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Nova Power Cord Model (M101 silver) Review

Nova Power Cord Model (M101 silver) Review.

First a little background of myself, ozzy.

I am now retired for about 6 years. Previously I was Senior Purchasing Agent and before that Senior Engineer for a large Manufacturing company a total of 42 years.

I have been a long-time member of Audiogon, and several other on-line forums. I have been in this hobby for 50+ years. Heck, I go back so far that when I was 18, I was a Manager of an Allied Radio Shack Store. Remember Allied Radio? Remember when Radio Shack bought them? I have also built many Heathkits and have experimented in many projects through the years from normal to the insane.

But I have always been fascinated about the relationship of the AC power to the sound of an audio system. As has been repeated so many times, how can 5 feet of cable make a difference when there are miles of power lines running to my house? I know I understand, but is it the last 5 feet or the first?

Naturally, I have dedicated lines terminated in Furutech NCF outlets. I have owned/tried so many power conditioners from the likes of PS Audio, Shunyata, Synergistic, Core power, and so many more. I have also owned power cables from companies such as, Purist Dominus, Nordost Valhalla, Synergistic, Virtual Dynamics, Hi Fidelity, Shunyata, Audioquest and on and on. I share this info so again; you can tell my sincerity about power cables. I have a passion (obsession?) for them!

My latest effort was a set of DIY power cords that I made using pure .9999 10 ga solid soft silver in a very high-grade oversized PTFE, braided, twisted, treated with Nano liquid and then finished with Furutech best NCF connectors. They look very similar in construction to the Audioquest Dragon configuration. They have beat all other power cords that I had tried before them. They have made me happy and content.

So now on to the review of the Nova power cables.

First off, I would like to thank Lubos (bewgow on Audiogon) for allowing me to demo his cables. My understanding is that all of his cables utilize copper wiring and Furutech NCF connectors. I will add that I became interested in these cables from a review on Audiogon that millercarbon started and was sorry to see it go off the rails.  I asked bewgow for a couple demos to try. In a few days they arrived.

The Nova (silver) power cord.

Since I am using mono block amps, I needed 2 power cables. One about 3 meters and the other about 2 meters long. Lubos was kind enough to send me these 2 lengths. The power cords will be connected to my Audioquest Niagara 7000 power conditioner.

I am not sure of the actual wire gauge utilized by the Nova, all Lubos would reveal was that it consists of using a special wire geometry. I personally didn’t think it stood a chance against my heavy gauge pure solid silver conductors.

First listen, and I must say, the Nova cable sounded better. Never would have believed it. No way. But it is. There is so much more air and life in its presentation. Instruments extend left/right front/ back. Very impressive. There is a feeling of intimacy in the soundstage that draws you into the music. Women’s voices have that “tongue in the ear” effect. You guys know what I mean…Very inviting. Listen to Linda Ronstadt sing “Blue Bayou” you’ll get it.

The soundstage is wider and deeper. Usually when the music sounds this pure there is a sacrifice at the frequency extremes. But not with this cable. The bass is tight and deep and the highs shimmer elegantly. Since receiving the Nova cables, I have been playing music that I have heard so many times in so many different formats through the years that I could probably write the sheet music. And yet, now for the first time they sound entirely different and so engaging. Fantastic!

I like listening to live recorded music. Mostly rock music. With the Nova cables there is a new found pleasure in the openness in the performance. Even some of the earlier recordings like Creedence Clearwater revival At Woodstock is highly enjoyable.

When you hear your system sounding this right, I knew I had to have this cable. Now, if only I had some more items to sell on Audiogon, hmm… Or how to convince my wife I need a couple more power cords…?

But, oh boy can I recommend this power cord.

ozzy


128x128ozzy
Post removed 
whynner1
1 posts
 
Maybe it was just me but i felt a lack of confidence to go against my Shunyata and Nordst cables.

I've not tried these cables yet.  However, while there may indeed be improvements from your Shunyata and Nordost, the law of diminishing returns comes into play when you're already into high end cables that most people are unlikely to hear.  

This good thread (which followed a good review) addresses both the issue that some people do not believe cables will make a difference in the first place (which most any thread discussing cables will prove), as well as the law of diminishing returns.

Your system may be revealing enough, and your ear as keen, to allow you to hear the differences that we obsess over, but we are a rare breed, no?
Understanding this, it makes sense to build a brand around those most discernible differences, and the greater number of people able to hear them. And yet, when the entrance fee is $2,500, aren't we (who've invested enough to expect changes in, and open wallets for, high end pc's) the target audience?  From a marketing perspective, this conflicting dichotomy is unresolved in my mind as of now...
bewgow
65 posts
 
I am building "affordable" high end cables. Yes, the entrance fee is 2.5k and you will have hard time finding something better under 5k. Nova is as good as Nordost Valhalla 2 which is 6.5k. Nordost doesn't do discount, I do offer a 20% discount when you buy 4 or more cables.
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
The target audience as I see it whynner is two clearly defined segments. One, people with already very good power cords they paid $5k or even more for. Those people will find they can sell them for enough to buy Nova and get a nice improvement for zero net cost. The other segment is people who have experienced good entry level power cords and are looking to significantly upgrade. Granted the "entry" level for Moneoone is $2500, but these folks will have a hard time finding better without spending a lot more.   

Bump up the scale to Supernova and the same holds true there as well, just the numbers are bigger.  

We did a comparison here with a guy who was absolutely convinced power cords cannot possibly make any difference at all. When the Supernova went in he changed his mind so fast he let out a gasp while the needle was still in the lead-in groove.   

Doesn't make him the target market, I doubt he will be spending that kind of money on a power cord any time soon. But it does show how these things sound so good even someone totally skeptical winds up changing their mind in no time flat. Thus he is a good example of someone who will probably be looking at entry level power cords and then maybe eventually progressing to Nova level at some point down the road and has his system improves.
three_easy_payments's avatar
three_easy_payments
2,097 posts
 
Based on the narrow participation in this thread I'd estimate the target audience to be 2 to 3 people.  Setting aside the potential for a large margin per unit sold with uber expensive power cables, it seems that a new-to-market cable manufacturer would stand better probability of success by producing a really good  (perhaps not $5K good) cable in the couple of hundred dollar range that a larger market could actually contemplate buying...and then develop a buzz at a price anyone can rationalize trying out.  

This is why the good 'ol SR Master Coupler ($150 used) has been around so long and why newer companies like Audio Envy are getting such strong followings for their wonderful $200 PCs.  They punch so far above their price point, they capture a larger share of the market from budget buyers to higher-end buyers who appreciate value, and they leave you feeling no buyer's remorse (or hurt and ashamed) plus provide easy resale near retail price - much better if bought used in first place!

Just seems like this super expensive AC power cable market is a tough hustle for sure.  I do wish all success nonetheless in trying to find a market niche.
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