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A Tale Of Two. . . Anacondas Helix

Tomorrow at lunchtime, if The Muses, The Force, and several other imponderables are still with us, Babybear and I will get together once again to discuss, audition and compare, well you guessed it, power chords of course. More specifically, we will examine the relative merits and impact of the Shunyata Anaconda Helix VX versus its close twin -- the Shunyata Anaconda helix Alpha -- on Babybear's own Teac Esoteric X-01 Limited. I do confess that I am going into the session with a personal hypothesis, or perhaps simply a hunch. In other words, I suspect that at least on the X-01, the noise absorbing pellets in the VX may be unnecessarily dampening some transient response, micro dynamics such as the amplitude of string vibrato, and some low level detail such as is found in the noise of Rosen on bowed strings.
My suspicions were recently heightened by Marc Mickelson's fine article on Python Helix, posted at:
http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/shunyata_python_helix_followup.htm
In his review Mr. Mickelson suggest that "in [his] system VX is right only for digital transports, like the Esoteric P-03, and the Alpha for [single box] CD players."
In our tesst the VX chord will be equipped with a 15 Amp IEC connector, while the Alpha has a 20 Amp IEC connector, which will be converted to 15 Amp format through a Voodoo converter. Stay tuned!
guidocorona
babybear's avatar
babybear
106 posts
 
HI,

The jazz tracks that Guido is referring to above were:
1. Eric Marienthal - Got You Covered - track #5 - I've got the world on a string
2. Boney James - Pure - Track #2 - Better with time
3. Ramsey Lewis - With One Voice - Track #4 - Thoughts and Reflections (Ramsey is playing the Steinway piano that Guido refers to above)
4. Dave Brubeck - Young Lions and Old Tigers - track #11 - this features Ronnie Buttacavoli on flugelhorn that Guido refers to in his post.

Just to clarify a few couple minor points. The power cord on the ARC Ref 3 is the RSA Poiema !!! Signature and the balanced power unit is the Exactpower SP15a.

I agree with Guido's review above. Both cords are very, very good on the X-01 limited in my system, but it appeared that with the Alpha version, it was even better as Guido describes. Arnie
thom_y
195 posts
 
Guidocorona,

Thanks for the review.

Now I am confused. I was considering using the Python Helix cords on my emmlabs CDSD transport and DCC2 DAC. I don't have a local dealer, so I can't demo them first. I was going to get an alpha cord for the DCC2, and a VX for the CDSD transport. Now your observations make me wonder whether an alpha may also be better for the CDSD. Do you or others have any thoughts to help me ???
guidocorona OP
4,298 posts
 
Thom_y, it is difficult to give you a definite opinion not having personally heard the EMM gear. However, Marc Mickelson in his article suggests that VX chords are appropriate for purely-transport devices. The CDSD is purely a transport. If you purchased two Python Helix chords-- one VX and one Alpha, you will be able to experiment with both on the transport, leaving initially the original stock power chord on DCC2. If you found the VX preferable on the CDSD, you have it made. . . just move the Alpha on the DCC2. If Alpha were more of your liking on CDSD as well, you may decide to sell the VX and source a second Alpha. In either case, you may want to give both chords a couple of hundred hrs of break-in before making a final decision.
soundoc
12 posts
 
To Guido:

Why do you not use the Anaconda Helix Alpha on the REF 3?
babybear's avatar
babybear
106 posts
 
HI Soundoc,

The system we used for the power cord comparison is mine, so I will answer your question. I have compared the Helix Alpha on the Ref 3 in my system to the RidgeStreet Audio Poiema 3 Signature and I prefer the RSA power cord. Again, while the Shunyata Helix Alpha works very well on the Ref 3, I have found that in my system, the sound is a little more authoritative with a little more of the "you are there" sound with the RSA cord. And, this is the sound that I prefer. Arnie
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