Virtual Dynamics original Master Series


Category: Cables

So... I just added new interconnects, Virtual Dynamics Master Series. To quote Neo... 'whoa'. These were such a huge step up from my previous Cardas GPs. While I am sure the Cardas are great cables in their own right, when I put the Masters in the system I had to pick my jaw up off the floor. It was like opening the floodgates, the music just flows forth. They do all the audiophile things that I now realize the cardas were not doing in my system and everything (bass, detail, body, depth, width, imaging, PRaT, highs, mids, etc..) all greatly improved. The amount of detail they present is amazing, the highs are sweet and extended and now I can actually hear and feel bass instead of barely hearing it. The music has such emotion now, and fluid warmth, I can't pull myself away! I ended up listening for several hours deep into the night, something I never do, even to CDs I never really liked and all without any fatigue.

The swap also made me realize a few things about the Ayre/cardas combo and I'm wondering if this is what leads to some people calling Ayre cool, dry and emotionless after a demo. With the cardas GPs in place I would barely stand to sit and listen to even my favorite CDs for more than 20 minutes. Not that the sound was bad, it was just meh... like something was missing, I was getting bored and or fatigued quickly. The cardas in my system were on the dry and cool side, but attempted warmth via a boosted midrange. Highs sometimes grated on my nerves (and ears) and I'd end up with a massive headache.

The Master series cables are very open and fluid and have a natural warmth much like real instruments and voices have but without artificially boosting any particular range. They have a great musical ease to them but they also have a wonderful intensity and attack when called for. The musical and emotional swell when an orchestra ramps up after a plaintive violin solo is so palpable you can practically ride it.

A word on the soundstage. Before everything was well laid back and placed along the back wall without much depth. The VDs really brought the soundstage forward without being a forward cable. Lead singers and instruments at the front of the stage are no longer back against the wall with the drummer and background singers, but they aren't 'in your face' either. Instruments and singers that were out to the side no longer emanate directly from the speakers now but from a solid spot on the stage behind the speaker. The maggies just disappear.

Now I understand what all the excitement is about with the VDs. They really brought my system and music alive and made it sing.

*plots to upgrade to VD speaker cables and PCs*
adhaney
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I'm still using a 8' biwire s/c original master series. great cables but I have replaced 3 original master p/c with other cables and now these 3 cords collecting dust.
enjoy your new cable!
Duomike
I agree with you about the VD ICs and SCs.

I don't know which Ayre component you have. My digital rig is an Ayre C-xe. My analog is an SME 20/2 with Graham Phantom, Dynavector XV-1S and Aesthetix Io Signature with NOS tubes. My preamp is an Ayre K-1xe. I have VD Master XLRs between Io and the K-1xe and between the K-1xe and the Lamm M1.2s. I had Transparent Reference MM XLRs between the C-5xe and the K-1xe. A couple of months ago I switched to VD Revelation 2.0 XLRs and now the C-5xe with certain XRCDs and SACDs is scarily close to my vinyl.

Rick is doing something very magical.

Ed
Ed

My system consists of Ayre CX7e, K5Xe and V5Xe with magnepan 1.6s. I still have Cardas golden PCs and my speaker cables are AQ bedrocks. Probably the weak link in the system so I'm hoping to pick up a set of master or revelation biwire here on Agon to replace them.

On an unrelated side note, I've been admiring your Craz racks for a while now! I love the finish. I've been emailing back and forth with Tim for a few months now. I just received my first SRA piece, an Ohio Class XL, for the amp and I want to pick up a couple of VRs and then a Craz later. Good stuff!
I have an Ayre C5XE, a V1xe, a K1xe, VPI Superscoutmaster with a Benz Ebony, and Vandersteen 5A speakers. The more I got Cardas out of my system the better it sounded. The best cables I've tried are either the Audioquest top of the line silvers (Vandersteens are wired with it), or the very cheap but very excellent Anti-Cables.