Palomino
|
Well I got my first power cord to try from the Cable Co. An oldie, but supposedly a goodie the Synergistic Research AC Master Coupler Power Cord. According to legend, this is the cord that put power cords on the audiophile radar. I decided to give it a try because the sales pitch is that cord came out before copper prices ran up and used, it’s supposed to be a lot of cord for the money. It’s actually below my budget.
The difference was immediately apparent, but not necessarily in a good way. The cord hit like a freight train, but I found the bass too boomy and unfocused. It also cast a nice big soundstage, but it too was not that focused. Highs seemed rolled off as well. I’d describe it as a warm sounding cord, probably too warm for a tube amp setup.
What I’m about to say is a power cord non-believer’s evidence of subjective hearing, but after an hour or so, this cord seemed to tighten up in the bass and the imaging seemed to improve. How can that be? Where there was nearly distortion before, is full, but tuneful bass. Soundstage is still big, but there is good focus. Highs still seem rolled off though. Mids about the same.
So maybe I just have the powerful suggestive imagination that the anti-cord people speak of, or maybe this cord warmed up or my entire system somehow came into balance? The amp had been on for hours and only shut off to plug/unplug for A/B comparisons.
I don’t think I will keep this cord, but I’m willing to leave it my system for a while. I went from this “this baby is coming out today” to “hmmm, it has some redeeming qualities.” At a minimum, its helping me learn what I want from a power cord.
So on this versus my existing DIY cord: bass slam - improvement. Musical bass – about the same, but fuller. Sound stage, - improvement. Imaging – same. Nuetrality, so far a no.
|
Back to top
|
i7 Mac Mini with LPSU/SSD running Audirvana 3.5, Uptone Audio Regen on LPSU, Mytek Brooklyn DAC+, Ven Haus DIY Silver ICs, 25th Ann. Zen, PS Audio P5 Power Supply, PS Audio Power Cords, GR Research Speaker Wire, DIY Big Betsy and Crystal 10 Open Baffle Speakers
IP Logged
|