Cable Asylum

"suddenly being hit by dozens of 1,000 watt bulbs. " No thanks.

108.220.54.45

oldmkvi

In Reply to: RE: REVIEW: MSA's Giant-Killer Power Cord @$139 posted by Winston Smith on June 18, 2014 at 19:53:22

I won't tell you what I am using, because I don't want your stereo to
sound as good as mine�
Forget about convincing Elizabeth, she's joined at the Hip with Pangea!

Follow Ups:

Who knows what that is supposed to mean ... - rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com 13:49:24 06/20/14 (4)
But the same same line caught my eye. I thought "that is the last thing I want".

To counter with the silly reductio ad absurdum that if one does not want the "sound" of dozens of 1000 watts bulbs they MUST prefer a dark murky sound leads one to think the report is akin to cheerleading instead of observations of someone who has an idea of what music sounds like - which to me means music in an acoustic space - or a desire to recreate some of that in the home.

Likely an unfortunate metaphor since I figure anyone who would use Winston Smith as a forum name is probably someone I would like. But to counter with silliness does your case no good (as if a review IS a case). Of course, it should not be. At best we hope for an observation made with as little bias as our humanity will allow.

When I read the comment all I could think of was that would be the sound of resonance and ringing. We would prefer even "lighting" of the soundstage and that is what I want from any component.

Clark Johnsen was very impressed with the biscuits so I would tend to think this fellow's power cord is worth a listen.
- Let me explain...... - Winston Smith 17:54:15 06/20/14 (3)
  Hi Rick-
  
  Sorry for the misunderstanding. And thanks for the post.
  
  First, it is was only a small joke about oldmkvi's preferring a 'dark and murky' presentation, so you took it far too seriously. Obviously, oldmkvi understood I was just kidding him and meant no offense at all. He poked a little fun at my description, so I poked a little fun back, but it was clearly not meant to be taken seriously. The tenor of my reply is clearly jocular, warm and engaging. I took no offense, and meant none in return.
  
  Second, FYI- it wouldn't be a reductio type argument. The fallacy you seek is called 'false dichotomy'. But that is equally inapplicable, as it was only a joke made in response to his poking fun at my use of descriptive language, and not to be taken seriously. Sorry, I wish I had been clearer on that. Of course oldmkvi doesn't prefer a 'dark and murky' presentation. I doubt anyone actually does (well, maybe somebody, but I don't know them.) Again, it was all good-natured ribbing, nothing serious.
  
  Now about that description in my review you (and oldmkvi) mentioned.......
  
  All I meant was this: when I put all five cords in there, I was hearing things I have NEVER heard before, and in such stark relief, and yet with such relaxation and ease and coherence, that I was literally blown away by all the subtle details and how it all coalesced into a solid 3D imagery that was so much more like real life, it was jaw dropping. It honestly did, literally, seem like a dimly lit stage was suddenly illuminated by dozens of klieg lights, so that everything on that stage was now easily seen and discerned, whereas before it was murky and obscured (but I didn't know it.)
  
  Honestly, that is EXACTLY how it sounded. The description was the best I could come up with. No 'hyperbole', it was just the most accurate way I could describe what I heard. Guess my enthusiasm for these new power cords is pretty huge, but so is the difference they made in my system for a very reasonable price. Great deals are something to shout about and spread the news. That was my intention, only. Sorry if I chose a description you did not feel was appropriate. For me it was. Very much so.
  
  Hope that clears up all the murk and obscurity about what my description meant. ;-)
  
  Lastly, regarding your comment about knowing the sound of 'live music', you should know something about me.
  
  I spent nearly 20 years attending live symphony concerts, and for more than 10 of those years, sitting in the very front row center of the 'orchestra' section of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion listening to the Los Angeles Philharmonic. I was friends with not only many of the musicians, but also the head of the box office, and so I got lucky and had access to seating few, if any of us, get to experience. In short, I was a very fortunate guy!
  
  Well, those ten-plus years in the front row were spent logging in my mind the indelible experience of having an entire symphony orchestra set forth before me, playing at incredible levels with perfect clarity and detail. Same for soloists. That is what I strive for now. Truly life-like presentation. (Nowhere close, of course, but we must set goals for ourselves.)
  
  So when you opine obliquely that I may not know what live music sounds like, you speak from ignorance of my background and circumstances, which is completely understandable. No you know the truth. I do KNOW what 'live' music sounds like. As I've said previously, next to my family, music is my passion. I meant it. (But audio is a big thing too, no doubt.)
  
  So when I use the phrase that the soundstage was lit up like a boat-load of spotlights hit the performers, trust me, you would like that experience. Not bright or blinding, just suddenly revealed much more fully, with every crevice, nook and cranny of musical detail being better, more fully illuminated for listening enjoyment.
  
  Make sense now?
  
  Sorry for the confusion.
  
  And again, thanks for the post.
  
  Happy Listening,
  
  WS
  - Talk about taking things seriously! - rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com 10:05:39 06/21/14 (2)
    But I accept that your ears are likely more attuned to the sound of live music than mine. I wish I could say I have had as much experience in concert halls.
    
    OK, we take it as a metaphor which some of us do not share your same definition. If you mean it as a way of saying "more details are revealed" that is fine. I would wish for language clarity, a shared audio lexicon, but that is not going to happen.
    
    Being a DIY cable maker, myself, I have had that same suspicion I might be missing out on something. The cost of this cord is relatively reasonable for these days and I most likely will try i
    
    Your enthusiasm took some of us off guard but I think you are sincerely impressed by the product and with the manufacturer being in the UK and the cost of cord as low as it is I think it is obvious you are not getting anything out of this. Nonetheless, the old less is more, as long as it is not manipulative, makes a stronger statement.
    
    As an example of credible reviews look at chopper87's latest review on HIGH EFFICIENCY. This is the best example I can think of. A man who has listened to, I think it can said, every field coil full range driver and has given reports of what he heard for years. Culminating, after a year of listening to this driver, in this latest review where he says: this is the best of the genre.
    
    Not everyone is as determined and focused as he so few reviews are going to carry as much weight.
    
    The above is not aimed at you, not trying to be too pedantic, as much as gratitude for audio tinkerers like chopper87 who share what they have found.
    
    In years past I made some overblown statements about my edgharhorns and got blistered pretty good for it. It taught me.
    - "and with the manufacturer being in the UK" - Metralla 15:29:34 06/21/14 (0)
      Are you sure?
      
      My understanding is:
      
      beautox - Manufacturer, Mad Scientist Audio
      Home page: http://www.madscientist-audio.com/
      Auckland, New Zealand
      
      Regards,
      Geoff
    - Thanks, Rick - Winston Smith 11:54:40 06/21/14 (0)
      Nice post. I agree with what you say entirely.
      
      I've learned two very important things with all of this:
      
      Never write a review immediately after a really emotional listening session. Give the glow time to wear off, so as to be more detached, more objective. Very fine advice. I accept it completely.
      
      Always strip away strong emotion from the results you report. Intense emotion, good or bad, has no place in a review. Again, detachment is key.
      
      Having had a few days of cooling off, I still think these power cables are superb, and I still stand by what I said about its performance, but if I could do it over, I would not write the review in anything resembling its current form.
      
      I will check out the posts by the gentleman you suggested, Rick.
      
      Thank you for the thoughtful response.
      
      Cheers,
      
      WS
You prefer "dark and ill-defined" perhaps..... ? - Winston Smith 10:56:31 06/20/14 (0)
Most 'philes I know seem to enjoy having their systems present a clearer, far more detailed, faster and more solid 3D image over one that is slow, dark and murky. But to each his own, as they say.

As to your second point, I've posted my system previously in detail. Sorry I didn't do it this time around. Happy to do it again, though. And OBVIOUSLY I want to share with the other inmates (including you) whatever 'secrets' I discover or happen across that help get good sound. That's what the Audio Asylum is ALL about: audiophiles sharing the good (and bad) news, audio-wise, so every one can benefit (or avoid pitfalls.)

Source is a highly modified ModWright Sony XA5400ES SACD player.

Preamp is a custom-made Aikido preamp with 6SN7s.

Amplifier is a modified Spectron Musician III, Mk 2 (with full Bybee/V-Cap upgrades as well.)

Speakers are a pair of highly modified Cabasse Baltic IIs with a modified Cabasse "Thor II" subwoofer.

Cables are all DIY, and power cords are, well, all MSA the "Firsts".

Hope that helps.

Oh, and yes, agree 100% on your third point: Liz is hopelessly "Pangea Girl". (Well, maybe it's good some things never change.) ;-)

But I'd bet dollars to dimes that the MSA "First" power cord would simply annihilate a similarly priced Pangea offering. How do I know? I own Pangea products. I do not use them in my system. They are fine for the money, but they are not 'high end', at least IMHO. But if they float your boat (and Liz'), then I say, "Enjoy!" and have fun! Isn't that what this hobby is all about?

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