I would perhaps disagree that the King Cobra V2 robs the sound of "dynamics." I might suggest that it is less refined than some other cords, but lacking dynamics??? Not in my book: I was afraid it was going to blow out the woofers on my amps, it was THAT dynamic. Hadn't had THAT experience before. However, the upper midrange seemed reticent to my ears, and when I used other power cords, it was clear that that's the frequency that was missing. Besides, what the King Cobra V2 did in the upper bass/lower midrange, where much orchestral "power" lies, was -- and I hate this overused, overhyped word -- amazing. Not that I think of live music as "amazing" when I hear it, but the King Cobra kept drum rolls exceedingly distinct, and "alive." It's the only power cord, that, Transparents, Nordosts (current line)and even current Shunyatas notwithstanding, I sigh nostalgically now that I sold them. That was one stupid decision: no matter what the newer line does, the King Cobras were gorgeous. There was actually AIR BEHIND THE BRASS at the very back of the soundstage. And the imaging: kill me now, I tell you! RIGHT NOW! I sure miss that cable.
Having said that, I have no idea what Elrods, and the other biggies are like, but that in no way detracts from the King Cobra V2: used with superior tubed equipment, it was the first time since 1984 that I actually trembled at how vivid the presentation was. (Hurricane amps, by the way.)
My point? I never heard the Shunyata King Cobra V1, but when one says "...All Shunyata 'noise reduction' series cords rob dynamics to some extent, which is why I don't care for them on my amps. However, they do have some *magic* when used for digital applications..." I can only wonder what they have now, 'cuz I SURELY want to hear it.
This is not to pick on Jmcgrogan2 or diss him, it's just to say, "wow...we had VERY different experiences with that cord." I could never, EVER accuse that particular power cord (KCV2)of a loss of dynamics. EVER.
Now, onto the original poster's question: I setup a system for a friend, and loaned him my MIT 770 CVT Twin interconnects. I also had a King Cobra on his ARcam integrated amp (quite dazzling, hearing the "fog" in the soundstage vanish so clearly that my female friend blurted out, "I can see why this cord costs $2000!") and Transparent's cheap MusicWave speaker cable on Mirage speakers. The sound was intensely "vivid" and projected. In fact, I recently setup a smaller system with the EXACT same line, except a newer Arcam integrate and newer Mirage speakers, although his were 490, and these are 490is speakers. The "projection" was not there. The only, and I mean, ONLY difference was the MIT interconnects (now, as I write, on their way from California). I'm using Nordost, and it is NOT projecting. I recall that in TAS, in the speaker cable survey, it was mentioned that the MIT had the ability to project the sound into the room and image like mad. This is the MIT sound: vivid and projected. Fortunately, I don't have to guess. The interconnect will be here by Friday and I'll post after I put it in the system. Unfortunately, I'll have to use a Black Mamba on the integrated, but otherwise, the system, given that I have a newer Arcam integrated and newer speakers, will be exactly the same -- except for the room, of course -- but it should be illuminating. My experience is that a company has a "sound" that exists within its whole line. Very few companies have forward power cords, recessed interconnects, etc. The only exception to this at one time Goldmund, whose Studio turntable was non-linear all over the place and somewhat dark. However, their electronics, notably the Mimesis 9, was quite NOT-DARK. So, I would expect that, whatever the sonic signature of MIT's cables, so goes the power cord. I used MIT until 1994, when I became a reviewer, at which time I switched to Transparent, and even as I'm writing this sentence, I'm having an Aha! moment: the MIT was airier and had the equivalent of a 100 watt bulb, while the Transparent was more "transparent." However, I had both MIT and Transparent speaker cable simultaneously, and loaned them out, curious about reactions. Everyone said the Transparent was more "transparent" but what they didn't pick up was that the MIT made a guitar sound as though it weighed 15 pounds, while the (older) Transparent cable and even the (current) Nordost Valhalla, which I have, make a guitar sound like it weighs 6 pounds. MIT has more weight and body. And it definitely projects the sound, as confirmed in the TAS speaker survey recently. See issue 146, and Gader's comments that the AVT 1 speaker cable sounds "...livelier, more in-the-room..."
Sorry to ramble, but it's funny you should have asked that question. I was just reading (back)issue 136 of TAS, and the reviewer, Greg Petan, noted that the Nordost was more lightweight sounding and that the MIT exuded more fleshed-out sonics.
Since you have MIT Oracle, perhaps you should try their power cord first. I'm curious: do you find the sonics NOT projecting and vivid right now?? Is it that you want more of that or do you not hear it that way with the system you have??
