Yes, after the success of the Lush^2, it didn't take long for the Blaxius to get squared. So there it is :
Blaxius^2
Hi All,
I suppose a few of you already caught the news about Blaxius^2 but I held back a bit because our new born had to burn its *ss in a little first. Additionally my hearing was not the best the past days, so let's say that I couldn't believe what I was hearing in the first place.
As we may recall, the Blaxius was a community effort for a BNC Interlink in general, and what we at Phasure made of it, was an interlink with "blax" sound. Say that the emphasis was meant to go to the bass. This worked well but the Blaxius was so much more. It appeared to be a superb interlink, valued by many (owning $$$$ interlinks in the first place) as 10 fold its purchase price (at 250 euros) easily.
Skipping a few general steps of improvement, recently Lush^2 came about. Lush^2, a USB Audio Cable which emerged from the renowned original Lush and which ^2 version theoretically could create the best Audio USB cable ever just by means of configuration, appeared to be an audio bomb. So much so, that people wondered whether the Blaxius could not be ^2d too.
Initially I said No ...
Maybe a week later, and again someone asking for the possibility, it came to me that the Blaxius, when ^2d, would be a totally different application, electrically, than the Lush^2. And envision, people were actually asking for a digital Interlink - not much different from the Lush(^2). And I wouldn't even be able to test it, would I make one on request. Not really my style ...
But, isn't Blaxius used as analogue Interlink by most (like myself) ? of course it is. So why wouldn't I be able to test it then ?
Electrically differentThe Lush^2 allows for configuration of its three different shields (screens). For a USB cable, this is about shields as such only. It is quite harmless, though important. It is harmless because no real current is flowing over any of the shields. It is important because of the shielding configuration making all the difference in the world to the sound.
Okay ...
A cable like the Blaxius, be it used as analogue Interlink or as a digital Interlink (like for S/PDIF or AES/EBU or whatever protocol, especially leaning on 75 Ohm impedance), uses its shield as the ground return. So, it is the gnd wire of the Hot/gnd part. Or plus/gnd if you want.
Over this gnd most certainly flows current ...
The minute I realized this was so ans *the* difference with the USB application, I was sold on it. A cable like the Blaxius should be so so much more be influencable with the current flowing over the shields, than a USB cable where no current flows over the shields at all.
I said WOW to myself already.
Using the same nomenclature as for the Lush^2, look at this configuration :
A:B-W & Y-R, B: B-W & Y-R
Here the current flows over the inner shield, while two additional "JSSG-360" shields form an additional double shield with dielectric, the latter pair doing similar to the signal as how it would to the Lush^2. Well, sort of, because right under it, current flows and it is not even "balanced" (like the Data+ and Data- van USB is).
Must be very very different for the work out ...
And mind you : the work out is very directly when used as analogue interlink, because it is right this signal which goes to the (pre-)amplifier. Compare with a digital signal, which theoretically only needs to comply to an eye opening of the eye diagram (but listen to the Lush^2 to know what already
that does to the sound).
A:B-Y & W-R, B: B-Y & W-R
So ... now we have the middle shield carrying the current, under that a shield (W) which is just shield, but shielding as such from the main conductor (completely inside) where the current flows in the opposite direction. On top of that we have another (outer) shield and it connects to this "bottom" shield.
Can we still follow ?
I hope so because these were two configurations out of 1000s again and we can reason possibly even better what electrically might happen than with the USB application.
It's almost dangerous. Electrifying ...
A:B-W & Y-R, B: B-Y & W-R
This wouldn't be allowed. The Black wire, connected to the connector, now does not connect via any of the shields to the other connector.
Electrifying ? (Analogue Interconnect)
Yes. Depending on the type of music, the sound can be described like that.
You thought you knew detail ? hahaha
As is quite usual lately, the detail does not emerge in the highs but interestingly enough in the mid and even lower. You can say that a more square sound is outlined by high frequency support (so highs after all) which makes the square sound less rounded.
At the same time (sit tight) all the lower frequence transients are supported by way more umpf.
Lower frequency transients ?
Both descriptions in the paragraph above are actually the same. It is how a more transient low frequency sound is not overwhelmed by the low frequency itself. Next, the now more square sound has support from below the belt, so to speak. The whole soundscape changes.
The first night with the Blaxius^2 I started a song and right away heard that it was so way different that well before (say 1 minute) before a too much known melody started I asked in the room : "and, do you think you recognize this" ? The answer was No. Definitely not. The whole minute long. Then this real molody started and a "WHAT ?!?" followed.
So yes, this track is played maybe once per 2 or 3 weeks, for many years in a row. And it manages to be unrecognizable.
This happens in this fashion with more tracks and because they are so familiar I try to see what actually lacks or is added that they become so unrecognizable. I hear a melody more in the background instead of it being profound and/but I do not see how this is harmful. It is still there, but something else is more in balance with it now. I wouldn't want it differently, actually being able to envision both the situations (say from last week and from today).
Elsewhere (other forum) I wrote about a "beating" I now recognize in the lower frequencies (think "warble" to not make oit too complcated for now) and this first minute observation (last Saturday) remained. It has become the character somehow - things which may be able to "vibrato" sure do now. I hear troats doding this beautifully now, while previously they were "straight". It is in everything.
And you now what ?
It is exactly that which make the music musically sounding. It sings all over.
And this is with my third configuration attempt only.
Lushifying ? (Digital Interconnect)
I myself don't have the experience with the Blaxius^2 as Digital Interconnect, but a first quick report from a customer tells that like the Lush^2 the Blaxius^2 implies a less digital hence lush sound (this is from an M-Scaler application which requires 2x Blaxius^2).
AvailabilityJust now.
The Blaxius^2 can be ordered
in the Webshop.
Please mind the waiting time mentioned at the bottom of the page in the Webhop.
Peter