BAV and REL Subwoofer Cable Comparisons and Impressions
I first read about the Iconoclast / Belden BAV Subwoofer cable concept on the PS Audio Forum. Then in Chicago at AXPONA I enjoyed long conversations with Jeff, Galen and Kurt from Blue Jeans Cable. As a confessed tweaker I have constantly wondered if there might be a better match for my system than the REL’s Baseline Blue subwoofer cables.
My system: PS Audio transport, DAC and Preamp, two PS Audio P15’s, Odyssey Kismet Monoblock Amps, Iconoclasts UPOCC interconnects, Series II TPC speaker cables, BAV power cables, custom built aluminum Van L. Speakerworks stand mount speakers of MTM design, 6 REL G1 subs, REL Bassline Blue Cables and jumpers, in an acoustically treated,
dedicated audio room, with 20amp outlets.
The REL G1 “Six Pack” is set up in 2 stacks of 3 subs in stereo configuration, placement was recommended by a REL. The set up requires a main sub cable from the amp to a G1, and jumper cables from the first to the 2nd sub, and from the 2nd to the 3rd sub. Despite their visual appearance the REL “six pack” does not draw audible attention unless it’s called on. I have always preferred to not overload the room with bass.
With the exception of one Sunfire Sub which I sold over 15 years ago, I have only owned REL subs. I now have a pair of T9X subs in a secondary system and at some point I may experiment with connecting the T9X’s to the G1’s. Why you may ask, because I am a tweaker
remember.
I own a pair of REL G2’s which are FOR SALE.
I have owned a pair of T7 subs which I sold.
The REL Baseline Blues have been in system since at 2015 and are well broken in. The Baseline’s offer greater bass definition, soundstage and realism over the stock REL cable. I have found increasing or raising the crossover frequency with the Baseline Blues
added bass and warmth, but also a graininess that I did not care for.
The Baseline’s were all that I saw available for some time until I became aware of
Audioquest and Analysis Plus REL cable. I confess I have never tried them.
Visually the BAV’S look substantial, well made and thicker than the Baseline’s. I understand this is in part due to BAV using 14 gauge/4 conductor cord and the Baseline’s using 18 gauge/3 conductor cord. However, I have to admit I like the blue cable, with white and
gold REL markers on the Baselines. I connected the BAV cables on 05/22/22 and feed a continuous low signal through them until gathering these impressions on 06/05/22. I initially did not change any of the settings on the REL subs in order to keep my listening comparisons as simple as possible. So the set up was optimized for the Baseline Blues. The speakon connectors made it easy to switch back and forth between the Baseline Blues and BAV’s, so audio memory was less of a factor. I have no accurate instruments or training to
measure changes heard so what follows are purely subjective impressions.
While making the cable comparisons I grew to appreciate that subwoofers, sub cable, and sub frequencies impact the realistic production of all vocals and nearly all instruments as they cover a wide frequency range.
With Baseline Blues:
-Easy to localize, place and track vocalist on the soundstage.
-Soundstage image width was narrower but acceptable
-Easier to hear frequencies and instruments above 500hz like piccolo, cymbals
-Slightly harder sounding, and thinner sounding in frequencies below I would guess 300HZ.
With BAV:
-Primary and background vocals were fuller and more pronounced along with instruments like
cello, guitar, brass and woodwinds
-Warmer, more 3 dimensional, forward, palpable bass
-Wider soundstage, but less soundstage depth
-Slightly softer and less leading edge to bass notes.
-No notice of any increased grain
I could not detect any noticeable differences in speed or increase in low deep bass notes between the two cables. I will say with the BAV’s there was definitely more bass energy in the room. Not only was the sound of the bass more pronounced, I also felt more vibration through the floor and my listening chair.
By the way, I never changed the volume settings on either the source components or REL subs during the initial listening sessions. Bass with either the BAV’s or Baseline’s was never what I would describe as muddy or wooly.
For kicks, and because they were handy, easy to swap, and now familiar sounding. I decided to experimentation with combining the BAV and Baseline cables. The best sound came from running the BAV main’s from the amps to one REL in each stack, then daisy chaining with the Baselines to the 2nd sub, and the BAV’s to the third sub in each stack. This was preferred over the Baseline main’s cable feeding the BAV jumper cables.
With BAV main’s cable and one Baseline Blue jumper per stack:
-Smooth, detailed, precise vocal and instrument placement
-Vocals and instruments were more distinguishable
-Greater presence, and balance of warmth without being overbearing, or grainy
-Deeper and still wide soundstage
-Better leading edge to bass, and whack with the strike of drums
-Slightly less but still impressive palpable 3d bass image.
This for kicks experiment allowed me to better understand what adjustments to make to the REL subs to run an optimal full BAV loom of cables. Before making changes, I noted my initial baseline settings for a reference point I could easily return to. I slowly made changes to the crossover, phase and volume using the REL remote. In making changes I was consciously trying not to replicate what I heard with the Baselines, but rather build and improve on what I heard this time only with the BAV’s.
Mission accomplished I found the sweet spot, the best of both cables and with all BAV cabling.
Funny story; I was home alone sitting in a darkened room listening to music. I had turned my head slightly down and away from the speakers distracted by my phone music controller which was sitting on the table beside me. When I was actually startled by Albert King’s voice talking to Stevie Ray Vaughan, on Vaughan’s “In Session” album from 1999. It was so realistic and present in the room, for a split second I thought someone had snuck up on me. For the record, I am not easily startled.
I like the BAV sub cable perhaps in part because;
-They are synergistic with the Iconoclast line according to the Iconoclast Cable designer,
engineer Galen Garies.
-My speakers are not full range. My main speakers use only TPC Series II speaker cable
which to my ear places greater emphasis on frequencies midrange and above, and less on
bass below 300hz.
-I’m now relying more on the subs and BAV cable to add what’s below 300hz.
-The BAV cable seems to do well covering a wider bass range than the Baseline Blues.
In summary:
-The BAV’s delivered more natural tone, fuller vocals and instruments, a noticeable and
pleasing bass bloom in 3 dimensions.
-I can’t remember music in my system ever sounding so real, true and expansive.
-Depending on the recording, Musicians were more convincingly present in the room, or I
was transported to the venue and ecstatic to be there.
-The BAV Cable confirmed there was a lot of information in the bass region that I was
missing.
-My conclusion with great subwoofers a must is great BAV and Iconoclast cabling. The BAV cables costs substantially less than REL cable without sacrificing performance.
Last night I strongly recommended BAV cables to a fellow REL G1 subwoofer owner and friend of 10 years.
Thanks for reading.