A Revelatory Experience | Sablon Panatela Speaker Cables

Product reviewed: Panatela Speaker Cables Manufacturer: Sablon Audio Specs: 2.5M unshielded cables, spade terminations Ownership interest: I purchased these directly from Sablon. Time used: Approximately 2 months Similar products: Auditorium A23 (4M); Zu Audio Libtec (3M); Zu Audio (2.5); Wire World (3M) Why review: I finally feel like I get these, and I firmly believe others should give them a try Short opinion: Spectacular! These really opened my ears up to what cables could do. Thankfully, they’re priced where I get to enjoy some amazing sound! Summary The Panatelas opened my mind and ears to layers of music, sound, and audio enjoyment that I never knew existed. They’ve reinforced my evolving opinion that with better equipment, properly matched, comes more of everything enjoyable about audio! These seemingly innocuous little cream colored, cotton-sheathed speaker cables have taken me to a higher level of enjoyment. Sablon Audio Mark Coles is the man behind Sablon Audio. Since first making his acquaintance earlier this year I have gotten the chance to get to know him more. He’s been nothing less than a gentleman and a professional to deal with. Mark strikes me as a down to earth guy. His designs invoke for me a simplicity of delivering a product with a lot of bang, but without all the trappings of glitz. Visuals What is striking about these is that there is nothing really that striking. They’re configured with rather simple looking spade connectors. They are sheathed in a cream colored sock. They’re not glitzy, and I like that. They don’t draw attention to themselves, and seem content to just lay there doing the work of transmitting a more robust and fuller spectrum of sound from your equipment to your speakers. Shipping and Packaging Mark keeps the minimalist theme going with delivering his products. Candidly, I’ve seen a few different approaches to this, but rarely recall any of it with any specificity. The bottom line is this – Mark packs up his cables is straight-forward bubble wrap, tape, and simple boxing. He ships from across the pond over in the UK using a speedy 2 day service. Installation These are straightforward cables. There really is nothing fancy about them. Follow the Sablon Audio lettering from amp to speaker, and that's really it! That said, if I had one minor request for Mark, it would due to provide an optional banana termination. These sure make swapping out cables a lot easier. But then, I only need to do that when I try something new... Manufacturing The way Mark describes how he made these cables sounds to me a lot like Mario Batali making a delicious Bolognese. A little mix of conductors, differing in terms of materials, gauge, stranding, insulation etc, and then pulled together to achieve a delicious sounding mix allowing the best of each element to join in the symphony of sound. Well done, Mark. Initial impressions These cables provided an instant impact in my system. It was freaky just how significant and notable the differences were! I've had a pair of Auditorium A23's in my system since last year. They've been great. But as good as they've been, the Sablon Panatela speaker cables really opened up my listening experience in a way that I never knew or expected could happen. to be continued...

Praise God for those who serve!

Our freedom is priceless!  And without it, things like this would never exist!

 

Intoxicatingly simple | 3 guitars!

3 Amigos? Maybe, but clearly 3 darn good guitarists!

I stumbled upon this album this week, and I have to say that it has been one of the finest musical discoveries for me here in 2012.

The album, Friday Night in San Francisco with DiMeola, McLaughlin, & DeLucia, has been nothing short of spectacular for me to listen to.  ORG has done a mighty fine job with this reissue, and while I don't have an original to compare it to, I do find it to be incredible treat to listen to!

The ambience of the live setting really comes through in this recording.  At times it almost had an audiophile quality reminiscent of Jazz at the Pawn Shop with all of the ambient noise and activity picked up during the live concert recording.

Overall sound quality seems quite nice.  Again, without an original reference it is difficult to comment.  But the sound is solid.  That said, one thing that I do wonder about is if the original recording was as good as it could have been.  There are times when things seem ever so slightly muffled.  Particularly when you hear the crowd.  This is not the case with the guitar playing.  But it is something I've noticed and have wondered about.  Still, if you figure the recording was likely miked for the 3 guitarists, then it makes sense to me that the other would be an after thought.

Ultimately, if you fancy yourself a guitar lover, do yourself a favor and grab this album.  It's well worth the price of ~$55 for the 2 lp's inside the gatefold cover.  You'll really enjoy what must have been an amazing evening that Friday night in San Francisco way back when...

With the platitudes done, let me quickly comment on the quality of the pressing.  First, I note no discernible issues.  I've run these 2 albums through my system a few times now and everything just pops ever so nicely!  The music really jumps from the system.  The packaging is also really nice.  Kudos to ORG on a fine job.  ORG pulled together Bernie Grundman to master this from the original analog master tapes.  The album was then pressed at RTI.  Packaging is solid, and extra props to ORG for putting together the gatefold!  Included are 2 top quality static eliminating linings of top quality.  But there is one down side - BOTH side "B's" for my albums have a quirky label tear or rip right around the spindle.  Go figure!  Other than that - NO complaints.  Now back to my concert with Al Di Meola, John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucia, originally recorded recorded at The Warfield Theatre on December 5, 1980, in San Francisco.

Parting is such bitter-sweet sorrow

Today I pack up and send along to the next select individual a set of speaker cables that really impressed me. Candidly, I'd rather just keep them here...

These are either a final beta release or the gold master release for Sablon Audio of its soon to be released Panatela Speaker Cable. Sablon's Mark Coles was kind enough to share these with me before they head out on their journey to a few others he's sharing this pre-release version with. I suspect that after he gets their feedback he'll make the decision on whether these are the GM or a final beta. If you ask me, they might as well be GM's. They were that good!

Regardless of what their status is, I am grateful that he gave me the opportunity to first listen to the pair shown here!

Sablon Audio's new Panatela Speaker Cable

While I had them I was able to compare them to my existing "reference" cable, the Auditorium A23. My initial impressions were quite favorable, and as I reflect back on my experiences with them and my notes from listening, I would quickly say I REALLY liked these! I'll get to an abbreviated review in the near future, meaning sometime Q2 2012.... I have a few other reviews in the pipeline that need to be posted. But it's not a stretch for me to say that Mark hit another one out of the park with this new product.

Great work, Mark!

Reeled in today... Sablon Grand Corona - a 2M variety...

I recently went fishin' and caught the little catch on the right... The one on the left, a sweet little Zu Audio Bok, just wasn't legal...

Yep, I caught a pair of Gran Coronas custom made by the incredibly kind and gracious audio craftsman in the UK, across the pond. That's right, Mark Coles at Sablon Audio. These power cords are simply amazin'! And Mark's customer service is beyond what words can adequately describe!

Oenophile or audiophile?

So what is in this mystery box, which arrived earlier this week?  Well, it is a Vosne Romanee order.  So my question to you is whether that is an oenophile or audiophile Vosne...  Stay tuned!

Optimized or blasphemous?

Earlier today I had a terrifically interesting conversation with the founder of an audio cable company.  A few of the company's products have been reviewed elsewhere, but I learned today that they are preparing some new introductions.  I think I'm putting it mildly that the products this individual shared really got me excited.  I was offered the opportunity to demo a few items to get a better feel for them, and will be given that chance next month!


Of particular interest are their new interconnects, an upgrade over the prior version, and a power cord that has been "optimized" for Shindo products.  If you know anything about Shindo products, you know that their little grey power cords are the preferred electric utility transfer and life support.  Recommendations for their specific use come from many sources, including dealers, importers, reviewers, and various knuckleheads out there like me...


So I'm not sure what exactly "optimized" means, or how someone on the outside of the Shindo Kingdom figured this out.  Which is why this little revelation was and is both exciting and alarming. Imagine, the possibilities with the introduction of improvements to the PC for those lovely little green boxes.  But is it blasphemous for someone to try and improve upon the Master Shindo San's creation or for me to even consider using something other than the Shindo cord?


Only time will tell, and for now, I'm keeping the manufacturer's name under wraps, as I don't believe this little incursion into the Shindo Kingdom with this sacrilegious power cord is yet properly publicized.  I'll plan to update you next month after I've had the opportunity to use them.


March 1, 2012 | The shipment is on its way, hopefully in time for some weekend experimenting.  And it looks like Jeff Day went live with info about this company’s products and Shindo optimization in his recent review over at Positive Feedback.