Cable Asylum: REVIEW: Element Cable ElementCord Cable by vickgeo@live.com

Model:	ElementCord
Category:	Cable
Suggested Retail Price:	$59/3ft.
Description:	Power Cord
Manufacturer URL:	Element Cable

Review by vickgeo@live.com on November 11, 2009 at 18:59:21
IP Address: 76.204.193.219 Add Your Review
for the ElementCord

Oddly, this remarkable cable has not been reviewed on AudioAsylum: It should be. Anthony Winn says it may be the best bargain in all of high-end audio. If he isn't right, he may be close. Here we have a power cable that sells for $59 for a 3ft. length and provides performance right up there with the very best. This is not an idle statement.
Every so often, I swap my cables around, partly out of curiosity, and partly because I can sometimes get a handle on their particular sound by doing so. All the power to my system, through a BPT conditioner, has been fed by the very highly regarded Oyaide Tunami. Recently, I switched it out with a Signal Cable MagicPower cord. As one might expect, given the difference in price, there was a noticeable drop off in allover sound quality, especially with regard to transients and extension. Before putting the Tunami back, I replaced the Signal with a ElementCord, one of two I used to use to power my monoblocks. I can only say I was very surprised at the result. Suddenly, the system not only sounded better than than it did with the Signal, but it was better than it was with the Tunami: more extension top and bottom, cleaner with better low-level detail, smoother, better slam, etc..
I am not sufficiently knowledgeable to really explain how it is the ElementCord decisively outperformed the Oyaide Tunami, but here is a (only) partial guess. My Mark&Daniel speakers, at 82.5db efficiency and impedance that can drop as low as 2.8ohms, biamped with two PS Audio class D amps, eat current for breakfast. They are hungry, and the Element is able to feed them, beautifully and with commendable quality. It is clear that price is not a reliable predictor of results.

Product Weakness:	None observed, especially considering the price.
Product Strengths:	As per my review, price and performance.

Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: 2 PS Audio Trio A100 biamped
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Stereo Knight Silverstone B&R
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Cambridge 840C CDP, Adcom FM Tuner
Speakers: Mark & Daniels Diamond+
Cables/Interconnects: MAC, Element, Signal
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Classical, jazz, a little 60's rock
Room Size (LxWxH): 15 x 12 x 8
Room Comments/Treatments: various
Time Period/Length of Audition: 2 years
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): BPT conditioner, 2 Quantum Symphonies
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner

Amplifier:	2 PS Audio Trio A100 biamped
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Stereo Knight Silverstone B&R
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Cambridge 840C CDP, Adcom FM Tuner
Speakers:	Mark & Daniels Diamond+
Cables/Interconnects:	MAC, Element, Signal
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Classical, jazz, a little 60's rock
Room Size (LxWxH):	15 x 12 x 8
Room Comments/Treatments:	various
Time Period/Length of Audition:	2 years
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	BPT conditioner, 2 Quantum Symphonies
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner