Virtually everyone approaches a discussion weighed down with the baggage of one or more preconceptions on the subject(s) under review. This is entirely natural as our views and opinions are formed from our experiences and inputs over the years.
Just how significant these preconceptions can be has been brought home to me quite patently over the last couple of months.
Up until ~2 months ago, I was a confirmed sceptic on power conditioning and after-market power cords and, as far as interconnects and speaker cables were concerned, was convinced that there was benefit in the initial step up from those crappy interconnects tossed in with most Pacific Rim "systems" and from lamp-cord as speaker wiring, but beyond that first step lay a few kilolitres of snake-oil.
The first inkling I had about these preconceptions came along when - on an impulse - I bought a second-hand mains conditioner and four used power cords (it was one of those "bargains" that come along every now and then when some dude sells his software company, buys a yacht and a seafront property on a tropical island and, just before sailing off into the wild blue yonder, also sells his audio gear).
I used this mains conditioner to power the CDT/DAC (on one isolated socket-pair) and the preamp (on the second isolated socket-pair). I noticed some minor, but distinct improvements in the overall presentation - lower noise floor, clearer treble, better soundstaging and tighter bass.
This perceived improvement was in conflict with a major preconception as far as power cords were concerned - mains conditioning I'd always accepted (having been in IT for >38 years, I KNOW about crappy power).
The next problem lay in the mains conditioner's configuration (only 4 sockets), so managed to obtain a 10-socket unit on a home trial. This was supplied with three additional power cords of varying "quality". So, I switched out the conditioners and connected both monoblocks in addition to the CDT/DAC and preamp (using the entry-level power cords). Hmmm... Better!
Next, I decided to try the best of the supplied power cords (on the pre-amp, as it was the "hub" of the system). Even better!!
I contacted the supplier and arranged to trade in the 4-socket conditioner on the 10-socket unit and decided to keep the "best power cord".
Next, a friend came 'round (he's in the audio game) and made an observation that, while nothing was patently wrong with the system, there was something "not quite right". This turned out to be my paranoid reaction to losing 2 x TV's, 2 x VCRs 1 geyser, 1 alarm system and an intercom to a power surge - I'd left an el cheapo MOV-based surge protector in the mains circuit.
So, out came the surge protector and the mains conditioner was then plugged directly into the wall socket using some 60-amp three-core shielded cable. Much better!!!
Back to the preconceptions I went... If my preconceptions about power cords had been brought into question by this "best power cord", then just how valid were the preconceptions about interconnects and speaker cable?
Some background: 10 years ago, I bought 2 x Cable Talk Broadcast 2 balanced interconnects for DAC-Preamp and Preamp-Power Amp links and 2 x 5m of Cable Talk Concert 4 bi-wire speaker cable. The initial system at the time (excluding vinyl/tuner/CDR):
- Theta Data Basic II and DSPro Prime IIa
- Classe' CP-50 and CA-100
- Tannoy D700
In the subsequent 10 years, the system has evolved as a result of "affirmative shopping" and currently comprises:
- Theta Data Basic II and DSPro GenVa
- Classe' CP-500 and Jeff Rowland Model 201 monoblocks
- Tannoy D700
The current set-up is a lot more resolving of detail than the original and the comments about something being "not quite right" made me question whether or not the problem lay in the 10 year-old cables.
So, I contacted my pet supplier and obtained a decent pair of balanced interconnects on trial. Installed between preamp and monoblocks, they made a significant and clearly discernible difference - much lower noise floor, much clearer treble, clearly delineated soundstaging and really crisp bass. I contacted the supplier and informed him that these interconnects had just become family members and would not be returning.
At this stage I examined the budget and decided that it was time to do a "once and for all" wiring upgrade - to return to a level of balance between the system electronics and the wires that supply them and link them.
The system now consists of the following:
a) 3 x PS Audio Statement SC power cords
(Classe' Preamp and Jeff Rowland monoblocks) b) 2 x PS Audio Prelude power cords
(Theta CDT & DAC) c) 2 x PS Audio Resolution Transcendent balanced audio interconnects
(DAC-Preamp & Preamp-Monoblocks) d) 1 x PS Audio Resolution Reference Bi-Wire speaker cable-set
(Tannoy D700's)Also fed from the PS Audio Quintet mains conditioner are a Linn LP12, a Rotel tuner and a Yamaha CDR-HD recorder.
Despite the fact that there will need to be a fairly extended "break-in period" for the speaker cables, the system now sounds much better than it's ever sounded before.
So, back to the issue of preconceptions... I've had to acknowledge that they were there! I believe I've managed to resolve some aspects (these audio-related ones anyway), but I'm pretty certain that there are others that I'm not even aware of...
Maybe its an "age-thing"?
