^^^
5ft ... level 3 ... 3k.
Not feeling so well today. Been down with that chest thingie that's been going around.
I did have a listening session early this morning. I really didn't feel like an extended listening session though, so I decided to pull out some classic audiophile recordings that I knew to have excellent presence.
I'm not a big fan of most audiophile recordings as most don't sound natural to me ... plus the music is usually so-so. Its just my opinion, but I prefer a more master tape sound instead of the added reverb that infects a lot of the audiophile recordings. With that said, here's two CDs that I played:
1. "New York Reunion" with McCoy Tyner, Joe Henderson, Ron Carter and Al Foster. CheskyJD51.
I have to say, Joe Henderson's big tenor sax was so present in the room it was uncanny. I have never gotten that kind of mid-range saxophone realism from my system ... ever. Not even when I had the big Acoustat IV's. It was shocking.
2,. Mari Nakamoto III (vocal), Isao Suzuki (bass), Kuzumi Watanabe (guitar). Three Blind Mice TBM CD 2556.
Again, simply stunning. So real that it drew my roommate into the room with the comment that ... "you know, from my bedroom, I could swear someone was in the listening room singing live. Frank, this is amazing!" Now, this guy isn't an audiophile. He knows nothing about the hobby. He's been with me for only a few months now and this is the first high-end system he's been exposed to. He was amazed by what he heard this morning. Me too.
If this is any indication of what these SR PCs will be doing when broken in, then I am in for a very long ride with these cords. Zowie!
Now then, to bed early tonight.
Take care guyz ... |
Jafant ...
Taters asked the same question in the SR Fuse thread. Here's a cut & paste:
To answer your previous questions ...
Yes, I have aftermarket wall sockets, custom power cords built by Dave Magnan, a power conditioner that's been upgraded with high-end sockets. There are filters in the power conditioner built by Dave Magnan. I'm using Nexus ICs between the phono and the preamp.
There are Shatki Holograms (two pair) ... one pair in the front corners and one pair in the back corners of the room (huge improvement).
I bi wire my speakers. The two 12 foot pairs of speaker wire was built by a company in Oregon called Music Advancement Company, or more commonly known as MAC. The stock speaker terminals have been replaced with Cardas Copper terminals. The bi wire location at the amp uses Cardas copper banana plug adapters (another nice improvement). The speakers sit on thick Mapleshade maple platforms that are spiked to the floor with those beautiful German solid brass spikes that were so popular in the hobby 20 years ago. Finally, the speakers are spiked to the platforms.
I also have two heavy 12"x12" marble platforms sitting on top of each speaker. They fit the tops of the speakers perfectly. I've found that on some floorstanding speakers, adding weight to the top of the speakers is like adding mass to the speakers and removes some grain (more removal of vibrations). The platforms that sit on top of the speakers are made up from two heavy slabs of marble with that same dampening material that's used so successfully elsewhere in the system. The dampening material is cemented between the layers of marble.
The Well Tempered Turntable has been modified as well. The arm has been rewired with Cardas copper wire. There's a custom TT belt that I purchased from originlive.com (highly recommended). I have heavy solid brass tweeks on the turntable that dampens the table by clamping the fluid-well and the paddle within it, the tonearm itself has a layer of shrink-wrap material for more dampening, and even a heavy brass bolt and screw that attaches the arm to the plinth. The brass items for the turntable had to be custom machined. These brass items made a significant improvement in the turntable ... especially the clamp around the fluid-well. The turntable and detached motor sit on ultra hard titanium ball bearings that sit in the middle of a hole cut out of thick dampening material. The stock feet have been removed to facilitate the ball bearings.
I have a custom equipment rack that has constrained layers of dampening material between the layers of wood used to construct it. My equipment all rests on custom made, very heavy, fine grade granite platforms that have the same dampening material between their layers that the equipment rack has.
I've spent an inordinate amount of time, effort and $$$ to reduce micro vibrations in the system as much as possible. As you may, or may not know, ARC has paid a lot of attention over the past number of years on dampening their boards and chassis ... and even their vacuum tubes with the black tube rings that come with their equipment. Believe it or not, the positioning of those tube rings on the tubes is critical to attain the best sound from your ARC gear.
I've found that the newer ARC gear sounds best (at least in my system) sitting on their stock feet. Everytime I try aftermarket footers under the equipment, it detracts from the sound.
Oh, and I run my CD player, preamp and amp in balanced mode, using ARC IC's. These are excellent IC's, but unfortunately, ARC no longer sells them.
When you come right down to it, the only thing we want vibrating is that stylus between the grooves. All other vibrations smear the sound to some degree ... even if those vibrations are on a micro level.
With the reduction in micro vibrations, and everything else listed above, the system was already a high resolution system. With the addition of the three SR RED fuses, the system definitely has been brought to a whole different level ... far beyond where I thought it would ever be. Next purchase will be two 1.5 amp SR RED fuses to be put into the ARC CD7-se CD player, and then I'm done with the fuses.
|
Before I give a recap of last night's listening session, I'd like to start by saying that as these SR PC's are breaking in, they have provided a new level of silence to the system. Its almost uncanny how quiet it is. I don't think they are even half way to full break in at this point, so if they are like the Black fuses, I can hardly wait to see the end results.
Here's the recordings played last night:
1. Chopin Etudes ---- John Rusnak pianist.
This is a thrift store find. As it turns out, its a private recording transferred direct from the DAT. No added reverb, just the natural sound of the room. The dynamics were incredible, the piano was in the room and the performance was superb. Very natural piano sound. Its always been my philosophy that if a system gets the piano correctly from a tonal standpoint, its pretty much going to get most everything else right. This is now one of my demo discs.
I decided to switch to vinyl. The PC feeding the phono stage is the least broken in because I've been listening to so many CDs.
2. Miles Davis/E.S.P.
This is the Impex Records reissue. I love the Impex reissues because they take pains to get the EQ right. All of them I own are really good transfers from the master tapes with no added artificial reverb. Most notable improvement was the wide sound stage. It was wall to wall and completely outside of the speakers. In fact, there were no speakers. Wayne Shorter's Tenor sax had this big voluptuous, beautiful mid range. The SR PCs have afforded such detail (in a very musical way) that I could discern in which direction Tony Williams' brushes were moving on the snare. When he brushed against the symbols, I could hear the last edge of the brass shimmer and marveled at the way is just decayed into silence. If you like Miles ... I highly recommend this album.
3. Julie London --- Julie is Her Name.
This is a 45rpm Boxstar reissue. This was originally released in 1955, so its mono. I had to laugh because I bought my first copy of the original when it was first released. I was in the 11th grade. I chuckled thinking ... did I buy it as a 17 year old kid because of the music... or because of the cover?
I've got to say, what these SR PCs are doing for the human voice in the system is simply amazing. I've never heard "Cry Me a River" sound so real. Julie baby was in my face and I was looking down her throat.
4. Belafonte Sings the Blues.
This is another Impex 45 rpm reissue. I'm not a big Belafonte fan, nor do I consider him to be a blues singer. But ... this was the very best sound of the evening. I have to say, the folks at Impex have their act together. If you want to amaze your friends, buy this reissue. Totally demo quality, good music and Belafonte makes a good stab at singing the blues. He's no Big Bill Broonzy, and he should have stuck with calypso ... but a stellar recording non the less.
So, here we are about 30 hours into the break in period with these SR PC's and at this point they are exceeding my expectations by far. The designers at Synergistic Research have really hit on something with this Graphene technology. Their literature makes the claim that they "perform way above the price tag." They do that. If anyone is considering PCs in the price range of these cords, or even many more times the cost, I'd highly recommend a trial on these. With a 30 day money back guarantee ... I don't see how one can lose.
More reports to come as they continue breaking in.
Stay tuned ... |
David ...
Robert and I have our room booked. Luckily, its only a 2 to 2.5 hour drive down the coast for us depending upon traffic. What say we figure a time to hook up. I'd love to meet you and put a face to the text. :-)
Anyone else???
By the way, the new venue at the Irvine Hotel was excellent last year. The staff couldn't have given better service or been nicer. The food in the hotel's restaurant is excellent too. Way better than the buffet. |
^^^ Mid40sguy & fafreeman ...
Keep in mind that I'm using the level 3 PCs. SR also offers level 1 and level 2 cords. Level 1's are $995. with a 30 day return policy. Still expensive, but in the scheme of things in the high-end, not outlandish compared with ICs, PCs and Speaker cables in excess of 10k.
I'm still in the break in process and about 30% there. I'm enjoying digging deep into the vinyl collection and pulling out records that I haven't listened to in years. Its so good now with the fuses and the PCs that I keep saying to myself ... "damn ... why haven't I been playing this?"
Last night was entirely a Chopin night. Etudes, sonatas and orchestral music. Just simply amazing. On well recorded piano music the piano has such authority and weight. What a glorious instrument.
Wish you guys could be here to share this with.
Take care ... |
^^^ Thanks for the heads up, David.
I've been awestruck by what these level 3 PC's are doing in my system. As they continue to break in, they continue to amaze even more with each listening session.
Last night I played a recording of the San Sylmar Wurlitzer Pipe Organ on the Klavier label. Cut 5 is Bach's Toccata and Fugue. I have NEVER heard bass from my system such as this. I had no idea my system was capable of going so low with such low distortion and authority. All the way down to the lower basement! These power cords are simply amazing. At this point, I think they are about half way through the break in period.
I think I'll take my next door neighbors some flowers.
Take care ...
|
Latest update on the SR Atmosphere level three power cords: I am awestruck! That's it ... just simply awestruck! |
The SR Atmosphere PCs have opened up not unlike the Black fuses did. A huge improvement in overall realism throughout the system from one listening session to the next. I've been listening to male and female vocalists over the past two nights. The total lack of grain in the system has the performers right there in front of me. I was listening to some Nancy Wilson recording from when she was in her prime. Its no wonder she was referred to as "The Fancy Miss Nancy."
According to SR's website, the new Red and Black PCs, at a much more affordable price, gets a lot of what I'm experiencing. Its just incredible. |
^^^ Audiolover ...
Thanks for coming over to this thread. I'm hoping with the introduction of the less expensive Red and Black PCs that we can get a thread similar to the fuse thread going here. These new cords use the same technology as the fuses, so you can expect the same performance from the cords as we have all gotten from the fuses ... perhaps even more.
I don't know if you've noticed but the fuse thread now has over 36,000 views. SR has posted the entire thread on their Facebook page, which means the thread has gone international. The SR folks must be selling thousands of fuses as a result ... and they deserve every one of those sales. These guys are, in my opinion, revolutionizing the audio hobby.
My system has been totally transformed via SR fuses and the level three Atmosphere PC's. I am so grateful for what their technology has done as my love of music goes very deep. As our systems progress, it just gets us ever closer to the music ... and that's what its all about.
Looking forward to your continued postings here as your cords break in.
Take care ... |
^^^ David ...
I'm using a power filter that all of my equipment is plugged into. The power filter is plugged into an Oyaide wall receptacle. I'm not sure of the model ... but its about 7 years old. I know you've tried a multitude of wall sockets. Which one do you think would be best? |
Oh my ... What I was getting from tonight's listening session was the best yet. I moved a broken in Black fuse over to the ARC PH-8 phono stage last night with some pretty impressive results. But ... tonight was something else. I dug deep into the record collection and pulled out a couple of Modern Jazz Quartet albums on the Pablo label. We're talkin' wall to wall, floor to ceiling, front to back ... all with a very palatable presentation like a live group was in the room. And, I still have another Black fuse to buy to replace the SR Red fuse that's presently in the amp.
The combination of the Black fuses, along with the SR power cords is a match made in audiophile heaven. I have no clue what this Graphene stuff is ... all I know is that it works like crazy,
If I didn't already have the SR Atmosphere level 3 PCs, I'd definitely be auditioning the new large gauge SR Black PCs at $499 each. Remember ... they come with a 30 day guarantee. And they were running a special ... buy a Red PC and you get a free Red fuse. Buy a Black PC and you get a free Black fuse.
Kudos to the folks at Synergistic Research.
|
audiolover ...
Your experience is typical with non-broken-in SR cords and fuses. You can hear the promise .... but you'd rather watch the news, right? That will change in a huge way at about 100 hours. All of the organic textures of the instruments will be amazing and you will gain a new sense of realism.
I wish you could hear what I'm getting out of my system now. A few days ago I put a fully broken-in Black fuse into the phono amp, replacing an SR Red fuse ... and its like a whole new record collection.
I think I'm going to buy the "Phono Transducers" next. They are supposed to make a big improvement in the cartridge and increase the 3-D realism,
Please continue posting your results. It will be interesting to see what your new PCs will do.
Take care ... |
^^^ David ...
That's an interesting phenomenon that I've noticed over the years when breaking in a new product ... that it continues breaking in even when the system is turned off. For some reason things seem to improve between listening sessions. The SR Black fuses do this in a very significant way in my system. Could this be system dependent in some way?
mid40sguy ...
Nice! Looking forward to your assessment ... especially on the power cord. |
|
audiolover ...
Are the SR Black power cords treating you okay? *lol* Fantastic, no?? |
audiolover ...
I have about 100 hours on my level 3 Atmosphere power cords. During last night's listening session, they finally allowed the instruments to sound correct. It was simply amazing. The combination of the power cords and the Black fuses have brought my system to a newer, very high level of resolution ... an very musically so. According to SR's Facebook page, the cords you bought are supposed to get you very close to what I'm experiencing from my cords ... for about one tenth of the cost. You made a good choice. :-)
|
^^^ I can hardly wait to hear your impressions. I'm really taken with the SR products. The Black fuses and the level 3 power cords have totally transformed what I already thought was an excellent, high rez system. Little did I know how much more was in those grooves and bits. :-)
|
^^^ You're welcome, thaluza ... Very happy you're getting positive results from the pc. I'm up to around 150 hours on mine. They just keep getting better as time goes on. During tonight's listening session, I dug deep into the classical closet and pulled out a very rare performance of Peter Katin playing a Liszt recital. That piano was in the room. The combination of the power cords and the fuses have brought piano reproduction to a whole new level. So dynamic. So present. So real.
|
David ...
The Level Three cords are kind of like the Black fuses ... only on steroids. You know that improvement in tonality and organic sound brought about by the fuses? Well, expect far more of that ... after break in.
Last night a friend brought over a 1945 mono recording of Scheherazade that was stunning in the tonality department. Yes, the vinyl was a bit noisy, but it was so good that we listened to both sides all the way through and enjoyed every second of it. So tonally right.
OP |
Audiolover ...
I concur with your assessment on the power cords. Isn't it amazing how the SR fuses and PC's take what you thought was an almost grain-less component like your amp and completely transform it? I have the ARC REF-75se and was already using custom aftermarket PC's. Everyone was taken by the transparency of the system before I installed the SR PC's .... but now, OMG!!
Let us know how the break-in goes. Interesting stuff. :-)
OP |
Charles ...
This is the beauty of trickle-down technology.
Being a long time user of Audio Research products, I've had to counter those few folks on the forum who continually bash ARC every time ARC comes out with updates on current models or when they come out with brand new versions of their amps and pre-amps. To listen to these guys, you'd think that ARC has some kind of conspiracy going to bilk their customers out of a never ending stream of more money.
What these folks don't get is that many of these products wouldn't come into existence in the first place if it weren't for the state of the art pieces that came before the upgrades to the less expensive models.
For example, the new ARC REF-6 line stage that replaces the REF-5se, at less than half the cost of the REF-30, wouldn't exist if it weren't for the R&D that created the REF-30. The advantage, of course, is that the less well-heeled among us can continue moving forward with our systems.
Kudos to SR for coming out with the new RED and BLACK PC's.
I'm looking forward to Audiolover's future reports as his PC's break in. If they're anything like the level 3 cords, they will really come into their own at about 100 hours and continue to improve over the next 200-300 hours. Once fully broken in, he's in for a real treat.
OP |
jafant ...
I keep thinking that the SR level 3 cords are broken in. You'd think so, as I have at least 200 hours on them. BUT, I keep hearing further improvements with each listening session. What I'm getting now is far beyond where I ever imagined the system would be. Its to the point where no part of the system calls attention to itself. Its just musicians playing in 3-D relief floor to ceiling and wall to wall. I never thought digital could be this good ... and analog? Wow! I wish I could have you guys over for a mono vinyl night. I'd have a whole cadre of listeners saying ... "who needs stereo!" *lol*
|
^^^ Jafant ... Prior to obtaining the SR levle 3 PC's, I was using custom PC cables built by Dave Magnan. https://magnancables.wordpress.com/They were experimental PC's that Dave personally made. They were excellent and far better than stock cords. No match for the SR level 3 cables though. The Magnan PC's are now residing in a friend's system ... and he loves them. I use FMS Nexus IC's from the turntable to the phono, and from the phono to the line stage. http://www.ebay.com/itm/FMS-Cable-Co-Nexus-3-RCA-Cables-1-5m-Pair-Interconnects-/322079436453?hash=i...Back in time, Audio Research sold their own IC's and I have their balanced IC's running from the CD player to the line stage and from the line stage to the amp. These ARC IC's are no longer made and I scored the last two pair. Too bad they are no longer made as they are a truly an excellent product. I would love to try SR's speaker cables and IC's. Perhaps I will sometime in the future. Take care ... |
^^^ jafant ...
Well the Nexus IC's are something really special, as are the ARC balanced IC's ... so the SR cables would have a real challenge on their hands.
Based upon what these SR Black fuse and the SR level 3 PC's are doing for the system, I think I might be afraid of trying the SR speaker cables and IC's ... I may never want to leave home ... not to mention the dent in the old wallet. *lol* |
audiiolover ...
The proper placement of the tube rings is really important. So much improvement can be gained by paying close attention to micro vibrations throughout the system ... and the tube dampening rings, and their proper placement is just one example. Its the simple attention to the little details like this that will take an audio system from really good ... to great.
I spoke with Warren Gehl the chief listener at ARC about this several years ago. He did a lot of experimentation with the tube rings. I followed Warren's advice and placed them as far up the tubes as possible without the top ring slipping off. Also, be sure both rings are firmly touching each other. Once properly placed, it allows for more clarity, better dynamics and an overall improvement throughout the audio range. I have an all ARC system and every piece of equipment was improved by proper placement of the tube dampening rings.
By the way, Warren is primarily responsible for ARC's detailed attention to all of the dampening material we've seen in our ARC gear over the years... including the tube rings. His training is in engineering with vibration control as his specialty. Nice guy, a long time audiophile and a real music lover too. Warren hears like a bat. :-)
Please let me know if it works for you and what the results are.
OP |
^^^ Audiolover ...
Most likely, ARC ships the tubes with the placement of the tube rings like they do so they don't fall off during shipping. That's my guess anyway.
I'm really curious what results you get by following the suggestions I gave to you. It was a definite improvement in my system to be sure. |
^^^ ... Yep, way too low. Move 'em up all the way to the top and be sure both are solidly touching each other. You'll hear a definite overall improvement ... and it won't be subtle. |
And by the way ... the improvements I heard by utilizing this tweak was long before I installed any of the SR Fuses or the SR power cords, so with your new fuses and power cord it should be clearly evident for you. Please let me know if you like the results. |
spar ...
Early on in the SR Fuse thread I posted about the same phenomenon. Not only did I have the experience with the SR fuses, but also with the PC's. Had the same experience breaking in the ARC-REF amps too. Why these things continue to break in while turned off is a mystery to me. Perhaps someone like Al could chime in with a technological explanation. |
Nice, mid40sguy ...
I wish you could have heard SR's demo at the Newport show. I met David Pritchard there ... and we were both blown away. Like I said in another thread ... it was in a huge room and when all of the various SR products were operating in the room, it was like listening to a 3-D I-max theater of sound. When the products were disconnected and/or taken out of the room, everything just collapsed. It was very interesting. |
Hi, Ralph ...
The SR Level 3 Power cords are fantastic. They were a game changer in my system.
I'm familiar with your 60 watt mono blocks. They were in my system for a couple of years on loan from a friend and they made nothing but music. Glorious mid-range.
OP |
^^^^ Mapman ...
By "technically" are you referring to measurements, or what sounds like live music in the home environment?
OP |
^^^ True, that mapman. We all hear differently to some extent.
If you go back and read this thread from the beginning, you'll find that at least 95% of those folks who have tried the tweaks that were suggested in the thread have reported positive results. We can't "measure" those results of course, but the proof is in the listening. It seems to me that a 95%+ approval rating should be subjective enough. What other proof would satisfy you? |
^^^ Well, all of that technical jargon is way beyond the pay grade of this life-long commissioned salesman. But, I thank you Al for posting Ralph's previous information on the subject. In the meantime, I'm going to spin a few LPs and explore the gift that God bestowed upon Sarah Vaughn. :-)
Happy listening ... |
^^^ mapman ...
Have you ever been to one of Ralph's rooms at an audio show like CES? Believe me, the man knows how to make music. As you leave one of the other demonstration rooms, walking away from a $150,000 turntable and enter Ralph's room, you're faced with a beautifully restored classic Empire turntable, OTL amps and beautiful music emanating from the speakers. I'll bet those "known reasons" are .... which power cords sound the most like real, soul connecting music. I doubt if Ralph measures anything when it comes to power cords. Maybe he'll chime in here and solve the mystery. |
^^^ The major problem with trying to communicate via the keyboard is the fact that we can't see each other's facial expressions, hand gestures or other body language. Sooo, its easy to be misinterpreted or misunderstood.
Maybe a good "emotion" for sarcasm would be to just end the statement with the simple term ... "bite me." *lol* :-) |
^^^ I can hardly wait for your assessment. This is going to be interesting.
Currently, I'm auditioning a pair of Von Gaylord's biwired speaker cables and two of their IC's. They are just breaking in ... but so far, they have brought a new magical performance from my audio system. And they seem to be a real complement to the SR pc's.
When the Von Gaylord cords are fully broken in, I'll start a new thread on them. In the meantime ... happy listening.,
OP
|
2channel8 ...
You should be good to go. The PHT's come as a pair. Try one on your head shell, and the other one on either the junction box where the RCA jacks go into the turntable. If you don't have a junction box, then try the second one on either the power cord where it goes into the turntable or on the turntable motor itself. I've read reviews where they make for an improvement in all of those places. Some rave reviews by the way.
Please report your results here. The PHT's are on my bucket list.
OP |
