Virtual Dynamics -- what has it beaten?

Like any cable or cord the Virtual Dynamics line is system dependent.

After two months of use it was clear that the cryo'd Audition Package offered far better soundstaging, detail and transparency than any of the Cardas, Kimber, Mapleshade, Harmonic Tech cables I tried. I should mention that I never had a full compliment of those cables whereas I did with the Virtual Dynamics, so it really isn't comparing apples with apples, but still the difference was very amazing.

A few months ago I tried reinserting a Cardas Lightning L15, Kimber Illuminations D60 and Mapleshade Golden Helix digital cable back into the mix and they all had th effect of collapsing the soundstage. Again, this may have been because the rest of the system was made up entirely of Virtual Dynamics Audition.

A month ago I received a Virtual Dynamics Nite digital and an Acoustic Zen MC2 digital. The Nite extends everything the Audition accomplished, but I was very surprised to find that my system also sounded great with the MC2 in the mix, and it's much cheaper too.

Audiogon member Viggen has written a thorough thread here on the cable test we conducted at his place many weeks ago. The Virtual Dynamics that perform so well in my system didn't do as well in his. We heard exactly that same differences between cables and seemed to like the same qualities in each we tried.

I think it all comes down to system synergy and taste. There have been many, many rave reviews here touting the positives of Virtual Dynamics, but no matter how good they are it's not a lock. Virtual Dynamics cables have given me a level of transparency and soundstage size and focus I thought I'd never achieve, but I've also lost the warmth and organic nature my system had at the start of the year.

Theaudiotweak - you bring up an interesting point of consistent and varying recording levels and the way they seem when reproduced through Virtual Dynamics cables. I've kind of noticed a similar phenomena, but I assumed that's just how it was supposed to be, meaning that recording engineers had a loose but universal scheme for mixing and mastering. Do you think there is something artificial being introduced in the Virtual Dynamics chain? I'm open to any idea or theory.

Interesting idea Erzielin, I guess only time and more testimony of other users will tell if that is the case.

Great post Cosmic_void. I think your Auditions will improve given time.

A couple weeks ago I replaced a Monster HTS2000 which my transport, DAC and preamp were plugged into with a VD Nite extension cord and three-way splitter. After an inital listen I was shocked to find that this was the first time I was disappointed by a Virtual Dynamics product. Even though soundstaging and detail went up a notch, the overall sound became thin and very sizzly up top. Almost unlistenable.

Now it's a completely different story. All the good things I experienced initally have remained and improved, and the negatives have receded. The tonal character is close to what it was before the switch out, but the holographic illusion is noticably better than with the Monster power strip. Background is blacker.

Cosmic_void, I'll be interested to hear your thoughts once you've lived with the Audition Package for a few months.

Hey guys, while my system has been all VD Audition for the last six months, I did recently change my digital cable to a Nite. That's the only place I'll probably be able to afford to upgrade for awhile. The area that the VDs have been much better in my system than any other cable is transparency and the ability to throw a huge, focused soundstage. I feel the Nite improves greatly in all these areas over the Audition digital.