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I've just received this cable I bought on AliExpress. It's destined to go on my preamp but I need first to install an IEC receptacle on said preamp ^^
Anyways I was eager to try it as the users reviews are all stellar so I installed it on the linear PSU that feeds the Trends amp driving mids and high horns in my multi amped system (500Hz to 20KHz range).
Truth be told I was not expecting much effect on that position since I couldn't detect much when I swapped the stock cable for a DIY Viborg cable a year ago... but DAMN! I was wrong! Turns out, the DIY cable is probably lacking, but this Audiomeca (pity they're using a brand name that mimics a now deceased French high end brand...) cable is immediately hearable.
The minute I put it in the system, without any break-in, I could hear darker backgrounds, higher intelligibility of voices and "mouth noises" (lips, saliva, microphone effects), more delineation of sources, more contrast. And there's no need to be a golden ear to hear it!
Now I was wondering, as each conductor is shielded + another shield around everything, I was fearing some reduction of dynamics but, in that position at least, I don't hear such.
So far I haven't heard any negative effect of the cable.
I don't have much experience with power cables yet but this thing is insanely well built, sounds great, and is certainly cheap enough to try!
Follow Ups:
I ordered one of these. I moved my power conditioner and needed a longer cable to it. I had been using a decent power cable (not by audiophile standards) as a stop gap. I got a 3 meter cable.
DAYUM this cable is thick and heavy! I think its almost 4 pounds! What a beast. I think it might be too heavy for some equipment!
I'm not sure how much feedback I'm going to be able to give about this cable, based on placement. Not a lot of comparisons I can make.
My favorite power cable is by far the TG Audio SLVR which I am luck to own 3 of them. I haven't tried new cables in a decade though.
Well, after 150 hours, I do hear a difference from the high quality stock cable I was using. More dynamics, richer tonality, better top end resolution, quieter background. Not huge, but definitely worth the upgrade cost. I may get a few more to swap in less critical places. But being so heavy and stiff I'm not going to try it on sources etc.
Just bought one myself. Couldn't be more pleased. Used to power one of my tube amps. Big, bold presentation, quiet and totally composed. Build quality excellent. Kicked my previous and somewhat respected Zu Event pc to the curb. YMMV, but for me, a "no-brainer" at the price.
Yup, good stuff. I'm planning to buy some more! :)
Yep, I just bought a second one myself.
I think this one must be great too - maybe even better! Xangsane make super good cablesof course, it's 2x more expensive, but still a great deal
Edits: 06/07/21
actually the better link should be this one
sorry double post. Tried to edit, couldn't, then I could. Anyways. Looks like a great cable!
is:
"The wires are stranded with 7 oxygen free copper cores and 40 silver plated fiber cores. The single-phase conductor is up to 6 square meters. The shielding is made of 99% density copper mesh, which has strong anti-interference performance".
I would say the silver plated fiber cores are used in parallel with the 7 OFC cores. So, each phase is not individually shielded.
The images clearly show each conductor surrounded by a served/spiraled stranded silver plated copper shield.
Sorry to intrude:
Duster a while back you mentioned this combo. I see that REDCO only offers the SWITCHRAFT A3M OR A3MB as connectors. Is this what you have mind. For me the best option is to have REDCO build them(I recall you favored the SWITCHCRAR option over the NEUTRIK ; I believe you mentioned another connector in addition but was unable to find it on the REDCO build site
Thanks Duster
The suggestions offered in the past has made a big impact on my system with little expense-to mention one was the TRIPPLITE HOSPITAL GRADE durge protector.
Redco carries the Switchcraft A3M and A3F XLR connectors, Utley1.
See links:
https://www.redco.com/Switchcraft-A3M.html
https://www.redco.com/Switchcraft-A3F.html
is silver plated stranded wires? that are not shown how they are connected. The WRITTEN description is what I posted. There is no way to know if those fine stranded wires are a silver plated copper shield or as they describe: "silver plated fiber cores" used? in parallel with the large copper wires without further investigation. There is no written indication that these wires are a shield.
If someone wants to know more of what is seen and written then they must investigate mo betta. No assuming will let us know truth.
Perhaps you don't read enough botched Chinese text to see how words are used, so often abused, and various details can tend to be incomplete. Unless you think the shields can somehow serve as additional non-insulated current carrying conductors, they certainly are not there for any other purpose other than shielding. To accuse me of assuming in this case is a weak argument, and frankly an insult to anyone's intelligence.
Looks like it is more economical to buy it assembled versus DIY. Given you were to use their brand wire and connectors. Unless I'm doing the math wrong.
Thanks for sharing.
Cheers!
Jonesy
"I know just enough to get into trouble. But not enough to get out of it."
"Now I was wondering, as each conductor is shielded + another shield around everything, I was fearing some reduction of dynamics but, in that position at least, I don't hear such."
Glad to hear that the cable is a success in your system!
The shield should have absolutely NO impact on the sound since the shield should not be carrying any current. If you are thinking about interconnects, it is usually because the shield has been connected such that it is part of the return path and carries current - especially for twin conductor + shield adapted for unbalanced cable. For this application, the shield should only be connected at the source end.
With balanced cables, things are a little more complicated because many consumer products with balanced connections have chassis ground different to signal ground. Whereas the pro equipment I have has pin 1 = chassis ground. If you mix and match equipment with different grounding strategies using balanced cables with a straight through pin 1 to pin 1 (for shield) you end up with noise and ground loop issues. Took me a while to trace back to the offending component!
STP network cable has the shield around each twisted pair and this provides improved noise immunity on top of the common mode rejection due to the twisted pair.
Regards Anthony
"Beauty is Truth, Truth Beauty.." Keats
Conductive shielding makes an impact on the sound, which is why many listeners come to prefer unshielded cables of any kind, other than those that must return the signal such as an S/PDIF digital cable.
The notion that a shield is somehow not involved in how a cable sounds, other than the potential of a lowered noise floor is misunderstood. There are other ways to mitigate noise that don't involve any metal shielding, and most listening environments don't involve obvious noise issues that require heavy-handed shielding anyway.
A perfect example is a balanced differential signal that is transmitted and received by circuits that work just fine to mitigate noise, without a real need of shielding in many cases. Even an unbalanced, unshielded twisted pair serves well without a shield to protect it from noise in most listening environments.
I forgot to clarify that connecting the shield to pin 1 at both ends is a problem if the components being connected did not have the same reference for pin 1 ground in which case I agree, there is very definitely a negative effect on the sound!
Regards Anthony
"Beauty is Truth, Truth Beauty.." Keats
"A perfect example is a balanced differential signal that is transmitted and received by circuits that work just fine to mitigate noise, without a real need of shielding in many cases. Even an unbalanced, unshielded twisted pair serves well without a shield to protect it from noise in most listening environments."
That's because the twisted pair is doing its job! The shield (which is typically a mesh) has more of an effect at RF. Secondly the shield should be at chassis ground not signal ground whereas most commercial cables connect the shield to pin 1 at both ends.
However, getting back to your first point, I was referring to the condition where the shield is NOT carrying current but is simply at reference signal ground and only connected at source (for twin conductor unbalanced configuration) or chassis ground with balanced. In this instance, I fail to see how the shield can influence the sound let alone in a negative way.
What is your theory in this instance?
Regards Anthony
"Beauty is Truth, Truth Beauty.." Keats
Conductive metal shields can affect the magnetic fields and resonate in a manner that impacts the transmission of both power cords and signal cables. The conductors are adjacent to conductive metal shielding, much closer than optimal, which is why some designs feature wide spacing of the shield, but this in itself affects the cable resonance factors, and many audiophiles are not aware of the issue of cable resonances, and how it impacts the sound of a cable in a detrimental manner.
Much of what is involved in many high-performance cable designs is avoiding cable resonances through the use of materials chosen for resonance damping purposes, and implementing designs that don't require heavy-handed energy dissipation methods in the first place. Most ordinary cables are designed and built as though they are intended for high-noise and heavy-duty applications, and this in itself is what makes many cables sound less than stellar.
The particular design will certainly sound different than most power cords. The conductors feature the lowest strand count I've ever come across.
How does the sonic signature compare to the sound of the other Chinese power cord you wrote to me about, KanedaK?
It's hard for me to compare power cords, because I've just started improving those, and I lack the experience I have comparing speaker cables or interconnects. What's more, a power cable is likely to be used in many very different places in the same system, with various results, which is of course not the case with speaker cable or digital cable, and it makes the referent less stable.Let's just say that I upgraded the power strip first, then I bought a couple cables from Ebay (furutecjh cable, Viborg plugs) and AliExpress (fake-branded Accuphase cables) and there was every time some improvement, but nothing that almost made my jaw fall. But when I first plugged this cable in, I had a "wow" moment, I couldn't believe my ears. The impact seemed much stronger. Now, I haven't tried it in any other position, I just left it where I first plugged it, in the linear PSU feeding the high-pass T-amp. It takes the place where I previously used the furutech cable. All I can say is: it sounds great. Now I cannot foresee how it will sound in someone else's system, but I would say that for such a low price, it's worth taking the risk.
Edits: 05/26/21
NOT buying a Chines power cable because China has behaved badly in the international community, seems to go too far. Come on, this is only a tiny transaction or business, not dealing with the state-sponsored big companies.
How come, we as diyers, have become so political? I want to spend my money wisely, at least I know what I am going to pay for. I just ordered one.
The overall tenor of this thread has become offensive. Where was all the indignation when offshore stereo gear came from Western Europe? There were a number of full crap products that came out of England.
If you are an American and offended that jobs are being shipped offshore- - try looking in the mirror! The 1% is always looking to increase profit by paying workers near-slave wages.
The Chinese didn't come here and at gunpoint take our jobs. They were willingly sent away for overt greed. A lot of the tycoons don't give a damn about you having a living wage.
I try to buy American when I can if it is not at a rip-off price, but it is becoming increasingly hard to do. All too many American manufactures have moved offshore and the name, logo, and bean counters are the only things that remain here. Caveat Emptor!
You have the right to spend your money where and how you want, but to dismiss a product just because it is made in China is bigoted at best. This forum is about audio and not geopolitical whining. Keep your narrow jingoistic opinions to yourself. There are plenty of sites on the Internet where your views may be welcomed.
I am sure most of the readers of this forum appreciate genuine objective/subjective product reviews or critiques. The rest of us here want to just hear the music and not your whining.
DaveT
We sent them, they didn't steal them.
Nt.
Is your comparison to Viborg VP1606 5N OFC?
10 AWG conductors, each run shielded plus overall shield, I'm thinking this cord will work especially well on digital gear, e.g. DAC, music server, etc.
Make sure to report if the sound gets too dark or less lively, which often happens with lots of shielding.
He is recommending this cable, and effectively suggesting that US and all readers buy this Chinese cable. I am not directing this comment particularly at him, but at Chinese goods in general.It is unclear that having EU residents support Chinese goods is good for them or anyone else. Think Wuhan and Covid if you reckon the Chinese are a good thing, and want to help you or anyone else. When the Chinese finally financially undercut the domestic businesses, they will be your only source.
Edits: 05/20/21
Will you still blame "the Chinese" when the next plague, coming from intensive breeding of cows or chicken, in deplorable conditions, will hit us (and no, I'm no vegan, I love meat, but it is what it is: a time bomb)? Don't you think it's easy to blame one country when the WHOLE WORLD is slowly but surely killing the planet and all life on it - the USA being a very poor example when it comes to environmental issues!!!
This is a great cable, and it's super cheap. Don't wanna buy it, don't buy it, easy. Meanwhile every mid-fi audio company builds their stuff over there.
You have much green, you buy boutique U.S.A.
You don't have much green you buy Chinese.
We're all happy!
Alternatively, go Schitt!
He can buy boutique European.
But sadly, no more British stuff. :-(
Did they almost all sell out to China?
Rega and Spendor, are those the only ones left that are purely British?
EU folks can't have that Brit stuff anymore.
I love audio, and the variety available. Somehow buying Chinese, with all of the alternate options and what the Chinese are doing to this country, seems absolutely the wrong approach. Guess it is possible to save a few $$, but at a pretty high price. Enjoy the cable.....
I have a Chinese DAC that would cost multiples of what I paid if it were produced in the US or the EU. Two Chinese DACs ago I had an Oppo (from China). Add that the DAC sounds spectacular and that I have found the Chinese company to have a high ethical and service standard. So much of what is sold by US and EU companies at US and EU prices is manufactured entirely in Asia anyway. Parisound anybody? Just to mention one. And with Nordost selling a 1 meter USB cable for $3500, want to talk about value?
The Chinese graduate 10 times the number of engineers each year than does the US. Just wait until they start sending us their electric cars! The rest of the world had to put up with US productivity and prices when we used to be productive and could govern ourselves.
We can't even figure out how to repair our roads and bridges.
A one meter power cable of this apparent quality for $55? I might soon try one.
You know yesterday on some facebook group an idiot was asking about some low cost, quality audiophile cable options. As I kindly proposed him a few links to Chinese cables I actually use daily in my system and tremendously appreciate, he answered that I better handle those cables with gloves because they were certainly poisoned with lead. That kind of ignorance, you know... ^^
Chinese electronics are heavily regulated for compliance with international manufacturing standards. Most of what is made in China is intended for worldwide sales, with name brand companies behind the badging. Why a Chinese audio product would somehow not meet RoHS standards for restricted lead content is ignorant at best.
One AND A HALF meter, actually ;-)
The problems are (1) the Chinese government and its worldview and expansionist and control mindset, and (2) the fact that way too many
American manufacturers are content to offshore all their manufacturing
thus depriving USA citizens of the possibility of a decent living.
I try not to buy Chinese made goods for the above reasons. It is often
difficult to impossible to NOT to buy Chinese.
Whether or not you can observe a thing depends upon the theory you use. It is the theory which decides what can be observed. - Albert Einstein
"worldview and expansionist and control mindset" are attributes that can as well be applied closer to home.
In any event, a growing middle class in China (and it is growing) has the possibility of changing governmental attitudes and governments. These things do not happen quickly.
Deprive yourself of Chinese goods (to the extent you can) if you wish. My point was not to excoriate others for taking a different view.
for a long time now and if anything China is becoming less open and less democratic and more authoritarian.
I hope you own no smartphone and no computer. And no Nike sneakers. And no alarm, actually I hope you own no small electronic households.
I don't have much cash. Paying a third of my meagre salary for a single cable isn't (anymore) something I'm prepared to do, sorry. Ridiculously inflated prices of everything "boutique audio" lead me here. THEY are killing their own business, not China, not me! I buy what I can afford and it doesn't need to be entry level useless crap anymore! sorry, not sorry!
WE'RE the ones destroying his country!
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