My preference differs with the application, the day of the week, the temperature, the humidity, and how much of the bottle I've consumed.
Translation- I'm still on the journey and can not answer your question with any degree of certainty...as evidenced by the number of cords I've owned and tried.
My Holy Grail sound preference is excellent HF extension and liquid midrange without brittleness or glare. I'm still searching. :) |
Actually, folks, the purpose of the thread is for everyone to share their OWN opinions of warm & full bodied cords versus neutral, clear and extended cords. :)
I'd rather not go into more detail about Brand A vs. Brand B because I believe this is a system specific question better left to individual experimentation.
My list is offered as a general guide, based on my own listening experience.
Have fun, and please share your warm vs. neutral power cord lists.
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I forgot to add the Wolff Carbon Ribbon Source cord (copper version)...on the warm side of neutral.
Disclaimer: I have one for sale to a good home. With papers. House trained.
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John, this hobby never stops confounding and amazing me. A perfect example is how we can each have completely different opinions about the sonic flavor of the Shunyata Anaconda Vx. That's why it's so important to try these things in one's own system. |
It will be very interesting to determine where the new Shunyata Helix series fits in the continuum. Interesting why? I imagine Shunyata will be maintaining their house sound, so the comments above will certainly still apply. |
Guido, that's understood. Welcome to the thread.
I'm going out on a limb here (tongue firmly in cheek), and I'm going to postulate that in my system the Helix cords will still be neutral, clear and extended, and in Jmcgrogan2's system the Anaconda Vx Helix will still be the most neutral cord in the warm category.
Wanna bet?
Do you have any power cords that you have heard in your system that you'd like to add to the list and categorize as warm and full bodied, or neutral and extended?
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Guido, I can imagine the combination of Epiphany, Anaconda Alpha and Elrod Statement was outstanding. I'd be curious to know how substituting just a Python Alpha for the Anaconda Alpha would affect the results.
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Who's Norm?
Although I appreciate the AnacondaVx versus Python Vx comparison, it doesn't apply to the scenario presented in your earlier post. The Vx cords sound different than Alpha cords, and a Vx cord used for a digital source has little in common with an Aplha cord used on a power amp. This has been my experience anyway.
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Babybear, that's exactly what I was curious to know. Nice, succinct description. Thanks. |
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The answer to merit can only be answered by you after listening in your own system, because each of us has our own idea of the investment/improvement value scale. Almost everyone will tell you the Epiphany is a better sounding cord than the less expensive Electra Glide cords, but only you can decide if it's worth the extra expense.
Also, in my system, changing power cords on my preamp has the least effect of anywhere else in my system. The greatest effect of power cord swapping in my system is realized on the source and amplifier. |
I'll add the DCCA Extreme Reference power cord to the "Neutral, clear and extended" column, although it contributes some weight to the music similar to the Elrod cords, but with less coloration. Therefore, it shifts toward "warm and full bodied" without falling into that category, in my opinion. |
John, I've had the one DCCA Extreme Reference I own for about three weeks. It sounded darn good straight out of the box, and frankly, I haven't paid much attention to the break-in since the arrival of the cord corresponded with the delivery of my updated APL Denon 3910. I guess you putting into the neutral camp means that I can expect to put it into the warm camp, huh? J/K :-) It's possible, John. We all have vastly different systems, and we all hear differently as well. The DCCA Extreme Reference is certainly warmer than the Shunyata Python cord it replaced, and I'd say it's not as warm as the Elrod EPS3 Signature cord that feeds my other Hydra 2 conditioner, but it's a matter of small degrees. |
Grant, it was supposed to be a joke. The neutral/warm differences we had on the Shunyata Anaconda made me write it. I guess you don't remember, so it missed it's mark. :-( No, John, I remember, and I knew it was a joke. I just maintained a more even keeled position in my reply in an attempt to remain diplomatic for the viewing public. And, I think your observations regarding our differing opinions of the Anaconda are useful commentary on how we all perceive things differently, and how open minds can contribute to meaningful exchange of opinion without vitriole. :) |
Is there a difference between balanced and neutral? If so, please explain.
By openly energetic are you implying the Epiphany cord exaggerates the sonics, and is therefore neither neutral nor warm? |
Thanks, Guido. I wish I had your ears. |
Thanks for the review, Guidocorona. You may send me three Shunyata Anaconda Helix PCs for Christmas - two Alpha and one Vx.
Thanks in advance! |
I thought I'd update this thread with one thought. I have heard many power cords in my system in all applications and configurations. No power cord has consistently performed with the excellence of Purist Audio Dominus...whether it's a Ferrox or Fluid version. I have not heard the Aqueous Anniversary power cords, but I suspect they are also outstanding.
Simply put, and based on what I have heard in my system, there is NO element in my system other than Purist Audio wire that is irreplaceable.
No, I'm not a Purist Audio dealer, but I wish I was. |
04-24-06: Babybear
Hi Tvad,
Can you tell us what version of the DOminus power cords you use and with what component you are using them. I use Dominus Ferrox on my Hydra 2, Dominus Ferrox on my amp and a Dominus Fluid on my digital source. A Volex 17604 is on my Lamm preamp. The Shunyata Anaconda Alpha Helix may be the best cord for your Esoteric. I am in no position to say otherwise. I just know that in my system, and in the systems of two local audiophools, the Purist Audio stuff is the clear winner. None of us have auditioned the Shunyta Helix series power cords. Could be it's better than Purist, and folks should certainly do their due diligence to find the appropriate wire for their systems and taste, but I am satisfied, and I don't have any desire to experiment further with power cords. |
This thread I think, sometimes guides your expectation toward a certain level of sonic characteristic expectation of a cord before you plug it onto your gears. Leanbean, I believe you miss the point of this thread, which is to provide potential buyers with an idea of what they might expect when inserting specific cords into their systems. The thread is intended as a resource. A tool. Those who don't believe that power cords make a difference to a system's sound will find no value in this thread, and in fact the thread was not intended for them. Once you experiment with a few cords, then please come back and comment on what you heard. Your opinion counts. |
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As someone who has spent many hundreds of hours evaluating PC's and ac line devices as research for my upcoming AC power cable introduction, let me tell you, it's VERY difficult to predict what a PC will sound like in a given system.
Tplavas (Answers) I can believe that. However, I have heard similar results using certain power cords in three different systems, both tube and solid state. Furthermore, the effect of different models of a particular brand have had predictable results on specific components. This leads me to the conclusion that the results of using these power cords can be estimated to a reasonable degree of certainty. |
05-25-06: Leanbean
Tvad, I own many power cords which lead me to the conclusion that they all carried a certain sonic colour to which we preferred, weather they are in "warm and full bodied" or "Neutral, clear and extended"...we add a different sonic colour to the sound and pay less attention to what the artists want us to hear. I agree about adding color, or rather sculpting the sound to what he prefer. Certainly, if that's all we do, then our concentration on the music suffers. However, I'd like to think that shaping the sound of a system is a worthy goal that ultimately leads to heightened enjoyment of the music. It's good to keep the music as the primary focus, though. My apologies if you found offensive as I responded toward a open discussion thread with an interesting topic related to power cord and adding a difference perspective to the topic.
Leanbean No apology required. |
One of the many things I'm struggling with in introducing my own line of pc's, is how to accurately market the cables to those people who have systems that will benefit the most from them. I certainly am not going to be one of those cable makers that claims their pc's sound great on 'anything'. That's a noble goal. |
