November 12, 2015

  • XLO Signature 2.1, Part 3

    In February 1993, I received my first component with XLRs, the B&K Pro10MC preamp. It was not a true balanced, "dual differential" product. It merely added a phase splitter to the analog output, to utilize XLRs.

    At this time, I was barely aware of XLO's Signature series. The ads did not show the Type 5.1 speaker cable, so we had no idea what that looked like. The ads only depicted a small section of the interconnects. The ads did not show any connectors. On Friday, February 12, 1993 (the beginning of Presidents' Day weekend), my old friend ACS took the inter-campus jitney from Cal to UC Santa Cruz. Since it had rained earlier in the day, it was damp outdoors, but warm and muggy inside of my college apartment. ACS did not show the, um, connectors on her bra; she reached into her shirt, and pulled the bra out from one of her t-shirt sleeves.
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    If ACS thought RCAs were kinky, she sure got excited about XLRs. Since the female XLR plug received signal, ACS called it the "business end, where all the action takes place."
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    A major reason why XLO's Signature 2.1 balanced line-level interconnect did not experience that ubiquitous top-end roll-off was its avoidance of the Neutrik XLRs. Most other audio companies lazily used Neutrik chassis and cable XLRs. But these parts were notorious for rolling off the treble. As you can see, XLO designed and made their own XLR. When ACS saw the three holes, she poked fun: "anal, oral, and vaginal!"
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    ACS did giggle that the pins of the male XLR were like three identical dildos. Do note that, as originally manufactured, the pins on the XLO XLR only had a thin layer of gold plating. ACS and her housemates wanted condoms to be as thin as possible, to maximize feel. Alas, thin gold plating on the XLR's pins means that, over time, the pin can appear dull, as if the gold has oxidized or worn off. XLO kept the gold plating to a minimum, in order to maximize signal flow. Sounds kinky, but isn't.
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    ACS would run her fingernail over the outside of the XLR, as if it were a musical instrument. She shrugged, "If you're going to have a ribbed condom, why can't it be as fun as this?" Can your cable do this? More power to the XLO Signature 2.1. No, the ribs do not make the XLRs get stuck in chassis. Get your mind out of the gutter.