what happened to power cord review

Bob: From my experience "most" people are satisfied with the Absolute PC and I know a handful of people (personaly) who have replaced more expensive cords with it (in the $150-$500 price range). This of course does not say much for the $500 PC. I have three of the cords and have not experienced any of the faults (grain, etc.) that you noted in an earlier post on the subject and have used them in a variety of different setups and applications over the past eight months. If you tested a single unit, I would suggest picking up another for evaluation as there may be a QC problem with the one that was used. I would expect such fluctuations in something that "might" only cost $5 (including labor and transportation) to manufacture and which also has soldered connections. My take on the Absolute is that it has average bass response for PC's in the under $250 or so price range and that the HF's are a bit softer than the norm (not unlike the HT Pro 11 in this area). The midrange is open and clear. I do not use them in key area's (only because I have better cords for this), but feel that they still offer a lot of bang for the buck. I once tried them "solo" in my better setup (on the DAC, transport and amp/with volume pot) which is a good way to audition PC's if you happen to have enough of them to make the stretch. I have not yet, but may try the Asylum cord as I will soon need a couple of inexpensive matched PC's for a pair of phono preamps that I will run as dual mono's. I suspect that these 20+ year old phono preamps may be based on one of your designs (whether you got paid for it or not:-).

Bob: Sorry, I meant Jon Curl on the phono preamps (I get you guys mixed up).

I just purchased my 2nd CPCC Model 11, and the sound is wonderful. Blacker background, great bass dynamics, and more inner detail. I sold my synergistic master coupler, and I am now thinking of selling my Shunyata sidewinder gold and getting a 3rd CPCC 11 or even the next one up,
the top gun for about 500. At $280 for the Model 11, it is a very versital cord for amps and front-end gear. David Blair of CPCC is on to something. TAS golden ear awards.
Check it out. You won't be sorry!!!!

Dekay, a friend bought a couple of them and we did some listening right out of the box, with two weeks break-in and with six weeks break-in and both sounded alike and not to either my friend's or my liking, but to each his own....I think you would like the Asylum cord a bit better as it does stage and depth considerably better than the absolute as does the Parasound "Wonderful" cord that came with the HCA-3500.....The Wonderful cord was about $30 as I recall and the Asylum cord is $65 or thereabouts.....As I mentioned Norm liked the Absolute cord so well he replaced cords retailing for up to 2k with them, but think he has a different set of priorities.....My friend sold the Absolutes BTW....Oh, yes my partner, John Curl, has designed a number of phono stages in the past thirty years.....

I've been using Virtual Dynamics Power 2 cords for two weeks now, and greatly prefer them over the Absolute Power Cords. To be honest, I never heard much of a difference between the Absolute PCs and stock cords, but the VDs have really opened up the sound. Blacker background, more dynamic, and the soundstaging is astounding.

The three Power 2s are on my transport, DAC and preamp. I'm using an Acoustic Zen Tsunami on my amp. I plan on doing some switcheroos to see what, if any, the effects are. Initially, when I installed the AZ with the Absolutes it had a mellowing effect on the sound. Very pleasant. But swapping out the Absolutes for the VDs just brought everything to life. If you feel like trying the Virtual Dynamics, Rick has a 14 day trial policy. Good luck!

Dekay. Great to see you posting with regularity again!