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Black Sand Violet Z1 - Kicks big time!

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kaaos

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In Reply to: I need a power cord that kicks! Thanks for your suggestions! posted by astralpen on September 6, 2006 at 13:15:01:

Read more from link below.
I am using six Black Sand Violet Z1 power cords in my system and they sound GREAT.

Power Cord Shoot-Out: 18 Power Cords Reviewed (Open in New Window)

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Re: Black Sand Violet Z1 - Kicks big time! - astralpen 06:25:25 09/07/06 (6)
My understanding from corresponding with John at Black Sand is that the Violet Z1 (which I own and use on my phono stage) is really intended for sources and not for power amps...
- Re: Black Sand Violet Z1 - Kicks big time! - kaaos 17:59:15 09/07/06 (0)
  I use my Violets on amps too but my amps are low power SETs (1.75W per channel) and also on subwoofers amps.
  Black Sand Violets are the most dynamic power cords I tried in my system by far margin. They are dynamic across the whole frequency range which I found very rare. Most PCs are dynamic from midrange up but Violets have that amazing dynamics from the lowest bass to the highs. As a matter of fact I found that quality of them most attractive.
  Regards
  Goran
- Re: Black Sand Violet Z1 - Kicks big time! - WinthorpeIII 07:41:09 09/07/06 (4)
  I got one recently and it's excellent. It does does NOT have the large scale dynamics of some other cords when used in high current applications. On my whole system or my power amp (medium powered tube), it does not offer the slam of a Xindak gold or even a VH4 Furu. These slight limitations probably would not be noticed on most systems.
  Otherwise, the cord seems to be eveything people say. Wide frequency extension, transparent, controlled bass and superb tonality.
  - Re: Black Sand Violet Z1 - Kicks big time! - Bob Mc 04:05:16 09/08/06 (3)
    I've had Violet in my system for 7 days now. My experience so far has been quite different from what others are describing. My system is a Cary 306/200, Dac-AH, Minimax pre, and Citation II, using VH Audio Flavor 4s. I listen almost exclusively to classical chamber and solo music (a lot of strings and piano). I find Violet to have great clarity but on the bright side (strings are not grainy but pitched too high). It has good detail but is on the clinical side. It has great instrumental separation and imaging. It has a pretty good soundstage but has more width than depth (it's much flatter than the 4s). I find the Flav 4s to have much better tonal and timbral quality (Violet leans to a more synthesized sound in strings). The 4s don't have the clarity of Violet, but they have good detail (the sustain of instruments is better heard with the 4s) - I haven't really been able to tell which has better detail; they seem to emphasize different details. The 4s also present the performance space better, the harmonics are much better, there is more resonance to the instruments. I also think the 4s are better at dynamics and micro dynamics than Violet. Finally, the 4s have better bass extension and definition. All-in-all, I I'm finding the 4s far more musical for my listening interests. Is there a chance that Violet hasn't burned in yet?
    Bob
    - I think so... - kaaos 16:01:16 09/10/06 (0)
      I had the same experience as you with my Violets untill they reached 150 hours. Now they are not bright at all and pitch is right, bass tight and soundstage deep. Very, very nice cords.
    - Black Sand Violet Z1 Burn-in - astralpen 06:29:21 09/08/06 (1)
      I burned in my Violet Z1 on a dehumidifiier drawing 375w. I found that the cable changed character for the better noticeably after about 130 hours. I gave it another 50 after that, where it seemed to not make as much difference. Have you tried the AirSines vs. the Flavor 4s?
      - Re: Black Sand Violet Z1 Burn-in - Bob Mc 17:18:34 09/08/06 (0)
        
        In Reply to: Black Sand Violet Z1 Burn-in posted by astralpen on September 8, 2006 at 06:29:21:
        
        AirSines are out of my price range. I was stretching it to buy the Violet.
        bob
Re: Black Sand Violet Z1 - Kicks big time! - mtrot 16:57:18 09/06/06 (2)
Kaaos,
Have you ever compared the Black Sand Violet to the Signal Cable PC? They are 10awg and cost $59 and get pretty good reviews.
As I've up till now been extremely sceptical of power cords' ability to really make an audible difference, I am really leary of spending a bunch of $$$ on PCs. I want to get some power cords, but the Black Sands are going to add up pretty quick to some real money.
I need pcs for my multi-channel power amp, my receiver(used as a pre/pro), and possibly for my HD DVD player.
- I was sceptical too... - kaaos 23:39:18 09/06/06 (0)
  ...but now I am not. Placing Black Sand Violet Z1 cords in my system had a much more impact to the sound than changing speaker cables or interconnects (And I use to have some really nice speaker cables / interconnects like for example Audio Note silver). Violets replaced VH Audio cords (Flavour 1 and 2) in my system and the difference vas BIG.
  Unfortunately I don't have any experience with Signal Cable PCs.
- Check Out The Zu - Postal Grunt 19:52:40 09/06/06 (0)
  I haven't heard the Signal Cables PCs in my system but they have fans here at AA. I do have a couple of Zu Birth PCs in my system and can say that they're working well for me. My only connection with Zu is as a satisfied customer.
  You can buy them through their website for $109/ 1 meter or you can find them at Zu's Ebay site for much less. You may have to wait a little while to win an auction but the price should be comparable to Signal Cable's for the same length. Zu also offers a 60 day trial period and upgrade options for their customers. Look for zu_promo at Ebay's audio cables pages.

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