[Rclark]

I really want to thank Dave Elledge for including me on this tour, as I'd never tried quality power cables and I was a huge skeptic. I mean huge. I mean arms folded, ready to fearlessly bag on them all over Audiocircle all day long skeptical. You know how I roll. Dave was very brave to send them my way. Or rather, very confident, its obvious now that that was the case. Sum: Anyone who has chosen the components for their system, and has dialed in and tuned their room with treatments, and are now looking for that last icing on the cake should look no further.

PI audio is a mainstay of GR Research, and his products like the Uberbuss (which I hope to also try), seem to be ubiquitous among the finer systems on this board.

I had a good extended amount of time with these cables, and put the Mongo on my cdp, and swapped the MPC+ (with Furutech), and MPC back and forth on my subwoofer.

These are extremely attractive cables that are definitely "OFFICIAL" power cables. You touch the exterior and you can feel a whole lot of wire going on under there. It's like drinking with one of your stupid friends who chugs creatine and does bicep curls all day. At some point he's going to want you to feel his bicep (in order to shame you), and, yes, sadly, these PI cables also make me feel inadequate in the same way.

On listening, ok, there was definitely something going on here. The human aural memory is pretty pathetic so I am a believer in long term listening with components, then swapping, followed by further long term listening, and staying with the same listening material, a single album is best. To me, when components are similar, snapping back and forth won't do it. Is there a difference? Yes. Is my human capability able to detect it in snap switches? No. Maybe if I was a robot, then it would be different. Humans have terrible aural memories. Unless the difference is hugely drastically different, we need time to settle before we can actually quantify differences. I am learning a lot as a "journeyman" audiophile. I've tried several speakers now, several amps, and sometimes the difference in a piece of gear is blatantly, obviously,staggeringly better, like the Ncore amp, and sometimes it is subtle and requires listening, like my ERC-2 player versus XDA-1 dac. When the differences are small, we must listen at length. But don't kid yourself, there are differences.

That said, the differences with the MPC+ on my Epik Legend subwoofer were not subtle. I had to actually turn the gain down because the sub was now above that fine balance I'd had before. And there was definitely an increase in lower bass definition, noticed on a repeated and familiar BassNectar track that had a passage that sort of vibrated the low bass in a certain section.. with the MPC+ attached I definitely without a doubt noticed finer definition and a bit more oomph.

With the Mongo on my cdp for a good long while, with sporadic swaps to the... pretty robust stock EMO cable, I definitely noticed blacker backgrounds, a smoother presentation of the sound, more defined highs, again, not noticeable at a party, hey let's swap cables, it's more something you'll hear personally at length with familiar material, a subtle refinement of the sound.

Again, I wouldn't place the emphasis on these as a system replacement. Power cables are not the same as replacing speakers with something of higher quality, or not the same as treating your room, but they are definitely something that should be looked at as a final "finish". I know I will.

Dave is a great guy, contact him, these cables cost less that you'd expect, and will last a lifetime.

I've sent these off to the law offices of a one, Gopher, and hopefully this is something for him to enjoy after that ridiculous storm over there.

[jtwrace]

I had to actually turn the gain down because the sub was now above that fine balance I'd had before.

Very nice review. 

The only thing I wish you had was some way to measure your system (FR) before and after the cable swap. 

[Rclark]

Thanks Jason!

[dBe]

Rclark, thanks for the great review.

Power cables have long been a subject of controversy, mostly among people that had not/would never try them.  I remember Jon Risch's comment after trying one of my origianl power cables years ago - " the stock cable makes the amp sound constipated".  Jan Luczek (where are you?) did a review of my original MPC over 12 years ago.  He used his digital editor (ProTools?) in his recording studio to record two identical samples of the same musical track - one with and one without the cable.  He could zoom in on the sample for sample, frame for frame data and analyze the differences in the data streams.  There were differences in the entire spectra.  Not a lot, but differences indeed.  To a measurement device with discrimination capabilities of one part in six billion (the ear) it doesn't take much.  The differences were largest in the softer passages of the music where the microdynamics dominated.  It is the subtlety of detail that holds the magic in reproduction - not the huge swings that you get between pieces of gear sometimes.

Like a dumbass I didn't save a copy for posterity of his review - my bad.  I never thought that HDD would die I guess       .  Perhaps some erstwhile individual will do the same tests and post them.  I have neither the time or inclination to do so.  I seldom get to the studio any more and besides, my ears (and sales) tell me all I need to know.

Thanks again, Rclark.  As soon as I get a spare Uber I'll get one off to you for the first slot in an UberTour.

My best,

Dave

[Rclark]

Totally looking forward to that. Gopher should have them soon. Nice for him, but I miss having them in my system.

[dBe]

Totally looking forward to that. Gopher should have them soon. Nice for him, but I miss having them in my system.

Hang in there - it'll come.

It will be very interesting to see what Fred has to say about the cables.  He has some of Pete's and loves them.  The MPC's will be very different.  Cables of any type are a taste thing.  Every system is different and everyone's tastes are different.  Pete's are very round sounding... uhm... "Triode"-like     while mine are more dynamic and have more stark differences in microdynamics.  Kind of like Earl Grey and espresso I guess.

Thanks again, R - take care,

Dave

[Gopher]

I received them today!  I placed a Mongo on my uberbuss and have done a small amount of listening during commercial breaks from the CNN election night coverage.

I'm going to wait till my listening is more deliberate to post  in depth thoughts but my first impressions are quite favorable!

[Gopher]

Alright, I did some listening last night with the Mongo on my Uberbuss and the difference between it and the TWL 8+ is quite profound.  Dave's cable seems to throw a significantly bigger stage and gain in overall coherence.  Images are more clearly delineated and its a more impressive listen, but over the course of my listening I was feeling something was missing a bit in terms of warmth and emotion and to a small extent weight. 

I think I may have found a good compromise swapping the TWL 8+ onto my DAC and leaving the Mongo on the Pi, but towards the end of the session I was passing out (long day) so I'll revisit it tonight and play around.  I hear so much potential in this Mongo that I'm sure theres a way to integrate it in to elevate everything.

Question:  I signed up for this tour forever ago and can't find the original thread--what is tour ettique on this one?  A week?  two?  It takes a bit of time to incorporate cable changes.

[dBe]

That is why cabling is so important.  You have to pick and choose cable for each piece of gear very carefully.  To much catsup (ketchup?) is just bland you know,  same with too much habanero chili sauce being too spicy.  After a while you will develop a learned ability to choose a cable for its' effect on each piece of gear to fine tune the whole recipie.  Takes an ear and more than a little time, but you'll get there.  Pete's cables have that "Triode" sound and mine are more revealing and dynamic.

Choose wisely, my friend, and you will find "It" whatever that may be.

Dave

[Rclark]

I got to demo the Triode Wires on the ncore tour and they were awesome.

[morganc]

Alright, I did some listening last night with the Mongo on my Uberbuss and the difference between it and the TWL 8+ is quite profound.  Dave's cable seems to throw a significantly bigger stage and gain in overall coherence.  Images are more clearly delineated and its a more impressive listen, but over the course of my listening I was feeling something was missing a bit in terms of warmth and emotion and to a small extent weight. 

I think I may have found a good compromise swapping the TWL 8+ onto my DAC and leaving the Mongo on the Pi, but towards the end of the session I was passing out (long day) so I'll revisit it tonight and play around.  I hear so much potential in this Mongo that I'm sure theres a way to integrate it in to elevate everything.

Question:  I signed up for this tour forever ago and can't find the original thread--what is tour ettique on this one?  A week?  two?  It takes a bit of time to incorporate cable changes.

How did I miss this tour Gopher?   When is she Cali bound:)?

[roscoeiii]

Yes, where is this tour sign up page? Did I sign up for this one?

[satfrat]

Yes, where is this tour sign up page? Did I sign up for this one?

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=104678.0

It's my understanding that the summer tour was delayed due to Dave's reoccurring health issues from his car accident.

Cheers,
Robin

[dBe]

How did I miss this tour Gopher?   When is she Cali bound:)?

Morgan, I'll add you to the list.........

Dave

[dBe]

Yes, where is this tour sign up page? Did I sign up for this one?

Yup, you are next, I believe...

Dave

[dBe]

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=104678.0

It's my understanding that the summer tour was delayed due to Dave's reoccurring health issues from his car accident.

Cheers,
Robin

Hey, Robin.  The aftermath of the wreck is still buggin' me, but its' all good.   

Take care.

Dave

[roscoeiii]

Ah, that is exciting. Though I might want to be bumped down a spot or two, since the rest of my system is a bit up in the air. I will be in touch with you and Gopher when his time with theses is coming to an end.

[dBe]

Question:  I signed up for this tour forever ago and can't find the original thread--what is tour ettique on this one?  A week?  two?  It takes a bit of time to incorporate cable changes.

Here they are:

Power Cable Tour 2012

Here are the guidelines, guys:  Please keep the cables as long as it takes to come to an evaluation of each one.  You will find that each cable has its’ own character.  I suggest that you try each cable on the front end (ie: source components) first.  This is where the signal begins and if that isn’t right, then all you have is bad ju-ju from there on… just bigger.  We have to get music right from the beginning for it to be musical at the end.

Suggested trial methodology is to insert the test cables and listen to each one for a day or so.  Then, choose the cable that you believe to be the best match and listen to it for a few days to a week.  Return the system to the original configuration to make sure that what you “think” you hear as changes is really what is going on with the system.  DO NOT CHANGE MORE THAN ONE CABLE AT A TIME!   If you do, you will not know which change did what to what.  Confused?  Yes, you will be if you make multiple changes at once.


OK?

Dave

[dBe]

Ah, that is exciting. Though I might want to be bumped down a spot or two, since the rest of my system is a bit up in the air. I will be in touch with you and Gopher when his time with theses is coming to an end.

No worries.  Shek is in NY so they can go to him.

Dave

[Gopher]

Here they are:

Power Cable Tour 2012

Here are the guidelines, guys:  Please keep the cables as long as it takes to come to an evaluation of each one.  You will find that each cable has its’ own character.  I suggest that you try each cable on the front end (ie: source components) first.  This is where the signal begins and if that isn’t right, then all you have is bad ju-ju from there on… just bigger.  We have to get music right from the beginning for it to be musical at the end.

Suggested trial methodology is to insert the test cables and listen to each one for a day or so.  Then, choose the cable that you believe to be the best match and listen to it for a few days to a week.  Return the system to the original configuration to make sure that what you “think” you hear as changes is really what is going on with the system.  DO NOT CHANGE MORE THAN ONE CABLE AT A TIME!   If you do, you will not know which change did what to what.  Confused?  Yes, you will be if you make multiple changes at once.


OK?

Dave

Awesome, Dave.  Looking forward to doing some nerding this weekend.

Can you tell me which of the smaller cables is which based on the picture above?  I assumed the largest gauge one is the Mongo and have begun with that.