Topic: The Mad Scientist “NEO” Power cord from New Zealand.
I must start off by saying that I was one of the original skeptics about power cords improving Audio quality. The first power cord that changed my mind was the Synergistic Research Master Coupler. Back in the day I think they sold for about $150 but once I inserted it into my system, the bass was much stronger and I was a believer.
So through the years I spent a lot of time and money getting the power cords that seemed to grab reviewer’s attention. That list includes, top of the line products from Purist, Virtual Dynamics, Nordost, and Synergistic Apex power cables. I borrowed many more to try from the Cable Company.
Well, one day on Audiogon a thread appeared about HiDiamond power cables and the comparison to most of the cables that I had owned. I ordered a few HiDiamond P3 power cords (which were less than half the cost of my current cables ) and to my amazement they did in fact better my high cost Synergistic Apex cables with all the active shielding modules and such. One by one I replaced the Synergistic with the HiDiamond P3’s. Then a few months later HiDiamond introduced the P4’s. Now these were much pricier than the P3’s. But, eventually I accumulated 6 of the P4’s and defended these to all that these power cables are the best ever made.
A few months back I found a thread on Audio Asylum about a New Zealand company (Mad Scientist) that was sending out free samples of some little discs that when placed atop of cables were to improve the sound quality. The tweaker that I am, I had to try them. So, that I could get an ample supply to try them at several places I had my wife and daughter order some of the free samples also. Well the Mad Scientist noticed that the same address with different names was getting extra free samples. I fessed up to my little scheme, and was sort of embarrassed.
Anyway, The Mad Scientist later came out with a new power cord, the “NEO”. This cord appeared to have some actual technology involved other than just a different type of wire or braiding techniques, shielding, connectors etc that ever other Cable manufacture claims is what makes theirs superior to others.
No, the Mad Scientist NEO Power cord design goes beyond just wires and uses some proprietary black sticks, and bell shaped things woven in and out of the AC wiring. I ordered up one of the NEO power cords with upgraded AC / IEC ends and 11 gauge wires. Surprisingly, though New Zealand is on the other side of the world I received them in a matter of days.
I was in the process of remodeling my Audio room and placed the NEO power cord on my Audiodharma cable cooker for about a week. Once my room was finished I remembered that I still had the NEO on my cooker.
Well folks, I first placed this Mad Scientists NEO Power cord on my Pass Labs X350.5 amp (which replaced a HiDiamond P4 Power cord). To my surprise, immediately, there was a marked improvement in bass, bass quality and definition. The midrange showed that special quality that brought the magic of the recording into my room. This is my belief that the improved tonal quality accompanied by a very large soundstage was of such high quality that when compared to the HiDiamond P4 power cord, it made the HiDiamond sound, well, HIFI!
Now, the HiDiamond P4 power cord had beaten all other power cords in my 15+ year journey through the power cord jungle.
So here is a power cord that looks sort of homemade and costs 1/5 of the HiDiamond P4 and was making my system sound way more real sounding. I’ve heard people use the word “organic” to describe sound quality and never really knew what that meant. But organic or “realganic” is correct for the sound of the new Mad Scientist NEO power cord.
I then tried it replacing the HIDiamond P4’s power cord that was on my Pass Labs Preamp XP-10 and later on my BSG QOL. In both places, the sound improved to quite a large extent with the Mad Scientist product. I then ordered 3 more of these Mad Scientists cords. Each and every place, be it digital, analog, power conditioner, power amp the change in sound quality improved.
I just received the newly designed Dac from PS Audio, called the “Direct Stream”. Placing this New Zealand power cord from the Mad Scientist on it made an already fantastic sounding Dac into extra ordinary.
I have no financial interest in this company. I paid the price for all of the power cords. The newly designed power cords with 11 gauge wire sells for less than $500 with the better quality AC ends(a must). But consider how much all of the other power cords that I have mentioned in this review cost and you can see how great of a deal these cords are.
They don’t look pretty. They have a cotton outer covering and several shrink wrapped bulges at the end that is holding in the black sticks, magnets, copper plates and the power kegs.
Mcondon, have you received the LessLoss Reference cord from the Cable Company yet? I'm anxiously waiting to hear your thoughts about that power cord vs others you have listened to.
I have four NEO cords in my system and have been waiting to post my impressions/conclusions until they are fully broken in, but since this thread popped up again, I thought I would check in with a few thoughts.
First, while part of the character of these cords becomes apparent fairly soon after they have been installed--they are uncannily natural with excellent imaging and resolution--until they get at least a hundred hours or more on them, they are a bit light in the lower end and ever so bit a tad "thin" sounding. IMO, if you plan to try the NEOs, make absolutely sure they have at least a hundred hours before drawing any firm conclusions (and this remark is not directed at Mcondon or anyone in particular).
I've been in the hobby about fifteen years or so and have grown increasingly skeptical--and weary--of A/B testing. I prefer to live with gear for awhile and see how it develops over a period of time. I can say for sure that the NEO cords are continuing to deepen and fill out in terms of texture, while their clarity and natural qualities remain intact. I think they are quite special and an amazing value.
Lak, yes, I auditioned the LessLoss Reference from the Cable Company. Sorry I didn't post impressions earlier. Frankly, I don't think it quite competes with CH Acoustics. I didn't find music to be emotionally engaging when using it. It sounded a little flat in terms of soundstage and a bit grainy. One possible explanation is that my amp has an internal power conditioner and is not supposed to be used with a separate power conditioner, as the overall sound quality is degraded. So, the LessLoss cord may do too much power conditioning for my system. I actually was much more impressed with another power cord I borrowed from the Cable Company, a top of the line Silent Source cord. It shares many of the attributes of the CH Acoustics cord. Ultimately, the CH Acoustics X-20 was better, creating a more open soundstage and the best dynamics I have ever heard, but the Silent Source cord was pretty close and is a little less expensive than the X-20. If money isn't a big constraint, the CH Acoustics and Silent Source cords are both worthy of demos.
Sorry to derail this thread. I am discussing power cords that cost over $2000, and this thread is about the NEO, which does deserve praise for performing so well at a non-stratospheric price.
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