UK Audio Show at Daventry which I was exhibiting at. A really nice chap named Eric walked in and asked if he could try his filters on our system, we said yes and they blew everyone away in the room. We have since met up on a few occasions. Just after Christmas we decided to make a cable which kept to the AF audio ethos (good value for money) but could go up against the big boys. I made my best cable I knew how to make, we then added Eric’s years of knowledge. This is done with a mathematical formula for the conductors, this had the same conductor configuration but with multiples of bundles, wow wow wow. The beauty of Eric’s vast knowledge of knowing what sound every single strand will reproduce we can now tailor each cable to the customers requirements.”
How do they sound? Well straight out of the box and not run in yet...WOW. I am not one for using all the usual big and often over used Hi Fi Jargon, but... (All CD's are FLAC rips)
First up was “Wandering”, by the Japanese electronic genius, Yosi Horikara. The bass was just so much better I turned the subs down a notch (which I have never done before), there was just more definition in the various soundscapes, and personally I do not mind a tinge of brightness, and was half expecting it, but no, just the sound of the music been played
Next was the famous album from music legends that are Dire Straits, “Love Over Gold”. Again the bass was so well controlled and more of it drums sounded more real, there was a separation of the various instruments that I had not come arccos previously. Next track is a “go to” favourite, “ private Investigations” , the solo guitar and piano shone out at the tracks beginning, as to those footsteps moving across the stage (and the Glockenspiel)
Next is my favourite track from the Yes album “Going For The One”, the marvellous “Awaken”. Rick opening piano sounded so real, and more acoustic than it should, considering it was an electric
As many will know now, I am an “organ “ nut, and a couple of years ago had the privilege of been at a recording of an SACD I sponsored, recorded by Jake purches of Base 2 Music, it sounded “so real” as well as the astounding 16Hz Bass, the Tuba stop used in the 1st movement of the Percy Whitlock Organ Sonata in C Minor (that I dedicated to my late father) sounded like I was there in Rochdale Town Hall.
Next, female vocal. Melody Gardot singing the track Worrisome heart, (from the album with the same name), sax was incredible, sounded so real, as did the piano and snare. The vocal was all there and not bright in the least, or “breathy” as is usually the case in some female vocals.
The penultimate track of Jean Michelle Jarres “Equinoxe” was next up. Again the stereo effects /soundstage were well pronounced, as was the air and separation around the various synths.
Am off to listen to my favourite orchestral work, the famous Symphony of Saint Saens, a live recorded version of “The 3rdSymphony “ organ” which has that super final movement, (will probably need new speakers next, lol)
The cables are on another price level to what I have, and should be considering the materials used...But in my view they are worth it just for the different sound signature they produce, and that will only improve when fully burnt in. Don't quote me, but I think they are the first set of these fine cables that are available commercially, so I have them here on demo, I will be buying them after the demo period is over.
If there are any questions, am sure Andrew from AF Audio will answer them
oh that organ part has just started, wow wow wow
Equipment used:
Intel i5 NUC running Audirvanna with a 2 TB SSD
PS Audio Stellar Gain Cell Dac/Pre
PS Audio M700 mono bloc amps
Amphion Argon 3 LS speakers
TQ Black II speaker cable
The New AF Audio XLR Filters
Following on from my last post about the then newest item to come from Andrew Foster stable, owner of AF Audio (Burton on Trent) his very capable cable,
“The new items come as a collaboration of 2 technical minds in the form of Filters, but just not your standard filters, but ones with a lot of silver in them (the best thing for audio transmission so I am told) They are built of sturdy quality metal outer coverings, and mine came with XLR's on to fit my PS Stellar Gain Cell Dac/Pre. I connected them as it was explained to me, and had pictures to help my non technical mind if I got stuck (which I didn't). The thing to watch for is that you have plenty of room behind your rack to accommodate them, as they are solid, so therefore protrude a few inches.
Sound wise, and initially not run in. I did not expect a noticeable difference if I am honest, as the Bohdi cables I now have are very very good to start with, but there was, even to these old ears, there was more air around the instruments playing and the bass was tighter, as playing the Octave (PS Audio) Art of Bass in DSD was showing quite clearly, and the moments on my go to demo track of Dire Straits “Private Investigation”there was a definite instrument separation, like guitars sounding more or less coming from the left and right speakers. Moving on 24 hours after a few hours of burning in, the guitar playing of Jesse cookes Gravity CD showed a more pronounced bass, and realism, which I liked. Now onto a well recorded SACD of Jake Purches recording of the pipe organ situated in the hall at Rochdale Town hall, where there is plenty of true acoustic 16hztone, the volume control on my pre/dac was increased, and boy could I feel the tightness of the twin Rel S8/12, doing what they do well. The stand out track that I use for bass demo is “Kyrie by Fela Sowande”.
Next up is a well recorded Hits album by the very talented Joan Armatrading, it just got better played at a louder volume than I normally play it at. The sound stage was rock solid and the various instruments were just right. Now on to a well known piece, the famous final movement from SAINT-SAENS:SYMPHONY NO 3 recorded in 1959 by CHARLES MUNCH/BOSTON SYMPHONYORCHESTRA, and when played at a higher volume, it seemed just so right. This seems to be a “thing” with these filters, it allows things to be played at a higher than normal volume, but just makes things come alive and jump out at you, and leaves you thinking, “I did not hear that before”
All in all, they do improve the sound of all different genres, am I tempted? In a word yes, and would recommend them.
A week later... They have opened up, and all the original sounds I have mentioned are still there, only more so. I would like to have tried them on a pair of TQ Blue II speaker cables I had a few months ago, as at a guess they would make the system sing like I had a new pair of speakers.
Obviously all the above are just my own opinions and using the gear I already have, other folk may find an even better sound, room/gear dependant. Oh, I am not able to answer technical questions as am not a technical person
Review by
Peter Allison
