Review: Grover/Wolff Empress Interconnects - Page 4

Obviously there are good and bad recordings, but often what people assume is poor sound from bad recording is partially noise and distortions that are introduced by playback system. The very best audio products that enhance music remove distortion while preserving detail.......they sound relaxed and detailed at the same time, sounds like a paradox but it can be done.

My goal for music playback which may seem obvious it to make as many CDs as possible sound as good as possible.......unfortunately many expensive systems I have heard can only play a very small number of CDs that sound great and 90% sound terrible (grain,glare,bleached,sibilant etc), this is not balanced system IMO.

The Empress IC does best job of making as many CDs as possible sound as good as possible while preserving fine detail/spatial reproduction, better than any other IC I have heard.....it is the ideal cable for me.

I've recently held the words 'warm yet detailed' as my ideal. I think we're speaking of the same thing.

Expensive is certainly no guarantee. When auditioning phono stages at a shop up the street on an all macintosh system including speakers, I was struck/suprised by how much I didn't like it. It sounded noisy to me. The salesguy, who is a very nice person, was enjoying the performance so much I didn't have the heart to betray my feelings.

The Grover & Wolff Empress descriptions seem to describe very precisely what I lately have been looking for.
I have had my antenna on patrol for awhile for relaxed or warm yet detailed.

I'm still waiting on my Empress speaker cables, ICs, and jumpers. There was a bit of a delay. I had a question for you guys...I'm looking for a good PC that would match up nicely with my Panasonic XR-45 amp. DA, anyone...need some help. Would like to install everything in one shot. It seems like the Wolff PCs are not too favorably reviewed for amps...Suggestions??


Thanks,

Rob

Thanks Biggie...

I remember seeing somewhere that there were comments that it was a little smooth and slow for amps. I may be mistaken. I'll have to do a little more research. The Wolff may be out of my price range anyway. Any suggestions for a little more reasonably priced PC.


Thanks,

Rob

zu mother and vh audio flavor 4 are great 200ish cords found in audiogon, if you like stronger bass/weaker upper midrange and treble try a used ps audio cord.

I know the situation you are in, $300 Panasonic amp seems absurd to spend more for AC cord than amp costs......so common sense is required.

I have not tried the popular Chris Ven Haus cords, but so many people use them at Audiogon worth getting one on trail basis.......cost $100-200 depending on options you select.

Signal Magic AC cord is popular and at $60 new very cheap, I own a couple and better than stock cord, but on scale of 1-4 they would be in the class 1 catagory as far as sound improvement
(class 4 would be state of art super expensive AC cords, stock cord class 0)

I have a couple Zu Mother cords, you can get them used or Audiogon auction for close to $200. This is very detailed fast sounding cord, looks cool and very flexible (a big plus for me) sound improvement puts this in class 2.5 for me. There is a cheaper similar Zu Bok if you want to cost cut more, class 2 performance.

Also look for older used Virtual Dynamic cords, VD Nite I (class 3) Signature (class 2.5) and Reference (class 2) Also see if some of the new mid priced cords like David or Testament can be bought used for reasonable price.........don't like the single cable VD "Power" series of cords. Newest super expensive VD Master cord may be class 4 product, haven't heard it but Hirsch's comments lead me to believe this.

Shunyata Diamondback or Copperhead are good value especially used at Audiogon, these have a lively presentation similar to Zu, performance class 1-2

A used Wolff cord at $300-400 is not too outrageous "if" you were using with $1,500+ piece of gear. There are so many AC cords now impossible to keep up, try to buy used at Audiogon and search archives for info.

The Master Series Power Cord has a stronger midrange than the Nite II, but the difference is small. If the Nite I is class 3, the Master might be class 3.3. The big change in the Master Series is the interconnects, IMO, which move to an entirely different level of performance.

I've got the Shunyata Diamondback, but I'd rate the K-Works Empowered PC at the next level higher, and it is very reasonably priced.

darkangel: i can send the venhaus cord to you to audition if you want, i have 2 extra cords lying around in my room...

One of my favorite reviewers does the Empress.
http://www.positive-feedback.com/Iss...resscables.htm

Thanks for the offer, but I am currently reducing my cable collection now and selling off a few things at Audiogon and only keeping my favorite cables, too many extras setting around now

ET
I think author of that Empress review is a member here under the name of "Beav"

DA: what cords are you going to sell and what cords are you going to keep? i am going to sell my ps audio statement and will probably sell my vd nite II if the price is right. maybe i should try the wolff carbon gain cord for my amp...

Ok...Here's the situation.

I contacted Michael Wolff. He's got a demo of his prior PC he's willing to let go for $200. The Venhaus Flavor 4 is $260. I'm also interested in this "Empowered" cable. Is it still being manufactured and how does one go about purchasing one?

Suggestions for my Panasonic XR-45 amp. Anyone?


Thanks,

Rob

vh audio has a 60 day money back policy and chris venhaus is a very nice guy, i highly recommend you to try out a flavor 4. if you don't want to spend too much you can always use the default wattgate plug.
get both of them and keep the one you like most.

gorkuz@yahoo.com - Empowered AC Cords

Like Grover's cables, Empowered AC Cords are made by one person Igor. Send him e-mail and tell him what you need and he will respond back with info to complete sale. Last purchased from him 1.5 years ago, $200 each back then, there may even be newer model now. Here is discussion thread we had here:
Empowered Thread

Empowered Photo

Do research but eventually no substitiute for trying a few AC cords in your system. Buy used if possible and resell for little cost if needed, or make sure new cables have trail period.

Tiberian
Will be selling remaining Signal AC cords.........leaves me with VD Nites, Zu Mothers, Empowered cords.