AV Pro Magazine - Greece - March 2005

(click here for partial translation)

"At Work in the Studio"

Analysis Plus Power Oval Ten Cable

Recently I was asked to visit a studio as an observer-friend.

I was the guest of a musician whose group was being recorded. Since I'd recorded him and his group previously, in "live" circumstances, he wanted my opinion about the studio set up and its approach to recording his gang. I was glad to join the fun since I seldom get a "down" day to do nothing but be a sonic tourist. The occasion was like a vacation for me.

After several takes of the first song, the engineer on the console asked me what I was hearing on playback. The sound was good. Very good. I told him so. I was surprised, thus, when he asked me if I thought there was anything he could do to improve the sound he was getting. At first I was a bit stumped because, in truth, I did not know his large console at all. I'd never "flown" his particular board. And, just as important, I not at all interested in messing up another guy's kitchen. So I demurred.

But he pressed on a bit.

When I assured him that I really had no clue what specific, concrete step he might take to improve the sound, he asserted (nicely) that he'd been told by our mutual colleague that I had a certain slant on recording and so he, in turn, wanted to pick my brain a little if only to rethink some of his own habits.

Fair enough, I thought.

There was a break in the recording work soon after. We continued our banter, back and forth, when I realized I had an Analysis Plus power cord in the trunk of my car. It remained there after a recent "location" recording I'd done. So I suggested we swap power cords -- plug his console, which had a removable power cord of no particular distinction (in fact, a generic cord), to the wall outlet with the Analysis Plus "Power Oval Ten" cable. We did that.

When the session got started again, both of us heard immediately, graphically, how much more stunning the sound was from his studio monitors. The only change was the power cord swap. A generic cord, the kind you find everywhere, was replaced by a lovely, purplish-hued Analysis Plus power cable. Voila! Instant gratification. Immediate higher resolution. The console sang with greater clarity and dynamic fullness.

I was impressed that day by my young colleague, not because he heard what I heard but because of his overall savvy – and the look in his eye that suggested he'll find a way to get his own studio or his own unfettered gig someday. That's what it's all about once you recognize that, like music, recording is in fact an art to be explored wherever it leads.

For the complete review in PDF format, click here.

Jim Merod
On Sound and Music
June 2004

"Cable Test"

Analysis Plus Yellow Oval Mic Cable

Done by Davis Keefer, Jazz Stream Records

The purpose of this test was to find out if I could hear the difference between an average $20.00 mic cable and the Analysis Plus $100.00 (Yellow) mic cable.

Analysis Plus was kind enough to send me three twenty foot mic cables, two ten foot guitar cables and three three foot guitar cables, (all yellow).

I was hired to do a live recording of a jazz trio called 16 Strings (two guitars and bass) and they consented to helping me do the test.

The recording was made using a Mackie MDR 24/96 w / analog interface cards set at 24/96, True Precision 8 mic pre's, Countryman DI's on each instrument, and a KM 105 on the nylon string guitar. we first recorded the band using the Analysis Plus mic cables on the two DI's for the guitars and on the KM 105. we also used the Analysis Plus Guitar cables from instrument to DI and from DI to Guitar amps. no special cables were used on the bass.

The first item of note is that both of our guitar players immediately noticed an improvement in the sound of their instruments through their respective amps.

We then recorded the same song using conventional mic cables (quad cables from a pro audio store) and also ask our players to switch back to their own guitar cables. All settings on the instruments, mic pre's and recorder stayed the same. At the end of the two day session it was difficult to get the players to give up the Analysis Plus cables they were using.

In the studio we mixed the "With Analysis Plus" version first. then again without making any changes on the board did the same mix of the "Without Analysis Plus" version. The mixes were recorded on an Alisis Master Link at 24/96 and the CDs were burned on the same unit. You will find both a CD24 and a Red Book version of this test.

For an audio clip of the "With Analysis Plus Cables" version, click here.
For an audio clip of the "Without Analysis Plus Cables" version, click here.

David Keefer
Jazz Stream Records
March 2004

Guitar Player Magazine

"Warm, Full Bodied, & Liquid Smooth"

Analysis Plus Pro Oval Studio Cable

Compared with several other high end cables, the Analysis Plus Pro Oval Studio cable distinguished itself with an exceptionally deep, full and strong low end, juicy midrange, and an uncommon rich, coherent smoothness that combined to make the other cables sound dry, strained, and harsh.

This is truly an exceptional cable worthy of "Reference Quality" status, and it receives an EDITORs' PICK AWARD.

Terry Buddingh
Guitar Player Magazine Feb 2004

Vintage Guitar magazine

"Stellar Achievement"

Analysis Plus Pro Oval Guitar Cable

The renowned engineering firm Analysis Plus, Inc. designs and manufactures products to exacting specifications, with performance and quality as their top priorities. We tested the pre-production prototype of their new Pro Oval instrument cable, a stellar achievement for fans of transparency.

Utilizing a patented oval design, Teflon structural and outer dielectrics, Litz stranding, Ohno cast copper and carefully chosen shielding materials, they've created the most revealing cable we've heard to date. The detail/air this cable passes is akin to an electrostatic speaker panel. The feel is quite nice for a cable of this transparency level and dynamics are amazing... it responds to every nuance of attack. Dimension is of the highest order, as your amp will now sound like it has far more depth than with most other cables. And accuracy is also increased, with wider note separation and less washout.

While jazz artists and some country and clean blues players will rejoice at its piano-like clarity, the amount of high end it's capable of transmitting makes it inappropriate for use with overdrive or distortion. The cable is stiffer than most, but easy enough to work with for the applications listed. Although ours came with quality plugs, we're told the production cables will achieve even more higher resolution through custom designed terminations.

Copyright 2003 Eric Kirkland and Vintage Guitar magazine.
Unauthorized use is strictly prohibited.
Eric Kirkland Vintage Guitar May 2003

"Sonically Magnificent"

Analysis Plus Pro Oval Microphone Cables

Analysis Plus Pro Oval microphone cables are sonically magnificent. I salute Mark Markel's engineering design for product quality at an extremely high level of excellence: sonic results that are most accurately designated by the single word "musical."

Jim Merod
Enjoy The Music
April 2003

For the complete review, click here.