My experience differs from Timrhu's. After listening to a -lot- of CDP's last year the Alpha is what I chose, and it's been great. It is much, much improved from the original version in essentially every way. It really does benefit from power cords. I heard it back to back against a Resolution Opus 21. With stock cords on both, the Opus 21 was obviously better. When we put a Shunyata Python Vx on the AR, I actually liked the sound better than the Opus 21 with the stock cord.
That's obviously a bit meaningless in terms of an actual comparison, but it goes to show that power cords -can- make a huge difference, especially with this player.
That's obviously a bit meaningless in terms of an actual comparison, but it goes to show that power cords -can- make a huge difference, especially with this player.