OK, guys, have actually had almost a week that has not been full on busy and this weekend I will listen more in depth to Franks new version of the silver poison but will post initial thoughts now. Firstly Frank Charged me 142 pounds stirling plus 12 pounds stirling shipping (sorry, can't find the pound key on my US keyboard!) for a six foot length terminated with a Balanced connector suitable for my Blackbird.
First things first is the appearance. The cable is costing Frank a great deal more to purchase,He tells me it is 30% more in fact!
The cable has much finer strands and the sheathing used gives zero microphonics in my experience. I much prefer the naked look to this new one over the sheathed look of my old cable, the advantage is very flexible and much lighter and I must say I much prefer the shrink wrap at the split than the large heavy lump that was in the old cable. Build, as with all Franks cables is top notch and from my experience up there with the crystal cables piccolino. It just looks like really high end, and high expense cable!
The cable has a refined and detailed look about it and that sums up so far the listening experience that i have heard so far. It's like it takes off from where the 1st generation one left off. Sound has a deal more refinement I am finding, PRaT is excellent. I think at this stage I would say the sound has a sophistication and refinement greater than the already wonderful Original silver poison.
What I am very relieved about is that Frank has managed to retain the detail of pure silver cable but at the same time the smoother presentation that I have found comes with copper. Detail in fact I am finding is quite a bit greater than the original cable and bass tighter and greater texture, something I find hard to come to terms with as I thought the old one was as good as it could get but the new one just proves the value of not resting on your laurels and continuing refining and developing.
I think that is something as well that I want to say about this company. It feels like your part of something cutting edge and something that is looking forward rather than just finding something and staying with it just because it works.
Is it worth getting if you have the original? Well. If you never hear the new one then stick with the old. If you do hear the new version though prepare to send Frank a payment!
Here are some quick pictures, The first one I think shows the best the more refined look of the new cable over the old, new is on top, old on the bottom of the picture!
New and old together.
Here is an ultra close up!
