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need warm and LAID BACK hi-rez/focused power cord

I posted several months ago seeking recommendations for hi-rez, highly focused power cords in the tradition of the TG Audio Silver but with greater warmth or body. I did acquire a pair of Fusion Audio Enchanters and a VD Nite Platinum from the responses to my inquiry. However, after changes in amps, cd player, interconnects, and new Porter Ports, I find myself in need of advice again on the same matter. My system presently is: A Consonance Droplet 5.0 run directly into a Wyred 4 Sound ST 500 driving a pair of custom Legacy Focus clones using Eton drivers/midbass, metal dome mids & tweeters/NHT woofers. Both components are plugged into a PS Audio P 600 equipped with Porter Ports.
I have an Enchanter plugged into both the power regenerator and the CDP and a Wolff Gain with Oyaide Palladium/Gold plugs on the amp. Interconnects (balanced) are either Sunny Cables 1000's or Jungson Golden Dragons.
Speaker cables are Anti-Cables which I run directly into the speakers/crossovers bypassing binding posts.

My system is very detailed with very good focus and staggering dynamics. With good recordings, all is well and I'm quite satisfied. However, on some (many) recordings, horns, piano, and some guitar can some across aggressively. It has been recommended I replace the Oyaide plugs. Perhaps I will. What I would like are some recommendations on hi-rez, highly focused power cords that are to the laid back and warm side. I really liked the VD Nite Platinum but, it was too upfront for my system. Price is a factor in that I would like to spend $600 or less on the used market. Thanks in advance.
lcherepkai

Showing 8 responses by sns

sns
3,644 posts
 
I agree with MrTennis, I don't know how you can get warm and laid back combined with hi resolution and focus. I've never heard the combo (at least to the highest degree) in any cable I've ever tried. Now, if you're willing to compromise on hi resolution and focus there are many cables that will help.
sns
3,644 posts
 
While I still think finding one cable that is both maximally focused and detailed and consequently maximally warm and laid back an impossibility (this would be the perfect cable!), I do think you can achieve this system wide. A cable may be able to help you here.

I now understand Lcherepkai is trying to acheive this sonic signature system wise. I would second Samhar, the PAD cables are both warm and detailed, not so focused, the Dominus being the best I've tried in the line, the Ferox version would likely be your best choice, the Museus and Venustas could also work.

And yes, I've found the Oyaide's to be forward sounding in my system. The Porter Ports are more laid back, more distant soundstaging.
sns
3,644 posts
 
The Dominus is relaxed for sure, laid back, I'm not sure what you mean by that term, I think of laid back and relaxed as the same thing. If you mean laid back soundstaging, I would say a neutral depth of soundstage.

I would pull the Oyaides for sure, they make a large soundstaging difference in my setup. The Porter Ports should diminish that forward sound you speak of. They won't really take the bite away, however, sounds like a tonality issue, IC's and speaker cables make more differnce here.

Almost forgot, the VH Audio AirSine power cords also provide the sound you're looking for, warm, relaxed and top flight resolution, these are my preferred cable at the moment. These are also quite a deal compared to the higher line PAD cables.

I'm not familiar with your IC's. The anti-cables you're using on your speakers are certainly relaxed. Have you tried these as IC's, could be just what you need.
sns
3,644 posts
 
Tvad has the ratings correct. Funny you should mention image sharpness and ambience. I recently replaced the MIT PPMFX capacitors in my Joule Electra preamp with Jantzen Z-Superior caps. While I am hearing improvements in all sonic parameters, image focus and ambience are absolutely astounding after this change!

Many cheap caps sound smeared and hard, quality caps reduce this by a much greater amount than cables, tubes and other tweaks IMO. If you are willing to change out the caps this may be your answer, this may also cost much less than all the cable changes.
sns
3,644 posts
 
I just checked out your amp, not familiar with it previously. It appears to use Wima and Muse electrolytic caps, those are good electrolytics, sill not up to good film caps. Wyred 4 Sound (Cullen circuits) does mods, check with them for possible upgrades in caps.

I also can't imagine that amp being responsible for the majority of your problem. ICE based amps are realatively warm, not biting. Could be your speakers, specifically those Eton metal dome tweeters.
sns
3,644 posts
 
The power conditioner feeds the most components, try there first.

I'm also not sure the Oyaide SWO GX is going to give you the more recessed soundstage you want. All the Oyaide's are more forward sounding than the Porter Ports in my system. You want laid back, natural, the Porter Ports are it. The Oyaide GX will be warmer tonally than the other Oyaides, this may be what you're looking for.
sns
3,644 posts
 
Bob is on to something. If you really want the best cap in those crossovers try the Duelund VSF copper foil caps, be prepared to be blown away by the naturalness! No other cap I've tried comes close to these, two sets in my Merlins which use a highly transparent/resolution tweeter, absolutely amazing!

For all those unaware, Duelund has just come out with a high voltage cap for electronics. I may eventually change out all my caps for these. Won't be cheap!
sns
3,644 posts
 
The only reasonable cost way your going to upgrade the crossovers is to either change out the capacitors yourself, or find a local tech to change them out. Speaker crossovers aren't dangerous from a voltage standpoint so you could change them out safely. If you're handy with a soldering gun (which I assumed having a DIY design speaker)do it yourself.

To keep costs down I would only change out the tweeter caps to start with (maybe the mids as well). Boutique caps cost, how much depends on values. I would expect caps alone would cost anywhere from $100 to maybe 1k, all depends on values, cap chosen and who does it. To do all my Merlin caps with Duelunds will end up costing somewhere around 2.5k, well worth the money in my estimation.
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