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Original Message
REVIEW: VH Audio Flavors 1, 2, and 3 Cable
Posted by Biffo on May 13, 2003 at 23:18:56:
Model: Flavors 1, 2, and 3 Category: Cable Suggested Retail Price: $129 Description: VH Audio Power Manufacturer URL: VH Audio Manufacturer URL: VH Audio
Review by Biffo (A) on May 13, 2003 at 23:18:56
IP Address: 24.71.223.142Add Your Review
for the Flavors 1, 2, and 3VH Audio Flavour 1 Digital AC Power CordSeveral weeks ago, at the friendly advice of the gentleman that manages a local high end Audio shop, I tried out a $500 US Power cord. I was quite impressed with what the cord did when it replaced the Belkin cord which came with my Krell KSA 150 amp. I noticed a small but significant improvement in my system's bass response and focus. I returned the cable reluctantly, but felt the improvement in sound did not justify the expense.
I wasn't willing to spend $500 on a single power cord, but was willing to spend approximately 1/2 that amount on two Flavour 2 AC cords and 1 Flavour 1 AC power cord from VH Audio.
Honestly, I mainly wanted the Flavour 2 cords for the Krell and my Richard Grey Power Conditioner. The Flavour 1 AC cord was an afterthought as when I had auditioned the pricier cable on my CD transport, an aging but excellent Meridian 208, I heard very little sonic improvement.
So I replaced the Krell and Richard Grey AC cords with the VH Audio Flavour 2 cables and used the Flavour 1 cable on the transport. I then waited a week (30 hours of music) to allow the cables to burn in.
Immediately I noticed, better bass response and slightly improved imaging. This improvement immediately justified my purchase and was as significant as the improvement I heard with the more expensive AC cord.
After about 1 week of burn in, I was discussing my failure to get a sonic improvement from the transport with the original AC cord I borrowed earlier with my friends at my local audio shop. They suggested that I should try the VH Audio Flavour 1 AC cord on the Meitner Bidat DAC After all what did I have to lose?
Two days ago I replaced the AC cord on the Meitner Bidat with the VH Audio Flavour 1 AC cord. Nothing else was changed (so this review deals with the effect of the AC cord on the DAC).
Day 1
Before I even made it back to my listening chair, I knew something was very very different - very very right.
I was stunned, the bass response, which I had been working on for some months to improve had become superb. Imaging and the sense of depth became uncannily real.
I'll try to elaborate:
Low Frequencies:
Accoustic bass heard on Dave Brubeck's "Gone with the Wind" CD, went down lower than I had ever heard it before. The Hammond Organs on Joey and "Papa" John Defrancesco's excellent "All in the Family" CD became real to me. I could actually feel the rumbling. It felt as though I had adding a subwoofer.
Imaging/Soundstaging:
Not only did the pin pointing of instruments become simpler, but the depth of the soundstage increased. Instruments were placed precisely in 3D. What I found interesting (read wonderful) was that I was actually hearing the room reflections/reverberations in live recordings. This also helped in creating the "you are there" illusion.
I spent the entire first evening of the cable change listening to my "new" CD collection. Next day I went to work, and returned home wondering if I had imagined some of the effect.
Day 2
So on went the excellent Jaccinth "Autumn Leaves" CD. I had imagined nothing, everything was right. Bass was superb, 3D imaging was uncanny. On went Patricia Barber's "Verse" CD, again better focus, seismic bass and a sense that the musicians are there. I am very familiar with this last album as it is my current favourite and normally play it almost every day.
Summary:
I really thought I'd be reviewing the effect of better AC cords on a power hungry Amp, not on a DAC, but while the other cables made a modest difference, this single AC cord on my DAC gave me what is in effect a new system.
Will you get this effect? I can't say, the effect on the Meitner was nothing short of miraculous. The effect on my transport as I mentioned earlier was minor. I got lucky, but the VH Audio AC cord with the right equipment can make magic. There's a money back (excluding shipping) guarantee so theres little to lose.
I'm annoyed with myself for not trying this earlier and essentially hobbling my DAC for the last 6 or so years.
Biffo
Product Weakness: The female recepticle is about 1/8th of an inch longer than the connectors on most equipment, so the plug tends to hang out from your equipment by this amount (1/8th inch). Product Strengths: Read Above
Associated Equipment for this Review: Amplifier: Krell KSA 150 Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Audio Research LS2 Sources (CDP/Turntable): Meridian 208 / Meitner Bidat Speakers: Ambience 1800 Cables/Interconnects: Straightwire Maestro/Black Silc Music Used (Genre/Selections): Jazz Room Size (LxWxH): 20 x 21 x 8 Time Period/Length of Audition: 2 Days Other (Power Conditioner etc.): Richard Grey Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner
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