Power Cord for Ayre CX-7e ????


Hi,
Just purchased a new CX-7e and I am already considering a good PC to go with it. I currently run a Audio Analysis "Power Oval" with my Krell amp. I have heard great things about the "Black Sands" reference power cord but as we all know some PC's work better with specific sources. Would be great to hear from owners of Ayre components that have experimented with PC's
Thanks!!
David
f1wheels
Hi John,
After your recommendation I quickly had a look at their web site and reviews. Very interesting (also very serious prices:-)) and would like to try some day, but I do not live on the american continent and I don't think SA sells over seas. But who know's?
I tried many conditioners in the past without good results, therefor I am a bit suspicious. But for now NBS cords work fine for me and no need for upgrade.
The Richard Grey "Power Conditioner" is really not a power conditioner in the sense that Moster and others are. It is a big choke used as an isolation transformer. It will help clean up the power without imposing any limitations on it.
When I had my Ayre stuff, it definitely created a better sonic picture without altering the basic existing sound.
The Richard Grey power cords are excellent.
In my system, Richard Grey was the very worst thing that ever happened to it. I was told that it has to break in to sound it's best, however, after 6 months when I removed them and went directly into the wall, and the sound opened up and became 3 dimensional again, I quickly sold the R/G stuff on Audiogon. I had 2 of them, when I used 1 the system sounded better, when I removed both it was a revelation. Try before you buy!!
I use Running Springs Audio with my Ayre stuff and it is great - definitely better than without. The Synergistic Research and Kubala-Sosna power cords sound great with their stuff.
If it isn't too late: I have the CX-7 (now upgraded) and tried a myriad of power cords on it as well as other parts of the system. I chose the Cardas GR. To describe why, I offer the following:

I was getting these cords from The Cable Company, which really helps when considering different brands. As a qualifier, I only tried cords that retailed for less than $1000. As others mentioned, most of the cords altered the sonics. Some (most) were clearly unsuitable, but it is very hard to decide when you find more than one cord you like.

I would rather not spend money on colorations (eventually having to compensate with other colorations), but this business is hardly an exact science when it comes to auditioning. On my amp (Aragon 8008BB), the two favorites were the Shunyata Taipan Helix and Cardas Golden Reference. They were quite different, however, so which was more correct? On the Ayre I clearly preferred the Cardas.

IMO, audio equipment should come out of the box sounding pretty much the way the designer intended when using the stock power cord. If I do not like it, I move on. I chose the preamp, CD player, and amp I have because I prefered them (as is) over everything I tried in the respective price ranges. They may not have been my overall favorites, but they were within the budget I had at the time.

On the CX-7, the GR really made a most positive difference, with everything sounding more complete, musical, and real. And there were no negative effects that I could hear. If this makes sense, I do not think it actually altered the sonic intent of the player, but made it better. Some of the others I tried were: Audience, Harmonic Technologies AC 10, JPS Power AC +, LAT International AC 2 (my own), MIT Shotgun AC 1 and Z cord II, Shunyata Diamondback, Copperhead, and Taipan Helix Alpha, and Synergistic Research Active AC Master Coupler X2.

Good Listening,
Glenn