Audioquest cables: replace the DBS Battery pack.

Kid, How about Synergistic Research Alpha Sterling Active? Yes, Bundy, it comes with its own power cord. I tried the interconnect but didn't get around to trying it active even though I had the component, because I knew I wasn't going to spend the money for it. Pretty poor audiophile, I guess-- not even curious enough to try it when I had it.

Jeffreybehr,

I am not declaring Jihad (being a smart ass) on AudioQuest but I must say that I find the whole DBS theory and technology a little thin. I too have owned a ton of AudioQuest and even upgraded every time a new model came along. Until my recent system, I was using AQ Anaconda and Volcano for my reference 2 channel system and was happy.

Then the new DBS came out. Me being a sick in the head audiophile who needs the latest and greatest, found the DBS version of the Volcano and the NEW Panther Interconnects which replaced my precious Anaconda to audition. Guess what? I was not hearing anything I already did not have. No better, but no worse. Hmmmmm...That just cannot be.

Then a good friend and fellow crazed Audiophile came over to audition the AQ DBS out of curiosity and brought his month old Audience Au24 Interconnects and Speaker Wire just for grins and to A/B.

The Audience Au24 TRUMPED the AQ in every category and believe it or not sounded much more natural. Not to mention, it was a fraction of the price. These little black wires simply sounded better than the big, pretty, battery powered, AudioQuest. Now I will say this, I do not work for Audience but I do swear by the Au24 now as well as their PowerChords.

The one thing I mentioned above as well is please see the review in Stereophile on the DBS stuff. Art Dudley (no I am not a big fan) did some A/B comparisons and even unhooked the batteries and heard ZERO Difference and stated so in the article. It really struck a nerve with Bill Lowe as he wrote a two page reply in the Manufacturers Comments telling Art what he "should have heard". (I am not making this up, go look)

Anyway, to each his own and I believe system synergy goes a long way but I am just not buying into the whole DBS thing. Not to mention, the fact they are changing voltages and selling upgrades makes me even more suspicous of the "HYPE" factor.

My opinion above is based on my system with a friend in my dedicated listening room and no I do not own an Adcom Stack and a Pair of Legacys. The review I mentioned is in Stereophile and can be found in the Archives.

Good Listening!

Chris

Well Jeffy-bear, looks like your the only one in this thread that thinks DBS isn't snake oil. If you cant hear the difference then why spend money on it. My Kimber dealer said it best "Don't waste your money on the DielectricBullS#*!(DBS)."

Well Jeffy-bear i'm hear to support you.
I have the Kilimanjaro with DBS and the results are:
With DBS you get more transparency and more micro information. Alsoo more analytical.
But for the people who didn't listen to these cables i would suggest try one of these DBS cables.
If you didn't listen to the DBS cables, how do you know the difference??

While I have no association with AQ, it seems many are misunderstanding what I believe they are claiming (whether true or not). The DBS is supposed to keep the cable dialectric "formed", that is, broken in. So comparing the cable with and without the battery connected should not actually make any difference. The better test would be to compare two of the same cables, after disconnecting the battery on one of them, after some period of time (perhaps days or weeks). If DBS works, the one without the battery connected would need some re-breakin time before it sounded the same as the one with DBS.

Has anyone tried this?