Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I had mine made with DH Lab RCA-HC, these are the best RCA connectors DH Labs have to offer, they are used on the revelation cables. In short these cables are great, I immediately noticed the difference. The music is more opened and dimentional.

Strengths:
Clean sound, Air, Tight bass

Weaknesses:
If only these cables could be sold in major retail stores, they are so much better than your average monster cable.

ugi

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5, 2.00 votes

Price Paid:  $30.00 from Ebay

Summary:
Like the reviewer below, I purchased DH Labs BL-1 cables custom terminated with generic gold RCA plugs, rather than factory original cables from DH Labs. Therefore, take this review for what it's worth. The BL-1 have been a little too pronounced in the treble for me. It was very noticeable as soon as I installed the cables, and was noticeable every time I swapped them back in. The 'S's constantly had a sibilant quality, and the bass seemed to get sucked out. That said, the BL-1 did extract a lot of detail that cheaper cables left out. But this was mainly detail from the upper end. I wanted to keep this cable in my system as technically, it was the most detailed. But it simply didn't make my system as enjoyable to listen to. I ended up going back to Canare StarQuad wires, which brought back the warmth to my music (but yes, lacks some of the upper detail of the DH Labs). Be careful with system matching. If your hi-fi is already very rich in the bass and warmth department, the DH Labs BL-1 Series II might be the right thing to clean it up. But if you are wary of anything with a metallic quality, stay away.

Strengths:
Detailed

Weaknesses:
Metallic sounding Emphasis on highs

Similar Products Used:
Canare StarQuad Canare GS-6 Grado Prestige

Price Paid:  $50.00 from Audiogon

Summary:
Ok, after reading many a review on these babies I have to say I agree with most comments made. My interconnects are hand made with inferior non-dh lab connectors. They were infact badly soldered but I got a friend to fix it (there should be a complete coverage of silver solder-not just a blob- around the areas that need it, to stop oxidation and to increase longevity) That out of the way, I must remark on the small, but all imortant improvement to the sound of my system. My previous IC's were Cambridge audio pacific (yellow) and the reference black ones (about $100). I was trying to find inexpensive ways to improve my system (marantz cd6000 0se Ki sig, NAD C350, and B&W DM 303's) by changing cableing. The sound I had was lacking in pure clarity and sounded slightly blanketed the music became boring and seemed'box'. I blamed it on the budget speakers and amp. As soon as I changed my interconnects the blanket lifted and music became enjoyable and full of life. I found those sweet highs all the B&w DM 303 fans were talking about, much more clarity and openness to the music. There are some crap cables out there but these are top notch, if you can get em second or hand made over audiogon (insist on good soldering) the law of diminishing returns diminishes ;) and they become well worth it. I would urge you to try these IC's.

Strengths:
Very open and clear, plays the music as it should be heard....all you need from a cable with a system of between £1000-1500(and probably much more more)

Weaknesses:
None, an important improvement as far as cables go if you want to get the best out of your system.

Price Paid:  $80.00 from ACI

Summary:
I had a recent financial windfall that fueled the upgrading/updating of a few aging and failing components in my stereo system. I also took the opportunity to test some skeptical notions about cables with the purchase of these highly regarded DH Labs BL-1 ICs from the online source where I bought my excellent ACI Titan II subwoofer. These DH Labs BL-1 interconnects are well made, look good, and have nice-fitting connectors. Because of my knowledge of physics and the scientific method, my skeptical frame of mind, and well-developed critical thinking skills, I assumed that cable was cable. But these cables connected between my NAD C541i CD player and NAD integrated amplifier do seem to make the music from my system sound slightly fuller and clearer than with DH Labs'' Theater Select interconnects (half the price of the BL-1s). I note a tiny bit more improvement in clarity and fullness when I compare the BL-1s to the basic Acoustic Research interconnnects (about 20% of the BL-1 price). I notice the largest diffences in clarity and fullness in comparison to the cables that came in the box with the CD player. Caveat: These are sighted comparisons, and I did not use test equipment. So your mileage may vary, etc. Now the differences between the cables are generally quite subtle -- very, very, very much smaller than the influence of room acoustics, speaker placement, the differences between various CD players and other active components in an audio system (especially speakers), and the differences in the quality of recordings. Diminishing returns also quickly set in at price levels lower than are usually acknowledged in all audio component categories; my informal comparison of interconnects in my home shows this to be especially the case with cables (which has been amply reinforced by my auditions of many much more expensive cables in other systems). I''ll be keeping these cables. They match the appearance of my DH Labs T-14 speaker cables (a gift) and they do their job well, if not in the most cost-effective manner. The bang-for-the-buck award goes to the Acoustic Research which sells for no more than the price of a CD or the rare substantial freeby. Even though I''m in essential agreement with the previous review, I''ll give the DH Labs BL/1 Series II Star ratings that are relative to other cables.

Strengths:
Very well-constructed; full, clear sound.

Weaknesses:
Priced well past the point of diminishing returns (so while it sounds as good as much more expensive cables, it may not be significantly better than some cheaper cables).

Similar Products Used:
DH Labs Theater Select, Acoustic Research Pro Series Interconnects, freebycables, Cardas, Tara Labs, Audioquest,...

Price Paid:  $0.00 from Upscale Audio

Summary:
I basically heard no difference between the BL-1 II and spaghetti wire I/C’s that I have. But if I was going to buy into the wire-can-make-a-difference idea I would say the BL-1 is possibly a bit clearer than the spaghetti I/C. But I could never really tell if there was any difference at at between them. The differences between I/C’s could make maybe a 1-2% effect on the sound. Whereas I would comparatively say speakers have a 100-200% effect on sound. Don’t ever expect the BL-1 II, or any I/C, to fix any amplifier or speaker problem. Reality check. It’’s just a piece of wire. But because it’s outside the box, sales people can play on your mind that it could be better. The cheap wire in some speakers and amplifiers could also be fixed up too. You can bet Mfg’rs aren’t paying $100/meter for internal wire you can’t see. Some of the overblown descriptions I have read about wire relate more to a Nautilus 804 to 802 upgrade than a piece of wire. Think of the differences in how amplifiers sound. Divide that number by 10 and that’s the most optimistic affect I/C’s can have according to the “pro-cable” people I have asked. And most of the gain is in going from the $3.99 stuff to your basic $20 I/C. Ask at “cables and interconnects” at the “Dicussions” forum here at A/R if you need a second opinion. You can pay $100 and not obsess over I/C’s (at least until a better sales pitch comes along) or you could pay $3.99 at Circuit City and get something that sounds the same. Our hearing sensitivity has to cut out at some point. Is it so bad that that happens before we buy expensive I/C’s, not after? Still not convinced? Try these web sites: http://www.verber.com/mark/cables.html http://www.sundial.net/~rogerr/wire.htm http://2eyespy.tripod.com/myaudioandhometheaterhomepage/id3.html If you insist on buying into the I/C myth, or want to prove it to yourself (not a bad idea) DH Labs has the best quality for the lowest prices. I can''''t imagine ever needing a better I/C than the BL-1. My system: Marantz CDR-500/Adcom GFP-750/ Musical Fidelity A3cr/ N804 speakers/ Home Depot .33/ft speaker wire/ Canare I/C''''s.

Strengths:
High build quality. Clear sound.

Weaknesses:
Expensive considering offers either no improvment over the $3.99 stuff or the difference is too small to notice.

Similar Products Used:
Air Matrix, some $200 directional I/C (forgot the name).