Hi Ed. I know that the Audition PC is a triple strand design, where the similarly priced Power 1 which is designed for big monoblocks, is a single super suspension bridge thick cable. I think the level of filtering also goes up with the Reference and Signature PCs.
I currently own three Power 2s and will be receiving the Audition Package very shortly, so I'll have something to compare then, albeit not at the higher end that your asking about. |
Got an email today from Rick announcing the recall of the past two weeks' production of PC P3, to be swapped with a P2.
And I haven't even listened through it yet!
Thumbs up to an organization concerned with maintaining quality and safety! |
hey everyone- been following Rick & crew for over a year now (he's a great guy by the way- very patient & knowledgeable), and being a careful purchaser, I have only purchased one of his cords (so far)- the top-of-the-line (albeit non-cryo'd) Power Signature.
It has worked best for me on the amps, and especially in concert with other brands as a mix (particularily Ensemble- see my thread 'Virtual Dynamics + Ensemble Power Cords- good mix'). I believe it would also work well on digital, HOWEVER, I was using it between digital (HT processor) and an Ensemble Isolink power transformer, with the Ensemble Megaflux PC from transformer to line conditioner- this was NOT a preferable combo- increased resolution, but a loss of 'presence', and grainy/edgy highs, etc. I now believe the problem to be twofold- 1) no break-in; 2) the application- The Ensemble Isolink seems to work best with the Ensemble PC's.
SO... put the VD Power Sig on the big Theta Dreanaught amp, and the Ensemble cords back on the Isolink/processor combo- YES!! the perfect combo- natural tonality (hallmark of the Ensemble PC's IMO) returned, but the amp w VD PC now had a shot of adrenaline, and the increased resolution now comes with NO grainy/edgy quality.
Also tried the VD Power Sig in my other 2-ch rig- hooked it into one of the 300B amps- nice resoluition benefits- vocals and soundstaging pinpointed better than stock cords too. AGAIN (caveat)- I also found a MIX of cords worked best here too- the Ensemble Isolink/Megaflux PCs on digital (Audio Aero Cap 24/192), to retain the natural tonality I crave, and the VD on amps.
Summary:
1. Rick's cords should NOT be underestimated, and do not hesitate to try them in a mix with some of your other 'fab' PC's
2. Break-in will GREATLY improve your impression of these cords- and try to do it in a higher-current source (for me- it was my 5-ch SS Theta HT amp)
3. It is yet undetermined (for ME, anyways) whether or not a FULL COMPLIMENT of VD PC's system-wide (in both my systems) would prove the ultimate move, or 'too much of a good thing' as they say- i.e. amazing resolution and transparency but with compromises in tonality & warmth- hmmm.... I will be ordering more VD PC's, and will hope to post some further thoughts. Something tells me that a full VD Power Sig setup (cryo'd) may be amazing (caveat- FULLY BURNED IN!!), however that remains to be seen.
4. Rick & the VD crew are a first-class operation, and great to deal with- $$-back gurantee as well (I believe 14 days- but you can ask Rick/Brett at 1-877-347-4489).
5. Rick was the first guy in Canada to be distributing Audiopoints, and more importantly (to me) Sistrum component racks- the Sistrum SP-1's have been wonderful under my larger Altec tube monoblocks in the 2-ch rig. What I am trying to say here, is that Rick's concepts of the application of Coloumb- sp?? friction and the reduction of MECHANICAL micro-vibrations (a relatively newer concept over the last few years in the audiophile world of resonance control) have pervaded through his choice of products to carry as a distributor, and, ultimately, now his own creation of the VD cable line. If you buy into this philosophy (as I have, as I've heard the benefits), then you should take Rick's products very seriously, and give them a try in your system. |
Just sent my P3's back, My P2's are on the way. |
Bro, it'll be interesting what if any difference you'll experience in the change. I hope they're better. I went straight with the Power 2s and they were a definite improvement over the Absolute PCs in my system. Hopefully the cryo'd Auditions I'm awaiting will be that much better as well. |
I had a pair of P3's recalled and was offered the cryogenic treatment on the replacement P2's at no charge. The say it will take a extra three days. I sure don't mind the wait! |
Can anyone tell me what kind of IEC connecter the Power 2's has as I have some Jeff Rowland model 3's. They have a rack handle very close to the IEC connecter. on the power 3's it was the narrow type. I am hoping they are not the large round type( I.E. Wattgate) I may have to remove the handles so the large ones will fit. |
Hey Bro,
I can't answer your question. But I surmise the Power 3, 2, and 1 all have the same connectors and other properties such as shielding and mechanical filtering. The difference is the size of the conductors, gauge.
I just got off the phone with Rick. One thing I really like about him is he is the first "merchant" I've dealt with that honestly admits and utters the word "I don't know."
In case anyone thinks I am being a smart ass, I am just emphasizing that I can take Rick's words with less grain of salt than other "merchants." Other merchants, when dealt with a question they have no real knowledge to, will talk out of their buns just to sell themselves/the company/the product. |
Had the Audition, power2 & power3 here for weeks. Started w/ the Audition after long burn in (well 10 days or so)then stuck it up against the competition: Shunyata Cobras, Omega Mikro w/ active shielding, & David Elrod EPS power cords. The Audition had BIG bass but lacked inner detail up top and did some strange things to vocals popping them WAY out in front of the SS? So I sent a few of these off to a local friend w/ large Solid State set up (mine is El-34 PP amp)and he had them quite a while too and found them not up to par w/ his Acoustic Zen cables or a BMI Eel I sent along for the ride. I will say this though, for $200 the Audition was very well put together and really rocked on my sub woofer. However, I just didn't find it to be the "giant killer" that I had heard it to be IN MY SYSTEM anyway. How Rick sells that one monster sized cord (power 3?)though for only $50 is beyond me and would be a good starter cord for someone on a budget! |
Blaz, what components did you use to compare the power cables? |
Where do ya go to find these cables ? Is there a web
site for Virtual Dynamics ? |
I had a pair of power 3's for about a month or so. Very pleased with the cables, they helped tighten up the bass, got a lot better in the soundstage area also. Very good build quality. So now I am waiting on a set of power 2's to arrive |
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OK folks, I just received my cryo'd Audition Package yesterday. First off, I must note that I was missing part of my order. My order consisted of two pairs of ICs, one digital IC, a biwired pair of SCs and four PCs. I was missing 3 PCs, but after a quick call to Brett, I was assured that the other three would be built and shipped to me ASAP. Brett was very apologetic. The folks at Virtual Dynamics are the nicest people in the world, and because of the buzz surrounding there products they're also among the busiest. I have complete confidence in their service.
I've been sitting idle for about three weeks without any music at all, because I sold both pairs of Analysis Plus Oval 9s I had. So the first thing I did last night was to hook up the biwired Audition SCs and try to make an aural comparison through memory. I opted for the WBT bananas instead of the standard WBT spades. When I placed my order, Rick said that WBT Topline bananas were optional at no extra charge. Well I was pretty darn surprised when I realized he had placed the more expensive 0645 angled Safety locking bananas on them. Thanks!! Initially, I was a bit apprehensive because the VD cables are so stiff, and running four separate conductors to my little ProAcs could potentially create flying/suspended Tab 50s! To my relief, all VD cables while being stiff, are also very bendable. I found it easy to bend all the cables into any twist or shape. Try and imagine big expensive pipe cleaners. Once you bend them, they stay put.
Even cold out of the box I can tell the cryo'd Audition speaker cables are very good. Overall very smooth and at the same time satisfyingly [for me] detailed. From what I can remember these beat the the AP9s as far as soundstage width and depth, but right now the VD's focus is out of wack. Instruments such as pianos and guitars are decently placed, but Ana Caram sounds as if she's standing at a 45° angle to me and singing to the guy standing by the back door. I'm sure this will be resolved as they break-in.
I hooked up the digital cable, interconnects and the one power cord this morning. One thing I noticed was that the digital cable was not differentiated from the other ICs. This leads me to believe that it may not be a true 75 ohm design. Please correct me if I'm wrong. Also the biwired SCs have the Virtual Dynamics logo on the terminator jacket on the source end while the speaker end is blank, so I arranged all my ICs in the same manner. The interconnects come with locking WBT RCA jacks just like the ones Harmonic Technology uses, but these are gun metal grey. Oooohh. The ICs have the same bend characteristics as the SCs.
With all the VD cables and cords installed, I sat around for a couple hours this morning listening to music I'm very familiar with. After running brand new Virtual Dynamics cables for only a few hours, I will say that they are very smooth. I'm not sure if this is an effect of the cryogenic freezing, but I'm pretty impressed. The background is blacker and quieter than before. While still a bit unfocused, the soundstage is larger than I've ever experienced in my system, and there's more air around the instruments as well. Right now my system lacks the romance it had with my other cables, but hopefully that will change with time and break in. And if not, that's something I can address with some tube rolling.
I'm playing a CD on repeat while I'm at work, so I'll have a chance to see if there are any improvements when I get home. I realize the full break-in may take one to two months though. I'll write again when I have something significant to report. |
Hey Gunbei,
Rick told me before there are no differences between their digital and analog cables. So they probably are not 75ohm. But you'd probably find, after your cables are burned in, a high quality analog cable can walk all over a digital cable even when used in digital applications. Currently, I am using Alpha Core AG Micropurls for my digital applications, and they are way better than the D-60. |
Thanks for the heads up Viggen, that's good to know! Even if the Virtual Dynamics isn't a true 75ohm, it's sounding pretty good even now. I have a D60 as well, but it's been long demoted to it's velvet box. |
Is the Master cables higher up the chain than the reference, and signature cables by VD?
the reference cables are what gage?
I am in the market for speaker cables and believe some of the cables made 20 years ago are just as good as the high dollar cables being made today
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