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A New Superstar Power Cord

I am not wont to gush over audio components or cables. I have been involved in audiomania too long and have seen too many stars of today evaporate the next week. But I do have to gush about a PC I just bought new for full price -- the LessLoss DFPC Reference. I have no relationship whatsoever with LessLoss, other than having owned the original DFPC and then a few Sigs.

20 minutes out of the box, connected to my preamp, and I am very impressed -- and after some 40 years as an audiophile, I do not impress easily. More to follow after I experiment with different sources and longer burn-in, but there is an IMMEDIATELY audible sense of greater quietude, more natural and "present" voices, and greater, more organic instrumental detail. And the LessLoss Ref cord replaced one of the stars in the PC firmament, which lists for 2.5x the price. This could be a game changer. I thought the DFPC Signature was a great PC, but the Ref is an entirely new dimension. It is also a physically beautiful cord, and aesthetics count. Kudos to Louis Motek., the designer, who also is a perfect gentleman to deal with.

For $1,824, I feel a bit larcenous! I need to calm down.

Neal
nglazer
nglazer OP
845 posts
 
I have compared it to Nordost Valhalla, Elrod Statement and 2S, LessLoss Sig, an Audience cord whose model # I am not sure of, and Kimber PK10 Palladian.

The sound is smoother (with no loss of detail) and more natural, with more burn-in. In fact, even on analog FM (on a modded Sansui TU 9900), I am hearing instruments on familiar songs, that I had not noticed before. This really is a nice experience.

Neal
jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
Thanks Neal. Smoother and more natural than the Elrod cords? That's saying something. Does it present as deep and 3-D soundstage as the Elrod's? I wasn't much of a fan of the Audience and Kimber cords, I found them pretty bland.

The Valhalla could be stunning to demo, but I found that I could not live with it in the long term. Too much information, which led to shorter listening sessions as listener fatigue set in earlier and earlier. I am a big fan of the Elrod cords though. I've only heard the original LessLoss cord, and though it was good bang for the buck, it was not anything really special.
krell_man
827 posts
 

John,

Just to let you know, there's a Running Springs Crown Jewel HZ ( CH Acoustic X15 ) on Audiogon right now.

http://app.audiogon.com/listings/ac-cables-running-springs-audio-hz-crown-jewel-15amp-power-cable-2014-02-07-power-48103

I've tried the LessLoss PCs. I'm not saying anything bad about the LessLoss, just that you need to give the CH Acoustic that you mentioned above a listen.

Chuck
jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
Thanks for the heads up Chuck, but I've seen that ad. I'm looking for a 20A cord at a good price, not a 15A cord at a bad price. LOL!
nglazer OP
845 posts
 
To JMCgrogan2,

I actually think very highly of the Valhalla cords and find them different from the IC's which I also have in BR system. I find them more neutral and fuller bodied than IC's and eminently liveable.

I don't listen to an IC or PC for specifics, to be candid. First, I close my eyes and see if I say to myself: "That sounds really good." Then, I spend some time listening for irritating factors, e.g., too little bass, this or abrasive top end, pronounced mid's. Then I just spend some time and see if the smile continues.

So I cannot say if the soundstage or depth is better or worse then Elrod's; I can only say the LessLoss Ref is a step up IN THE GESTALT from what I have heard. I cannot imagine others not, at a minimum, being impressed. Whether y'all run out and buy one is a matter or personal taste and finances.

Cheers.

Neal
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