I don't know FB, the title of both threads say "16" when I open them and I'm not going to waste time comparing them but there seems no difference to me, and it certainly doesn't change my impression or opinion of this "shoot out."

Anyway, it's easy to get a better power cord than stock, and there are many choices to fit many budgets. Then there's the whole issue of whether a power cord offers the same sonics when used in tandem with or without a power conditioner or isolation transformer etc., when using with a source or amplifier or different sizes and topologies of amplifiers, etc. A mine-field best evaluated in person.

Will wrote:
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Don't know that I do Will. I think I do, but I am not positive. Will check, and if not, will rectify.  Thanks for the suggestion.

Lon, I don't expect they will embarrass the excellent Decware ICs, but I hope the Ultra Silver will give you the added refinement they gave me. I can't recall the breakin for those, but it was a while. Maybe a month or so. Lately, I have been running new cables and caps in my workshop system 24/7 changing the CD at least daily for a week or 10 days. Don't you wish wire makers would burn them in? Actually, Reality cable does!

Lon announced:
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Looking forward to your assessments Lon. The first pair I bought, used on AudiogoN, is quite nice. I agree they seem well made.

It has been a while, but I think what happened with mine is that they just kept getting better at all of what they do. I don't recall ups and downs...just steady improvements.

Another thought on MAC.

My braided silver IC from MAC is a very nice cable too, but very different. I doubt you would like it Lon. Very open and articulate. Excellent in my case for the ZDAC/ZSTAGE connection, but this got me thinking.

The MAC Digital Pipe power cord you did not like the sound of, and the MAC HC power cord I thought was fine, and possibly similar to the Decware cable. They apparently play around a lot with different objectives and solutions. Poses the question: would both their high end ICs suit us, or would one have a preferable flavor over the other??? The latter seems likely.

That is if one decided to go there!

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Yes, interesting idea to be sure. I will be interested to follow this track if it happens.

I mentioned the MAC auctions and the UltraSilver IC earlier since the topic was "cost-effective" ICs and in that context the MAC auctions are easy. Relative to be sure though as we all know. What is cost effective?

Now that we are talking of climbing the MAC ladder, I would be remiss not to mention Reality Cables ... realitycables.com

At 250, a different sort of bargain, but a bargain none-the-less. Also, partially burned in and with a return possibility! I got onto these from Eric Hider, the Tranquility DAC guy who I really trust the ears and mind of. As I understand it, he was part of a group of serious audio heads who worked with the Reality guys to figure out the most "not there" cable. They would send out ICs, get comments, implement refinements, and out they would go again. And it seems they did this for a long time before arriving at just the right wire, twists, RCAs etc.

Well, I use these as my main ICs Tranquility to Torii, and they are amazing. I just did some direct comparisons to the MAC UltraSliver, and both have nice qualities, but I would say the Reality does everything more transparently...more body, depth, dynamics, micro dynamics, micro detail, texture...

I had one pair in each Torii input, left the volume the same for each test tune, and switched cables on the Tranquility. The Reality actually sounded louder they were so much less restricted.

Not that the MACs didn't sound great, and could be a valid choice, but by comparison, to me the Reality is another level of pure sound flow.



Of course, my system, source etc.....