By the way, the Acrolink 8N-PC8100 Performante costs more than the DAC that's connected to it. It may sound crazy but that's the way it is.
Acrolink Cables, anyone heard them?
I have an Esoteric SACD player and presently I am using an Acrolink power cord with it. I am interested in getting one of Acrolinks lower end interconnects with RCA plugs to go from the Esoteric player to the preamp.
Has anyone heard them and if so, can you describe the sound? Interested in Acrolink only, no other brands.
Thanks
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I have compared the Acrolink 8N-PC8100 Perfomante to Wireworld Silver Electra 7 on my Luxman DA-06 DAC. The Acrolink sounds bolder and more dynamic, the WW flatter with reduced macro dynamics. I have Acrolink 7N-PC9700 on my amp. I’ll be comparing both power cords on the Chord QBD76 DAC sometime. The WW Silver Electra 7 sounded better on the Chord than the Luxman DAC. The top Acrolink power cords are very good if you are looking for a bold, full and dynamic sound with intruments and everything fleshed out more. Better bass too. I don’t have experience with other Acrolink power cords other than 9700 and 8100.
Picture above shows the 8N-PC8100 and WW Silver Electra 7. |
Acrolink Stressfree 6N,7N,8N, are using an Ultrapure Wire produced by Mitsubishi referred to as D.U,C,C. This wire is the competitor to wire supplied by a rival Company Furukawa. Furukawa stopped production of the Licensed Wire OCC and replaced it with their own unique forged wire production which is a Wire PC Triple C. I have been using Cables with wires D.U.C.C, PC Triple C and have but am yet to use PC Triple C/EX. I have these wires as Power Cables, Interconnects, Speaker Cables, Cartridge Tag Wires. These will eventually become internal signal wire used on owned devices. Working out which wire might be the best will need a little thought and might need a EE in attendance to help with the final selection process. There is an individual I have introduced to PC Triple C and the impact it has had had been quite substantial. They have bought in their own Brands and have also now used it as I have, but with the additional use, being their Phonostage has it as internal wiring and their Tonearm now has it as Internal Wand Wiring. There passing on this information to another has gone viral on another forum and many are converts to the use of it, again it is seen to be used at all interfaces. There is only one Commercial offered Tonearm using PC Triple C as the Wands Internal Wiring. What is missed is that the Two Wire Types, D.U.C.C and Triple C when used in combination, work extremely well. The perception of PC Triple C, when introduced is that an additional clarity is present, it is offering a reveal further into the recording. In use it is able to make the OCC wire be perceived as it has a smearing effect when A/B compared. The difference detected is similar to the level that OCC could show the unattractive elements of an OFC Cable as a comparison to OCC. D.U.C.C, in comparison to PC Triple C, has a similar perception of Clarity, but does have a Hue of Richness, which for me is an attraction. The hue of richness referred to has been pick up on a few systems I have loaned the Cables to. It is detectable during A/B comparison. I know in one system the PC Triple C DIN>RCA Phono Cable was preferred over the OCC one in use. In another System the D.U.C.C was preferred in use between Phonostage and Pre-Amp' with a Silver Wire Cable used on the Tonearm DIN>RCA and between SUT > Phon'. I can’t explain how a combination of Cables in use will benefit another system, but in my set up, the D.U.C.C is used between CDT>DAC and SUT > Phonostage. The Cart' Tag Wires are PC Triple C, the SUT windings are Copper. The DAC and Phonostage both have PC Triple C Power Cables. There is no reason why Acrolink with the D.U.C.C Wire in use will not thoroughly impress, but the real edge for a system might be found if the two above wires are used in combination. If an individual really wants to experience an uplift in performance and one that is not imagined possible on a Single Ended Cable, use Low Eddy RCA connectors on both Cable and Chassis. I have heard PC Triple C used with this methodology; it is the method I am to adopt. This is a notable experience, indelible for all the right reasons and if the effect on my system, is as heard on the system it was demonstrated on, it will be a game changer. |
I don’t know what model I heard, but it was not low-cost. I heard a shootout between Audio Note Lexus and a model of Acrolink that was comparably priced. Both cables were very good—smooth, rich and harmonically saturated—but, I felt that the Acrolink was a touch more open and extended on top. I liked this interconnect a lot. |
@jafant ,
I love the Acrolink cables, they really compliment the Esoteric player. The internal wiring on the Esoteric player is all Acrolink, so I thought, why not? I first bought a Acrolink 4030 power cord used, from an Audio store in Connecticut. Then I bought a Acrolink digital cable off of flea bay, and finally a pair of Esoteric interconnects which were labeled Acrolink from a Canadian dealer. All cables were bought used at about 50% off. I could never afford them at full retail! |
Thanks for the response twoleftears. Similarly the latest 8N-2080 Performante (Mk3) costs a bomb is out of my budget. As a matter of fact it’s too good for my modest system. The 8N-2080III Evo which I presume is the mk2 already sounds very good in my system. The cable managed to bring a degree of sophistication to the system as music sounds a lot more real, vivid and lifelike. It has truly transformed the system and brought it to a higher level of performance. I have never imagined owning a cable that costs this much but it’s worth it in the end, no regrets. The cable is necessary to bring out the best in the Luxman L-590AXII which I recently acquired. Since the Luxman is supposed to be my end-game amplifier, I went all out by over-spending on this used Acrolink 8N-A2080III Evo. I'm now done for good. |
Correction to the above post. It’s the 8N-A2080III Evo. This cable truly changes everything. Very smooth, detailed and nuanced. It brought a massive difference to the system. I was previously using a single-ended cable which is priced a lot lower though. I wonder how the higher range or newer interconnects such as 8N-A8020 Performante would compare though. Are the Acrolink speaker cables and power cords worth exploring as well? The interconnects are quality stuff. I already own rather good speaker cables though. |
I should say that since this thread has been revived I tried an Acrolink digital cable a 6N-D5050 a couple years ago. I trashed my regular digital IC in an accident and the Acrolink subbed in nicely. Extremely detailed and transparent though it lacked the more organic feel of my, much more expensive, reference from Jorma cables. |
@ryder, i have 3 of the Acrolink Cables connected to my Esoteric SACD Player. I am using the PC4030 Power cord which replaced a comparably priced Shunyata cord. The model of my digital cable Is 6ND 5050 II, it retailed for 1200.00. The interconnect cables are 6ND5500 and also retailed for 1200.00. I use the older Model cable which is a six nines cable as it starts with 6N. As I said, these all replaced comparatively priced Shunyata cables. The bottom line is I love these cables. They are a perfect match to my Esoteric player. I love them so much that I plan on buying another pair of the Acrolink 6ND5500 interconnects to go with my Sony HAPZ1ES music server. I bought all my cables here. The power cord was bought used from Perotta consulting, The digital cable and the interconnect were purchased from two well known establishments on here. Beware of the ones sold on eBay, more than 90% of them are fakes. I was patient and over 2 years time, got the cables I wanted here for about half of retail. |
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While a bit of an oversimplification, Acrolink's main strength is in the high frequencies, where they have a very extended, yet silky and refined presentation. As you go up the range, you get increased refinement, detail, dynamics and bass weight. For your application, the minimum model I would consider is the A2070. |
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Since my original post in December 2017, I have upgraded all 3 cables on my Esoteric SACD player with Acrolink Cables, Both the digital cable and the analog cables were in the 1200.00 range. I bought them used for each less than half of the price as new. I also have an Acrolink 4030 power cord for the Esoteric player. It has Acrolink branded ends on the cord. I am very satisfied and those cable changes brought up my CD playback up another couple of notches. It was definitely worth the money. I should also note that The Cable Company never got back to me on prices so I gave up with them. I bought the used power cord from a Esoteric dealer in Connecticut. I purchased the analog cables here and the digital cable on eBay |
I have Acrolink/Esoteric power cables: (DIY:) 7N 4030's with Oyaide plugs, these took a while to burn in but very satisfying once they did Acrolink 7N PC-6500, Acrolink/Esoteric 8N PC-8100 ( also PAD Dominus original and Rev. B ) Interconnects: Acrolink 8N-A2080III Evo XLR's, 8N-2080 ( earlier ) RCA's and Acrotec 8N 2080 ( ancient ) RCA's and XLR's; same company, different name The gear: Solid state ( DC ) Preamp and Phono stage; a Tube power amp The biggest single change was adding the PC-8100 power cable to the power Amp; speed + detail increased without becoming "dark" sounding, if I was going to make one upgrade only, this would be it The 8N interconnects are take-no -prisoners, ice-in-their-veins detailed; there is no "warmth" of any kind but no coloration either; the later renditions have better connectors than the early ones I suspect the 8N interconnects are the icing on the cake for the pinnacle of high end systems, whereas the 8N power cable will extract the very best from a power Amp is any system ( except one with a switching power supply, perhaps ) The Acrolink 7N 2090 interconnects have a touch of warmth and I suspect using these from source-Preamp, in my system at least, might be an attractive compromise |
@stereo5 - I've built a couple of power cords (using both the 7N P2030 and the 7N P2040III -with Oyaide connectors - and enjoy both. To make sure you are getting them from Japan (vs. Chinese copy), you can go to the www.fromjapan.com.jp and do a search for Acrolink 7N. They have most all of the levels of Acrolink products. Pretty good pricing as well. I think ebay usually lists where the products come from too (ie. Japan vs. Hong Kong). In response to your direct question, I don't have any experience with the Acrolink interconnects, but I'm sure they compete well at their price points as a result of their extreme purity and extrusion process. |
