Well here is the second review I promised you. This one is on the Harmonix Studio Master X-DC power cord. All I can say is, WOW!!! You weren't exaggerating when you said it was the best. Hope you like my review.
While I'm sure there are quite a few audiophiles who believe that power cords can make a difference, I can assure you that until recently I was a non-believer. About six months ago, I started my journey experimenting with different after market power cords. But before I get into the profound effect they have had on the sound of my system, let me acquaint you with the system I am listening to. YMMV if your system differs greatly from mine. I am currently using Revel Salon speakers powered by an Edge NL-10 laser biased amplifier with an Adcom GFP-750 preamp run in passive mode (an underrated world beater in passive). My sources include either a Meridian 508.24 CD player or an Avid Volvere turntable with Rega RB 900 tone arm and Grado "The Reference" The Reference cartridge thru a Tom Evans Micro Groove Plus phono stage. Accessories including cabling are as follows: Wireworld Eclipse III+ with silver RCA's for all interconnects as well as speaker cables with silver spades, Sound Application CF-XE power conditioner with a MAC wire Delta power cord (20A); which is the only cord that has remained constant in my system as well as a Quantum Symphony Pro with two Electro Clears for individual components. Combak Corp speaker Enacoms on the speaker terminals for the Salons (Biwire with one per terminal). Taddeo Passive Digital Antidote on the analog out of the Meridian CD player (superb at removing digital glare). Equipment stand is the Schroers & Schroers Archos rack with further isolation provided by either vibrapods or heavy rubber bumpers under components.
All power cords were thoroughly broken in for at least 200 hrs with some having as much as 500 hrs. This review will cover in a very broad way, the different sonic nuances of each power cord I have reviewed, but this list is primarily intended to show that I have listened to quite a few power cords, so I know the impact a really great cord can have in my system. Granted my system is solid state with a passive preamp so with a tube based system you will probably be looking for different attributes, especially with a digital source. The cords I have had in my system at one time or another or currently still have, in no particular, order are: Essential Sound Products Essence, Custom Power Cord Co. Model 11, JPS Labs Digital AC, Granite Audio 555, HMS Gran Finale Top Match, Shunyata Diamondback, Harmonic Technology Pro AC-11, Wireworld Silver Electra, Ensemble Megaflux FSX, TG Audio SLVR, and finally Harmonix Studio Master X-DC with Wattgate connectors which is the subject of this review. Of these cords, the three cords I am currently using are the Ensemble, TG Audio and the Harmonix. These are the three I feel are the most neutral sounding with the best noise reduction and blackest background. They are followed closely by the Wireworld Silver Electra (not quite as black a background but still neutral) and the Harmonic Technology Pro AC-11 (just a tad bright in the upper midrange and again not as black a background as even the Wireworld).
So you're probably wondering by now how I feel about the sound of the three cords I'm currently using in my system. Well before I delve any deeper into description I will say that I have moved these cords around on my three primary components into 9 possible configurations till I finally found the combination that gives the best synergy. I am currently running the Studio Master on the CD player as it has the blackest background, with the greatest noise reduction, and most 3 dimensional sound staging over every other cord I have used by a huge margin. I have the SLVR on the preamp with the Megaflux on the amp. This combination gives me a completely neutral sound with a 3 dimensional soundstage and black background along with an extremely lively presentation. The Harmonix is far and away the best power cord I have ever had in my system. Along with the characteristics already described, it also provides the best deep bass response of any power cord I have ever used. This deep bass response doesn't even require A/B testing in order to confirm, it is that obvious. The X-DC is also extremely neutral sounding; so many power cords that are great at noise reduction do so at the expense of high frequency response and presence. The X-DC provides the best noise reduction with the blackest background and yet manages to still provide outstanding neutrality and high frequency response with and extremely palatable presentation. The only power cord that I have that betters the Harmonix X-DC in any area is the TG Audio SLVR. The SLVR provides the most vivid presentation of any power cord I have heard, with the Harmonix coming in a close second. The SLVR is also extremely neutral sounding, however on my high current Edge amp it did not provide the deep bass the Harmonix was capable of, nor the black 3-D background the Harmonix provided on the Meridian CD player.
In summary, while the Harmonix X-DC power cord is not an inexpensive power cord it is definitely an example of the case of getting what you pay for. It is the type of power cord that can actually transform a system, especially when used on a CD player (at least this was so in my system). The X-DC is what I would call a "reference" power cord. Now I have not had the Elrod EPS-3 Signature nor the Shunyata Anaconda Vx, BMI Shark, FIM Gold, or NBS Statement. None of these cords are less expensive than the Harmonix, so keep this in mind, and I sincerely doubt that any one of them will better the Harmonix in any more than one area of performance and they may not even do that. As far as I am concerned the Harmonix X-DC Studio master power cord is as you can get to the perfect DC power source for your component!!!!
Major Darren T. Censullo
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