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Hello,
You mentioned awhile back preferring to use a combination of Viborg VM511R or VM512R AC Male connectors in tandem with an Oyaide C-004 IEC Female connector | as I'm very very close to finalizing the voicing process of my system, in that I've finally found each type of isolation footers which ideally works underneath each of my 3 main components ( Aurender sever | Naim Audio SN3 of Pathos Acoustics Classic Model One MK ll integrated amps | Denafrips Pontus ll DAC ) and am beginning to get a feel for 3 different brands of power cords to fit said DAC, said one's here are the Chinese NordOst Odin Gold ( silver plated copper ) | Gotham Audio 85055 ( copper ) | Supra LoRad ( copper ) and would appreciate any assistance I'd get in understanding the primary sonic differences between your chosen options of what you've mentioned as silver/rhodium plated copper male plugs in tandem with the Oyaide C-004, much like yourself..., I'm trying my best to figure out how to go about adding a little bit more detailing | snap | top end openness and sparkle as the system on a whole is somewhat on the warmer side, and lacks said sense of added ability in digging a little bit deeper in the upper treble region.
As I've noticed of late Viborg has in fact come out with a set of pure silver power connectors, and I'd like to pick your mind if it's okay?, as to your ideal combination?, and the logic behind going said route at the expect of said un-plated copper connectors for example?. I've collected an assortment of different plated types of connectors, with the exception of silver plated copper ones, here I'm wondering why you've chosen Viborg over said brands as SonarQuest and Vanguard or IeGO Power?.
Just curious more so than not..., as I'd love for this to be my very last venture in voicing my system, as I love the electronics, yet cabling and cord options are always places I seemingly am always researching the possibilities of what it?.
Thanks in advance for making the time to respond to said inquiry | much appreciated by the way | then some.
Follow Ups:
Hello All,
Odin 2 Silver PC in da house. As mentioned this was purchased as a means of attracting better top end detail | transparency as well as nimbleness, otherwise the system on a whole seemingly lacks sparkle | is somewhat rolled off in said area.
I've been researching IEC | Female plugs, yet the more and more I read into said options, it seems either an Oyaide C-004 ( as used | recommended by Judith makes sense ) the only other option is going with their Armored Seres AC-004, as I've been told it's even more dynamically correct | said tandem of either with be used with the Monosaudio M109R Rhodium AC | Male which has been sitting here for months now, apparently awaiting my decision to select a rational plating to use alongside it..., as always logic at our ages should kick in | we find ourselves making much wiser purchases, because in all honesty, I'd like to voice my entire system in a manner of which merely enlightens me during every single listening session | be done in chasing a never ending illusion of the Absolute | when all any of us can do ( especially those of us whom actually came here out of our passion for the music first rule ) is build a system that we find communicates the essence of the music itself in its rarest | most beautiful form | enjoy it for what it is, as opposed to what it isn't, as mentioned I often sit back and watch guys with systems costing nearly six hundred thousand dollars making mistake after mistake | laugh my ass off, it seems they believe higher cost brings one closer to a blissful state of being, yet if one merely buys blind, not taking synergy into account first | foremost?, they've already set off on the wrong path | rating mean very very little, when all one has to do is travel a few miles here and there, to actually visit a reputable shop or home?, and listen to how one's body | mind | heart responds to how said ideally put together system(s) effects each..., it's only when said system speaks to you, that you know it's worth of ownership.
Call me old fashioned, but I'd much rather get out and listen to gear, than to assume throwing money at it works.
Happier New Year to you all.
Hello Oscar,
I want to ask you a few questions. You are experimenting with the IEGO 8095. Is this connector more suited for a DAC or also for a power amp? I have replaced some connector shells with carbon fiber shells. It worked nicely on my NUC and DAC (noise reduction, blacker blacks etc), but on my power amp the sound got choked. The bubble shrunk (width and height), cymbals sounds went from tsjinggggggg to tik). The balance between unshielded/open sound and shielded/choked is delicate. I suspect that the choking happens when the magnetic wave portion of the electrical signal is obstructed by a) too much (absorbing) diëlektricum or b) too much shielding (shielding can also induce eddy currents and/or imprint noise from the component on the cable itself back to the grid). This extends to the shell of a connector. So off they went. With tweaking, you must accept the fact that sometimes the sound is not becoming 'better' and you have to go a step back in your audio journey. The worst way is to counteract a 'problem' with another tweak. Just take it off and try to analyze what was happening to the sound of your system.
What is your view/opinion on low-mass connectors. I have low mass connectors on my RCA (AECO ARP-4055) and Z-plugs on my Nordost Blue Heaven speaker cables. My new carbon power connector shells were quite heavy and I also gained (next to noise reduction) a bit more punch. Reduced microphonics? Would this work on speaker cables or RCA? I know there are BFA style bananas with carbon shells. I read that you were experimenting with bananas. So can you give me a direction or advise before I go absolutely bananas ;) The duck went well, everyone was happy. The cranberry sauce did the trick.
With kind regards,
Judith
Hello Judith,
As mentioned several days ago, I'm expecting one of those Accuphase clone power cords to arrive by Tuesday, as I became more than a tad bit curious about it after reading | re-reading between the lines on it via several of the Australian audio forums | where many have given it extremely high praise.
Yet as I've also become more | more curious about silver plated copper power cord connectors | as well as mixing them with un-plated red copper connectors, I read through any | everything I'd find on said options as well as brands | and while some seem to believe rhodium plated connectors ( be it RCA | Banana Plugs | Binding Post | Power Cord ) if offers the absolute best detailing | resolution compared to the others, yet when I look closer at companies like Audio Note UK | Kondo - Audio Note Japan and how both use silver plated everything including connectors on their signal cables. I find music going ahhhhh, what if I'm missing something by not trying silver plating as said AC | IEC connectors?. As it seems more than a few guys that go through the trouble to re-terminate the plugs on their cords more often than not, seemingly use SonarQuest silver plated copper ones | as trey appear to use a final heavier plating of silver which doesn't come off as the result of constantly plugging and unplugging the AC male end.
As I've about 3 sets of different brands of rhodium plated copper connectors here | even after having sold off extras, I believe it's time to venture outwards and sample silver plating, in truth of which I've more often used as banana plugs on at least 6 of the 8 pairs of SCs I've owned since 2014, with great results I should add.
So logically my thoughts were to purchase their AC in said silver plated copper | use it in tandem with their un-plated red copper IEC on said incoming power cord | especially having currently found out my Aurender music server doesn't particularly show any improvements in utilizing more upscale or costlier cords, hence finding the cord with the IeGO 8095 connectors to simply shine in all its glory used on the Denafrips Pontus ll DAC, which then allows me to play around with few different cost effective cords on the server | and of late like playing around with different platings on banana plugs, as you've in finding the correct voicing of using rhodium | un-plated copper on your power cords, one never knows the creative results of mixing can result in a sense of musical enlightenment is they aren't willing to be openminded enough to at least try using said different flavorings to begin with..., of which experience if nothing else has always taught me to think outside the box.
As always | Be well | Stay safe.
Hi Oscar,
That looks like and interesting cable.
Allthough silver is the best conductor and silver plating can combine the body of copper and the lushness, detail & endless decay of silver, it doesn't resonate with me personally. My problem is the transient response. Pure silver wire and connectors don't have this problem as much as silver plated connectors and wire. The attack of sounds (especially on the low end) are a bit recessed with silver (but you gain the detail and endless decay we all love). Rhodium counteracts the silver in my opinion brilliantly with its punchy & organized character.
But there are always some caveats. 'Multiplating' can also sound like the sound is partionalized instead of a 'whole' and that there is a breaking point in the frequency spectrum and time domain. So I understand the 'just pure copper' type of audiophile.
Sometimes I think I must simplify my cables because most pop/rock music is recorded with simple copper wire and my system is spotlighting the mistakes record engineers make. What is your point of view on this matter? Are our cables too good for the type of music we are playing?
I haven't changed anything lately. Still happy with my Viborg 512,Odin,Oyaide C-004 power Cables and Audioquest Angel with Aeco 4055 RCA plugs.
It is good to see that you are picking up Dusters legacy. I think you fit the bill just right with your experience and polite conversation skills.
All the best Oscar. Judith
Hello Judith,
Thanks foremost for the kind words as comparing my efforts to Duster's, of which I've chatted outside of this forum with on many occasions | have found many of his recommendations spot on to say the least.
I understand your bias towards silver plated copper wires | yet as said Odin 2 are just that, and use brass as their stock connectors base plate, I'm thinking how bad can silver plated connectors be?, as the designer of IeGO told me in most Asian countries, rhodium plated copper connectors Aretha even in demand, and theirs are built to order..., yet as seemingly both Furutech | Cardas Audio are both proponents of said rhodium | of which I've 3 sets here, yet never thought to try out anything silver or silver plated other than banana plugs, this is an effort to merely try different plating or un-plated connectors on said Accuphase pure copper power cord, as it's outer shells look solid built from where I sit, but one never knows until said item(s) are actually in hand.
The only plating it seems I'm hesitant to pursue is gold | as I only ever purchased a hand full of banana plugs | power cord connectors made by Viborg | Monosaudio..., but have resorted in purchasing a few from IeGO | SonarQuest which have been ordered and on their way, it's only upon their arrival will I be looking to re-terminate the cord | judge accordingly.
As I myself have tried my best to build ( strive upon ) a system based upon neutrality | as I see it, said sense of realism allows many genres of music, regardless of era or be it early 50s - 1962 tube based equipment within the recording chain, or even some of the dirty recycled vinyl recordings don3 throughout the 70s, as my own music collection consist of mostly like 98.6% acoustic jazz, followed by a few classical recordings, all of which are simpler miked | unamplified from the beginning of their respective sessions, to my ears just offer better sonics, and while I know many are into old school classic rock and so on, most of it simply comes across as rather compressed at best | yet admittedly I'm able to enjoy it, it isn't the first thing I add into my queue | mostly are only selected upon a visitors request.
Distorted guitars simply don't do much for me, especially compared to an acoustic rendition of a great jazz classic, let's say in this case something like Kenny Burrell's Chitins Con Carne, where one can clearly pick out every lick played without having to strain..., or in case of my hearing deeper into Marvin Gaye's song ":I Want You [ Deluxe Edition] ( A cappella | Bass | Congos ) whereas before using the cord with the IeGO 8095 ( pure silver - rhodium plated ) plugs on the DAC..., I felt I was hearing his voice being dudded, now I clearly hear 3-5 separate voices, either they're being overdubbed? | or echo or reverb being added?, I can't say?, but it's spooky in how much much better voices | instruments can be both heard | felt. it's sad, but my entire mindset is built upon said type of presentation. As music structure which are based upon a sense of accuracy | refinement | detailing | rawness | beauty, if all are done correctly?, is what speaks to my mind | body in one breath.
All the best to you as well, Judith.
Stay 4Ever Young.
Edits: 02/06/23
Hello Judith,
In truth the tandem of the Jena Labs Crimson Red RX ( silver plated copper ) power cords with the set of IeGO 8095s, seem as if it offered no effect as placed onto the Aurender server | I was able to hear their immediate effect as placed onto the DAC | know it shall remain as such for years | years to come, as it simple offers the type of signature I love | a very very open delicately balanced top end, with the correct type of cymbal decay | lingering effect that's hard to put into words, yet something of which I've to view as very very special as far as how the notes themselves seemingly have better placement within the soundstage | now said notes have a much cleaner | clearer sense of definition.
I haven't gotten around to trying the more upscaled Monosaudio M | F 109R carbon fiber bodies on either of the Odin based cords, as I'm awaiting a set incoming of CopperColour beryllium copper plugs along with a sole IeGO silver plated copper IEC Female to arrive, yet even then have to think either will be restricted to said Aurender server, as the only other cord used is a Viborg MBU 1501 with the aluminum shelling and red copper connectors on both ends, which it used on either of my two primary integrated amplifiers as the mood strikes..., as a matter of fact this is the only place I've anything of copper within the entire system, as every other cable is either pure silver or silver plated copper.
As it relates to low mass connectors | I've often preferred over the course of the last 20 years, whenever I've an option to have certain brands or makes of RCA connectors installed on any of my pairs of IC's | I've always gone with the WBT NextGen types ( silver or copper based depending upon the type of wiring within the IC's? ) As I believe the thread works both ways..., there are times where the combination of silver wiring and copper or gold plated copper connectors maintains a certain beauty, whereas to much silver becomes just that..., on the other hand using silver plated copper connectors on pure silver adds a bit more top end detail | resolution | nimbleness and can be addictive as well, there doesn't appear to be any set rules of thumb that applies to the usage of one plating type over another, depending upon the actual quality of the plating in question?, as of late I've spotted some companies mentioning 3-4 layers of plating on their RCA | Banana Plugs | Spades, and doing the needed research, I now pursue the ones with lesser plating, as over doing it seems to add a certain something to the mix, that isn't as organic.
So for the other RCAs I've owned or look to own..., I love the Viborg carbon fiber connectors which are the set screw types | as well as the Furutech FT-111 types ( or something to that effect? ) which are screw down types as well, as once again my soldering skills leave much to be desired.
And finally onto a current obsession of mine banana plugs | I currently have all of 11 Octet of different brands | plating types laying around, as I've 6 different types of SCs in toll, of which I intend to re-terminate 4 of them over the course of the year, as my primary pair in place are the pure silver Clear Day Cables of which I've installed a set of the Gothic Audio Silver Plated Tellurium Copper plugs onto, which are in turn look as if they're based upon the ETI Research designs, yet I also hoard all of the different flavors from Viborg ( rhodium | silver | copper | gold ) | Aeco ( silver | rhodium here ) | Oyaide SGBN | SRBN ( gold | rhodium types over phosphorus bronze ) | finally all of the CMC BFA types ( Copper | Gold | Silver ) which are my favorite versions to date..., as they seem to have a very very natural | earthy | luscious type of presentation to them, which ideally suits slightly more neutral SCs, and adds a sense of textural beauty to the mix, yet in truth..., I've found myself using silver plated copper types more than any other plating type, as each of my components are once again, on the warmer side of the audio spectrum, to add any of the warmer types like to much copper or gold, to my ears seem to slow things down way to much, and lacks grip on the passages | as well as not offer enough mean on the bones or balls ( please excuse the last one, but there's no other way I can sugar coat said effect based upon what I hear ) at some point I too look forward to trying the BFA types with the carbon fiber housing, but have to say of the ones I've seen, the Furutech Clones look better made, yet even the Furutech Locking Banana clones rhodium plated brass ones, that I've, according to the wife, look better made than the original ones, and that's saying a great deal to me, as I've always felt I was the one with better taste in home decor | a proven anal retentive type | and cared more about how any given item sounds | looks upon entering our space.
Quack | Quack | the correct balance of Cranberry Sauce does in fact go a long way in restoring harmony within the home.
With even kinder regards gently thrown back at yah.
O_o scar
Edits: 01/15/23 01/15/23
Seems once again I slept on keeping the Odin 2 Silver PC when I had it | yet once again wishing to thank a few of you for bringing it back to my attention | as I don't see spending $60-$80 on one as a waste in the least.
As this is meant to be used on the SN3 integrated amp once again, which I was trying to stay focused on the fact their own $1.000 PC which is constructed of copper | I never felt earlier on I'd need to change the heavier 10AWG Viborg MBU1505 cord, being so taken with its silence between | around notes | added bass impact, where I came to believe no 18-12AWG could possibly replace it, but am more than willing to give it a go.
Yet as I recall a couple of members mentioned to replace the AC | IEC Plugs with either Viborg or Monosaudio red copper versions, as well as trying rhodium on the AC Male | un-plated red copper on the IEC Female ends, so the journey to continues...
Thanks again.
You couldn't resist yourself Oscar :)
I am reading interesting things at Head-Fi about grounding boxes and shielding tape. I have also one small tweak for Christmas.
Buy baby/kid safety power covers/caps for your all your outlet's in your house and for your power bar. I have put 27 caps around my house and it lowers the noise floor a little bit. Even my UST projector produced cleaner whites and motion seems smoother. My system sounds more forward and projects bigger (always a good thing). Bass goes deeper and sounds tighter. 25 euro's well spent.
Merry Christmas Oscar (and everyone else at Audio Asylum)!
Judith
Hello Judith,
Great observation | after seeing that you had actually replaced your once beloved Ramm power cords with the Odin 2, one merely needs to know how to read between the lines. As mentioned I had one back in September, but as it had my then Denafrips Ares ll DAC laying on its side the next morning, I sold it to a friend | have since tried to get a clearer concept upon if I really needed it?, especially taking into account the synergy between my now Denafrips Pontus ll and said Odin Gold PC.
Yet, I figured in the long run it shouldn't hurt to at the very least try it on said DAC or Naim SN3, just for the sake of knowing, as both are somewhat on the warmer side | could use a more sense of transparency as well as agility added to the mix, as properly balanced transient response in my mind is very very addictive | I can't fantom anything overly laidback or borderline boring.
I too have been following the thread on Head-Fi in regards to the grounding boxes, as I've always been taken with the boxes from both NordOst | Synergistic Research, but due to their cost, I ended up going with 3 of the iFi AC iPurifiers placed around the room with pure silver grounding wires | one with rca to banana plug | the other two with spade to banana plugs, and can't see living without them.
As for the RF Isolator AC Outlet Caps, about 2016, I ended up having collected 8 of them made by Isoclean, and lucked upon some coming out of China which were even cheaper, but having checked for them moments ago, didn't come upon them as currently being available | like you I believe it's the items most overlook like said tweaks, which do in fact if chosen wisely do make for a grave sonic different, if one simply understand it has always been about paying attention to the smallest of details | then being open-minded enough to say to oneself " why not? ".
Wisdom isn't a given | yet out the box thinking goes a very very long ways in allowing us to enjoy our well tweaked out | balanced system(s) as opposed to the endless search for perfection | when there are times we merely need to make an all out effort to enhance what's all ready in place..., careful listening to each piece of gear, will in fact tell us what's needed around it, provided we know what to listen for?, | what to listen too?.
In life, I'd far rather gain said knowledge | than never seek the truth for self | settle.
Happiest of Holidays to you | your loved ones | the rest of our family members here.
Peace | Love | Respect | Goodwill to us all in the seasons to come.
OMG. I see that you are years ahead! I thought, if 100 meters of house-wiring is exposed to the RFI/WIFI bubble we all live in, then closing the entry/exit points of your outlets must reduce some common mode noise.
I have allready used caps on spare RCA/XLR to great success and this tweak is in the same ballpark. Radiation can't couple (or couple less) onto the wires, or components. I think the noise on the grid is modulating itself through the power supplies, and imprinting itself on the music. And there are a lot of entry points in a modest house or a modest system, like mine.
Stripping the noise is always resulting in a bigger sound bubble, more details, warmer & tighter bass, more 'air/separation' around objects (because it was blurred with the noise from the grid). Creating a fatigue free system is about balance, room interaction and reducing noise (electrical and mechanical).
Do you have some nice tweaks for Christmas? I still have to buy extra shielded connector shells, noise absorbing tape, the Valhalla speaker cable clone. 2023 will be a good year.
I will have my family over for diner this weekend, so my kitchen skills will be tested. The duck is warned ;)
Judith
Hello | Hello.Just an effort to delete a dual post made earlier.
My bad.
Edits: 12/21/22 12/21/22 01/08/23
Judith,
I guess in hindsight, I've always been a Tweaker at heart, going back to my 9 years being stationed in Japan | having visited quite a few of the kindhearted natives whom were jazz lovers much like myself | so we seemingly drew to each other upon meeting at record stores during said period, and here locally in Michigan at least record stores have become something of the past.
When it comes to items like isolation footers | using different type of plating as you | Jon L have done as far as connectors on various cables, were things I've always felt the Asian culture on a whole were always further ahead than others, so much so, of late it came to me why they always had their electronics placed on the floor atop some form of wood | atop lowboy type racks about 11" high, it was to be that much closer to Gaia ( Mother Earth ) as in grounding properties before many started viewing said grounding options as essential to a clean | clear | quiet environment.
Yet as I had noticed several of the kids over on Head-Fi totally over doing it with the tape covering the entire length of their cables | cords, I'd think just removing the connectors themselves and wrapping the tape nearest the top of the wiring | about 1/2" where it exits the connectors, of which could then be shrink wrapped overlaying said tape, would look much much tidier.
Having just spent 4 hours studying the Naim Audio PowerLine PC, and having noticed it's AC Male plugs for usage in the USA are some form of Furutech Gold or Rhodium plating, and it's outer jacket consist of silicone rubber, of which I've made more than a few PCs in the past using this material, and have an ideal of its origins | so will be constructing one for said purpose.., as I've a set of the more upscale Monosaudio M | F 109(R) plugs already here, I'm going to simply try removing the rhodium plated copper IEC Female plugs from one of their cheaper models ( of which I've 3 sets laying around ) and place it into the IEC carbon fiber plug of said F109(R), and experiment as you've with the silver | rhodium plated copper AC Male left in place, as at latter date, I'll try un-plated copper on both ends.
And please consider setting aside a few legs of that duck for me...-, quack | quack indeed.
Hi,I haven't tested the pure silver Viborgs but they look very nice. My taste in music is rock/pop and my audiophile values are 1) Dynamics and PRAT 2) Imaging and details 3) Timbre & Warmth. The C-004 mates very well on all equipment and has a lot of oomph (which I like) Strong & tight bass and an organized/detailed sound is what I am after.
I have tried the Oyaide P-037-C-037 combo first and that was quite bass heavy, but not neutral enough. (the mids sounded recessed). Then the sonarquest rhodium and it was oke, but nothing special. The Iego that I have tried, after that, sounded better (it was a silver plated one) but was not dynamic enough. The attack of the sound was a bit lost, but the decay was better. I then bought the Viborg Silver/Rhodium and that was the sound that I was lookin for. (I was looking for the P-004 kind of sound but the real P-004 is expensive). My observations is that silver plating sound detailed and airy at the expensive of oomph. Rhodium has the best & tightest bass and sounds organized. Gold has warmth but sounds thick and unorganized. Pure copper sounds quite neutral but is missing some tightness in the bass and has not as much extension at the extremes (limited bandwidth?). I know this is pure descriptive and subjective, but these are my observations. And yes rhodium is relentless and not forgiving if you have some harshness in your system.
I have also bought the Odin power cords (the ones with 7 cores and silver foil shield). They bested my Ramm Amadeus 5 MK2 power cords, so off they went. I have cut 4 power cords of Odin/C-004/Viborg 511R. My next experiment will be carbon/alu connector shells for the last drop off noise reduction through shielding.
It's a hobby (don't tell anyone else about this nerdy cable fettish) ;)
Edits: 11/11/22
Thanks Tante.Juut,
As that exactly the type of insight I was looking for | and assures me that said tandem of rhodium ac male | pure copper iec female plugs are worth trying, as I've collected 3 different brands of each, and was primarily looking to place them on said Chinese Odin Gold power cord, it's even nicer to see you're using one as well, yet I've to assume you're using the standard Odin 2 Silver version?.
I've also ended up with a set of Monosaudio M109R | F109R's which have some extremely well built shells on them, as sold over on AliExpress, which I at some point will replace their inners with said combination of rhodium | copper power plugs. I'm all over it.
Thanks again for making this much clearer to me, as there are times where my slightly older 64 year old mind has difficulty deciphering things | but this method does make a great deal of sense.
As a matter of fact just looking into said Monosaudio M109R | F109R, it appears the shell is made from carbon fiber, I merely purchased it because of its build quality | hadn't paid attention to what the actual shell material was:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjF8PT5xab7AhV-jIkEHaF1AXYQFnoECBkQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.aliexpress.com%2Fitem%2F1005003785614952.html&usg=AOvVaw0syfcHN_8pCvFv4wLkemjc
So replacing the iec female plugs with one of the red copper ones from the same company, which I already have, means this should be an easier task that I first thought it'd be.
Thanks again | much appreciated.
It is always a pleasure to help other audiophiles with observations and see if there is some common ground in the descriptions of the tiny changes in sound we sometimes perceive.
Yes, I have the silver Odin powercord (not the gold version). I got the tip from Head-fi. I have seen you posting there also :) The monosaudio connectors look very good. Are they on the same level as the Viborgs? Maybe those Furutech shells mentioned on Head-Fi can help with reducing RFI. I also want to try FO-Q and Oyaide tape in my system. These guys over there are ubertweakers.
But I am a slow tweaker. One change at a time, and at least a few days between tweaks to see how it settles. I suspect my NUC and UST-Projector will benefit from shielded connectors. Not sure on the dac and power-amp.
My last tweak was fixating the IEC connectors with some teflon tape, so they fit tighter in there socket. The result was more punch and a tighter bass. Reduction off micro-phonics(?) I guess.
For what it is worth. Pure copper is maybe the way to go. The PRAT is the best with pure copper. Maybe the (mixed) platings also work on the time domain. But I like the punch and organized picture of rhodium. Maybe I should hardwire and skip all those connectors. Who knows. But tweaking is fun. Sometimes it is 1 step back and 2 steps forward.
I have noticed (and so did many others) that the Odin Gold power cords have no shielding. I can hear more background noise in my system when I use a Gold cord on my active crossover. It radiates through the nearby interconnects... that being said, the noise is faint and I can hear it because my speakers are averaging 105dB sensitivity. And every time I try a different power cord there, the faint noise goes away, but so does the marvelous musicality... :-(
I'm tempted to try some Oyaide tape or something similar.
I don't understand your words, no shielding, what does the gold foil do wrapped around the solid core conductors ? Is this not the shielding.
I meant to ask you, what's your take on the standard Odin 2 Silver power cord?, as I sold one because of its weight on my previous DAC, and selected the Odin Gold based upon a friends recommendation | but something in the back of my mind tells me I just might've slept on said version.
And am trying to get a feel for its overall signature?, and worth?. I'm more than willing to trust your opinion here, especially taking into account you own one, and have been willing to experiment with different favoring of power plugs on yours.
Please advise. Thanks.
O_o scar
The Silver Odin I bought was quitte heavy indeed. 17mm thick and the connectors were also quitte heavy. For the money an absolute steal.The Silver Odin was connected with 3 wires on hot (on one side), 3 on neutral (on 1 side) and the middle 1 on earth. No foil was used as a shield/drain on both ends (floating). I swapped the connectors (C-004 on IEC and Viborg 511R on Schuko) and changed the wire configuration to 3 pairs of Hot/Neutral and 1 earth. The magnetic field around the cable is more balanced this way. Lower stray fields for the other cables around the back of my system. I finished them with 2 layers of techflex (1st carbon, 2nd Flexo noise reduction) I can not compare to the gold version because I haven't used one. But compared to the Ramm Amadeus 5 MKII, The Odin sounded fatter and more open (especially on NUC and DAC/Pre-Amp).
I think the air dielectricum and the thicker individual solid core strands are the reason the Odin sounds better then the Ramm. Which was no slouch either. Warm and Open is a combo you don't find often. The funny thing is that my systems still sounds warm. I have no harshness in my system with the Odin and my 'hard plated' plugs. The harshness went away when I went optical on my DAC and used FMC's on ethernet. I can play as loud as I want all day and zero fatigue.
I hope you find the combo that works for you.
Edits: 11/13/22 11/13/22 11/13/22
Thanks once again for adding a more in-depth response to my request for information | as nothing is casted into stone, I'm more than willing to try the connectors both way around, as per your suggestion of copper male | rhodium female plugs.
Also it's nice to know you didn't find the Odin 2 Silver harsh or bright, as to date I've only had Elixir63 mention this was the only version to go for, as he felt the Gold inferior in some ways because he claimed the wires were to thick, and were difficult to exchange the plugs on, yet as the photo I'm dropping shows, it has the exact same wire count as the standard version..., yet it seems I'm destined to pursue said Odin 2 Silver cord after all, yet in truth spending upwards of $160 on the better version doesn't cost one an arm or leg, so I'm all over it.
I should mention I found one of the makers of pure copper or red copper power cord connectors ( I can't remember the site ) that he simply recommends customers place a layer of clear finger nail polish on their blades, in a lot of ways this method seems logical, no?.
And lastly..., are you saying you wrapped the cords outer jackets in techflex?, as I didn't thing about that one, but did manage to pick up several different shares of nylon cotton braided types from AliExpress, that certainly would fit the part.
Thanks again, be well | stay safe | enjoy life | the music that governs it.
Peace beyond to you | yours.
O_o scar
Edits: 11/13/22
I've had a month's worth of playing time on both an Odin Gold power cord and the Odin 2 Silver. Conclusion: I prefer the Silver. I've used the Odin Gold on my Conrad Johnson CA200 integrated that's plugged straight into the wall (an Oyaide R-1 outlet), on two source devices (Oppo 105D and PS Audio DirectStream DAC) and powering a PS Audio Juice Bar that has the source devices plugged into it. In all cases I prefer the Silver but the closest the Gold came to in terms of overall satisfaction was the DAC.I find the Odin 2 Silver to be a bit more dynamic and detailed. The Gold is a touch more warm sounding with slightly sweeter highs. Both cords throw a good lateral soundstage but both are a bit more shallow with a more recessed soundstage. The height of the soundstage is quite good. Images are well separated and defined with both cords.
At this point I've retired the Odin Gold from use and replaced it with an Acrolink 6N P4040 with Oyaide P-/C-046 plugs that's doing duty on the Juice Bar, The CA200 and the two source devices have the Odin 2 Silver cords in use.
Joe
Edits: 11/13/22
Good morning Joe,
I'm sorry to have missed your post on both of these, as I've never seriously been able to get any insightful input on how they both compared..., as I had concluded awhile back ( much as you've written ) the Odin Gold works beautifully with my DAC as well | yet in the back of my mind always remained that all important question of " what if? ", said Odin 2 Silver had its own sense of worth, in which I simply wrote off before actually haven't heard one?.
As my journey has as written elsewhere, has ended with my experimenting with mixing the plating materials on both ends via banana plugs of my SCs, and have found that by using silver plated copper on the amps side | gold plated ones on the speakers terminals has resulted in a very surprising way ( for the good, I should add ) | currently awaiting a set of both Oyaide SGBN ( silver underlined layer - gold plated ) and SRBN ( silver layer - rhodium plated ) ones to arrive, at which point further experimentation is in order.
But in all honesty, it seems I've to suck it up and at the very least buy the version referred to as the Odin Supreme Reference PC and be more open minded to the possibilities | to date I've only noticed one member trying to send his NearDost cabling loom back | while another suffered connectivity issues | with that in mind and seeing as how most haven't openly shared any complaints | I've to ride this out | as well as one last pair of pure silver IC's ( din-rca's as shown above ) to use between my Naim SN3 and a non-Naim source, namely ( pun intended ) my DAC.
Thanks for the reassurance that it's a worthwhile cause | I'm all over it.
Happier Holidays | New Year to you all. May peace beyond to you | yours.
O_o scar
Some time has passed and I've continued to try this and that. The interconnects, coax cables, and Ethernet cables that I use are all Odin 2 Silver at this point except for the Odin Gold which is on the Conrad Johnson integrated. I've found the Chinese Valhalla 2 speaker cables (haven't tried the ones I think are more like the Heimdall 2 with fewer strands per channel) are also in the current configuration I'm using. I have to say it sounds darn good and I have no real desire, at least at this point, to change things.
After experimentation this seems to work the best for me.
I have to thank you and the others on these threads for considering but more importantly trying cables I would have normally dismissed out of hand.
Thank you.
Joe
Tante.Juut,
Once again your words carry weight in my mind | much appreciation for taking the time to expand my knowledge on how said plating option can once again be used to voice one's system..., as I'm not one that believes in moving onto newer components just for the sake of it | I'd far rather challenge myself upon seeing how much can be extracted from a component which sits before me, as lateral or backwards mistakes aren't an option.
Said Monosaudio 109R types are amongst the best built connectors I've laid eyes or hands on, yet those aluminum bodied Viborg are extremely nice to behold as well. I was told by a reviewer buddy of mine " Eric Teh " that using either of the Oyaide P-004 | C-004 or Armored Copper types wouldn't ideally use the particular version of the Odin Gold I'm primarily using for said task, and recommended Rhodium connectors instead. Yet I'll be at the very least add a rhodium male with an unplated copper female | judge accordingly, and go from there..., as mentioned I've collected 3 sets of each type, and see this as possibly one of those final learning curves | at which point my intention is to stop reading or posting as much, and enjoy what's left of life on our shared planet, continuing to love my wife | spend more time absorbing in the music experience itself.
Thanks again, be well | stay safe.
O_o scar
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