CD Player Transformed by Power Cable

S7horton,
Your system ("back to the basics") shows a different CDP and integrated?? Where are you using the Transparent Audio powercord.

Are you using the stock power cord with your Complete CDP?

I have good access to Cardas and Transparent Audio demos. I may also try those, in addition to the other Signal cables.

I did try several isolation methods with my Rotel 855 CDP, Ayre wood blocks (Cardas), vibrapods, sorbothane pads. I didn't hear much difference. I've kept it on sorbothane and it sounds glorious. Maybe I didn't try hard enough, but the differences were not as stark as my adventures with cables through my system. I think I have a pretty sharp ear for my system, and I am affected profoundly by the music when it comes together.

Ssglx, you are right. I haven't updated my system yet. I just recently switched to the AR complete and cd player with the JM labs speakers. I am using the transparent on the amplifier and the stock one on the cd player.

I am using audio quest tpye 4 terminated to the speakers without a ton of luck. I am tempted to try the anticables that you speak of.

Are you using them currently?

I did try the anticables. I mostly liked them (twisted), but in my system they didn't do most things as well as the Mapleshades. I really like my music vibrant, rich in tone, and alive. I get all that and great bass too, so I put up with some sizzle on some recordings to get the rest.

Listened to the system using a demo Shunyata Taipan power cord last night. Very impressive results.

I had fairly recently purchased the $40 Soundstring power cord to replace the Signal Cable Magic. It sounded pretty good overall, good bass and avoided the high end hash, but at the expense of an HF extention and air.

With the Taipan, things are very different. The high end is now very open and extended and sustained, but now without any hash.
Voices sound more balanced, very pleasureable and fuller in the middle and are more listenable. Similar midrange to what I heard when I tried the Cardas Cross interconnect. Bass definition has also tightened up, with more impact and emphasis on deep bass. The overall sound is also more microdynamic, much closer to how my old Rotel 855 player sounds in that regard.
On the negative side, the Taipan gives the system just a little "bleached" sound (slightly less tonal color) and sibilance on voices is a little more. Its also quite expensive in my view.

I've also borrowed a Hydra 2 to try out on both CD Players. My other experiences with power conditioners was not very good.

It just amazes me how these things on the power side can make such a difference to the sound, and to my level of enjoyment.

Chris

I'm not surprised that your digital system responded favourably to a power cord change. The power supplies in most digital gear are phenomenally poor, hence the power cords making the most difference there. I've often recommended trying power cords on digital gear first if one wants to experiment as that seems to be the most sensitive part of the average system.

With that in mind, you might want to look into some of Chris VH's earlier power cords ( VH Audio ). I would also consider the interconnects coming out of the player. At the price points that you're playing with and the sonics that you're describing, a Flavour 2 power cord and a pair of Chris' Pulsar interconnects might do wonders for you. Sean
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PS... The Pulsar's work best after being run on a cable burner for a period of time.