need warm and LAID BACK hi-rez/focused power cord


I posted several months ago seeking recommendations for hi-rez, highly focused power cords in the tradition of the TG Audio Silver but with greater warmth or body. I did acquire a pair of Fusion Audio Enchanters and a VD Nite Platinum from the responses to my inquiry. However, after changes in amps, cd player, interconnects, and new Porter Ports, I find myself in need of advice again on the same matter. My system presently is: A Consonance Droplet 5.0 run directly into a Wyred 4 Sound ST 500 driving a pair of custom Legacy Focus clones using Eton drivers/midbass, metal dome mids & tweeters/NHT woofers. Both components are plugged into a PS Audio P 600 equipped with Porter Ports.
I have an Enchanter plugged into both the power regenerator and the CDP and a Wolff Gain with Oyaide Palladium/Gold plugs on the amp. Interconnects (balanced) are either Sunny Cables 1000's or Jungson Golden Dragons.
Speaker cables are Anti-Cables which I run directly into the speakers/crossovers bypassing binding posts.

My system is very detailed with very good focus and staggering dynamics. With good recordings, all is well and I'm quite satisfied. However, on some (many) recordings, horns, piano, and some guitar can some across aggressively. It has been recommended I replace the Oyaide plugs. Perhaps I will. What I would like are some recommendations on hi-rez, highly focused power cords that are to the laid back and warm side. I really liked the VD Nite Platinum but, it was too upfront for my system. Price is a factor in that I would like to spend $600 or less on the used market. Thanks in advance.
lcherepkai

Showing 19 responses by lcherepkai

Well, thanks for the responses so far. I've heard warm and laid back with good focus and pretty good resolution from a Threshold SA 3.9e I had a few years back so I know it exists and it doesn't matter whether it seems to be a contradiction or not. My experience tells me it does exist. I know it may have lacked the highest degree of resolution and that's fine. I'm not presently looking to increase my system's resolution. I just want to take the edge off the midrange. I believe something less forward might do the trick. I just don't want to dumb down my sound to get there. I know everything is system dependent
and that miniscule changes can significantly tilt the sound. Still, if you know of a hi-rez, well focused power cord to the warm side that isn't foward and might take the edge off of a hot midrange (horns, piano, and some guitar on already hot recordings), please advise. Those who wish to tell me such is a contradiction, please don't waste your time or mine. Thanks!!!!
Bob Thanks for the recommendation on the Kaplan cords. I think my top end is very clear. The Wyred is almost reticent in this area while the Consonance is pristine with good recordings. My only complaint is some bite on midrange forward instruments like some horns and piano on SOME recordings. Do you feel the Kaplans would be a good choice to tame this effect? I've talked with Kurt at Fusion Audio about an all copper Enchanter. Still thinking about that.... Thanks again, Bob.
Jgiacalo What JPS cords have you heard? I had a pair of the balanced Superconductor II's a few years back. They certainly had a nice "organic" quality to them with no edge whatsoever but, I felt they were lacking in focus.
That might be because I had replaced a pair of Nordost Quattro Fils with the JPS and Nordost have excellent focus.
Have you tried the Kaptovators? Thanks
Hi Samhar I had heard some of the Purist cables were voiced in this manner. I may look for a Musaeus on the used market (hate getting my backside drilled on resale value after paying full price new). What higher ups have you heard in the Purist line that continue with this sonic signature? Thanks
A1 I don't know if a different power cord is THE solution but, I know that's where I'm willing to look first. I could change any component or cable and get closer or further to/from my ideal. All the variables you mention are certainly valid but I want to do something and I think moving around power cords is the easiest way given the satisfaction I feel with my other components/cables. I'm also open to trying a gold plated outlet or pulling the Oyaide palladium/golds and trying something else. I not the DIY type though so that option is less appealing. I think I'll see where this thread goes before I pursue that option. Thanks.
Mapman---I can take most of the edge off using Golden Dragon interconnects but they loose a significant amount inner detail and focus to the Sunny Cable DX 1000's. The Sunny's remind me of Nordost Quattro Fil but with more extension on top and a fuller & richer midrange. I love the inner detail and image focus these cables bring to the mix. Would you consider the DNM's comparable with regards to detail/resolution and image focus? Do the DNM's come balanced? Thanks Mapman.-----------Lyle
SNS----Would you consider the Dominus laid back or relaxed?
The metal dome mids only seem to bite when the mids are pushed forward in the mix (and recorded a bit to the hot side already). I have a lateral mosfet amp with a laid back midrange and this amp never seems to bite but, it lacks the resolution of the Wyred ST 500. It works well in the A/V room. Would you try pulling the Oyaides before going on this cable quest? If so, what plugs would you go with to maintain the resolution and focus as much as possible while allowing the sound to "relax" a bit? Thanks so much SNS------Lyle
I would really like to upgrade the crossovers. It's been on my "to do" list for quite some time. I even shipped them up to Meniscus Audio a couple years back and they said they were just fine the way they were. That doesn't inspire me. Perhaps one of you know a good and affordable shop or individual who would be interested in upgrading my crossovers. Also, could someone take a rough guess as to what it would cost? The speakers are 4-way, six-driver. If possible, try to give me a best case/worst case scenario. Thanks!
Hey folks---just heard from Virtual Dynamics and they recommended I simply tighten all the screws/bolts on my drivers and, you know what, that took a significant amount of bite out of my system. I'm still interested in that laid back or relaxed, warm, highly focused, hi-rez power cord that I started this thread with but, I'm a little less motivated now. If there are no more recommendations,
I would like to thank all who have offered REAL and WORTHWHILE advice and alternatives. It's so nice to have such helpful audiophiles offer up their experience rather than combing through dozens of reviews hoping to find the right cable or piece of equipment. Thanks again to all.
Lyle Cherepkai
Hi Tvad-----Read a little on the Emotion and sounds promising and not too expensive. A couple questions: would you characterize the sound as relaxed? Also, how would you characterize the soundstage? laidback, neutral, or forward. I need something to the relaxed/laidback side.
Does the emotion fit the bill? Thanks for your input Tvad.------Lyle
I just received an email with the word "LESSLOSS' and nothing else. Anyone want to offer an opinion on this power cord within the context I've previously mentioned? Thanks. Lyle
Sns & Tvad----If I could trouble both of you one more time, please. I "need" a more relaxed cord or laid back in a perspective sense to take the edge/bite out of the mids on some horns, piano,......but what really gets me into the sound experience is a highly focused soundstage where I can clearly identify the individual sounds both instrumental and ambient including the air of the recording venue. I use the TG Audio Silver as a reference for this quality as it presents sounds very vividly in my system. However, that's all that it did right in my system. Still, that experience has left me wanting that quality in all my cables. How highly would you rate the VH Audio Airsine, the Kubala Emotion, and the PAD Museaus and Dominus cords with regards to focus of the image or sharpness of image outlines? Thanks so much for taking the time to help me out.------Lyle
Anyone (with good feedback) want to do a cable swap? I'd be interested in a 3'-6' Emotion or Dominus for a 4' or 5'
Fusion Audio Enchanter. I may include some cash toward the Dominus. Thanks-------Lyle
Casouza----You're right about the speaker cables. I only use these (and I use the smaller gauge anti-cables) so I can bypass the binding posts on my speakers (I don't have any presently) and connect directly to the crossovers. Originally, I had the crossovers pulled out and I ran anti
cables from each driver out of the speaker to the crossovers located behind my amp and I had these connected with Electraglide Silver Ribbon speaker cable (Goertz Silver ribbons). That certainly sounded better but the EG cables were quite short. Eventually, I would like to install a couple pairs of Eichman binding posts and then go after better speaker cables but that is a long term project. For the moment, this is the best, temporary fix.
I'll probably upgrade the crossovers at that time. Oh, this is a never ending battle isn't it? I have had Kimber 4TC before and I like the anti-cables better. I think they have better detail and are more palpable. Still, you're right about upgrading this weak link. Thanks.--Lyle
Well, I'm waiting on an Oyaide SWO GX (gold plated outlet) to arrive and see if that takes the edge out of my system.
If not, I'll probably acquire either/both a Kubala Emotion and/or a Purist Dominus. My system consists of a CDP, an amp, and a power regenerator. Where would it be best to install either cable? Thanks all----------Lyle
Update---I wanted to try a gold plated outlet to see if it would take some of the edge out of my system (only presents itself on some "hot" recordings with certain instruments) and found a SWO-GX and and R1 from Oyaide used here on A'gon. The GX pushed the soundstage forward and made the problem worse. However, the R1 has made a significant improvement. Soundstaging distance is about midway between the slightly laid-back Porter Port and the upfront Oyaide SWO GX. Detail is excellent as is tone with a relaxed feel that has taken 80-90% of the bite out of my system. I'm still going to install either a KS Emotion or Purist Dominus pc soon. Thanks for the advice!
Rfogel8----I'm in total agreement with you that the metal dome mids & tweeters exacerbate brightness in recordings.
I don't believe either the PS Audio P-600, Wyred4Sound ST-500, or Consonance Droplet are bright themselves. I believe my system allows brightness nowhere to hide. I'm sure the speakers are the culprit but, they can be so revealing that many others seem veiled in comparison. They are also too big to get rid of without considerable effort and, I LIKE THEM. It just takes more effort to get them to behave as I wish.

As to the comment of cords/cables as bandaids or tone controls. so? Aside from the ideal of neutralality, what isn't a tone control? Where you sit to listen and even your mood is, to a certain extent, a tone control. Call them whatever you wish but cables are as valid a method to sculpt your sound as your component choices. Do you take issue with using cables this way? Thank you.
Rfogel8---If I came across as offended, sorry. I can be rather direct but I wasn't offended; perhaps frustrated though. These speakers replaced a pair of Von Schweikert
VR 4 Gen II's and, after I lined them with Dynamat (damping) and wired them internally with Anti-cables, they've been better in almost every way (the VR 4's had a tighter image though much smaller). I was driving the mid-bass, mids, & tweeters with an 805/300B tube amp and the woofers with a Consonance Calaf (bad reputation but excellent bass) and the source was a Consoance SACD 2.0.
The sound was warm and full-bodied though not quite so extended on top and certainly lower rez. I gave up the tube amp because the heat was a killer and I couldn't possibly waste that kind of money on tubes again. I know these speakers can do magic. I've heard it.

I don't believe my components are a bad match either. It may just take a little more work to get "there". Changing cables, plugs, and outlets is easy. I'd much rather ship these cross country than components. I'm not really spending much on them either as I usually sell what doesn't work and buy something of similar price (although this economy has made that difficult) and the $100 I spent on the Oyaide R1 was a minimal investment which, as I indicated in a previous post, has taken me about 80%+ toward where I wanted to go. I may try the Oyaide M1/F1 plugs and see if that finishes my work (for now!!!)

Tvad is right about lasagna. My recipe is just a little more work than yours. Thanks and enjoy.
Sns---A fellow A'goner may do the crossover upgrades though I couldn't possibly afford the kind of caps you mention. I'm certainly out of my league when it comes to $1000 caps. Since I put an Oyaide R1 in the wall and run my power conditioner from there, I hear practically NO bite. I had to play Harry Belafonte's Greatest Hits on CD to make my system bite (if you have this disc, then you know how EXTREMELY bright some of the tracks are). I hope the more affordable cap upgrade will improve focus and maybe bring out a little more detail. But, for all purposes, my problem is fixed. All who offered actual help, recommendations, or advice, thanks so much!