The tranny is the only thing in the chassis. No other circuitry to protect from magnetic fields in these units, unless you think it is degrading the sound to the hard wired power cable on the unit.
Has anyone tried these stunning new CPT power cord?
Considering the many, many brands of power cords I've tried in my very well accomplished high-end system, I have never been so impacted by these Core Power Technology power cords. Within a very short period(15-20) minutes my system literally came alive. Soundstage opened wider and deeper. The background became dead silent, space between instruments and stage members were more focused and everything sounded cleaner and musical than ever. My highs had a glorious crispness and symbols shimmered. Midrange through my 2" horn became more dynamic and punchy. My 15" bass driver tightened and dug low with great control. My Rel G1 which is a fabulous sub on its own but with a CPT 150 on it is another story. Running high pass from my sub to my Audiozen Noah amplifier, music depth is just stunning. Lower end bass is authoritative and clean with solid grip and impact.
My experience with these power cords is truly magical. The scary part of the above is I only have one 150 on my sub and one 300 from my wall to my 6 outlet bar. I still need 3 more to complete my system. I could just imagine the level after that...In closing, I cannot emphasize enough to try one of these in your system. I CANNOT and WIIL NOT take these out as they are that good. But hold your jaw, cuz what you've been listening to will just become real after Core Power Technologies.
Cheers....and let the tapping begin.......
My experience with these power cords is truly magical. The scary part of the above is I only have one 150 on my sub and one 300 from my wall to my 6 outlet bar. I still need 3 more to complete my system. I could just imagine the level after that...In closing, I cannot emphasize enough to try one of these in your system. I CANNOT and WIIL NOT take these out as they are that good. But hold your jaw, cuz what you've been listening to will just become real after Core Power Technologies.
Cheers....and let the tapping begin.......
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This seems like the appropriate time to mention that cork works fairly well under transformers, not to mention loosening the screws or even GULP removing the screws OMG! that strongly couple the transformer to the chassis. Of course low frequency high permeability mu metal should be wrapped around the transformer as the induced magnetic fields are not really that good for the sound. If I say this often enough maybe it will permeate. 😛 |
Unfortunately it does seem as though transformers will buzz. That has been my experience. You may find that 80 or 90% of them don’t buzz, but some of us will always get the buzzers. i’m going to build a DC blocking circuit and place it inside my 300 to see if that quiets it down. My system is dead quiet before the 300. I can now hear a very slight buzz when I’m about 10 feet away and not listening to any music. It did it before my modification and my modification helped just a tiny bit. Wonder if someone can just purchase a transformer from the builder and replace it? |
Nice! I found the Furutech cord sounded great after just 4 hours of run in. However, unexpectedly things go south for about 3-4 days ( detailed and somewhat thin sounding) until all is wonderful. This has been my experience three separate burn in times. Great cords. VH Audio has the raw cable on sale right now. Has anyone found that their CPT units buzz mechanically? My 150 is silent, but the 300 buzzes away. I had to use softer footers and really clamp the tranny down, however it still buzzes slightly. I wish it did not really. My system is dead quiet except for the 300 buzz. |
grannyring, I just built a 2' Blue power cord (Furutech Nano-Ag-Au, 12 gauge with the imported Copper Rhodium Plated US AC Power Plug Carbon Fiber Connector Adapters) that is powering my Hemisphere. I'm hearing some nice improvements in tone and timbre. the power cord isn't long enough to use with my CPT 1800. |
I just received a used CPT 300 and put it on my music server/computer. Just outstanding is all I can say. Everything folks have already said. I then did the modifications I have already outlined but kept the power cable stock. I did not change the cable out for the Furutech Alpha Nano bulk like I did on the 150. - double layer of constrained layer damping throughout the inside and on the underside of the chassis. - removed metal tranny bolt and metal top plate and replaced with nylon. - removed all Wago connectors and soldered all connections instead. Here are the pics. More comments to follow. http://s1097.photobucket.com/user/grannyring1/library/CPT%20300%20mod?sort=3&page=1 |
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Just updating briefly…
I’m back at work today – at last. That’s the good part…
The bad is I managed to crack a rib on Saturday due to a failed air mattress – very painful… hurts to breathe
Our Logistics company failed us and now we are scrambling to find a home for the last 11 pallets that should have left yesterday. I’m loathe to name this company as they have done a real good job to date for us personally as well as Emerald Physics
In any event – that’s not stopping shipments which are moving again. We will be out of the building tomorrow – but we have already secured a nice 250 square foot space for us to build and ship until our new “warehouse/office” is ready to move in to.
I’m feeling just ok – the medical procedures both went well – but I will need time to heal.
Deep Core is coming shortly – Peter Madnick had to go to Toronto for ELAC/Alchemy and he will be home late Wed night. I plan to be in LA Friday through Sunday to launch…
Thank you all for your patience and kindness as always…
Mark PS - special letters to those that have waited so patiently through this time. I will of course keep my word about a very special Deep Core price due to the kindness and understanding we have been shown. |
Hang in there Mark. I know how debilitating and frustrating Parkinson's can be as my father had it. Thank you for making these wonderful products available to us at such a reasonable price. It has helped to give me a system that performs better than I ever thought I could afford. I have a spot reserved in my rack waiting for the Deep Core when it is ready. |
Thanks Mark, for the updates on yourself and Deep Core. We all expect the procedures to be successful, and that you will be healthy again soon. We know you will update us with more information as soon as you feel up to posting and talking. Until then we will wait for you to feel better, especially excited about the release of the much anticipated Deep Core which promises to be a game changer. |
Dear Friends... I have finished the first of two medical procedures that hopefully will improve the quality of my life... One more procedure tomorrow. I want to clearly state my appreciation to all of you - your patience and kindness sustains. Trying to be as brief as possible for now - but for those that waited so patiently I am especially thankful... you will see here very shortly. Deep Core will be ready next week once I am able to answer phones again so I can deal with the questions :) :) :) More to follow - Thanks all, Mark |
Thanks Lak. Initial listening to familiar tracks indicates nice gains in low level details, smoothness, stage depth, imaging, and improved texture. Just more musical and less electronic or recorded. After 4 hours the gains are very obvious and the cord still needs to settle in more. The improved separation of instruments and vocal performers is something that struck me on several occasions this evening. I am also hearing and experiencing the fullness of mid and deep bass that I hoped for. In my rig this little mod seems to be just the ticket. The bones of the unit are great, but these units can be improved nicely with a little effort. If the builder took the extra time and cost I did, then these would go up in price! Here are the parts.... - 3 feet of Furutech FP-S022N 14 AWG Power cable - $58 on sale at VH Audio - 4 feet of Tech Flex outer black mech for power cord - $4 - SoundCoat damping sheets from Parts Connextion or Sonic Craft $13 - nylon bolts, washers, nuts - $5 - cork from Hobby Lobby $4 - solder and heat shrink on hand - copper tape - $10 from Amazon - ERS tape 3 feet - $11.85 |
Ok here is a link to the pics. Need to start from the end, page two, and go backwards for the right order. For some reason the site loaded the finished pics first? The two wire soldered connections are obvious from the pics. You can see the old Wago connectors vs direct soldering. The shots that may confuse you are the shots of a nylon bolt clamping three separate O ring terminations. This is what I did to replace the six wires going into a large Wago block strip splicer. I have three O rings clamped tightly together using the nylon bolting system shown. I did not want to use a sound degrading metal bolt for this. Not even a thick copper bolt. Each O ring has two wires feeding it. These six wires originally went into the large Wago block splicer. http://s1097.photobucket.com/user/grannyring1/library/CPT%20Model%20150%20mod?sort=3&page=1 |
Ok finished the mod today. What I did is really not for a novice I think. Have it back in the system and will report back. I found a lot to do and we will see. I took lots of pictures and will post soon. - constrained layer damping throughout the entire case. I used two layers with copper tape sandwiched in between - nylon bolt, washers, nuts, and a round plastic top plate - 1/4 inch of cork under the tranny....the cork is over the layers of CLD described above - I replaced the power cord going from the 150 to the component. The female connector end. I used a wonderful Furutech cord. The cord I replaced is shielded as is the Furutech. The shield is connected at both ends of this female side of the balanced cord. That is it is hooked up inside the unit and the female IEC plug. - wrapped internal tranny cables with ERS cloth I did not like all the rather flimsy Wago terminal blocks/splices used to make all the connections. They are made by Wago. They are fine, but I much prefer direct wire to wire connections. I discarded all these Wago connectors and soldered all connections directly. They were used because they are so easy to use and make for quick assembly. They will not sound as good as direct wire to wire however! |
I think that is a good idea because I believe the power cord does influence the sound of these units quite a bit. I find the unit just a tad too lit up for me. That is why I am putting the Furutech cord on mine. The particular cord I am using has nice warmth while not losing any of the detail. This is all subjective of course as the unit unmodified sounds absolutely tremendous. I'm just looking for that last little bit of warmth and body. |
Actually there’s no reason at all for bolting the transformer down at all except for shipping. Bolts of any kind couple the transformer solidly to the chassis. So, ideally one would want to isolate the transformer as much as possible from everything and to isolate the printed circuit boards from everything, too. If one were worried about it he could simply loosen the bolts so the energy is not (rpt not) so tightly coupled to the chassis and loosen the screws holding down printed circuit boards or get rid of all or most of them. Since vibrations are carried to the printed circuit boards via the screws. |
I didn’t know that Ric was suggesting a nylon bolt? Best to remove any and all types of metal from the transformer mount. That is the complete reason I am using nylon. That will impact the sound for the positive! I will send you a link to the material I am using for damping. I purchased it from eBay as Surplus military goods. |
Yes, let us know. I will be modding mine next week with.... |
Yes, let us know. I will be modding mine next week with.... - cork under the tranformer - entire inside layered with constrained layer damping - wrap the entire tranny with copper and EMI, RFI blocking cloth tape - Stillpoints ERS tape around the cable inside the unit - nylon bolt and wooden top ring for tranny - Furutech power cable on the side plugging into the gear |
I've got an Equi=Core 300 on order, can't wait to hear what it does in my system. I’m going to run it from the wall to my Tara Labs Powerscreen strip. It will be powering my CEC TL5 belt drive CD Transport, Audio Note Kit 1.1 DAC, and Antique Sound Lab Tulip 2A3 SET amp (my pre is an ASL autoformer passive). Question for you DIY/modder types who have opened one up; is there room inside the 300 for a Bybee iQSE? I have one that is currently sitting on top of my Powerscreen, and I'm thinking of putting it in the 300. I also have a High Fidelity MC 0.5 in the wall duplex where the 300 will go. I'm loving what it does, and am hoping for some good synergy with the 300. |
