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Go Back   Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio > Equipment Forums > Cables, Power, Tweaks, Speakers, Accessories (DBT-Free Forum)

Cables, Power, Tweaks, Speakers, Accessories (DBT-Free Forum) Discussion of cables, power (the electric kind), tweaks, & accessories.
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Old 03-25-2008, 05:52 AM   #491 (permalink)
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Originally Posted by bigshot View Post
Gizmodo is linking to this thread today. It's likely that it would have been ressurected anyway.

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Ripoffs: $300 "Audiophile Grade" Power Cable is Really Worth $15
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Old 03-25-2008, 10:45 AM   #492 (permalink)
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Originally Posted by The Monkey View Post
Obviously cables are very important, but without proper isolation, anti-resonance and damping, you will never get the resolution you need having spent all that money. Have you considered trying some isolation/damping techniques? Also EMF can be an issue.
I'm using Magix levitation feet and ERS Paper so those problems are fixed. The Genesis Power Cable gave as much for the money as those tweaks. I can't think of anything else that improves the sound other than Magix, ERS Paper and Virtual Dynamics cables. They all increase the resolution in the music.

All the amps and sources I have tried have been a waste of money because they worsened the signal, that's why there are so many different flavors between different components. The Virtual Dynamics cable is the only "component" in the signal path that improves the sound instead of worsens it. The reason for that is vibration control inside the cable. The conductors are always vibrating and when using different materials to build the cable you can get many different flavors, but what really gives a neutral sound is by finding a way to reduce those vibrations instead of only altering them. This is what Virtual Dynamics does, they try to fix the problem of the AC signal while everyone else tries to sell different flavors.

I rather choose a neutral cable than a colored cable. A neutral cable is the same as what comes from the wall, but it's just neutral, it doesn't fix anything. A colored cable like the Nordost Valhalla power cord veils the sound to make it smoother and more musical, but it removes low-level detail while adding boominess to make it appear like there is more body.
The Virtual Dynamics cables use neutral conductors while adding vibration dampening around the conductors. It reduces the vibrations of the cable which gives better sound. Their cheapest cable has their simplest form of vibration dampening, and their best cable (Genesis) has their most advanced form of vibration dampening.

After I put the Genesis into my system I have found that vibration control is 99% of the sound. The vibrations are everywhere which means that you can add different flavors to the sound.

I like stock cables more than Nordost Valhalla ($3000) because the Valhalla veiled the sound. The Virtual Dynamics is the only aftermarket power cable that improved the sound in every way possible. I haven't heard any weaknesses with it at all. Virtual Dynamics is the best audio manufacturer I know of, and that includes amps, sources or any other audio gear. The Genesis power cable gave a lot more for the money than any other component change I have ever done. There is no comparison.
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Old 03-25-2008, 02:45 PM   #493 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrick82 View Post
I'm using Magix levitation feet and ERS Paper so those problems are fixed. The Genesis Power Cable gave as much for the money as those tweaks. I can't think of anything else that improves the sound other than Magix, ERS Paper and Virtual Dynamics cables. They all increase the resolution in the music.

All the amps and sources I have tried have been a waste of money because they worsened the signal, that's why there are so many different flavors between different components. The Virtual Dynamics cable is the only "component" in the signal path that improves the sound instead of worsens it. The reason for that is vibration control inside the cable. The conductors are always vibrating and when using different materials to build the cable you can get many different flavors, but what really gives a neutral sound is by finding a way to reduce those vibrations instead of only altering them. This is what Virtual Dynamics does, they try to fix the problem of the AC signal while everyone else tries to sell different flavors.

I rather choose a neutral cable than a colored cable. A neutral cable is the same as what comes from the wall, but it's just neutral, it doesn't fix anything. A colored cable like the Nordost Valhalla power cord veils the sound to make it smoother and more musical, but it removes low-level detail while adding boominess to make it appear like there is more body.
The Virtual Dynamics cables use neutral conductors while adding vibration dampening around the conductors. It reduces the vibrations of the cable which gives better sound. Their cheapest cable has their simplest form of vibration dampening, and their best cable (Genesis) has their most advanced form of vibration dampening.

After I put the Genesis into my system I have found that vibration control is 99% of the sound. The vibrations are everywhere which means that you can add different flavors to the sound.

I like stock cables more than Nordost Valhalla ($3000) because the Valhalla veiled the sound. The Virtual Dynamics is the only aftermarket power cable that improved the sound in every way possible. I haven't heard any weaknesses with it at all. Virtual Dynamics is the best audio manufacturer I know of, and that includes amps, sources or any other audio gear. The Genesis power cable gave a lot more for the money than any other component change I have ever done. There is no comparison.
Kiss of Death.

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feedback

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f12/sp...spliff-141680/
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Old 03-25-2008, 02:45 PM   #494 (permalink)
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I don't care how good or bad their products are. After reading the responses of VD representatives, I would never purchase a VD product.

The cable believers/disbelievers argument is completely irrelevant to the discussion, when a VP rep is insulting it's customers.

I've seen this type of thing happen time and again with company reps on forums. And in every case it has caused serious, if not irreparable damage to the company. Now that this article is circulating through the web, I fear VP pretty much slit their own throats.

As far as the Power 3 goes, even if the "Special Sauce" turned my equipment into Audio Nirvana, I doubt I would want a product that insulates mains wire with abrasive sand blasting particles, just sounds like a safety hazard waiting to happen.

Last edited by junkiefred; 03-25-2008 at 02:46 PM. Reason: misspelling
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Old 03-25-2008, 03:38 PM   #495 (permalink)
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Originally Posted by junkiefred View Post
I don't care how good or bad their products are. After reading the responses of VD representatives, I would never purchase a VD product.

The cable believers/disbelievers argument is completely irrelevant to the discussion, when a VP rep is insulting it's customers.

I've seen this type of thing happen time and again with company reps on forums. And in every case it has caused serious, if not irreparable damage to the company. Now that this article is circulating through the web, I fear VP pretty much slit their own throats.

As far as the Power 3 goes, even if the "Special Sauce" turned my equipment into Audio Nirvana, I doubt I would want a product that insulates mains wire with abrasive sand blasting particles, just sounds like a safety hazard waiting to happen.
lol nice first post and pretty much yeah. right on.
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Amps/Source: Vista Winamp Ogg-Vorbis plug in w/ Realtime Rip > Trends Audio UD-10>Sherwood 6500 to the 550s> Second Stereo Sony TN-100 old ass sweety.

Speakers: av123 Onix Rocket 550 MKII, Mirage Mini Sats, ADS L420 and 12" TAD sub in Cherry Wood.

feedback

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f12/sp...spliff-141680/
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Old 03-25-2008, 03:53 PM   #496 (permalink)
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I can't be arsed to read the whole thread (gave up around 11 or 12) so I'm sorry if it's be said before..

But, to those defending the mark up, I don't think it's the same. You can mark up bottles of water because they weigh a lot, and consequently the cost of storage and transportation because of size and weight is going to cost a lot relative to the price of the actual content. If you want to argue that R&D marketing and overhead and what have you makes it a reasonable markup, are you mad? R&D tends to be the most expensive part of an electronic or technology company, but R&D is there here when all the parts are cheap and readymade? Going to the local DIY shop and trying the wires? Researching the right sort of plastic plug to use? Why not compare it against, say, a 300 dollar (well it used to be 300 anyway) Gilmore Lite from headamp? How much do you think it costs to machine each of those cases of that quality, machine because those cases aren't available at the local DIY shop? Don't you think it's also a little more complex and thus time consuming to put together the components, components that by the way cost much more than 15 dollars. Hell I don't think that would even pay for half the resistors in there, never mind the power regulators, circuit board and what have yous.

Or why not try the average 3000 laptop? I can bet that it didn't cost 150 dollars to put together. A 3000 laptop would have to have a pretty mighty processors, processors that would probably cost around 150 dollars even purchased in the numbers that big name OEMs buy it for. The screen? Case? Optical and magnetic drives? Keyboard? Motherboard? RAM?

Seriously..
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Old 03-25-2008, 04:14 PM   #497 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by junkiefred View Post
I don't care how good or bad their products are. After reading the responses of VD representatives, I would never purchase a VD product.
Their rep recently offered me some VD cables to "try out" in PM. I let him know that I was happy with my current cables. I'll leave it to you to figure out what that offer meant.

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Old 03-25-2008, 04:54 PM   #498 (permalink)
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Quote:
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You know I don't like to look at myself as a sales person, or some kind of marketer. I am here to share my experiences and opinions with others.
As most of you might know I lived on this forum for about 5 years before becoming Acoustic Chef. I hang out here still because I adore this community.

I became a member of the VD team because I had too. After receiving one of their power cables to play with I fell in love and fought for ~6months to come hang out with the awesome crew here at VD, and I must say I am loving every second of it, while truly living the dream. Rick is the coolest guy you will ever meet and his cables are out of this world!
As I type this Rick is skipping around the room modeling his new artic cat gear showing off the advances in ass protection.

Now, Ragging on the cables is like ragging on my wife or kids because you think their ugly. And I REALLY don’t appreciate people hacking them to pieces and having their mutilated parts displayed in such a manner.


I’m honest, and a true member of the community. Appreciate it.
Sorry for this out of date quote, but all hail to Acoustic Chef and his honesty. He can't be at all biased with that attitude ?!?!

Anyways, nice having some entertainment to read at work
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Old 03-25-2008, 04:58 PM   #499 (permalink)
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But, to those defending the mark up, I don't think it's the same. You can mark up bottles of water because they weigh a lot, and consequently the cost of storage and transportation because of size and weight is going to cost a lot relative to the price of the actual content.
I feed the same about bottled water as I do about cables. Except in a few places that the water is not really safe to drink or has some safe, but awful tasting impurities. Bottled water is not better, and sometimes worse than tap water. Especially if you can let tap water sit for a day or two and let the chlorine gas out.

I recently read that Claridges Hotel in London has a bottled water bar that sells various waters for up to $2000 a glass

I could give other examples, but they'd be against forum rules
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Old 03-25-2008, 08:58 PM   #500 (permalink)
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Hey, troll of 2 posts, I am not discussing the Power 3 (bottom of the line), but the Genesis, the top of the line. You haven't seen it or held it, or installed it or listened to it (or other cables of similar price tag), so you have no clue as to what you are talking about.
Once again I am shocked by your lack of respect for others on this board.

Quote:
BTW, everyone who knows anything about cables (excludes you) knows Monster cables are the Bose of cables. All marketing, no performance. Abominable build quality, just open one up and take a lokk at the soldering job the 12 year old slave did.
I pretty sure it is comparable to the abominable quality of cord that was posted in the OP of this thread... for a cheaper price. Maybe you should open up that 'top of the line' Genesis and see if you can find simular quality control all the way up the line of VDs.

Now is the part where you talk down to me with little fact to back yourself up...
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