I’m currently demoing all 4 cables. Here are my findings thus far: Started off with û powerchords on both a levinson 383 Integrated and cambridge 851c. Swapped out the powerchord for the jps labs digital ac on the 851c. This really opened up the 851. Sound was fuller, more open with more detail. An improvement all around. Picked up an ayre cx7emp as I wanted to compare it to the 851c. More on this later. After adding the jps digital, I added the jps power ac to the levinson. This further opened things up, and allowed more bass detail and impact. Overall, similar in response to the digital, just not as much on the levinson. I then decided to A/B test the cd players in real time using the same generic interconnects, power cords and test discs I had burned. Both players sounded very good, but the ayre was considerably more open and airy. It was fuller, more musical and had that “live” sense as indicated in the stereophile article. Otherwise, both had excellent range, extension and dynamics and punch. After implementing the ayre into the system, the jps digital didn’t sound as good with the ayre as it did on the 851. The digital ac seemed to bloat the lower mid bass region, and gave an overall overly full sound. The powerchord though on the ayre was much better and gave a sweet and balanced sound. I thought this pairing was the match—until I tried the other cables. Having recently sold the 851c, I decided to swap out the other powerchord on the levinson and add the whale elite. So as of right now, I have the whale elite on the levinson 383 and the jps power ac on the ayre cx7emp. I’ll add more updates soon. This pairing does sound good indeed. I’m curious to swap cables (whale on ayre / jps power ac back on levinson) and see if there is any difference.
