After what seemed like an interminable wait — in reality, nothing compared to what early Blu2 adopters had to deal with — my new Blu2 arrived last Friday. Although I could have saved some money waiting for a Hugo M-Scaler, I actually wanted a CD player, and the fact that the style matches the DAVE though not a necessity, certainly doesn’t hurt.
Right out of the box and using the inexpensive OEM BNC cables provided by Chord, it is amazing how the Blu2 enhances any musical parameter I could name of the already excellent DAVE. However, after the first rush of enthusiasm it is equally apparent that there is also a bit of edginess to the Blu2/DAVE combination which is perhaps all the more jarring because of how good everything else sounds.
I had intended to experiment with ferrites on inexpensive BNC cables, but hedged my bets by ordering a pair of Nick’s WAVE Storm Reference cables. I am very glad I did. Not only do the WAVE cables banish any hit of glare or edginess from the BluDAVE combination, but what I thought was already a notable improvement in performance with the Blu2 has become much, much better. In fact, I’m now listening to the best digital music playback I’ve ever experienced anywhere.
Kudos to Rob Watts and Chord for their brilliant Blu2 CD player and M-Scaler, and kudos to Nick Bacon for his excellent WAVE Storm Reference BNC cables. In fact, the WAVE cables have enabled the true brilliance of the Blu2 to be heard in all its glory. Anyone with a Blu2 and DAVE, or the just released Hugo M-Scaler really owes it to themselves to give Nick’s WAVE cables an audition — they are that good.
Steve Z