Better Electronics or New Cables???

Just send me the $1000.00 and I'll send you some paint for your current wires. It will make them look snazzy and I'll go on a trip to Bermuda.

That's so funny, I forgot to laugh...

Carl, good luck with the new cable. I hope this guy knows that this upcoming forum will have a major effect on the future of his company's business. I know you know this as well. I am glad a person of high regard is handling the audition. One thing I don't understand is his claim that this cord makes a King Cobra sound like a $30 cord. That is just flat out balderdash. I have never heard a King Cobra, but trust enough in our excellent compatriots to know that it doesn't sound like a $30 cord, in any context. Perhaps there will be a positive effect by denigrating the competition, but many will be turned off as well. And if this cord is just typical of that price range, he will lose some measure of credibility in this hobby. If you make a good product, you don't have to criticize the others. Just put it out there, and we will eventually find it(as in Resolution Audio CD players). You don't hear Jeff Rowland talking trash, even though his products can more than back it up. And you don't hear anyone bash Jeff Rowland stuff, not even tube freaks. I expect this cord to perform at a very high level, whether that expectation is realized remains to be seen(or heard). Again, good luck with the audition!

Trel, thanks for the well-wishing. It was a dealer that said those words, not the manufacturer, that I know of. I don't necessarily think my opinions about this cord will carry much weight. One thing I will say right now, is that this cord is likely the most STIFF cord you'll ever come across. I think it must use 3 solid core 8 gauge copper conductors...I'm casually listening to it quietly right now (before I turn the computer off), and it doesn't seem to be doing anything overtly wrong. It might be a tad bright, but of course it isn't burned in yet. I need to plug something powerful into it for a while, perhaps...like my Stihl leaf blower, maybe. The cord would probably suspend that thing in the air, and hold against the Mach 3 nozzle velocity.....happy listening!!!

I always thought that NBS cords and cables were the stiffest. My Z-zystems A/D converter cannot stand properly on its four feet with the NBS digital cable plugged into it--it "does a wheely" without some type of weight on top of it And an NBS power cable once knocked my Stax earspeaker driver unit out of my rack. With every power cord I have ever tried, I have always noticed an improvement in three areas: 1.) dynamics, 2.) instrument localization, 3.) sound stage width--with or without changes in equalization and S/N ratio (depending on the cable). With regard to the the FIM, Carl, I would like to know if it improves anything more than the first three listed. Regarding this thread topic: better electronic or new cables? one needs to be careful: wanting too much to tweek ones system, one easily embalms it. The effect of many substandard power line conditioners, and bad cable choices is to "mummify" the sound.