[Vertigo-1]

Can anybody give me some suggestions for power cords that were "meant" for sources? I'm using a Shunyata Taipan that seems to be making some real improvements to my Arcam CD23T right now, but I wonder if I'm really getting its full benefits since it was originally meant as a preamp/power amp cord. Or does it even matter what a power cord was meant for?

I'm looking for something to sharpen the resolution of my system rather then smoothen it out...which the Taipan seems to be doing. The Taipan quiets the background and tightens the bass and grows the soundstage, but at the cost of distancing me from the presentation, which somewhat bugs me. Perhaps I need to look into silver based power cords? Silver certainly worked wonders as the interconnects to drive the Omega IIs with.

And yes, I know all about VD after all the chaos of the past few months, let's hear some other suggestions too...

 

[Anders]

Powercords sometimes are special purpose but I think this is more important for a power amp, where current flow and heavier gauge is required. Some companies have different models for that. Just now I remember that Synergistic has one they recommend not to use for amps (Resolution reference). But that is not my point and I don't beleive it is a problem to use an amp powercord on a source.
I remember my first impressions of power cords are rather similar to yours. It didn't sound like I had imagined. The positive benefits were like you describe but I also experienced that the presentation moved back a little, loosing a little in intensity. It took me some weeks to realise that I was so used to hear that too forward, pushy presentation that I felt that I missed something. But it is forcing it on you, now I more have to move my attention to or from the music and the instruments and I think this is a more realistic presentation. This is mainly a speaker experience, with headphones most have been about tonal purity and bass improvement.
Give it a try for some weeks!

 

[CRESCENDOPOWER]

I have never heard these. Just trying to help the hunters.
http://puresilversound.bizland.com/prod06.htm

 

[DarkAngel]

In the Shunyata line of AC cords the lower end ones without the magic dust seem to be faster more detailed. So the Sidewinder & Taipan would be more what you want vs the Black Mamba or Python which sound more full/relaxed because of magic dust used. I think you would like the Taipan more than Black Mamba if you are looking to sharpen resolution.

I think you would really like the Zu Mother AC cord. Very fast and detailed with good 3D presentation, they have silver alloy conductors. Ask fellow Hawaii native Pigmode, he had one in his system before going the VD route. You can get these used at Audiogon pretty easy $200-250, also Zu has auctions there. Very good trail/return policy if you purchase direct from them.

Zu Mother

Also isolation used inder CDP will definitely effect detail, have you tried some brass cones or Daruma/Aurios bearings? These should be used in conjunction with good audio rack.

 

[Vertigo-1]

DarkAngel...you hit the nail right on the head. Hearing pigmode's pair of Zu Varials immediately convinced me silver was the way to go for the interconnects. And from that little demo, it seems Zu really knows what they're doing in comparison to my current Silver Audio Appasionatas, so yep, the Mother is high on my "to try next" list. I may end up swapping a pair of Appasionatas for Varials in fact, I think I actually preferred the Varials in the end. Zu is definitely cool in my book.

One of the things I really liked about the Taipan is it seems to stretch extensions to their absolute limit. If there was one "can't live without it anymore" factor, it would be that. It's just the somewhat laid back presentation that bugs me. The comparison I made tonight was that the $50 Absolute PCs which brings things closer in actually got my foot tapping and seemed to do better at PRAT. With the Taipan I sort of sat there feeling a little numbed out by the music because it was on the relaxed side. I guess I want to feel a little more involvement there with the music.

Haven't tried cones yet, I've just got a couple of Vibrapods right now under my Arcam.

 

[pigmode]

Yup, the Zu Mother is fast, quiet, and has more HF extension than my VD Reference cable. It's a quality product from the former design team of the Kimber Select line.

I would try getting rid of those rubber pads as I believe they are working against you--if you think about what you are looking for, then rollers or cones begin to make more sense.

They also auction cables at eBay.

 

[CRESCENDOPOWER]

I think I am going to give their interconnects a try. Maybe I can turn my Max into a Headmaster.