October 17, 2012

  • XLO Signature 5.1, Part 5

    Ah, the Fall '92 quarter.  That's when Phoenix's Flotsam And Jetsam released their fourth album, Cuatro.  Their ensuing concert tour would be called "Helicoptour," in honor of the helicopter on the album cover.

    I don't need to repeat, once again, that Flotsam And Jetsam have always been known as the band which produced bassist Jason Newstead, who would go on to fill the late Cliff Burton's slot in Metallica.  Now take a look at Cuatro's back cover:

    Notice the fiery red sky.  It's as though the band is standing on a ledge, overlooking the Valley of the Sun.  It's as if it's autumn.  Though the highs can reach the triple digits, they aren't as hot as summer.  Nor are the days (and the concomitant hot weather) as long.  So the band wears long sleeves and even long pants.

    Autumn is the time for meeting new people at school.  It's also the time to prepare for Halloween parties.  Now, for college kids (during that Fall '92 quarter, I was a senior), those Halloween parties are for dressing up, and, uh, finding a mate.  You don't have to dress up your speaker cables, but any time you use bananas, they'll find a mate in binding posts.

    Like Flotsam And Jetsam, the Audio Dharma Cable Cooker hails from Phoenix.  Notice how easily the banana-terminated XLO Signature 5.1 plugs into the Cooker.  Likewise, with bananas, it'll easily and directly plug into amps and speakers.

    But the XLO Sig 5.1 is both stiff and weighty.  Unless your Cable Cooker is on the floor, you will need something to prop up the heavy XLO Sig 5.1.