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In Reply to: OYAIDE/ACROLINK Power Cord Comparison posted by freejazz on February 23, 2006 at 09:35:59:
Freejazz: an excellent post, thank you. I've been wondering about the Locus, Purist and Wolff cords.I have a VH Audio AirSine with the Oyaide Gold and had an Audio Excellence Acrolink with the same connectors on audition. IMS, the Acrolink had a lower noise floor (blacker background) and more clarity than the AirSine which, however, has fuller harmonics and a more extended decay that creates a greater three dimensionality and soundstage. I ordered an Acrolink as the combination of the two cords gave the advantages of each. I tried each cord on my CJ MV60SE and Alan's Power Wing (which I also had on audition and also ordered - can't wait!).
A question: I have found that some products that use carbon fiber material, i.e., Bybee filters (which I've used on several pieces - I also have a Modwright SWL 9.0SE with Bybees, btw) and Quantum Physics Noise Disruptors, while certainly providing a lower noise floor and greater resolution, thin out the midrange a bit. Did you notice this at all with the Carbon Fiber connectors and cords? I realize you didn't have the same cords with and without the P/I CF.
Thanks again,
Rob
Follow Ups:
Hi Rob ... thanks for the kind words (and you should love the Power Wing - on what mix of Oyaides did you decide?)Your comment on the carbon and Bybees is interesting. I cannot say I noticed that same effect. I use the carbon fiber connectors on the interconnects and power cords and do have the Bybees in the preamp.
The only time I thought that my system might be at all thin in the midrange was when I compared the Purist Audio Design Aqueuous Anniversary to any of the other cables ... it just offered so much body that the others (even the other P/C-079 gold - Locus Design Nucleus) seemed a bit thin. I ultimately decided that although it is a great cable, the Purist was a bit too much for the way the system was configured.
Ordered two Oyaide Direct Gold and one Palladium Gold for the Power Wing. I found (as did a couple of friends I had over) that the Rhodium was way too forward IMS, albeit neutral sounding tonewise. The Palladium Gold also sounds neutral but with a more natural "line of speaker" presentation and is more holographic. The Direct Gold is slightly warm in comparison to the others and as holographic as the Palladium.I recently installed a Oyaide Direct Gold outlet with the carbon fiber cover in place of the Hubbell 5362 I had previously. It's a bit more resolving and less warm than the latter. So the preponderence of Gold outlets and connectors gives my system a slight tilt to the warm side overall - which I prefer - without any bloat or excessive lushness, as my components, although mostly tubed, are mostly pretty neutral.
For further comparison, I also have an AirSine with the Wattgate Gold 330i/350i connectors and compared to it the AirSine with Oyaide Gold sounds almost completely neutral; the former is much warmer. The Wattgate AirSine connected between the Palladium outlet of the Power Wing and my Exemplar Denon 2900 gives a very three dimensional, tonally realistic presentation.
I understand what you mean by the Purist being good but "too much": I had the same experience with the Purist Museous and Synergistic Research Sig. 10X2 spkr. cables IMS.
Rob,That is exactly the same configuration that I ordered! In my system, my feeling about the Rhodium was exactly the same, yet many adore it ... again listening preferences and system synergies?
I have tried both the Cryo'ed and standard XXX (both with the frame and carbon fiber plate) ... I found both to be better than anything I had previously used. The cryo'ed version did seem slightly more relaxed, yet at the same time fuller and with better spatial clues and soundstaging - (** you are right on this one Duster.)
That also follows directly with my experience with the connectors. I like Chris's Air Sine very much, but have not yet heard it with the Oyaide connector ... only the Wattagate Gold and Furu Rhodium. It seems that when mixing the Gold outlets in the Power Wing and the Acrolink Carbon Fiber Palladium over Gold connectors, that I have had the best of both worlds.
I have a feeling that the Purist would be superb in some systems, but they were not quite "right on center" with mine. Still lovely though .. the Aqueous Anniversary is the favorite of all the Purist cords I have heard.
Again, thanks Rob
Scott,Yes, any combination of Direct Gold and Palladium Gold seems to produce a great synergy.
Now, however, your posts have created a very large temptation to try the Carbon Fiber connectors. :-)
Sent you an e-mail.
I am thinking about moving uo from a Flav4 w Furu gold connector. to an AirSine w/ Furu Rhodium connectors. I was interested on your take on the AirSine w/ Furu Rhodium con.
I would actually call and speak with Chris. In my experience I would trust him implicitly relative his cables.The AirSine itself was a definite step up from the very nice Flavor 4.
The Furu rhodium versus the Furu or Wattagate gold - to me, the rhodium was a bit more dynamic and detailed - the soundstage was also moved a bit forward in my listening.
It would be very interesting to try the AirSines in both the Furu and similarly plated Oyaide plugs. I know both are very good, but as you have probably noted, I have certainly preferred the Oyaide.
Again, you cannot go wrong inquiring of Chris.
Like yourself; I've also found Oyaide's level of resolution to be higher vs. others I've tried, but where an Oyaide really stands out is in how it further opens up the soundstage, with a substantially improved level of ambient information retrieval, along with better delineated image outlines. Vivid spatial cues is Oyaide's strongest sonic betterment, IME. I very much equate this factor as also being one of higher resolution, as this specific listening cue is also what's involved as inner detail retrieval (rather than just what's found in the leading edge).
As Freejazz says, you're right again Duster :-).Going back and listening again with just the Oyaide GX outlet (and without the Power Wing, which has moved on) the images are steadier than without it.
What I love most about the Power Wing is that with everything plugged into it the imaging is rock steady: there are no shifting images at all.
Yes, I've found Oyaide to help provide a soundstage that's rock solid as well as expansive, with imaging being more firmly fleshed-out (palpable) without sounding forward. And, while not sounding forward, the soundstage seems to present with a more "out of the box and into the room" projection.
Again, as usual, you are right on.If you like the Oyaides (especially the P/C-046 Palladium over Gold) at some point you must try one of the Acrolink carbon fiber P/I CF sets ... they are crazy expensive, but they just move everything up a notch. Knowing the Oyaides as you do, even if you have not yet heard the P/I CFs (as they are even quieter than the Oyaides) you can imagine their effect.
..but I'll be totally slayed in AA if I go that far :-) BTW, a DIY build VH Audio Flavor 4 power cord terminated with an Oyaide P-079/C-079 combo has got to be *the* high-value bomb. I've yet to read a report about such a killer DIY assembly...
The VH Flavor designs always were great values and I can imagine only better with the Oyaide connectors.However, somewhere, some way, somehow, sometime ... if even in some parallel "off the Asylum" universe, as passionate as you are about all this, you must try the Acrolink Carbon Fiber connectors ... you will not be able to even post your excitement on AA, as you will not leave your listning chair for a week! :> )
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