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VH Audio Airsine or Flavor 4 - advise needed

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denon0123@netzero.com

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After many hours of research I nailed my choice of the AC cables to VH Audio Flavor 4 and Airsine. I have all solid-state system - cd payer pre-amp and amplifier (all plinius). The system runs on two 20 amp dedicated lines - one for the amp and another for cd and pre-amp. On cd and pre-amp I am using wonderful TG audio SLVRs. Now the difficult decision is to choose between VH audio Flavor 4 and Airsine for the amplifier. How much better is Airsine in compare with Flavor 4? Is it worth double the price of Flavor4? May be I will be fine with the Flavor 4? What connectors should I choose: wattgate or furutech, gold or rhodium? Any advice is highly appreciated.
PS. I forgot to mention that I run all my gear thru the shunyata guardians so I will need two cables before guardian and after.

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No offense, but how did you manage to "nail it down" to these two without listening? - carcass93 08:41:43 03/21/07 (0)
Are you going by the frequency their names pop up in messages here at AudioAsylum? That wouldn't be wise - it doesn't have anything to do with YOUR system, your music and your hearing.
My experience with Flavor 1 and Flavor 4 - I ordered them, burned them in as long as I could to stay within 60-day money back period, compared to several other power cords on 5 components I have (transport, DAC, pre, amp, line conditioner), and promptly returned both.
Does it mean they won't be satisfying for someone else? Of course not. But there's no way to know unless you listen in your system.
No luck with VH - Soundripples 10:08:18 03/20/07 (7)
I would look else where and for cheaper solutions.
I have had no luck with flavor 2, 3, or 4 cables. They do change the sound, alot, but not for the better.
- Have used the VH in many configurations - Soundripples 12:46:39 03/21/07 (0)
  I have used the VH cables in many configurations. I have used them with out connectors and with several types of connectors.
  I get dramatic results with them. Sometimes no highs other times no lows.
  I do not get this sort of crazy behavor with other cables.
  So I guess you might get lucky and they would work with your system.
  I am currently using some 12 awg silver coated copper stranded teflon coated wire. They work great on all of my componets.
- Re: No luck with VH - sherod 07:17:32 03/21/07 (2)
  Did you allow for at least 150 hours of burn-in before evaluating the Vh cords?
  - Re: No luck with VH - ChrisVH 09:44:39 03/21/07 (1)
    After reviewing some of ripples' earlier posts on his experiences with the cables, it seems he liked them, then didn't like them, and his system has undergone alot of changes. It also appears they were DIY'ed and not finished cables, with some hard-wiring taking place. I cannot be certain the instructions were followed to the letter, and have no control over the possible variables of a DIY project (soldering, using the exact rubber hose I use, terminating the connectors to the hose (not the wire), proper strain relief (if hard wiring)... I don't doubt his evaluations are/were sincere, and no cable is for everybody , but I think the full context of his experience should be disclosed, given the voracity of his recent negative post(s)...
    - Link to prior posts on VH cable experience (Open in New Window)
    - Re: No luck with VH - sherod 18:35:35 03/21/07 (0)
      Interesting that he still has the VH cords listed in his main system.
- Re: No luck with VH - mattcecil1@yahoo.com 11:45:20 03/20/07 (2)
  look elswhere in your system maybe too, if CV's stuff ain't musical i don't what is.
  YMMV of course, not ripping on you.
  - No problem in my system either - bartc 08:23:08 03/21/07 (0)
    I've used both Chris' designs and his actual materials to great satisfaction in my system. YMMV
  - No problem with my system - Soundripples 07:09:06 03/21/07 (0)
    My system sounds GREAT!
Re: VH Audio Airsine or Flavor 4 - advise needed - Duster 11:40:14 03/19/07 (2)
My SS main system includes two AirSine's and a DIY Flavor 4. While the Flavor 4 is a great power cord, I believe the AirSine to in the league of classic giants like your TG Audio SLVR's. I suggest you go with an AirSine for your power amplifier, and also give it a try on your preamplifier and CDP since you might find better component/system synergy when the SLVR and AirSine cables are swapped between components (besides being a very interesting thing to do).
Both of my AirSine's are terminated with gold Wattgate 330i/350i AC connectors, of which I'm very pleased. Through experimentation, I've found that my SS main system does not require the sonic signature of rhodium AC connectors (however, I do use rhodium Furutech and rhodium Oyaide AC connectors within my two SS second systems). As Todd B. mentioned (and as I recall), Chris prefers the rhodium Furutech in general for the AirSine, especially for tube gear, but for SS gear that needs a bit more warmth, the gold Oyaide, gold Wattgate, or gold Furutech connectors are of benefit.
As I also recall, Chris prefers gold Furutech AC connectors for the Flavor 4 and mentioned that rhodium AC connectors don't synergize particularly well with the Flavor 4. My DIY Flavor 4 is terminated with a Furutech FI-11M(Cu) AC plug and Furutech FI-11(Ag) IEC connector. That connector combo offers its usual (IME) non-component/system dependant fine performance level, but could be bettered by gold Furutech, gold Oyaide, or gold Wattgate connectors if Chris recommends them for use in your particular system if you decide to go with a Flavor 4 rather than the AirSine.
I suggest that you trust Chris for his recommendation(s), since he tends to have keen insights when asked about his various cable configurations per synergy with particular components/systems and a listener's particular wants/needs.
Another related matter is synergy with an AC outlet (and IEC inlet for that matter), which is just as important to address as selecting power cord connectors...
- Re: VH Audio Airsine or Flavor 4 - advise needed - denon0123@netzero.com 12:19:23 03/19/07 (1)
  Duster, thank a lot for your help. I know that you have a good knowledge of the VH audio cables. But have you heard anything about Black Sand silver reference cables? I heard they as good as the VH Airsines.
  - Re: VH Audio Airsine or Flavor 4 - advise needed - Duster 14:09:03 03/19/07 (0)
    I've noticed a number of positive posts about Black Sand products, but don't have any direct experience of the cables.
Why not just stick with the SLVR cords? - Mike B. 10:52:35 03/19/07 (5)
Frank has taken Bob's designs and added his knowledge to them.
- Re: Why not just stick with the SLVR cords? - denon0123@netzero.com 12:24:33 03/19/07 (4)
  Mike, yes I am going to keep my tg audio SLVR, as the matter of fact, Frank will upgrade them with furutech rhodium IECs. But they are on my front end - cd player and pre-amp. For the amplifier I would like to buy AC cable that will handle better high current demand of my amp from the 20 amp dedicated line.
  - Pssst..... - Bob Rex 06:03:58 03/20/07 (3)
    Open up your amp and take a look at the wire running from the IEC to the power tranny. Then take a look at the wires that make up the power tranny. Using anything larger than those is a waste current wise. In fact, I bet I can say the same thing about the 20 amp circuit.
    - Nope, that's an oversimplification - Ted Smith 00:18:03 03/21/07 (2)
      Howdy
      It depends on how much heat you are willing to deal with, as well as whether the current is continuous or not, etc... (see http://www.powerstream.com/Wire_Size.htm for example and compare the differences between the "Maximum amps for chassis wiring" and "Maximum amps for power transmission" columns: for 12 gauge it's 41 amps vs. 9.3 amps.)
      As far as listening, well 10 gauge wires for my dedicated circuits allowed my system to sound much better than the 12 gauge they replaced... (Yes my amps have big wire :)
      -Ted
      - Re: Nope, that's an oversimplification - Bob Rex 07:45:02 03/21/07 (1)
        
        In Reply to: Nope, that's an oversimplification posted by Ted Smith on March 21, 2007 at 00:18:03:
        
        So how do you differentiate between a 6' power cord and the wiring of the power transformer to which the power cord is connected? Seems to me, that they'd both be on the "power transmision" side of the equation, no? Therefore the power / current requirements for both are the same. And that's assuming that there isn't a dinky power fuse in between.
        
        I'm not arguing that 10G wiring doesn't sound better than 12G, I'm just arguing that the reason isn't current capability.
        
        Still an oversimplification - Ted Smith 09:06:00 03/21/07 (0)
        
        In Reply to: Re: Nope, that's an oversimplification posted by Bob Rex on March 21, 2007 at 07:45:02:
        
        Howdy
        Nope, it's the length and hence the voltage drop over that length. This is true for a pure sine wave, but even more of a problem with varying loads where the instantaneous current exacerbate the differences.
        You don't typically have, say 6' of wire between the IEC inlet and the power transformer, this wire is in air and hence can cool easily and it's short so any voltage drop is correspondingly small. The wire on the power transformer is in an entirely different circumstance (i.e. it's a part of a transformer :) and calculating the safe current is more complicated.
        Just go to your local store and check out the power cords, as you get to longer and longer lengths they use bigger and bigger gauges for the same current (or wattage) rating.
        -Ted
Re: VH Audio Airsine or Flavor 4 - advise needed - mattcecil1@yahoo.com 10:31:11 03/19/07 (0)
I thought i read on Chris' site that the Flav 4 should be used by folks w/dedicated lines and 20 amp outlets... not sure of a diff in sound as i've not heard these, but when i was thinking about Flavor 2 or Flavor 4, CV asked me if i had 20 amp lines.
Since i don't, i went with the Flavor 2.
Re: VH Audio Airsine or Flavor 4 - advise needed - akolegov@mtu-net.ru 02:03:26 03/19/07 (0)
I don't know how they work with SS amplifiers, but with my Cary SLI-80 integrated I prefer the Flavor Four, but preferred AirSine with my previous amp - SLI-50. I would say the Flavor Four is more basic, is much warmer and has solid focus, while the AirSine is more extended but can be unpredictable with some systems.
Re: VH Audio Airsine or Flavor 4 - advise needed - Jon L 18:16:43 03/18/07 (0)
AirSine and Flavor 4 do not sound similar at all and do not share a "house" sound. Flavor 4 is great stuff, but if you can afford it, might as well just get the Airsines.
I emailed Chris once about his preference for connectors on his PCs - Todd B. 17:50:07 03/18/07 (0)
He said he liked the Furutech Golds better than Oyaide on the Flavor cables, and Furutech Rhodium with Oyaide Gold/Gold on the Airsine.

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