I guess it's time for me to chime in here with my experiences with the Verastarr Grand Illusion power cord. I bought two of 'em a couple of months ago, and I feel that they have finally settled in. First of all, let me thank Objex for a great review.
Secondly, let me state my musical preferences. I prefer analog to digital, though I do listen to digital. I prefer my sound on the warm side of neutral, not slow, syrupy warm, but I cannot stand a hint of harshness, thinness or any other negative adjectives one can apply to very 'neutral' gear/cables. Finally, I like a soundstage to have good depth, with little sacrifice to width and height (this is not as easy as one would think). One more thing, in my experiences, power cords have more affect on sonics than interconnects or speaker cables. My ranking is: p/c first, i/c second and finally s/c.
Now with that out of the way, on to the Verastarr Grand Illusion power cord. I actually burned the two cords in on my refrigerator and floor freezer for two weeks before first listen. First listen was very impressive, to say the least. The sound was rich, full, yet still articulate. Extension was very good in both directions, though this was not a strength or weakness (read on and you'll see some Heavy Hitters). To me, what really stood out with this Verastarr cord was the midrange, which was stunningly natural and musical (yet still articulate enough) AND the soundstaging was fabulous. Very nice depth, like I enjoy, you know, the kind of depth where the back wall just dissappears. The width and height did shrink a tad when compared to the likes of Virtual Dynamic's or DCCA cords (both of which are too forward for me), but not nearly as much as with other cords I've heard (and I've heard a lot as I will try to list later). The soundstage is about the best that I have heard all things considered (including my tastes), Right up there with the PAD 20th Anniversary and Stealth Dream.
A few weeks after my initial impressions, I would say the sound did not change all that drastically. Maybe a tad more liquidity and slightly tighter bass, but no night and day transformation. Who knows? Maybe the two week burn in really helped.
Finally, I will say that I really only tried these cords due to the economy, and I have downsized my rig quite a bit. However, I have been really impressed with them, and sometimes wonder if sometimes one really needs to spend a whole lot more to gain more. So this now begs the question of if these Verastarr Grand Illusions are the best power cord I have ever heard. I would say no......maybe. They are up there amongst the very elite. I think, from memory, that I preffered the Stealth Dream overall in my system, slightly more articulation and speed at the frequency extremes. However, the Grand Illusion has a sweeter midrange, so on some recordings it actually sounds better than the Dream. I would say the cord that it sounds most similar to me is the PAD 20th Anniversary, though the Verastarr cost quite a bit less.
Bottom line: This is a great cord. For the $$$ it cannot be beat IMHO. I'm currently using one cord on my VAC Avatar Super integrated amp, and the other on my pcX Ultra Tube modified Marantz SA-11S1 cd player.
This is my system now:
Analog:
Basis 2500 Diamond Signature turntable w/ Vector 3 tonearm.
ZYX UNIverse S-SB cartridge.
Walker Signature phono preamp.
Walker Motor Controller.
Digital: pcX Ultra Tube modified Marantz SA-11S1.
Amplification: VAC Avatar Super with Telefunken signal and Genelex power tubes.
Speakers: Verity Audio Parsifal Encore's (circa 2004), modified with Audio Point 1.5 spikes, Symposium Svelte shelf platform, Walker Reference HDL's and Audioquest Kilimanjaro jumpers.
Cables: Jade Vermeil w/ Gold Bybee's interconnects, Mapleshade's Clearview Double Helix plus speaker cables.
Power Conditioning: (2) 20A dedicated lines. Running Springs Audio Danielle conditioner with Elrod EPS-3S power cord.
Room: 24.5 X 14.5 X 8.5
Other power cords I've owned:
Ridge Street Poiema!!! Signature, Elrod EPS-3S, DCCA Reference Master and Extreme Reference, Tel Wire, Stealth Dream (all of 'em), PAD Dominus Fluid, Ferrox and 20th Anniversary. Electraglide Ultra Khan II and Epiphany X, Kubala-Sosna Emotion, Dream State Lucid Dream, Nordost Valhalla and Brahma, Tara Labs The One, Cardas Golden Reference, RSA Mongoose. I know there are many more that I have missed, but this is all I can recall at this time.
Finally, I have no connection to Mike Powell (a great guy) or Verastarr prior to this experience. If your tastes are like mine though, you really should try this cord....it could save you a few bucks while surprising the heck out of you with performance.
Cheers,
John
Secondly, let me state my musical preferences. I prefer analog to digital, though I do listen to digital. I prefer my sound on the warm side of neutral, not slow, syrupy warm, but I cannot stand a hint of harshness, thinness or any other negative adjectives one can apply to very 'neutral' gear/cables. Finally, I like a soundstage to have good depth, with little sacrifice to width and height (this is not as easy as one would think). One more thing, in my experiences, power cords have more affect on sonics than interconnects or speaker cables. My ranking is: p/c first, i/c second and finally s/c.
Now with that out of the way, on to the Verastarr Grand Illusion power cord. I actually burned the two cords in on my refrigerator and floor freezer for two weeks before first listen. First listen was very impressive, to say the least. The sound was rich, full, yet still articulate. Extension was very good in both directions, though this was not a strength or weakness (read on and you'll see some Heavy Hitters). To me, what really stood out with this Verastarr cord was the midrange, which was stunningly natural and musical (yet still articulate enough) AND the soundstaging was fabulous. Very nice depth, like I enjoy, you know, the kind of depth where the back wall just dissappears. The width and height did shrink a tad when compared to the likes of Virtual Dynamic's or DCCA cords (both of which are too forward for me), but not nearly as much as with other cords I've heard (and I've heard a lot as I will try to list later). The soundstage is about the best that I have heard all things considered (including my tastes), Right up there with the PAD 20th Anniversary and Stealth Dream.
A few weeks after my initial impressions, I would say the sound did not change all that drastically. Maybe a tad more liquidity and slightly tighter bass, but no night and day transformation. Who knows? Maybe the two week burn in really helped.
Finally, I will say that I really only tried these cords due to the economy, and I have downsized my rig quite a bit. However, I have been really impressed with them, and sometimes wonder if sometimes one really needs to spend a whole lot more to gain more. So this now begs the question of if these Verastarr Grand Illusions are the best power cord I have ever heard. I would say no......maybe. They are up there amongst the very elite. I think, from memory, that I preffered the Stealth Dream overall in my system, slightly more articulation and speed at the frequency extremes. However, the Grand Illusion has a sweeter midrange, so on some recordings it actually sounds better than the Dream. I would say the cord that it sounds most similar to me is the PAD 20th Anniversary, though the Verastarr cost quite a bit less.
Bottom line: This is a great cord. For the $$$ it cannot be beat IMHO. I'm currently using one cord on my VAC Avatar Super integrated amp, and the other on my pcX Ultra Tube modified Marantz SA-11S1 cd player.
This is my system now:
Analog:
Basis 2500 Diamond Signature turntable w/ Vector 3 tonearm.
ZYX UNIverse S-SB cartridge.
Walker Signature phono preamp.
Walker Motor Controller.
Digital: pcX Ultra Tube modified Marantz SA-11S1.
Amplification: VAC Avatar Super with Telefunken signal and Genelex power tubes.
Speakers: Verity Audio Parsifal Encore's (circa 2004), modified with Audio Point 1.5 spikes, Symposium Svelte shelf platform, Walker Reference HDL's and Audioquest Kilimanjaro jumpers.
Cables: Jade Vermeil w/ Gold Bybee's interconnects, Mapleshade's Clearview Double Helix plus speaker cables.
Power Conditioning: (2) 20A dedicated lines. Running Springs Audio Danielle conditioner with Elrod EPS-3S power cord.
Room: 24.5 X 14.5 X 8.5
Other power cords I've owned:
Ridge Street Poiema!!! Signature, Elrod EPS-3S, DCCA Reference Master and Extreme Reference, Tel Wire, Stealth Dream (all of 'em), PAD Dominus Fluid, Ferrox and 20th Anniversary. Electraglide Ultra Khan II and Epiphany X, Kubala-Sosna Emotion, Dream State Lucid Dream, Nordost Valhalla and Brahma, Tara Labs The One, Cardas Golden Reference, RSA Mongoose. I know there are many more that I have missed, but this is all I can recall at this time.
Finally, I have no connection to Mike Powell (a great guy) or Verastarr prior to this experience. If your tastes are like mine though, you really should try this cord....it could save you a few bucks while surprising the heck out of you with performance.
Cheers,
John