Review: DCCA Reference Master Power cord

Category: Cables

This is very difficult for me to put into words, so please forgive me if this sounds like an amatuer. It should, since this is my first review...popping my cherry.

Anyway, this is a VERY long story, if you don't have time, you may just want to jump right to the end (like I usually do).
It all began when I was trying to again replace my trusty old Shunyata Hydra. The Hydra was the oldest amongst all of my current gear, at almost 5 years old. I've been trying to replace it to get some surge protection, which the original Hydra lacked. I've tried many conditioners over the years, and all have left me with a wanting for my old Hydra. I tried a Running Springs Audio Danielle around October 2007. I used it with the accompanying RSA 'Mongoose' cord, and tried a RSAD Poiema!!! Signature cord. Both cords sounded bright, harsh and/or boring and slow. I put the Danielle up for sale on AudiogoN.

In the meantime, I asked Don for an audition of his latest DCCA Reference Master power cord. He recommended a 300 hour burn in, which I gave his cord, on my original Hydra. After the 300 hour burn in, I had to admit that I was extremely unimpressed with Don's cord. It sounded warm, syrupy and very unimpressive on my Hydra.

I had received a Elrod EPS-3 Signature that had a very good reputation with power conditioners, so I decided to try the Elrod on my Danielle. Since I had already been using the DCCA RM, I decided to use this cord before I switched to the Elrod.
Now to say that I had the proverbial 'enlightening' would be an understatement. For the first time ever I heard the RSA Danielle and the DCCA Reference Master sound musical.

Now, I guess I should explain 'musical'. All of a sudden, the Danielle sounded rich, warm, vibrant and tonally sweet, not unlike a tube amplifier. It's bass was very powerful though, much unlike a tube amp. This was by far the best I've ever heard the Danielle sound, and for the first time, I considered moving on from the Hydra.

To make a VERY long story short, I tried many other cords in the same position, on the front end of my Danielle. I can't remember them all, but some do include more expensive cords such as the Dream State Lucid Dream, Stealth Dream (a favorite of mine), Jena Labs Model One, K-S Emotion, Shunyata Anaconda Vx, Nordost Valhalla, etc....etc...

Anyway, to make a short story long, I told Don, The main man behind DCCA, that I did love his new Reference Master power cord. I told him that I did have some 'reprecussions' about his cord though. I said that his cord had tremendous attack on the note, which led to a form of 'clarity'. His cord also had an immediate impact, which was a tad too forward to me. I would also appreciate a cord that had a slightly more natural decay of the note. One last 'nat' was that the high end was a bit rolled off.

Now, Don, knowing my latest feelings, told me that he had created a cord that he felt would suit my latest needs. He sent it to me....yeah yeah....300 Hours burn in....done.

Don's new cord blew my mind! I'm sorry...I should contain my drool. I just cannot believe what Don can do. All of a sudden, it's as he read my mind, or even knew my system. The sound was a bit more laid back, just to my tastes (row 10-12), the high end was extended and airey, and to top it all off, the decay was more natural, relaxed and decaying into black space.

Did Don's adjustments come with no negative side affects? No, I can not say that. The added depth in the soundstage has a small, but noticeable affect on the soundstage width and height. I much prefer the added 3-Dimensionality of the new cord over the first cord. I also prefer the natural decay of the note that the latest cord brings over the first cord. The first cord also had a slightly more defined bass. The second cord had bass aplenty, to be sure, more plentiful than most other cords that I've heard. The first rendition of the DCCA cord had a slightly more defined low bass detail though.

So where does this leave me.....or you? As for my RSA Danielle, I cannot think of any power cord that I've heard that will sound better than Don's Reference Master. Especially the modified version that he presented me. It is rich, vibrant, detailed, extended, and sonically 3-Dimensional. I cannot recommend a power cord highly enough, especially at this price range.

Don has a trial period, of which I cannot claim you could beat. If you contact Don, tell 'em Johnny boy sent you....

If you don't like what you hear, tell Don to "fix it". That's the best part about this review....Don REALLY knows what he's doing when it comes to adjusting the sound.

Cheers,
John

Associated gear
http://cgi.audioasylum.com/systems/1343.html

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