@folkfreak Thank you for a cogent and well written review!
Review Audioquest Hurricane (part 1)
We started frequent testing of power cables at the beginnig of this century, since 2002 to be precise. AC-power is actually the foundation of any audio system. It feeds and provides every sound system with the necessary energy. Fifteen years ago we were already surprised how much impact different power cables could have on the end result of any system.
In nearly 20 years AudioFacts carried out thousands of tests especially in audio. We distinguish ourselves from others by structurally spending much time at research and test work, in which we think and work by our Tru-Fi philosophy.
When you're working from Tru-Fi in audio you always focus on all the different properties that sound possesses. You can understand audio only when you exactly know why the sound and stage of your audio system is as what you're listening to.
Therefore you should know of each individual component in your system the full DNA (properties) it owns. Because the sound you hear from your own system is formed by all properties of each individual component together, the acoustics and other factors that affect the sound negatively.
Most people still have no idea of how important power cables actually are. In 2004 we already had created a method to convince customers that they are essential in each system. That is why we figured out shootouts so we could prove how important power cables actually are.
We did a shootout between a cd player of 2000 euro and a power cord of 2400 euro. Against a 5000 euro cd player along with our most sold power cable of 100 euro.
Almost everyone had a preference for the cd player of 2000 euro combined with the power cable of 2400 euro. While everyone was convinced that the most expensive cd player would become the winner.
Working from Tru-Fi it becomes so much easier for us to hear and understand the differences between brands and power cables exactly. In over 15 years we've tested many power cables. And the differences between all these power cables of different brands are huge.
Tru-Fi shows us that Audioquest power cables are able to reveal all the different properties sound possesses. But in addition, the most important properties also reveal a natural sound and realistic proportions of voices and instruments.
All our tests in cables over the years showed that unfortunately there are several brands which cannot reveal all the different properties of sound. And in addition, certain properties are not filled in the right way. We found out that various cable brands present both voices and instruments out of proportion (often too big).
In reality both voices and instruments are very direct (tangible) and small in proportion. We call that 'intimate' individual focus. In addition, various cables emphasize a certain frequency range, but you want the full frequency range to be evenly played.
The Hurricane is a power cable by Audioquest from the all-new 'Storm Series'. And it cannot even be compared to the previous power cables from Audioquest. Because it is a new level in quality that stands on its own in its price range.
A number of years ago, Audioquest hired AC-power specialist Garth Powell. From his knowledge and insight he has developed new AC-power products for Audioquest. And the Storm Series are the first new power cables he developed.
AudioFacts knows from all our research and test work how important AC-power is and that this is a profession on its own. We continuously share information with various specialists in specific parts in sound&vision. That is why it is nice to see that even Audioquest now specializes in this part.
The Hurricane also features a new DBS battery pack. That has become even more effective now that the bandwidth is increased. In addition, the level in noise is also decreased. Because the cable is twisted now it decreases the level of interference also.
Audioquest uses the best quality in solid copper (PSC+) for the Hurricane, which they apply in all their best copper cables. This can be heared by a richer sound with even more diversity (layering). And there is more grip and control in the high frequencies. And it also creates a more powerful low frequency range.
In part 2 we will explain in details why the Hurricane is so different compared to the older Audioquest powercables. But also compared to other competitors.
In nearly 20 years AudioFacts carried out thousands of tests especially in audio. We distinguish ourselves from others by structurally spending much time at research and test work, in which we think and work by our Tru-Fi philosophy.
When you're working from Tru-Fi in audio you always focus on all the different properties that sound possesses. You can understand audio only when you exactly know why the sound and stage of your audio system is as what you're listening to.
Therefore you should know of each individual component in your system the full DNA (properties) it owns. Because the sound you hear from your own system is formed by all properties of each individual component together, the acoustics and other factors that affect the sound negatively.
Most people still have no idea of how important power cables actually are. In 2004 we already had created a method to convince customers that they are essential in each system. That is why we figured out shootouts so we could prove how important power cables actually are.
We did a shootout between a cd player of 2000 euro and a power cord of 2400 euro. Against a 5000 euro cd player along with our most sold power cable of 100 euro.
Almost everyone had a preference for the cd player of 2000 euro combined with the power cable of 2400 euro. While everyone was convinced that the most expensive cd player would become the winner.
Working from Tru-Fi it becomes so much easier for us to hear and understand the differences between brands and power cables exactly. In over 15 years we've tested many power cables. And the differences between all these power cables of different brands are huge.
Tru-Fi shows us that Audioquest power cables are able to reveal all the different properties sound possesses. But in addition, the most important properties also reveal a natural sound and realistic proportions of voices and instruments.
All our tests in cables over the years showed that unfortunately there are several brands which cannot reveal all the different properties of sound. And in addition, certain properties are not filled in the right way. We found out that various cable brands present both voices and instruments out of proportion (often too big).
In reality both voices and instruments are very direct (tangible) and small in proportion. We call that 'intimate' individual focus. In addition, various cables emphasize a certain frequency range, but you want the full frequency range to be evenly played.
The Hurricane is a power cable by Audioquest from the all-new 'Storm Series'. And it cannot even be compared to the previous power cables from Audioquest. Because it is a new level in quality that stands on its own in its price range.
A number of years ago, Audioquest hired AC-power specialist Garth Powell. From his knowledge and insight he has developed new AC-power products for Audioquest. And the Storm Series are the first new power cables he developed.
AudioFacts knows from all our research and test work how important AC-power is and that this is a profession on its own. We continuously share information with various specialists in specific parts in sound&vision. That is why it is nice to see that even Audioquest now specializes in this part.
The Hurricane also features a new DBS battery pack. That has become even more effective now that the bandwidth is increased. In addition, the level in noise is also decreased. Because the cable is twisted now it decreases the level of interference also.
Audioquest uses the best quality in solid copper (PSC+) for the Hurricane, which they apply in all their best copper cables. This can be heared by a richer sound with even more diversity (layering). And there is more grip and control in the high frequencies. And it also creates a more powerful low frequency range.
In part 2 we will explain in details why the Hurricane is so different compared to the older Audioquest powercables. But also compared to other competitors.
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- 90 posts total
@joey_v thanks for asking about my comment “light on bass” as I meant to expand. Too many audio systems add an emphasis, a boom or low/mid bass stress that seems superficially attractive and is often quite exciting. But real bass isn’t like that, it grows naturally and kind of sits under the Music with its own texture and intensity. With the WELs in my setup I had that hyped up bass, with the Dragons it’s more organic and real world. You can read more on this in AudioGon member bdp24's observations on listening to my system So yes, it might seem like less bass but the bass is of better quality, with more detail and about a half octave deeper once you listen into it. It’s also more in scale. With the old power cords intense loud music (think the "Gladiator" soundtrack) often swelled up and expanded outside the speakers. It’s as if the orchestra got amped up and expanded like a balloon. Now the music remains in scale, the depth and detail is there but it is never blown out of scale |
Hahahahahahahaha...it is getting more funny every day. We tested the Wel and Wild as well. But the Purist Audio LE Luminist outperformed them like they were standard cables. In part 2 we describe very detailled what it does. It will be desribed on all the individual parts of sound. The head of Audioquest Europe was here about 2 weeks ago. And he read my review part 2 the night before he visit me. He was amazed that they things I wrote I could explain him part by part. This is how precise we work. And no amature who uses this as a hobby can even think at that level. 'Folk' his words are very limited in details, and it doesn't say that much. Sound goes a lot further than some words; like more air, bass less pronounced. Impressive Folk!! You have no idea what sound is and what you can achieve with it when you are able to reveal all the layers. Even with your fancy system you don't use the best students in it's class and not the best properties. Because I tested many of the stuff you own. And their are different parts in your system what is incomplete even on facts. The great thing about audio is that the sound and stage you hear will always speak the truth. The best audio systems can reveal music at a level what reveals all the information and layers at a level what influences your emotion you never experienced. How you want to control and guide a trial and error system? I asked it to several people who own audio shops and work in audio for many years. And they could not answer this question. When you cannot tell of each individual part of your system which properties it owns you will never know why your sound and stage is what you hear. Most people even have no idea about all the different parts which influences the sound and stage negatively. That is why money will not even solve the limitation of trial and error. We are talking about facts which are even confirmed by audio shop owners. When people think we are pro Audioquest I can garantee you that we test each individual AQ product first before we decide to sell it yess or no. The new Niagara conditioners we tested and in our world they are not good enough. We have superior competitors. We will always choose for the best. This is how we protect all our clients. There are even more AQ products we tested and will not sell. AQ did stop with 100% silver. All my tests with the Wel were not convincing. The Purist Audio LE luminist outperformed them on all parts. Audio is in our word all about shootouts and finding the best products. All inferior products never will be chosen or even sold. We want all our clients to get the maximum quality possible for the money they spend. Second best will always be for the losers in this world. When you want to show your clients respect you give them the best quality possible and never any second or 3th best. In our world each individual person should deserve a stunning audio system for the money he or she spends. We work day and night for all our customers. They can call us each day, even on saturday and sunday. And we will be there to support them. |
You need to understand the differences between silver and copper. or even the combination of these two. Silver in loudspeakercables and interconnects works different than silver in powercables. I also use 2 sets of Wel xlr in my system. And Wild interconnects for my surround part. All my hdmi, RJ/E and other cables are diamond and are also silver. But powercables for amps, sources and pre amps silver will not always be the best option. This is why Audioquest stopped with full silver. Now they had to admit that this is not the best way to go. There are enough situations that a Hurricane will work better than a Dragon. You need to understand how different materials work on an amp, pre amp or even source. The Wel tests proved that silver often will limit the diversity in the middle frequencies. Jim Aud the owner of Purist Audio also has one pure silver powercable. He made it because clients asked for it. But he also prefers the copper version, like I do. When you are able to extract all the different properties of each individual part in your system you can understand what it does to your stage and sound. This is needed to find out if a cable is the best option in your system. |
- 90 posts total