This review was originally submitted at Head-Fi and as such the system used is headphone based utilizing a Cambridge Azur 640C --> Singlepower PPX3 headphone amplifier --> Grado RS-1 headphones.
The Audiogeek website can be found at
www.audiogeek.netIntroductionI’m going to start off this review by stating up front that I’ve generally found most cable upgrades to be a rather subtle change at best. For that reason I’ve been happy with Michael Thompson's Rope interconnects I’ve been using for about the past 10 years. I’ve compared them at different times to cables many times their price and the Rope have always faired well, sometimes being bested but typically by IC’s that cost many times more.
Recently though I’ve been intrigued by a few Head-Fiers getting into the interconnect game. The Audiogeek Nitrogen’s unique ProSink termination particularly interested me enough to contact eric343 about them. In the words of Eric
ProSink termination has the unique quality of compensating for the reactive elements in a cable. Reactive elements -- capacitance and inductance -- are what cable manufacturers traditionally seek to avoid. However, the laws of physics make it impossible to entirely eliminate capacitance or inductance entirely through cable geometry (such as exotic conductor designs or fancy cable shapes). However, if the reactive elements are combined and treated as impedance, then it is possible to render ineffective and irrelevant these reactive elements. This is what ProSink does -- rather than attack cable reactivity head-on through esoteric and expensive cable designs, it bypasses them entirely.
One of the effects of the ProSink termination can be some attenuation of the signal which I’ll admit is what first drew my attention to them back when I had my original PPX3. That version of the PPX3 used a different volume pot which only allowed me to get the volume to around 8 o’clock. The newer version is better but still usually only allows me to get my volume to between 8 and 9 o’clock so I thought this side effect of the ProSink termination might in fact be beneficial to me as it could give me more usable volume control which in turn would allow me to fine tune my volume settings easier.
Another reason I started looking more seriously at new interconnects is really a rather minor quibble of a slight brightness or more accurately a slight emphasis on sibilance that had crept into my system along the way. Although I never found the Rope to be bright I figured with their being silver I might be able to tweak the brightness out with a change to a cable with a smoother, more laid back treble. I wasn’t expecting much in other overall “improvements” so to speak but any others would be icing on the cake.
Build QualityWhen I first took the Nitrogen’s out of the shipping package I was struck by how well they were constructed. The black, white and gold really make for a nice looking cable. They are somewhat stiff but flexible enough that I didn't have any problems working them into my audio rack. My only comments as far as build are more aesthetic than anything. I personally would like to see markings for left and right, not a big deal but it can make things a bit more convenient. Second, is the cables are obviously directional due to the ProSink termination, as such directionality is indicated by arrows which have been put on with marker but I think there may be a more aesthetically pleasing method that is more in line with the solid professional build quality. Maybe incorporate directionality with left right marking of some sort.
From my understanding in talking with Eric these minor aesthetic issues have been or will be addressed as soon as he finds products that meet his specifications so in reality they are a non-issue.
Initial Listening ImpressionsWhen I first plugged the Nitrogen’s in I did notice I needed a bit more volume but it wasn’t a dramatic difference. Now I find my volume sitting around the 9 o’clock or slightly higher position.
My first sonic impressions of the Nitrogen’s were favorable although they sounded strained I could hear the potential. Smooth, more detail, better definition and a greater sense of space. I left them to run in and when I came back to give them a more serious listen I was surprised to hear a fairly dramatic change in the sound of my system.
So How Do They Sound?The cable swap from the Rope to the Nitrogen’s proved to not be the subtle difference I had been expecting. In fact the difference is more akin to a source upgrade than a mere cable upgrade. The Nitrogen’s had a positive overall effect on pretty much every aspect of music. In fact it was like I had been in a room with the blinds closed and someone came along and opened them up allowing me to see my surroundings more clearly.
One of the first things I noticed was a more spacious feeling. There was more depth and better separation of instruments which in turn allows for better delineation of instruments, vocal harmonies and low level details.
The purported bass increase of the Nitrogen’s is there but it’s different than I had expected. If I had any reservations in trying the Nitrogen’s this is where they lie. I felt my system was just about right in the bass department so an increase in weight or volume was not really a place I wanted to go. The Nitrogen’s do increase bass but it’s the quality of the bass that makes it a positive. Not only is there more weight and extension but the bass is tighter with more detail, tonality and texture.
Therein lies the kicker, the detail, tonality and texture are not only traits of the lower frequencies but follow through the whole spectrum giving a much fuller, richer and seemingly more accurate representation of the music. In contrast the Rope sounds not only somewhat thin and lifeless but I’m surprised by how much of the music they were holding back, it’s like the Nitrogen’s allowed a whole new dimension of the music to show through.
A big thing for me lately has been PRaT (Pace, Rhythm and Timing), when I heard RS-1’s for the first time it really hit home how much of an effect PRaT has on musical enjoyment. I think I’ve been fortunate in my purchases to pick components that do a reasonably good job in this department. I’m sure there are better out there but on my limited budget I think I’ve managed to pull off a system that keeps the foot tapping. The Nitrogen’s are right at home here as well, they allow the music to have a natural flow and expressiveness that made the Rope sound stilted in comparison. Dynamics are also less constricted and when things get busy they don’t lose their composure and become muddied which also lends to a better sense of PRaT.
The only negative I could find, and it’s not really a negative, is the slight sibilance emphasis I had been experiencing was still there and because the Nitrogen’s seemed to open a window on the music it seemed even more noticeable than it did with the Rope. What in effect this told me was there was another source for the sibilance most probably the Cambridge or power related and in fact the Quail power cords I just received seemed to have tamed it a bit so I’m hoping some proper power conditioning may cure it altogether.
In ConclusionI’m still rather surprised by the difference the Nitrogen’s made in my system. Did it cure all the problems I was looking for it to? No. But what they did do is allow me to see further and have a greater insight and enjoyment of the musical experience than the Rope IC’s ever would. The Nitrogen’s didn’t just improve a couple of areas while sacrificing others, they truly made an overall improvement that was not subtle. Given their very reasonable asking price I would have to say they are one of the true audio bargains I’ve found.
