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CD Player Transformed by Power Cable

I recently purchased an Audio Refinement Complete Alpha CDP to go with my matching integrated and tuner. Even after plenty of breakin hours I found the player to be a bit dull, two dimensional, a little weak and ill defined in the bass department, and generally lacking in microdynamics (all in comparison to my Rotel 855).
I had in the closet a Signal Cable Magic Power cord that didn't do much for me on my integrated awhile back. Just for the heck of it I threw it in the mix on the CDP. I certainly was surprised how it changed the sound of the player. With the Magic Power cord the player now is much more vibrant, microdynamic and open sounding. The bass is also stronger (more heft) and I think more defined and tunefull. The only downside is a little hash on upper voices, etc. I could live with this now, but I'm curious about whether the digital Signal Cable power cords would lose the hash without losing the good things. Frank's website says that his basic digital power cord is warmer, but I don't want to lose the openness.

Any advice?
ssglx
ssglx OP
203 posts
 
I did try the anticables. I mostly liked them (twisted), but in my system they didn't do most things as well as the Mapleshades. I really like my music vibrant, rich in tone, and alive. I get all that and great bass too, so I put up with some sizzle on some recordings to get the rest.
ssglx OP
203 posts
 
Listened to the system using a demo Shunyata Taipan power cord last night. Very impressive results.

I had fairly recently purchased the $40 Soundstring power cord to replace the Signal Cable Magic. It sounded pretty good overall, good bass and avoided the high end hash, but at the expense of an HF extention and air.

With the Taipan, things are very different. The high end is now very open and extended and sustained, but now without any hash.
Voices sound more balanced, very pleasureable and fuller in the middle and are more listenable. Similar midrange to what I heard when I tried the Cardas Cross interconnect. Bass definition has also tightened up, with more impact and emphasis on deep bass. The overall sound is also more microdynamic, much closer to how my old Rotel 855 player sounds in that regard.
On the negative side, the Taipan gives the system just a little "bleached" sound (slightly less tonal color) and sibilance on voices is a little more. Its also quite expensive in my view.

I've also borrowed a Hydra 2 to try out on both CD Players. My other experiences with power conditioners was not very good.

It just amazes me how these things on the power side can make such a difference to the sound, and to my level of enjoyment.

Chris
sean
6,229 posts
 
I'm not surprised that your digital system responded favourably to a power cord change. The power supplies in most digital gear are phenomenally poor, hence the power cords making the most difference there. I've often recommended trying power cords on digital gear first if one wants to experiment as that seems to be the most sensitive part of the average system.

With that in mind, you might want to look into some of Chris VH's earlier power cords ( VH Audio ). I would also consider the interconnects coming out of the player. At the price points that you're playing with and the sonics that you're describing, a Flavour 2 power cord and a pair of Chris' Pulsar interconnects might do wonders for you. Sean
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PS... The Pulsar's work best after being run on a cable burner for a period of time.
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