Toxic Cables Black Widow XL Review

Comparisons

In this section we will quickly compare the Black Widow XL with other offers of the market. I have chosen Eletech’s Raphael and DHC’s Clone Silver to be the BWXL’s competition today. Both of which have won Headfonia’s cable of the year award in the past.

Eletech’s Raphael has made quite an impression on me last year. The Raphael is very noticeably lighter and smaller than the BWXL. The Raphael is more flexible and features a more premium design when it comes to hardware. The material mix is also a little different, since the BWXL is pure copper and the Raphael blends in a bit of gold in its gold-copper alloy.

The Black Widow XL is a hefty 17 AWG cable, while the Raphael sports only 25.5 AWG. Raphael sells for $ 499, so not that much more than the £ 325 the BWXL goes for.

In terms of sound, there are some similarities. Like the analogue midrange and control over the bass notes. To me, the BWXL does handle bass a bit tighter and gives lows more punch than the Raphael, which makes them fuller and more fluid.

The mids of Raphael are richer and fuller in comparison to the Black Widow XL, but the Toxic cable does render a finer picture with higher resolution in the mids. It makes music sound bigger and more holographic, while the Raphael puts more weight in it, making it more organic.

Another aspect where the BWXL comes out as the winner to me is imaging and instrumental separation. It gives the musicians such great contrast to the background, that every instrument is wonderfully portrayed. The Raphael is absolutely no slouch here either, but the BWXL does set the benchmark to me. The Toxic cable also creates a wider and bigger stage compared to Raphael.

In the treble both are great performers again. Giving highs a fine and rich glow instead of sharpening it. In the upper midrange it is Raphael that creates a richer sound though, making certain notes get a golden glow. Here BWXL is a bit dryer and more focused.

Upon checking the price of DHC’s Clone Silver I learned that this cable is no longer for sale. Which is too bad, because it is a really good one. The Clone Silver went for $ 799 and was a pure silver cable, also in coaxial design just like the BWXL. Unlike the Black Widow XL the Clone Silver was a 22 AWG sized cable (vs. 17 AWG). Due to the size difference, the BWXL is heavier on the ear and might cause more discomfort with glasses.

Since both cables use different conductor materials, they also have a noticeably different signature. The Black Widow XL sports a fuller, more organic sound. It puts an analogue experience in focus, while the Clone Silver is all about transparency and details.

The Black Widow XL paints an extremely fine picture, with heaps of resolution and superb layering. All of which are also traits one can find in the Clone Silver. But to my ears, the BWXL does create a vaster sound stage, a more holographic appearance and even layers better than the Clone Silver.

Both cables are immensely good at imaging and instrumental separation, and it is very difficult to say if one is better than the other. Maybe the Clone Silver has a touch better contrast and dynamic range.

Where these two differ the most is in their treble response and portrayal. The Clone Silver also smooths out edges, just like the BWXL, but it has nicer extension and gives the highs a touch more energy. The Black Widow XL on the other hand calms things down a notch.

The midrange is also noticeably different. The Black Widow XL puts more richness and body in them, making music sound fuller and weightier. Here the Clone Silver goes all in for resolution and transparency.

Conclusion

I have heard of Toxic Cables a lot in the past, but never had the opportunity to listen to their cables. Thanks to Brexit things have also become a bit more difficult when ordering from the UK.

Now that I have gotten to know more about Toxic’s cables, I can finally see why so many people appreciate their goods. The Black Widow XL is a masterfully designed cable, albeit being quite big and heavier than their competition. The sound of the BWXL is extraordinary and it deserves its seat on the table of the big names.

The Black Widow XL is a unique cable, which creates a huge stage, gives control over the lows, enrichens the midrange and adds smoothness to the treble. With the Black Widow XL you’ll get an analogue sound, coupled with impressive resolution, layering and imaging.

For £325 to me it’s a no-brainer and highly competitive in today’s market. But be warned, because the current build-time is roughly 14 weeks. So your patience will be required when you order a Black Widow XL from Toxic Cables. It is so worth the wait though. To our Recommended Buy List it goes!

Pros:

– Powerful lows with superb control
– Analogue sounding mids
– Class-leading sound stage dimensions
– Variety of building options (IEM and headphone)
– Exemplary Price to Performance Ratio

Cons:

– Weight
– No fancy packaging (if you really need that)
– 14 weeks build time